Black is probably okay because white is okay. It puts the two main players in this issue on equal footing. "Coloured" does not, because it suggests that they are "coloured" and white people are not (I personally think that white people should be called "beige").
White people are often times more coloured than black people. A white persons face can go from angry red, to sick green, injured they may turn black and blue...(it's part of a poem)
White people are the coloured ones. Even the color white has all the colors in them.
Well, I have heard African Americans many times use the term "people of color" to describe themselves. I also had a black co-worker (up until last month, not some time in the waaay past) who was amused rather than angered when people used the term colored. Her comeback was always, "I wasn't colored, I was born this way!" So while I think it's a term that has fallen out of use, I'm not sure it's a racist slur on par with the N-word.
It's also possible we could ask a dozen black people and get a dozen different opinions. I have known many who did not care for the term African American.
Well, I have heard African Americans many times use the term "people of color" to describe themselves. I also had a black co-worker (up until last month, not some time in the waaay past) who was amused rather than angered when people used the term colored. Her comeback was always, "I wasn't colored, I was born this way!" So while I think it's a term that has fallen out of use, I'm not sure it's a racist slur on par with the N-word.
It's also possible we could ask a dozen black people and get a dozen different opinions. I have known many who did not care for the term African American.
Can see your last point... a lot of black people feel no connection whatsoever to Africa. They've never been there and never want to go, so why should they be called African American (they might ask)?? They are just American. I get that.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Black is probably okay because white is okay. It puts the two main players in this issue on equal footing. "Coloured" does not, because it suggests that they are "coloured" and white people are not (I personally think that white people should be called "beige").
White people are often times more coloured than black people. A white persons face can go from angry red, to sick green, injured they may turn black and blue...(it's part of a poem)
White people are the coloured ones. Even the color white has all the colors in them.
In South Africa, they use 'coloured' also. But not for black people...
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Ha! This irish-scots-english-german WISHES he could be considered beige instead of red and/or white and/or freckled. But that's another story.
The equal-footing argument works for me. It's satisfying to me b/c it's a semi-logical way of answering a question that is painfully subjective.
Wait, so in S. Africa, what do people mean by "coloured"? Or was that your reference to us whities being described as such? Sorry, feeling a little dense and don't want to click on links related to that word at work. Oh the irony.
Comments
White people are often times more coloured than black people. A white persons face can go from angry red, to sick green, injured they may turn black and blue...(it's part of a poem)
White people are the coloured ones. Even the color white has all the colors in them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coloured
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/126829/Coloured
In South Africa, they use 'coloured' also. But not for black people...
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It's also possible we could ask a dozen black people and get a dozen different opinions. I have known many who did not care for the term African American.
The equal-footing argument works for me. It's satisfying to me b/c it's a semi-logical way of answering a question that is painfully subjective.
Wait, so in S. Africa, what do people mean by "coloured"? Or was that your reference to us whities being described as such? Sorry, feeling a little dense and don't want to click on links related to that word at work. Oh the irony.