# Is it racist to describe a black person as being black? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 5, 2002, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525 "2002-07-05T18:50:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/21 "2002-07-06T05:20:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lamia \* > \*\* > I don’t believe I’ve _ever_ heard one white person point another white person out as simply “that white guy/girl over there”. \*\* Before Jim Carrey become popular, many people, including whites, referred to him as “the white guy on In Living Color.” I find it both disturbing and humorous that there’s so much debate on whether it’s offensive for a “WHITE” person to refer to someone as being black. I’d imagine that if a black person could be offended by being called “black”, then there’s just as good of a chance of a white person being called “white.” But I guess our feelings aren’t as important… ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/22 "2002-07-06T06:52:01Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t believe I’ve ever heard one white person point another white person out as simply “that white guy/girl over there”. Anyone I know would if the person in question was the only or one of the few white people in the area. I doubt that most people, upon needing to point out a specific black person among a crowd of black people, would say simply, “That black guy over there,” though I suppose some might say, “That black guy in the white shirt.” I don’t do that, but the only reason I know that is because someone asked me once why I didn’t. I think I made a subconscious effort to disregard race when it wasn’t necessary for a descriptor, but I certainly wouldn’t go out of my way to avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/23 "2002-07-06T09:46:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Khadaji \* > \*\* > Not necessarily. I once referred to a black friend as being black and she let me know that the proper term was African American. > > \*\* From across the room, though? So, to describe a guy, I have to get to know whether he is of African descent (not Caribbean or anything else) and whether he is American? I didn’t have to do that for the tall guy or the bearded guy! It’s merely a PHYSICAL trait, and African-ness or American-ness are not. So nope, he’s still the black guy across the room, standing next to the tall guy, across from the guy with the beard. Are they of European or South American descent? Are they American or British? It doesn’t matter if you are just trying to point a guy out in a crowd. [Off the topic, I’ve always wondered, if a white guy from South Africa moved to America, would I be expected to call him “African-American”? I’m not trying to be a wiseguy; I’m really curious how this affects the conversation.] ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/24 "2002-07-06T10:04:10Z")
It isn’t ‘racist’, but it can be awkward for anyone to be identified as the only ( ) guy in a room full of \_\_\_s. ---
**Author:** ![Tiffinie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Tiffinie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiffinie)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/25 "2002-07-06T14:57:11Z")
I think not. Some people try so hard to be politically correct all the time that they go overboard. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/26 "2002-07-06T15:52:06Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by throatshot \* > \*\* > Anyone I know would if the person in question was the only or one of the few white people in the area._\* Do you just think they would, or have you actually heard people say this? I’m not being snarky here, it’s a serious question that I’d like to hear the answer to, because I am fairly certain that I have never heard one white person describe another white person solely as a white person. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/27 "2002-07-06T18:52:42Z")
Re the OP: No, using “black” as a descriptive term to denot one individual in a crowd is not racist. > [@](#): > > “Where’s the new VP of advertising?” > “He’s the handsome, older black man in the grey suit over to the left.” See how easy that is? OTOH, using “black” as the chief or only descriptor can be iffy. > [@](#): > > “I was out last night with Sarah, Jane, and LaSandra.” > “Have I met LaSandra?” > “Oh, you know her–she’s my black friend” Not good. Re how to refer to black people: “Black people” seems to work. I don’t buy the “African American” tag because American blacks are as African as George Bush. I know the argument about reclaiming their lost heritage, but I don’t buy it. A lot of white people have lost heritage as well, but they don’t call themselves European Americans. Actual Africans, in my experience, tend to resent black Americans, who often try to be “more African than thou” or else they come off as incredibly condescending. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/28 "2002-07-06T19:04:23Z")
**Lamia** , the reason why you haven’t heard white people describe another person as white is because white people–at least in the States–are rarely in the minority. So “whiteness” isn’t a distinguishing feature unless you’re in a unique environment. I was just thinking about this: How we describe someone changes depending on who we are talking to. For example, when a black person is describing a black person TO a black person (I know, confusing), he/she wouldn’t use “black” as a descriptor. They would use skin tone. As in, “You know So-and-So, she’s light-skinned, tall, with short hair.” But if this person is talking to a white person, then they’ll usually describe someone as “black”. At least, this is what I have found in my experience. I don’t know if white people do this switching of language, but maybe they do. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/29 "2002-07-06T19:12:33Z")
I don’t agree with your generalizations about black Americans or Africans, **gobear** ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/30 "2002-07-06T19:18:17Z")
I think it can be racist in certain contexts, intentional or not. Here in the south, it’s common to hear something like this: “I met this black guy last week who told me that…” when the race of the individual had NOTHING to do with anything else in the story. If it isn’t relative to the story, why do you feel compelled to mention that he was black??? Of course, sexism of that type happens, too. “I was working with this female engineer last week, and she helped me to…” Once again, her gender has nothing to do with anything, and yet it’s used as a descriptor for the individual anyway, just because female engineers are in the minority (for the sake of this example–I don’t know how uncommon female engineers are.) ---
