# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/81 "2016-08-23T18:51:42Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Are you saying that once an organization founds itself, it isn’t permitted to change its name? Why would NAACP still use the term colored people if it was considered racist? > > It’s a simple stroke of a pen and filing documents to change the name to the National Association for the Advancement of People of Color (NAAPC). > [@DrDeth](#): > > So, they cant change their name, eh?:dubious: Maybe they have better things to do with their money than paying for new signs, letterheads, trademarks, etc. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/82 "2016-08-23T18:52:52Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Are you saying that once an organization founds itself, it isn’t permitted to change its name? Why would NAACP still use the term colored people if it was considered racist? > > It’s a simple stroke of a pen and filing documents to change the name to the National Association for the Advancement of People of Color (NAAPC). > > My guess is that they don’t consider it racist and Robach or someone at ABC is overly politically correct. As others have pointed out, the NAACP keeps the name due to the fact that the formation of the organization, with its original name, was such a significant moment in the history race relations in the United States. Here’s a [2008 interview](http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4142989/) with William Barber, who is President of the North Carolina NAACP, and has been involved in the organization at the national level for years: > [@](#): > > **Dear Rev. Barber, this is something that’s always puzzled me. If the term “colored” is considered offensive, why is it still part of the NAACP’s name? Thank you for your time. – Bret Chambers, Wake Forest** > > Great question. To be quite honest, there has been some internal wrestling with the name, but one reason it hasn’t been changed is out of respect for history and the founders. > > In 1909, when the organization began, “colored” was one of the more respected identifications used by the larger society when compared with all the other grotesque names used to refer to African-Americans. > > Another reason however, is that the NAACP was founded as a multi-ethnic organization by whites, blacks, Jews, Christians, male, female, etc. In fact, the majority of the founders were white. The first chair was a white woman. So, in a sense, it was a “colored” organization dedicated to the eradication of racism and legalized racial discrimination and disparity. > > Even today, our mission is broad and covers all minorities: “The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.” > [@amanset](#): > > Benedict Cumberpatch did the same thing last year. When it was reported in the UK quite a few people were confused as “coloured” isn’t seen as quite so wrong over there. > > [Benedict Cumberbatch apologises after calling black actors 'coloured' | Benedict Cumberbatch | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/jan/26/benedict-cumberbatch-apologises-after-calling-black-actors-coloured) Match of the Day commentator Alan Hansen got into similar hot water about five years back when he made a reference to “coloured” football players in the Premier League. A few black players criticized him, and the BBC received some complaints. In my university history classes, quite a few of the documents that i assign to my students used terms for African Americans that are now considered outdated or offensive, including “negro” and “colored.” I try to explain to the students that, while such terms were considered standard in the past, and were used by black Americans themselves, we don’t use them any more. Despite these admonitions, i still often get students referring to African Americans as “negros” and “colored people” in their papers, and in classroom discussion. ---
**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, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/83 "2016-08-23T19:19:02Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > 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. Raise your hand if you’re ever been an angry little kid you told her parents: Fascists! You don’t own me! and the parents said, “why yes dear, we are fascists.” Cis is often used as a “fuck you” to those willing to let you vent those pent up emotions. There there dear, let it out. ---
**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, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/84 "2016-08-23T19:38:07Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > It’s annoying when white social justice warriors know better than black people, what black people are offended by. Here’s a secret. If you want to know what black people think, try listening to black people. I’ve never identified myself as a social justice warrior. I just consider myself a decent human being. I always assumed all decent human beings are in favor of social justice. I wasn’t aware they are people who are proud to declare they oppose social justice. ---
**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, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/85 "2016-08-23T19:47:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > 1. Who made up these rules? Who made up the rule that you shouldn’t pick your nose in public? Nobody sits down and decides what’s bad manners. It emerges from public opinion. Calling somebody colored in 1916 was perfectly acceptable. It’s not acceptable in 2016. This is a fact. There wasn’t a specific date and individual who changed it just as there wasn’t a specific date and individual who decided you shouldn’t pick your nose. It just happened. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/86 "2016-08-23T19:56:28Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Every five years? As several people have pointed out, the term colored stopped being acceptable over five decades ago. I guess it depends on the context. [From the 1970’s:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEDzNA39Vvc) Fred Sanford: I was attacked by four men! Officer: Were they colored? Fred Sanford: Yeah! White. * * * And in the courtroom… Sanford: There’s enough niggers in [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwxYmgbp-NU) to make a Tarzan movie! ---
**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, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/87 "2016-08-23T20:01:49Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Cis is often used as a “fuck you” to those willing to let you vent those pent up emotions. There there dear, let it out. No, it really isn’t. I’m sure it’s happened. And often is a matter of perception, I guess, but you said its function is as a slur, essentially. And I am an actual human being who has cause to use cisgender in a human sentence from time to time, so unlike you, I have a basis for telling you that it isn’t a pejorative term. It’s just a fucking word that means a specific thing that no other word means, not any part of which is “fuck you.” ---
**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, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/88 "2016-08-23T20:06:19Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > No, it really isn’t. I’m sure it’s happened. And often is a matter of perception, I guess, but you said its function is as a slur, essentially. > > And I am an actual human being who has cause to use cisgender in a human sentence from time to time, so unlike you, I have a basis for telling you that it isn’t a pejorative term. It’s just a fucking word that means a specific thing that no other word means, not any part of which is “fuck you.” Cis. White male. Whatevs. In context it’s appropriate, sometimes it’s a cathartic fuck you to the universe. But don’t be offended when I use it! Sure, in context. Be a childish passive aggressive asshole about it I can tell. ---
**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, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/89 "2016-08-23T20:16:00Z")
It’s not even reasonably possible to distinguish your whatevs-sarcasm where you’re presumably speaking from the perspective of your strawman from when you think you’re making a point on your own behalf. Sign of a really shitty strawman. That’s why you and **octopus** ended up anti-SJW strawmanning each other a little while back and didn’t even realize you were doing it. Just, you know, so you know. ---
