Curious about black applied to skin color, entries in the OED indicate its use in this way as far back as 1225. The earliest reference cited to 'white man" is 1672.

Bobert correct since optically, black is really the total absence of color, but that ain't the way people other than scientists and occasionally artists have defined it. It has been called a color for practical purposes at least since Beowulf (870 approx.).

And black is the color of my true love's hair.

I remember that years ago, people used to call someone who is correct in their pronouncements or definitions, but the definitions are wrong according to common or folk wisdom and usage, an edjicated idjit. (I was called one many times before I learned not to argue commonly held beliefs).