I deliberately use the word black rather than the words African American. The latter lacks the proper emotional value. It is cultural and geographical. The former is visceral. Bigotry is not subtle. It is primal. It is not about ideas. It is irrational.
I know two black people very well, the one being my son's girlfriend, the other one, one of my son's best friends. Neither of them have a preference for what they are called. I've asked. I think both gave me their sincere answers.