The C in NAACP

[Therealbubba]

I've always figured that it would be offensive to refer to a non-white as a colored person. "You all colored folk is always welcome here in Mississippi." etc.

So, what's the deal here? Is it racist to refer to colored folk as colored folk? If it's good enough for the NAACP, is it good enough for whitey? Nowadays it seems that you can never be too politically correct.

[TubaDiva]

The NAACP was founded in 1909; back then, there was no such thing as political correctness and "colored people" was actually considered a term of respect.

your humble TubaDiva/SDStaffDiv
for the Straight Dope

[Contestant #3]

Yeah, but if they are so hung up on changing thing like state flags, why not clean up their own act first and do something with that C?

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Contestant #3

[aseymayo]

Possibly because they don't want to lose that name recognition. The NAACP - and whoever uses the full name anyway - is a respected organization, even to whitey.

It's like Kentucky Fried Chicken - they officially changed their name to KFC. They'd rather we ignored the "fried" part ("frying" anything these days is also not PC) and just remember it's a fine, established restaurant.

Aseymayo, didn't you know? The reason they changed their name was because the Commonwealth of Kentucky copyrighted the name 'Kentucky' and KFC didn't want to pay the royalties . . .

[Myndephuquer]

My heritage of ass-kicking (well, at least they tried - they were hellaciously bold in standing up for what they believe) rebels is just as important to me as any "African's" heritage is to them. I am proud of the stand, maybe not necessarily about one of the causes for that stand. But I am told that I should suppress my past because of a group which is being somewhat hypocritical is saying that I have to get rid of symbols of MY past. If they get rid of the 'C', or 'CP', ("I'm not a colored person, I'm an African American" --- "Well, you're in the wrong f*****g organization then!"), then that may give the argument a little more merit. Either everyone leave the past behind, or no one. Today, it's 'African-American', but in a year or two, it may be something else that is 'pc'. A bit of a tangent, I know, but I'm in a grumpy mood and had to vent.
http://thepage.simplenet.com/flags-usa/confed-flag1.gif

[C K Dexter Haven]

The League of Women Voters has a similar problem. (I'm a male member thereof.)

[Sycorax]

The word "Negro" is also frowned upon by blacks but there is the United Negro College Fund, and they don't use only the initials - I saw a tv promo on it the other night. I don't like "African American" (and Irish American, Italian American, etc.) when referring to American citizens. To use our ancestors' country of origin in front of American is, well, UN-American. I think it's devisive and only encourages racism. I don't refer to myself as European American (or, more specifically, Anglo-Saxon). I think it's devisive and only encourages racism. BTW, I also don't like "native American," meaning the American Indian. I was born in America -- that makes me a native American.

[Bluepony]

Mynde---

That is too cool, that flag. Did you download that from a website? If you did, can you send me the address?

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"...send lawyers, guns, and money..."

Warren Zevon

[Markxxx]

Aseymayo is correct. It is all about name recognition.

Also one thing people failed to mention is that not all "African American" people are OK with that term. I know plenty of "Black" people who refer to themselves as that.

In fact I know of several who claim they are "Black" not African, that they were born Americans and they aren't anyway African.

[Big Iron]

[[My heritage of ass-kicking (well, at least they tried - they were hellaciously bold in standing up for what they believe) rebels is just as important to me as any "African's" heritage is to them. I am proud of the stand, maybe not necessarily about one of the causes for that stand.]]myndlessphquer


That's cute -- especially the part about "one" of the causes (like there have ever really been any besides keeping the niggers down).


[[ But I am told that I should suppress my past because of a group which is being somewhat hypocritical is saying that I have to get rid of symbols of MY past.]]


That part of your past is something for which you should feel embarassment, not pride.

[[ If they get rid of the 'C', or 'CP', ("I'm not a colored person, I'm an African American" --- "Well, you're in the wrong f*****g organization then!"), then that may give the argument a little more merit.]]


Right, I'm sure that's make a big difference for you.

[Brother Haus]

"C" stands for 'colored'? I always had thought NAACP meant, *National Association for the Advancement of Cotton Pickers*.


I'm kidding, Holy Hell!!!!

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I am not weird, I'm just normle challenged.

[Myndephuquer]

BigIronPoleUpMyAss wrote:

That's cute -- especially the part about "one" of the causes (like there have ever really been any besides keeping the niggers down).

I don't feel that secession was entirely about keeping anyone down. If someone keeps getting in your face and telling you that you're wrong about what you're doing, you can either say "I'm so sorry - I'll stop right now" or you can show what you've got hanging by saying "Fuck you! You need to shut that big hole in your head, or I'm going to kick it shut for you!" It takes a little more than a handful of backward-ass hicks to secede and (attempt to) form a new country. That takes brains and balls. Understand that. Forget what the pansy-assed history book authors wrote and use the grey crap between your ears.

That part of your past is something for which you should feel embarassment, not pride.

