Lockport, NY police don't understand why some people might find "Negro " offensive.

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And both terms cause grave offense to a portion of the demographic. So the questions stands, what term is better to use?

Black is a grave offense to who exactly?

And also has it occurred to you that black people may actually be individuals? So some may not have an issue with you using the N word while others very much might?
 

Wthermans

Banned
IIRC it is socially acceptable but only if you attach the word "uppity" before it.



Wow you mean every Black person in the US told you it was ok? You must sure be popular. Or is it ok to just take a few of their opinions and treat it as applicable for every individual of that race?
Stop exacerbating things and taking things out of context. Nowhere did I say a group of individuals were indicative of a race.
 

Trey

Member
And both terms cause grave offense to a portion of the demographic. So the questions stands, what term is better to use?

I said generally. You won't find a term that every living black person will find harmonious.

This whole "I don't know what to say!:3" stuff isn't necessary. No one is trying to trick you.
 
I used to wonder that. Especially after being told by the race's individuals that it's fine to say as long as you aren't being hateful.

That's the whole problem and crux of this issue.

The crux of the issue is you feeling in any way entitled to say any of these words.

If you see somebody grab their SO around the waist and kiss them, do you then wonder why you can't do the same? If you always start from the viewpoint of "if those people are doing/saying _____ to one another, why can't I?" you're probably called an asshole— or something to that effect — a lot.

Instead, if you value the feelings of other human beings, you'll be most concerned with not being offensive, and will be satisfied with the answer of "that's offensive."
 

Camp Lo

Banned
I said generally. You won't find a term that every living black person will find harmonious.

This whole "I don't know what to say!:3" stuff isn't necessary. No one is trying to trick you.
But it's so damn confusing. We literally change our descriptors daily.
 
Wait, is coloured considered offensive now? I always thought that was like the most PC word of all, though not as widely used.

Colored has always been offensive to all minorities. Go ask an Asian American how they would feel if you called them "coloured", or a Hispanic American, or an African American. They'll probably all give you the same answer.
 
African American annoys me. I have no affiliation to Africa.

Black is fine.

Yeah and on top of that, African American is such a mouthful too. But I never felt comfortable with using the word "black" to describe a person's race. To me, it always seemed improper. Probably because it isn't exactly accurate (no one's skin color is truly black).
 
I guess I should probably know this but can someone tell what the difference between the word nigger and the word negro is. From a historical standpoint I mean. Is it just that slaves have been called niggers or is there something else?

Btw I am not an American, so forgive my ignorance about these matters.
 

andthebeatgoeson

Junior Member
...there is a PICTURE right next to the description ... why is it even necessary to say the skin color ? =P
This thread is even worse. You know why? It lists his skin color. In this flip phone picture, you can make out the category for skin color and it lists, Black. So, negro either means the police in this predominately white town in upstate New York are descendants of the Spanish monarchy or just shit bag racists. His complexion would never be described as negro. Them using the word negro is akin to stating the word negro, in upstate new York, has a possibility of not being offensive. I'm not even sure how you could get to the point of thinking you could reliably tell a person what is offensive to them.

I have an idea of which ones they are (shit bag racists).
 

Mesousa

Banned
African American annoys me. I have no affiliation to Africa.

Black is fine.

Except the fact that your ancestors were snatched from her unwillingly. They didnt have a say in it like other immigrants. I feel that distinction keeps that connection with you.

Like "You may have taken her from me, but she is still a part of me"

Nothing is more poetic than being able to stare someone in the face, crack a half smirk, and tell them "Why yes, I am an African American. How about you?" when pressed on it. Its a beautiful thing.
 

molnizzle

Member
This whole "I don't know what to say!:3" stuff isn't necessary. No one is trying to trick you.

I dunno. I've always felt self-conscious about not knowing what to say. "African American" never seemed appropriate because it's presuming that the person if of African descent. It's not like Africa has the monopoly on black people. Then there's "black," which I grew up thinking was derogatory. It seems to be the standard now, but it still feels uncomfortable to say as a white guy.
 
I said it earlier, but both African American and blacks have been generally acceptable terms for three decades or more.

he was joking

I dunno. I've always felt self-conscious about not knowing what to say. "African American" never seemed appropriate because it's presuming that the person if of African descent. It's not like Africa has the monopoly on black people. Then there's "black," which I grew up thinking was derogatory. It seems to be the standard now, but it still feels uncomfortable to say as a white guy.

In what situations did you need to acknowledge someone's skin color?
 
Except the fact that your ancestors were snatched from her unwillingly. They didnt have a say in it like other immigrants. I feel that distinction keeps that connection with you.

Like "You may have taken her from me, but she is still a part of me"

Nothing is more poetic than being able to stare someone in the face, crack a half smirk, and tell them "Why yes, I am an African American. How about you?" when pressed on it. Its a beautiful thing.

Or they could just call us "Americans"…

I know, edgy as fuck right?
 
You've never described a person's appearance when referencing them in conversation?

I have, but I'm hard pressed to think of a situation in which I needed to. I don't work as a census taker. A lot of the times I've mentioned skin color, it wasn't actually central or necessary to whatever I was talking about.
 

JDSN

Banned
You've never described a person's appearance when referencing them in conversation?

If his skin is black then he is black, there are also many other equally helpful characteristics to describe someone's appearance beyond that single bit.
 

andthebeatgoeson

Junior Member
When I say brother, I don't mean, like, an actual brother, but I mean it like the way black people use it. Which is more meaningful, I think.
I understood that reference.

he was joking

In what situations did you need to acknowledge someone's skin color?
I can actually go a whole day without referencing someone's skin color. I usually just call them by their first name.
Except the fact that your ancestors were snatched from her unwillingly. They didnt have a say in it like other immigrants. I feel that distinction keeps that connection with you.

