What to officially refer to a "Black" person as of today?

[trenchfoot]

Not that I want to confuse the issue, but the term "African American" can also rightfully be used for those many whites who were born and raised in Africa and then legally migrated to America, and of course, like the blacks who were born here, their descendants too.

We don't want to discriminate against our white African Americans now, do we?

 

[mikeymikec]

I was a bit surprised about the furore over Benedict Cumberbatch's comments. The only reason I could think of was that in pre-civil-rights-movement America there were those signs for "colored" at the back of the bus or on drinking fountains, and if I'm correct, I can understand the sentiment.

In the UK I've heard of more reason to not call someone "black", I don't think I've heard of any regarding "coloured".

 

[Sulaco]

I was a bit surprised about the furore over Benedict Cumberbatch's comments. The only reason I could think of was that in pre-civil-rights-movement America there were those signs for "colored" at the back of the bus or on drinking fountains, and if I'm correct, I can understand the sentiment.

In the UK I've heard of more reason to not call someone "black", I don't think I've heard of any regarding "coloured".

I've always wondered this: Out of curiosity in the UK, what is the most "politcally correct" descriptor?

In the US, obviously the most casual and widely used is just "black" (same with "white"), but the more PC term is "African-American"

How does that work in England and Europe for those of African descent?

 

[Londo_Jowo]

My black friends refer to themselves as black, so I do as well.

Physical appearance is one of the easiest ways to describe a person.

When I ask if someone has met my friend: "you know, the lanky white dude with brown hair".

There is nothing wrong with recognizing color. Discriminating against people of a certain color is the issue.

This and this and this..

 

[TheSlamma]

Black.

The only people who don't like the term black are guilty white liberal. All the black people I know and are friends with can't stand the term African American and they laugh out loud when someone says Afro American

 

[Linux23]

I say black. African American is stupid. They're American, born and raised here for generations. We don't call people from Europe, European Americans. Asian Americans, etc. It's black, if they're offended then fuck them.

I'm very offended. Mods can we get a ban?

 

[Linux23]

I prefer the term tanned.

 

[Anubis]

I say black. African American is stupid. They're American, born and raised here for generations. We don't call people from Europe, European Americans. Asian Americans, etc. It's black, if they're offended then fuck them.

correct


the only "African- Americans" are those born in Africa who immigrated to the US

 

[Blanky]

Black. African American is presumptuous and inaccurate anyway; when describing a perskn's skin color by their supposed heritage you're being as stupid as describing a red car as a ford if most fords happened to be red because you are too afraid to say the color red. It is a silly euphemism.

 

[mikeymikec]

I've always wondered this: Out of curiosity in the UK, what is the most "politcally correct" descriptor?

In the US, obviously the most casual and widely used is just "black" (same with "white"), but the more PC term is "African-American"

How does that work in England and Europe for those of African descent?

I'm white and live in England, so perhaps I'm not the best person to ask that question; my knowledge/feelings on the topic were pretty much voiced in my previous post. The only point I can think of adding is that I thought "coloured" was a reasonably OK descriptor here if the intention is to indicate 'non-white' in say a discussion about racism. Out of curiosity I might raise the question amongst my friends.

As for Europe, there's a multitude of countries and cultures, and while I've visited a couple of countries I can't say I've got any real knowledge on that topic, furthermore I only speak one language fluently and that would be English

I read this article recently on the topic regarding descriptors and their offensiveness in the UK:
http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...fe-white-film-industry-black-actors?CMP=fb_gu
Which IIRC I would agree with.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Please remember that the term "colored" is used in other Countries with no negative connotations.

Because other countries may not have had a Tennessee.

The word colored has an ugly history in the US. Yet, it IS in the name of the NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Cumberbatch should have sited the NAACP and told everyone to shut the fuck up.

As for black, brown, light brown, whatever - I use black - because they (the blacks) use black in the titles of most of their organizations; http://www.diversitybestpractices.com/news-articles/20-african-american-organizations-you-need-know. When you get to the mission statements of these organizations, they specifically site African Americans.

 

[Remobz]

I was a bit surprised about the furore over Benedict Cumberbatch's comments. The only reason I could think of was that in pre-civil-rights-movement America there were those signs for "colored" at the back of the bus or on drinking fountains, and if I'm correct, I can understand the sentiment.

In the UK I've heard of more reason to not call someone "black", I don't think I've heard of any regarding "coloured".

I say this again. The word "colored" is still used and accepted (meaning no controversy or pissed off people if the name is used) in other Countries outside the USA.

I give you one small example. I knew of a man who grew up in a small British commonwealth Country and had no realization of what TRUE racism was until he went to the Southern USA looking for work. He was really dark in color (darker than Wesley Snipes) yet he felt different than American Blacks (like a step above) in many ways until the White Southern man showed him the true face of racism American style. He basically was put in his place and brought down to reality. Racism did exist in the British colonies and later on ex-colonies BUT, no where near as bad as the American style of racism shown down South especially.
Please bear in mind that the word "colored" has a different meaning and connotation for people living in other Countries.

