Is Black and/or White A Color?

Question

I've heard a lot of controversy about this. Some people say that they are absence of color, some don't. I think they are colors, otherwise how could you see them? Anyway, is there a definite answer to this question? If so, please provide a link to a reliable source.

Answer 1

The color something appears to be is determined by the colors of light it reflects. Black absorbs all colors of light and reflects none, so it is the absence of color and not an actual color. White reflects every color of light and absorbs none, making white every color simultaneously.

So, black is not a color. White is.

Answer 2

this should help you it is a reliable source too

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/ge...

Answer 3

It depends.

In art, black is considered a mix of all colors and white is considered the absence of color. Because if you mix all the primary colors together, you get black.

In science, white is considered a mix of all colors and black is the absence of color. Because if you mix all the colors of light, you get white light.

Answer 4

I suppose it depends on your definition of color.  If you are talking about light, or from a scientific perspective, than white would be a blend of all colors, and black would be an absence of color.  But if you define colors by what you can see with your eyes, as an artist for instance, than yes of course black and white are colors just as blue and red and pink are.  This is one of those questions that has to be answered from within a certain paradigm.

Answer 5

Interesting question...allow me to muse for a minute...yeah...uh huh...interesting...hmm...

Anyways, there's lots of different answers to your question I will provide two here:

Answer 1 (redneck answer): They are not colors, they are races.

Answer 2 (smarty-show off answer): White is the combination of all colors in the visible spectrum, Black is the color of things which do not reflect or emit light. So yes, they are both "colors" under the definition that color is human perception of light.

Answer 6

black and white are colours

Answer 7

A Black object is absorbing all the colours of the spectrum which make up white light. No light is reflected.

A White object is reflecting all of the colours of the spectrum and is therefore not a specific colour but consists of all colours.

(White light passing through a Prism, due to the different refractive index of each colour, will emerge as split into the difference colour wavelengths as a 'Rainbow' effect which occurs when sunlight (white  light) passes through raindrops which cause the same effect as prisms).

Answer 8

maybe!!!! It might be I'm pretty sure it is!!

Answer 9

Black is the absence of colour and white is all colours combined