# Is it offensive for me to refer to black people as "brothers?" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 3, 2007, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-offensive-for-me-to-refer-to-black-people-as-brothers/386504 "2007-01-03T02:54:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-offensive-for-me-to-refer-to-black-people-as-brothers/386504/21 "2007-01-03T18:52:09Z")
The whole “brother” label has always been a toss for me. I have encountered a large number of extremely Christian southerners who simply call everyone brother/sister. This practice is not necessarily easy to detect, but a little time and attention reveals it quickly. Additionally, most of my close white friends have hippie parents who call everyone brother/sister as well. So if you referred to a group of black people as “brothers” and you either had a southern drawl or were wearing a dashiki, I would not likely notice the term or even take offense to it. Still, I would not advocate continuing this practice as many people might misinterpret your racial views. [QUOTE=Li’l Pluck] Oh, and FWIW, when other Black people who (a) don’t know me well, or (b) I’m not diggin’ (b/c maybe they’re homophobic or otherwise prejudiced and assume that I share their fucked-up views, etc.) use that term with me, I don’t consider that to be kosher, either. [/QUOTE] I have also had people refer to me as “my brother” in a negative way to draw attention to something in my behavior that they found to be undesirable. For example “Was that you I saw conversatin wit all dem white womens over there, my brother?” Ignorant and close minded too, what a treat. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-offensive-for-me-to-refer-to-black-people-as-brothers/386504/22 "2007-01-03T18:57:54Z")
[QUOTE=sqweels] Hey, I think we have a winner here. Next time I refer to “black guys being all black-guy-like” I’ll be sure to give you credit. [/QUOTE] I can’t be sure, but I think you missed my point. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-offensive-for-me-to-refer-to-black-people-as-brothers/386504/23 "2007-01-04T00:40:05Z")
[QUOTE=Misnomer] I can’t be sure, but I think you missed my point. [/QUOTE] Only deliberately. ---
**Author:** ![Li\_l\_Pluck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee59a6/32.png) [@Li\_l\_Pluck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Li_l_Pluck)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-offensive-for-me-to-refer-to-black-people-as-brothers/386504/24 "2007-01-04T08:21:46Z")
[QUOTE=Frosted Glass] \I have also had people refer to me as “my brother” in a negative way to draw attention to something in my behavior that they found to be undesirable. For example “Was that you I saw conversatin wit all dem white womens over there, my brother?” Ignorant and close minded too, what a treat. [/QUOTE] Ummm-hm, I’ve seen this before, 'cept it’s usually, “…my BRUthaaa?” And it’s like, “Really, please STFU.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-offensive-for-me-to-refer-to-black-people-as-brothers/386504.md?page=1)