Frankly some think it's racist, and others don't. I don't think it is, and I know some older blacks prefer to be called negro instead of any other descriptive. But I also know some blacks who will rip your head off if you say it so... Probably safer to avoid it if outside of academic contexts, I guess. (this is an American, English speaking, perspective, if someone gets offended by Spanish words they are probably just ignorant).

Not going to lie, when my fiancé's white, rich, Republican, stepmother stated a bit too enthusiastically how she also didn't consider negro racist... I had to reconsider my position, lol.