**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, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/90 "2016-08-23T20:23:33Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > It’s not even reasonably possible to distinguish your whatevs-sarcasm where you’re presumably speaking from the perspective of your strawman from when you think you’re making a point on your own behalf. Sign of a really shitty strawman. > > That’s why you and **octopus** ended up anti-SJW strawmanning each other a little while back and didn’t even realize you were doing it. Just, you know, so you know. It’s like hearing people claim ". _Well, I know I’m a million times as humble as thou art."_😛 ---
**Author:** ![bb49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@bb49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bb49)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/91 "2016-08-23T22:36:36Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > There’s a trend nowadays in some circles for what’s called “person-first terminology”. It applies to all sorts of descriptors, not just race: Thus, for instance, one is supposed to say “person with autism”, instead of “autistic person”. The purported rationale for it is that leading off with the adjective is supposedly dehumanizing, while person-first terminology affirms that the person is first and foremost a person. In practice, though, the person-first terminology is often awkward enough that it serves only to draw attention to the qualifier. You damn rights person-first terminology can be awkward. What do these feel-gooders expect us to call gay people? People of gayness? People with gayness? Political correctness is turning our society into a bunch of clowns. ---
**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 24, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/92 "2016-08-24T00:14:41Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > It’s not even reasonably possible to distinguish your whatevs-sarcasm where you’re presumably speaking from the perspective of your strawman from when you think you’re making a point on your own behalf. Sign of a really shitty strawman. > > That’s why you and **octopus** ended up anti-SJW strawmanning each other a little while back and didn’t even realize you were doing it. Just, you know, so you know. Yeah. I realized that in retrospect and was quite embarrassed. ---
**Author:** ![greenmario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/97f17d/32.png) [@greenmario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenmario)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/93 "2016-08-24T00:16:42Z")
I agree that people should decide what they are referred to as, but I can’t help but feel that in a few years time “person of color” will be seen as the ignorant thing to say. Also, there was no colored people meeting to decide what is correct nowadays, at least I wasn’t invited to it. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/94 "2016-08-24T00:27:01Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > That’s why you and **octopus** ended up anti-SJW strawmanning each other a little while back and didn’t even realize you were doing it. Just, you know, so you know. I didn’t even address my comment to her, but my post came after her’s so she felt the need to defend herself. You probably shouldn’t use strawman as a standin for everything. It get’s overused and eventually loses meaning. ---
**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 24, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/95 "2016-08-24T01:25:04Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I didn’t even address my comment to her, but my post came after her’s so she felt the need to defend herself. > > You probably shouldn’t use strawman as a standin for everything. It get’s overused and eventually loses meaning. So does SJW ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/96 "2016-08-24T01:49:52Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > > [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > > > > > Because they’re wrong about it being a pejorative. How’s that. > > > > And who decides that? > > The people \*\*\*using \*\*\*the word. Because that’s what pejorative means. So by this logic, a white person who _says_the N word, rather than the black _recipient/target_ of the N word, is the one who gets to decide if the N word is offensive or not? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/97 "2016-08-24T03:19:36Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > So by this logic, a white person who _says_the N word, rather than the black _recipient/target_ of the N word, is the one who gets to decide if the N word is offensive or not? Isn’t it sort of a mutual thing, like most communication? The person using the term decides if he or she is trying to offend somebody, and the person hearing the term decides if he or she is offended by it? ---
**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 24, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/98 "2016-08-24T03:38:54Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > So by this logic, a white person who _says_the N word, rather than the black _recipient/target_ of the N word, is the one who gets to decide if the N word is offensive or not? They each decide for themselves how it’s intended and how it’s received. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/99 "2016-08-24T04:32:00Z")
I would argue there is a different between a word used pejoratively, and a slur or pejorative word. Any word can be used pejoratively. But only words that are almost always used pejoratively are slurs. “SJW” is a slur. It was created as one, and has only broadened in definition. “Cisgender” isn’t a slur. “Strawman” gets closer due to ignorant usage, but it still isn’t one. That doesn’t mean someone can’t use “cisgender” pejoratively. But that’s not its main function, so it is not a slur, and thus no one is going to take you seriously when you try and remove it from the language. BTW, I’d say “PC” is a slur at this point. It has no meaning except in attacking people for being nice and trying not to offend others. The original idea of lying for political gain seems to be gone. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colored-people-is-now-a-slur/763654/100 "2016-08-24T04:59:35Z")
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