Like "You may have taken her from me, but she is still a part of me"

Nothing is more poetic than being able to stare someone in the face, crack a half smirk, and tell them "Why yes, I am an African American. How about you?" when pressed on it. Its a beautiful thing.
Well, the way the voyage took so many detours, his ancestors may be likely from the Caribbean or South America. Unless you want to Lucy it up and call us all African Americans.
 

Mesousa

Banned
I understood that reference.


I can actually go a whole day without referencing someone's skin color. I usually just call them by their first name.

Well, the way the voyage took so many detours, his ancestors may be likely from the Caribbean or South America. Unless you want to Lucy it up and call us all African Americans.

They are from everywhere more than likely. I think even the darkest American over here has trace, even significant, European blood too.
 

molnizzle

Member
If his skin is black then he is black, there are also many other equally helpful characteristics to describe someone's appearance beyond that single bit.

Skin color is the most immediately obvious aspect of someone's appearance, come on now.
 
Brother..lol. Amazing.

You've never described a person's appearance when referencing them in conversation?

So you mean like "This dude had a long black beard and huge pink sunglasses on. Had his shirt tucked in his back pocket." Like that? Nah, Mo..don't think skin tone matters much.
 
Skin color is the most immediately obvious aspect of someone's appearance, come on now.

I can't speak for everyone, but I don't think anyone's saying we shouldn't mention skin color. We just subconsciously place far too much importance on certain unimportant/irrelevant characteristics and we'll point them out or notice them when we don't have to, perpetuating the (mis)appropriation of importance.

An example of this is demanding people people should provide you a reason why they shouldn't refer to you in a derogatory way
 

MIMIC

Banned
I dunno. I've always felt self-conscious about not knowing what to say. "African American" never seemed appropriate because it's presuming that the person if of African descent. It's not like Africa has the monopoly on black people. Then there's "black," which I grew up thinking was derogatory. It seems to be the standard now, but it still feels uncomfortable to say as a white guy.

African-American is fine; you can never go wrong with this phrase. I totally get what you're saying with "black"....because depending on how you say it, some might take it the wrong way.

(and I'm black, just in case anyone was wondering...because someone here asked if I was a "rich white man" before, lol)
 

tokkun

Member
In what situations did you need to acknowledge someone's skin color?

Here is a true story: I was at the bus stop today, and this guy on the other side of the street was calling to the woman standing next to me. She calls back "Hi Richard!". Then she turns to me and says, "I don't actually know that guy's name, I always call him Richard because he looks just like that old comedian, Richard Simmons."

Now, I felt that I should ask if she had confused Richard Simmons and Russell Simmons, because rather than being a skinny white guy with a perm, this was a bald black man.
 
African-American is fine; you can never go wrong with this phrase. I totally get what you're saying with "black"....because depending on how you say it, some might take it the wrong way.

(and I'm black, just in case anyone was wondering...because someone here asked if I was a "rich white man" before, lol)
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Yeah and on top of that, African American is such a mouthful too. But I never felt comfortable with using the word "black" to describe a person's race. To me, it always seemed improper. Probably because it isn't exactly accurate (no one's skin color is truly black).
To be fair, white does not accurately describe anyone either. But I get the complication either way.
 

Camp Lo

Banned
Brother..lol. Amazing.



So you mean like "This dude had a long black beard and huge pink sunglasses on. Had his shirt tucked in his back pocket." Like that? Nah, Mo..don't think skin tone matters much.

Yeah, that sounds like a terrible practice he has when one could simply say the black guy with the pink shades.
 
One of the strangest things about American culture is the need to sort people into various categories of "hyphen Americans". In Britain, if you're born here, you're British.
 

J10

Banned
One of the strangest things about American culture is the need to sort people into various categories of "hyphen Americans". In Britain, if you're born here, you're British.

If you're born in America, you're American.

You might also be a negro though.
 

molnizzle

Member
One of the strangest things about American culture is the need to sort people into various categories of "hyphen Americans". In Britain, if you're born here, you're British.

"African American" is really the only one. I've always said that I was "Hungarian," my wife says she's "Italian." Obviously we were both born here in the US so we're technically neither. I guess you can't call someone "African" though.
 

Camp Lo

Banned
One of the strangest things about American culture is the need to sort people into various categories of "hyphen Americans". In Britain, if you're born here, you're British.
Using Kidulthood as my reference point, you Brits are just as strange if not more when it comes to categorizing.
 
"African American" is really the only one. I've always said that I was "Hungarian," my wife says she's "Italian." Obviously we were both born here in the US so we're technically neither. I guess you can't call someone "African" though.

As long as you don't count Asian-American or Hispanic-American.
 
I said it earlier, but both African American and blacks have been generally acceptable terms for three decades or more.

That's not true. I've met black people who were offended by the word "blacks". Fact is that language and meaning does change and even changes from person to person in the same era. To deny that is lunacy.
 
Colored is better than Negro? Now I feel like I'm behind, too. Can someone give me a tier list or something?

Black/ African-American
Colored
anything that starts with N


POC( person/people of color) seems to be gaining popularity in articles/studies. It's taking over 'minority' I suppose its because of Asian/Hispanic takeover that's slowly taking place making minority eventually inaccurate?
 

Mesousa

Banned
One of the strangest things about American culture is the need to sort people into various categories of "hyphen Americans". In Britain, if you're born here, you're British.

Funny enough that is one of the things Benoit Assou Ekotto, a footballer from France, actually said he liked the most about the UK. He said its a lot more open and accepting than his Native France.
 

Ahasverus

Member
That's like using Oriental to describe an asian person in this day and age.

Wait, that's bad? Oriental means, well, from the orient, it's one of those "transparent" words from Spanish. I would have make that mistake unknowingly o.o
 
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