Crowley was denouncing what HE considered black magick: Anything not in the pursuit of discovering one's True Will (MTP has many referenced to this idea). This is hardly what popular culture portrays as black magick; i.e., Satanism. Discovering one's True Will? Please, that won't sell movie tickets or magazines. ;-)

I've been reading more Crowley lately, and yes, he does seem to be a little obsessed by it; I agree with the other poster that largely its defined as that magick operated by anyone other than Crowley. He dismissed, for example, Austin Spare as a "black brother". Partly his "white magic" is about (loosely) desire for union with the godhead; but he didnt exactly shun making talismans for wealth himself, or for other petty uses. Ditto his use of sex magick - generally to some personal gain.

I personally find that not only Crowley, but most people who use these terms, generally do it for the same reasons that people like to distinguish between black and white people. Simply put: "I'm good - theyre bad". For the same reasons Christians look at all paganism as Satanic black magic. With us or against us.

I would however allow that there is a number of people who intend to BE black magicians. i.e. spitting on crosses and what have ye, for no other reason than to rebel. I'm happy calling them as they wish to be called. But other than that, I find little use in the terms. Its Old Aeon thinking.