How insulting is Colored (vs. African American)

[naraht]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

Dang. How'd I miss that?

ETA: Are nominations already out for today's lose at life award?

Yup. And just like every day, madmax is nominated.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

ETA: Are nominations already out for today's lose at life award?

Originally Posted by naraht

Yup. And just like every day, madmax is nominated.

I'd say he has a lock on it today.

[naraht]

For all it is a cliche, I think that it is at least a historical lesson.

In 1909, when the NAACP was founded, *one* of the preferred terms of the community for itself was Colored.

In 1935, when the National Council for Negro Women and in 1944, when the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) was founded, *one* of the preferred terms for the community for itself was Negro.

In 1993, when the National Black Chamber of Commerce was founded, *one* of the preferrred terms for the community was Black.

[madmax]

Originally Posted by naraht

For all it is a cliche, I think that it is at least a historical lesson.

In 1909, when the NAACP was founded, *one* of the preferred terms of the community for itself was Colored.

In 1935, when the National Council for Negro Women and in 1944, when the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) was founded, *one* of the preferred terms for the community for itself was Negro.

In 1993, when the National Black Chamber of Commerce was founded, *one* of the preferrred terms for the community was Black.

You forgot people of color.


What is the term going to be next year when they change it again?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by madmax

You forgot people of color.

Which, as already noted, does not refer just to African-Americans.

RIF. (Thinking helps, too.)

[naraht]

Originally Posted by madmax

You forgot people of color.


What is the term going to be next year when you change it again?

Wow! I get to be the one who gets to change the term next year! I'm just not worthy..

I mean I never thought it possible that I, a geek whose skin is so white that wedding dress designers match their color swatches against my legs and who no longer attends probates due to the number of people whose jaws drop so low that they have to be hospitalized, would get to be the one.

I'm just so happy that my life long dream of being able to determine how a culture of people refers to itself would be fulfilled. Thank you, madmax, thank you *so* much.

[AOII_LB93]

My grandmother (dad's mom who lived to the ripe old age of 98) called anyone who was Af. Am./Black colored, but I don't think that she meant it in a derogatory way, it's just how she referred to people, as did my great-grandmother(maternal)- who lived until she was 101. My grandfather(dad's dad) on the other hand was just an ass, so he probably meant it in a derogatory way. I can't really say that his side of the family was ever really all that progressive in their way of thinking. They probably just about dropped dead that my dad married and divorced three times.

I'm not making excuses for old people, however past a certain age (who knows what it is, but I'm talking over 80) can you really expect someone to change their world view/vocabulary?

[madmax]

Originally Posted by AOII_LB93

My grandmother (dad's mom who lived to the ripe old age of 98) called anyone who was Af. Am./Black colored, but I don't think that she meant it in a derogatory way, it's just how she referred to people, as did my great-grandmother(maternal)- who lived until she was 101. My grandfather(dad's dad) on the other hand was just an ass, so he probably meant it in a derogatory way. I can't really say that his side of the family was ever really all that progressive in their way of thinking. They probably just about dropped dead that my dad married and divorced three times.

I'm not making excuses for old people, however past a certain age (who knows what it is, but I'm talking over 80) can you really expect someone to change their world view/vocabulary?

Aparently black america does expect everyone to change their vocabulary. Black america picks their OWN politically correct term and every few years they want to make up a new name. Then when someone does not get the memo that they changed the term they want to cry racism.

TNS

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by madmax

Aparently black america does expect everyone to change their vocabulary. Black america picks their OWN politically correct term and every few years they want to make up a new name. Then when someone does not get the memo that they changed the term they want to cry racism.

TNS

Clearly, I missed that memo. I was never invited to the Black Folks Meeting to discuss what we're to be called.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Clearly, I missed that memo. I was never invited to the Black Folks Meeting to discuss what we're to be called.

Was there one?

[tld221]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Clearly, I missed that memo. I was never invited to the Black Folks Meeting to discuss what we're to be called.

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Was there one?

We actually meet every 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, in addition to our town halls right before Sunday dinner.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Was there one?

According to madmax, there was.

I never get offended by the terms. Unless someone walks up to me and says "Get out of my face, ni--" I'm A-OK. In my experience, it's not really black folks that get offended -- it's our non-black friends trying to be PC.

[knight_shadow]

I think the guy on the card should be referred to as caramel, the new term for 2009.

Anyone who doesn't comply is racist.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by naraht

A year or so after his second wife died (2003), he started dating one of his wife's caregivers, an African-american woman now in her late 50's. While my neighbor broke it off about a year after he started, it was because he didn't want to be a burden to her if his health failed and they are still friends.

So, he had a "colored" girlfriend? I wonder what he called her!

[naraht]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

So, he had a "colored" girlfriend? I wonder what he called her!

She was actually OK with being called colored, but her kids were not...