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[JDSN]

That's kinda like white people telling black people to "get over it.

Look, I get that many people still have valid reasons to be sensitive about this stuff. I understand that it hasn't really been that long since things were really bad for black Americans. Shit, until very recently we still had former segregationists serving in congress! Mind-boggling.

That said, you should always try to look at things from the perspectives of others if you want them to do the same for you. I was once banned from GAF for a couple weeks for poking fun at the word "redskin" being a racial slur. I honestly didn't know. When I cooled down and thought on it further it made sense, but at the time I just didn't understand how a prominent sports team could have a blatantly racist name. I was ignorant, yes, but not malevolent.

So that kinda pissed me off. Not to the point that it warped me into a racist lunatic, but it did make me angry... and I can totally see how repeated situations like that might turn a person jaded.

Repeated situations could easily be avoided of people make a commitment on showing a bit more empathy, I think minorities can find a bit to try to understand your plea , but dont expect too much of it when you have showed so little.

 

[Trey]

That's kinda like white people telling black people to "get over it.

Look, I get that many people still have valid reasons to be sensitive about this stuff. I understand that it hasn't really been that long since things were really bad for black Americans. Shit, until very recently we still had former segregationists serving in congress! Mind-boggling.

That said, you should always try to look at things from the perspectives of others if you want them to do the same for you. I was once banned from GAF for a couple weeks for poking fun at the word "redskin" being a racial slur. I honestly didn't know. When I cooled down and thought on it further it made sense, but at the time I just didn't understand how a prominent sports team could have a blatantly racist name. I was ignorant, yes, but not malevolent.

So that kinda pissed me off. Not to the point that it warped me into a racist lunatic, but it did make me angry... and I can totally see how repeated situations like that might turn a person jaded.

It's nothing like telling black people to "get over it." And you seem to know this, so it's weird you would even say as much.

I can understand being annoyed that you cannot seem to bridge the gap with certain black Americans you come across. I can even understand these encounters causing a person to become jaded and prejudiced, in the sense that I can hold the possible situation within my mind and imagine outcomes. But my response to you remains thus: it is not a legitimate position to be held truly by anyone who has had a wide range of experience with others, and/or are secure enough with themselves to realize that they might not know that of which they speak.

There's been a general consensus built within this thread backed with scholarly links and dichotomies outlined that negro is not currently acceptable. Most of the discussion has surrounded whether it has always been acceptable or if this is a recent occurrence, but mostly everyone agrees that the term is outmoded at best. The remaining objections have come from you and a few others being confused at what the current catch all term from black Americans is, so that you will never offend anyone. So here's the gameplan:

I've said it before, but African American and black are the generally accepted terms. Not every black person will vibe with these terms, and that's okay, but most will understand you mean no ill intent through these words. For the people who do object, apologize, and ask them how they prefer to be referred to. It's very simple, and it doesn't require you or anyone to become frustrated with black people who might be offended by being called something they don't like.

 

[Jado]

People finding that word offensive will have heart attacks if they go to any Latin American country.

I'd like to chime in and add with the rest that "negro" in American English is nothing like "negro" in Spanish (either as a color or reference to black people). The history behind each word, the way each is pronounced, the implied meaning intent when it's used by some... nothing alike. Some of you should stop being dense and dragging down these topics with shitbrain observations (lol men in black in spanish is racist!).