It is always a little dangerous to wade into these things, but as one of a relatively small group of black poser users, I thought I would add my thoughts. "Dark Continent" does have difficult historical connotations; Jchimim is correct in indicating that it refered to the mysteriousness of the place to Europeans but unfortunately ignored that there were people who lived there already and who were familiar with the continent. There are excellent style manuals used by businesses and the press to avoid these terms. "Brown Sugar" is problematic. The issue is familiarity; calling a black person "brown sugar" who you know well is fine as is any pet name. Using the term as a generic of the appeal to Caucasians of black people seems to me like complimenting someone on their breasts i.e... best saved for those "private moments". It does strike me as a little unprofessional.