nigritude

From Latin nigritūdō, from niger (“black”).

nigritude (countable and uncountable, plural nigritudes)

1. (potentially offensive) Blackness; the state of being black.
   • 1823, Elia [pseudonym; Charles Lamb], “The Praise of Chimney-Sweepers”, in Elia. Essays which have Appeared under that Signature in The London Magazine, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, page 249:

     I like to meet a sweep—understand me—not a grown sweeper—old chimney-sweepers are by no means attractive—but one of those tender novices, blooming through their first nigritude, […]

• “nigritude”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

• intrigued