**Author:** ![de\_trop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@de\_trop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/de_trop)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/31 "2002-07-06T19:28:48Z")
In my neighborhood, which is perhaps 40% black and another 20% non-white, the prefered term is black, except between younger blacks, where it’s usually nigger. The oldest blacks will also sometimes complain about black being too new and saying they preferred colored, but don’t actually use that any more. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/32 "2002-07-06T20:15:43Z")
Forgive rambling, but as a doughty, bullet-ridden Old Moderate, I’m delighted-DELIGHTED–we’re finally muddling our way to at least _trying_ to see what’s pertinent and what’s extraneous. IMHO (snork!) PC and bigoted idiocies sail right past the vast majority of well-intentioned, “living-life” people. A’course I also remember–vividly–the days when even associating in public w/ anyone of different skin hue was absolutely verboten, often by law. “Crossing”–socially, god forbid romantically!–would result in a population of zebra-striped, spotted and visually identifiable freaks. (“Think of the CHILDREN!”) Forget social distintions, even the slightest “give” in racial barriers would result not only in the collapse of civilization a total over-run of biological freaks. If you doubt that’s true–you didn’t live it. I did. It was mind-numblingly ugly, vicious and STUPID. If time depth helps, I find nothing but joy–JOY–that people, just ordinary people, are even _noticing_ that black, beige, umber, mocha folks exist and have a voice at all is a huge gift right there. When in doubt of what people want to be called–ask 'em courteously. Courteous folks appreciate the courtesy. Veb ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/33 "2002-07-06T23:46:41Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t agree with your generalizations about black Americans or Africans, **Gobear** Well, I’m sure that as a generalization it may be inaccurate. I’m just passing on the opinions of my Ethiopian flatmate in Korea who loathed black Americans for the reasons I listed, and the opinions of Nigerians and Cameroonians I knew who also detested black Americans. No doubt your experience is much broader than mine. ---
**Author:** ![Nevermind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/53a042/32.png) [@Nevermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nevermind)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/34 "2002-07-07T04:11:00Z")
I worked a shift at predominately black hospital and when I was referred to as "the white girl " I looked all around me and said–'oh, I guess that’s me. ’ Everyone laughed. What else were they going to call me, and why should I be offended at the term “white”? You can’t offend me by calling me…white!! Point is–if this black person you speak of isn’t fixated on his race being an issue, then he shouldn’t be offended. If he is, then that is his problem, not yours. FWIW-Gobear I have had similar experiences. ---
**Author:** ![Cessandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cessandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cessandra)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/35 "2002-07-07T04:36:58Z")
The only African-born American I ever met was white. Not all Africans are black, not all blacks are African. The term is ridiculous. And anyone who insists on being called that may from now on refer to me as Irish-Italian-French-American. Every damn time. ---
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/36 "2002-07-07T06:34:01Z")
If a person self-identifies as “black” or “African American,” then refer to them as such. I certainly have no qualms about calling someone Irish American, if that is what they wish. I don’t see the harm in addressing a person as s/he wishes, just so long as you realize that there’s more to her/him than just superficial appearance and that s/he is essentially an individual. As far as Ethiopeans, Nigerians, and such like not liking American blacks for whatever reasons, that’s their loss. [shrug] It’s a big world, and ain’t everybody going to get along with everybody else. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/37 "2002-07-07T08:15:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lamia \* > \*\* > > Do you just think they would, or have you actually heard people say this? I’m not being snarky here, it’s a serious question that I’d like to hear the answer to, because I am fairly certain that I have never heard one white person describe another white person solely as a white person. \*\* Yes, but you also have to realize that I grew up in northeast Texas and went to college in south Arkansas. Both places I lived were around 60% or more black. The places I worked for in college employed about 75%-90% blacks. It was fairly common to refer to the person’s race as a descriptor when pointing someone out. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/38 "2002-07-07T17:07:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lamia \* > > I’m not being snarky here, it’s a serious question that I’d like to hear the answer to, because I am fairly certain that I have never heard one white person describe another white person solely as a white person. Eminem is often described by journos as white. I’m sure at least some of them are white. > [@](#): > > _originally posted by BabaBooey_ > I’d imagine that if a black person could be offended by being called “black”, then there’s just as good of a chance of a white person being called “white.” But I guess our feelings aren’t as important… i guess we don’t have a history of being oppressed to make our feelings matter as much. some people are over-sensitive, for sure, but i get the feeling that where racial matters are concerned, a black guy has _slightly_ more reason to feel upset about being singled out than mr white guy does. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/39 "2002-07-07T23:09:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by celestina \* > \*\* I don’t see the harm in addressing a person as s/he wishes, \*\* But, the way I understood the OP was is not about Mr. X addressing me in whatever manner I wish to be addressed, but about Mr. X, who may not ever have met me before that moment himself, describing me to someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525/40 "2002-07-07T23:43:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gex gex \* > \*\* > > Eminem is often described by journos as white. I’m sure at least some of them are white. > \*\* Thank you for helping me to prove my point. I very much doubt that any journalists describe him _solely_ as a “white person”. I have, however, heard him described as “white rapper, Eminem”. Yet one never hears “white pop singer, Britney Spears”. This is because white people rarely feel the need to mention the race of another white person _unless_ they are also mentioning that the person possesses some attribute that is usually associated with a non-white group. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-describe-a-black-person-as-being-black/117525.md?page=1)