 

[senseamp]

Should NAACP change it's name then?

 

[Darwin333]

Ironically black is the lack of color so everyone but black people are "colored" people.

If its necessary to describe a person, they are just black folk to me. If you were born in Africa I'll give you African American if you ask but otherwise they are just Americans.

 

[senseamp]

In Russia, "Caucasians" (people from Caucasus mountain regions) are called "black," because of their darker, more Middle Eastern, rather than lighter European, features, and subject to a lot of racial prejudice.
But in America, white people are called "Caucasian," instead of "European-Americans" for no obvious reason other than to try to avoid saying "White" or "European." It's like calling African-Americans "Kilimanjarans," or Asian-Americans "Himmalayans."

 

[JulesMaximus]

Friend?

 

[alzan]

I would think a person's name would be the correct way to refer to someone, regardless of skin color.

 

[who?]

During the monologue in her first appearance in Saturday Night Live Charlize Theron mentioned that she was born in South Africa. Tracey Morgan then points out that that means she is African American like him.

 

[mikeymikec]

I say this again. The word "colored" is still used and accepted (meaning no controversy or pissed off people if the name is used) in other Countries outside the USA.

I give you one small example. I knew of a man who grew up in a small British commonwealth Country and had no realization of what TRUE racism was until he went to the Southern USA looking for work. He was really dark in color (darker than Wesley Snipes) yet he felt different than American Blacks (like a step above) in many ways until the White Southern man showed him the true face of racism American style. He basically was put in his place and brought down to reality. Racism did exist in the British colonies and later on ex-colonies BUT, no where near as bad as the American style of racism shown down South especially.
Please bear in mind that the word "colored" has a different meaning and connotation for people living in other Countries.

I'm wondering whether you read what I wrote before deciding that I was taking a contrary position to your own.

 

[HomerJS]

Back in the 90s I used the phrase "oriental" Said person told me I'm not a rug.

I changed to Asian and moved on. So what's the big deal about him apologizing?

 

[mizzou]

He should have to apologize. That's like him saying, "That ride was totally rad"

Nobody says that shit anymore

 

[Ackmed]

I'm very offended. Mods can we get a ban?

Suck it up buttercup. Black is not a racial slur, nothing to ban me for.

To me it is just silly (idiotic) that some black people want to be called African American. When the only thing African about them is they're darker. When does it stop? What if someone has a white mom, and black dad. Still African American? What if that mixed child marries white again, has a kid, still African American? There are more and more mixed people in America from all sots of races. All sorts of percentages of this and that, having a special name for black people just not needed.

I guarantee most black people in America have not even been to Africa, and their family has been in the States for generations. I would bet I have been to more countries in Africa and lived there longer than 99% of black people in America. I'm closer to African American than them.

You're American. That's it, stop being silly.

 

[Remobz]

Suck it up buttercup. Black is not a racial slur, nothing to ban me for.

To me it is just silly (idiotic) that some black people want to be called African American. When the only thing African about them is they're darker. When does it stop? What if someone has a white mom, and black dad. Still African American? What if that mixed child marries white again, has a kid, still African American? There are more and more mixed people in America from all sots of races. All sorts of percentages of this and that, having a special name for black people just not needed.

I guarantee most black people in America have not even been to Africa, and their family has been in the States for generations. I would bet I have been to more countries in Africa and lived there longer than 99% of black people in America. I'm closer to African American than them.

You're American. That's it, stop being silly.

What if Barack Obama mother married an Asian man then what would he be called?

What if she married a Hispanic woman?

What if she married a Native American?


And what if he looked more "white" with anyone of those choices due to the roll of the genetic dice?

Who the hell makes these racial calls for society?

 

[Abwx]

I have a good friend who is lawyer in the US and it happen that she s "black", when i say black it s because she s considered as black in the US, but she so light skinned that here in France she wasnt considered as so.

From this story my conclusion is that one who is born white from lightly skinned parents that are considered blacks will be himself considered as black, on the other side i know an egyptian that live in the US and his papers says that he s white, yet the white part of the US society consider him as black whenever he s in contact with thoses white people...

Not that I want to confuse the issue, but the term "African American" can also rightfully be used for those many whites who were born and raised in Africa and then legally migrated to America, and of course, like the blacks who were born here, their descendants too.

We don't want to discriminate against our white African Americans now, do we?

I have a cousin who is a genuine afro american, a white one but still an afro american since he s born in Algeria...

 

[smackababy]

I have a cousin who is a genuine afro american, a white one but still an afro american since he s born in Algeria...

So if you're from Africa, why are you white?



And, this just reminds me of that meme with a picture of a sad black man. It stated "He called me African-American. But, I'm British."