# Colored people is now a slur? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 22, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654 "2016-08-22T18:44:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/61 "2016-08-23T14:09:35Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > He’s not African either. Born in London. > > (The joke is that an American reporter had a brain fart and described him as African-American, and he bemusedly responded that he was neither). Alas, I’ll wager that a great many blacks in America aren’t Africans, using the same logic as Mr. Elba, yet I _think_ African-American is still a non-offensive descriptor here. I wonder what the rest of the world makes of our contorted machinations over describing one’s race? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/62 "2016-08-23T14:16:33Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Of course a white person’s opinion matters. It has just as much weight as a black person’s or a green person’s. Changing terms every 5 years is silly. What saddens me are the posters who express the racist view that color of skin matters when it comes to expressing ideas. Every five years? As several people have pointed out, the term colored stopped being acceptable over five decades ago. And dry your crocodile tears. The reality is black people know a lot more about anti-black racism than white people do; they experience it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/63 "2016-08-23T14:21:31Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I mean, if someone prefers the term “african american”, but I have no idea, and I use the term “black” _in good faith_, and they get offended, that is squarely their problem. Don’t move the goalposts. We’re not talking about the terms black and African American; both of which are widely accepted. The topic is the term colored - which is long outdated. Unless you’re over ninety, nobody can claim they’re using colored in good faith. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/64 "2016-08-23T15:01:05Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Every five years? As several people have pointed out, the term colored stopped being acceptable over five decades ago. > > And dry your crocodile tears. The reality is black people know a lot more about anti-black racism than white people do; they experience it. Colored is perfectly acceptable. It’s just a bit archaic. A few people’s opinion on a message board of perhaps 100 active members is in no way binding. From the Wikipedia “The term lives on in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, generally called NAACP.[1] In 2008 Carla Sims, its communications director, said “the term ‘colored’ is not derogatory, [the NAACP] chose the word ‘colored’ because it was the most positive description commonly used [in 1909, when the association was founded]. It’s outdated and antiquated but not offensive.”[10] There has not been a movement to change the name of the organization.” Not that anyone needs permission but there you have it. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/65 "2016-08-23T15:07:38Z")
It’s annoying when white social justice warriors know better than black people, what black people are offended by. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/66 "2016-08-23T15:19:31Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > It’s annoying when white social justice warriors know better than black people, what black people are offended by. So? Be annoyed all you wish that others think opinions matter regardless of race. And I’m sure you took a scientific poll of black people and know what you speak of. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/67 "2016-08-23T15:21:35Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > So? Be annoyed all you wish that others think opinions matter regardless of race. > > And I’m sure you took a scientific poll of black people and know what you speak of. Better than your average control freak passive aggressive SJW, I’d imagine. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/68 "2016-08-23T15:30:08Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Better than your average control freak passive aggressive SJW, I’d imagine. Control freak? Projecting much? I don’t care what words people use. You seem to. Please cite your source on level of offensiveness. I’ve provided one that backs my point of view. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/69 "2016-08-23T15:33:20Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Don’t move the goalposts. We’re not talking about the terms black and African American; both of which are widely accepted. The topic is the term colored - which is long outdated. Unless you’re over ninety, nobody can claim they’re using colored in good faith. I’m not moving the goalposts; they move of their own accord, and that’s the entire reason for the thread; the terms du jour have changed, and not everyone has caught up or cares to catch up. FWIW, my grandmother still uses ‘colored’ in good faith (she’s 93). People younger than her still lapse into ‘negro’ from time to time without meaning offense due to age related reasons. Hell, even now there’s a divide between african american vs black, and I don’t have a clue when either is appropriate or inappropriate. Ultimately, it’s going to take a degree of understanding and tolerance on both sides- one side being pig-headed and insisting on calling the other group by a term they don’t like is bad, just as that same side expecting people to clairvoyantly use their term of choice, or really, to expect people to be all that concerned about terminology, instead of trying to gauge their intent. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/70 "2016-08-23T16:45:09Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Here are the rules: > > If you personally are offended by being called cisgender, then it would be offensive for somebody who knew this to call you that. If your friend is offended by being called black, then it’s offensive to call him black if you know this. If you know somebody named William and you know he doesn’t like being called Bill, then it’s offensive to call him Bill. > > On a broader note, go with the consensus within the group. If black people generally don’t like to be called colored, then don’t call a black person colored. If non-trans people in general decide they don’t like being called cisgender, then people should stop using the term. > > You’re allowed to decide what you personally are offended by when it’s directed at you. You are not allowed to decide what other people find offensive or acceptable when it’s directed at them. . 1. Who made up these rules? 2. Who took a poll and found out that Blacks find “colored” offensive? 3. A lot of people dont like being called “cis”, and why should they, since it’s a pejorative? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/71 "2016-08-23T16:46:31Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Then they get to say ‘hey, I myself like “hearing impaired” thanks’ > > Problem solved? No, since people will then correct posts or speech by saying "You know, they don’t like “Hearing impaired” anymore you should use “deaf.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/72 "2016-08-23T16:48:06Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > And if you continue to use that term, having been informed that it is offensive, it is squarely **your** problem. Being informed by _who_, as a speaker for everyone of that group? Who elected them? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/73 "2016-08-23T16:49:24Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > It’s annoying when white social justice warriors know better than black people, what black people are offended by. Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/74 "2016-08-23T18:26:19Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > 1. A lot of people dont like being called “cis”, and why should they, since it’s a pejorative? Because they’re wrong about it being a pejorative. How’s that. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/75 "2016-08-23T18:32:15Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > CP was what the melanin-proficient were called in the 50s. You know, the time of separate bathrooms and Jim Crow. PoC is the current PC term. I am not sure the status of African-American, except that Idris Elba doesn’t like being called that 🙂 I would imagine Charlize Theron doesn’t, either. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/76 "2016-08-23T18:32:40Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Because they’re wrong about it being a pejorative. How’s that. And who decides that? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/77 "2016-08-23T18:35:47Z")
The people using the word. Because that’s what pejorative means. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/78 "2016-08-23T18:39:26Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Because they’re wrong about it being a pejorative. How’s that. Of course it’s pejorative, when used pejoratively. Like any other word. We know it when we hear it. The person being labeled gets to decide whether the label is offensive, unless the SJWs tell us it’s not, because they’re in charge. Even when they aren’t us. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/79 "2016-08-23T18:44:28Z")
This SJW bullshit is incredibly stupid and makes you sound stupid. You want to shadowbox with the ghosts you’ve conjured in your head instead of actually talking about actual things in the actual world, go for it. Godspeed. Yes, a word is pejorative when it is used pejoratively. Raise your hand if you’ve ever used “cisgender” in a sentence that wasn’t about the word “cisgender.” Oops! You’re all disqualified. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/80 "2016-08-23T18:49:47Z")
> [@Duke\_of\_Rat](#): > > I wonder what the rest of the world makes of our contorted machinations over describing one’s race? It makes for a filler column when the columnist who writes about language is having a lazy day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654.md?page=5)