It was “the Reverend” Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., who coined the term “African American” because he fell out of favor with the word “black.” I wonder if he uses black ink? Pretty soon, whites embraced “the Reverend’s” new terminology.
I think there are two factors involve in the change to “African American”. One is the Muslim tenet of supremacy - let’s make them refer to us in a way other than what they’ve been referring to us as. Reaston two is the same reason that progressives became liberals became progressives became no labels.