I feel pride. (see my statement above) You have some stupid/evil crap in your heritage. Do you hide from yours or deny it? Secession was a HUGE, risky endevour, and they knew this, and they went through with it. I am proud to have a heritage of ass-kicking, intelligent people who may have had a character flaw (we are all human, and we all make large mistakes from time to time), and I'm glad to know that I didn't decend from a bunch of pussies.

Where do you think the crackers got the slaves from originally? Do you think a bunch of white guys went to Africa, jumped off the boat and just started lassoing black people? African tribes would conquer/capture other tribes and sell them to the whiteys at the coast. I wonder how many members of the NAACP are direct descendants of those tribes that sold their own into slavery? No one ever questions that. That should make people puke.

Big Iron, I do want you to know that I'm not some sort of white supremacist. I take it that your inane smugness comes from living in New England.

[Big Iron]

{{[[That's cute -- especially the part about "one" of the causes (like there have ever really been any besides keeping the niggers down).]]


I don't feel that secession was entirely about keeping anyone down.}} myndphqued


First of all, the discussion of the South's "heritage," as traditionally associated with the Confederate battle flag, extends beyond slavery and the Civil War to the much more recent experience of many southern states' charming resistance to desegregation.

Not "entirely," huh? Well, isn't that convenient -- by all means, let us all in on all those other "states' rights" issues, besides the right to keep blacks as slaves, that provoked the Civil War?


{{ If someone keeps getting in your face and telling you that you're wrong about what you're doing, you can either say "I'm so sorry - I'll stop right now" or you can show what you've got hanging by saying "Fuck you! You need to shut that big hole in your head, or I'm going to kick it shut for you!"}}


Yeah -- and if, upon years of reflection you realize that, actually, you were really wrong after all, the appropriate response is to show remorse for that, not pride in either the deed or your resistance to change.

{{ It takes a little more than a handful of backward-ass hicks to secede and (attempt to) form a new country. That takes brains and balls. Understand that. Forget what the pansy-assed history book authors wrote and use the grey crap between your ears.}}


Yes, your credibility grows with leaps and bounds. Who cares what those darned history professors say (heck, they're probably just homosexuals, anyway)?

And, of course, critics of official use of the Confederate battle flag just think that all southerners were and always have been ignorant rednecks, despite our direct experience to the contrary.


{{[[That part of your past is something for which you should feel embarassment, not pride.]]


I feel pride.}}


Obviously -- some is justified, some is shameful.



{{You have some stupid/evil crap in your heritage.}}


Of course -- but I don't parade the identifiable symbols of those things under the nose of their victims and their victims' kin.


{{ Secession was a HUGE, risky endevour, and they knew this, and they went through with it. I am proud to have a heritage of ass-kicking, intelligent people who may have had a character flaw (we are all human, and we all make large mistakes from time to time), and I'm glad to know that I didn't decend from a bunch of pussies.}}


Right -- bully for you!


{{Where do you think the crackers got the slaves from originally? Do you think a bunch of white guys went to Africa, jumped off the boat and just started lassoing black people? African tribes would conquer/capture other tribes and sell them to the whiteys at the coast. I wonder how many members of the NAACP are direct descendants of those tribes that sold their own into slavery? No one ever questions that. That should make people puke. }}


Well, that certainly wipes the blood from your hands regarding the civil rights era of the 1950s and 1960s.


{{Big Iron, I do want you to know that I'm not some sort of white supremacist. }}


I don't think you are, either -- but I do have problems with your pride in having a heritage exemplified (in your words, mind you, not that I think there isn't a lot more to the south) by not being a "pussy," and the fact that this "pride" is deemed appropriately displayed by use of symbols distinctly associated with racist behavior.

[THE FUCKING HORN DOGG]

SO IF THE NAME NAACP BOTHERS YOU, TRY DEADPEAOPLEAGAINSTALIVEPEOPLEINHELL!!

SO SHUT UP IF YOU THINK NAACP RULES, BECAUSE THEY FUCKING SUCK.
by the way anyone wanna have sex with me, im cute really i am.

[WallyM7]

Huh?

They allow the patients to access the Internet now?

What else are you allowed in the ward, Dogg?

P.S. Didn't I tell you to stop shouting?

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If you can't laugh at yourself,
make fun of other people.

[Undead Dude]

but there is the United Negro College Fund, and they don't use only the initials - I saw a tv promo on it the other night. -- Sycorax

It's funny that you should say that. The TV ads for them that I have seen in recent months have always specifically said "The College Fund" rather than "United Negro College Fund". I found that interesting, but I wasn't sure of the reason for it.

[AWB]

A black friend of mine and I used to work in the same building that is home to the NRA headquarters (Fairfax, VA). One day while looking at the portraits of the past presidents (60 or so), he says, "Funny. Sure a lotta white guys that've been president of the Negro Rifle Association."

Had I been drinking milk, it would've been out my nose.