# Is naming a black dog Obama racist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 19, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246 "2010-09-19T02:23:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/21 "2010-09-19T08:35:43Z")
One of my college housemates in the 60s had a big black dog named “Nigger.” The dog managed to get outside, and the girl was too embarrassed to go out yelling the dog’s name. She never saw it again. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/22 "2010-09-19T09:00:56Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@magellan01](#): > > > > Related question I was wondering about from something else I read: is any and every depiction/caricature of Obama as a monkey necessarily racist? > > Yes > > > [@](#): > > > > I don’t think so, as people are often insulted by being monkey-like as a commentary on their perceived stupidity or cluelessness. Bush was the Chimp. We have “a thousand monkeys typing”, etc. > > Bush was compared to a chimp because he _looked_ like one. It was not a comment on his race, it was a comment (admittedly an unkind one) on his actual physical appearance. With Obama, it’s only because of his race and nothing else. He does not have a simian appearance, nor does he exhibit stupidity or cluelessness. Makes sense. I’ll go with that. But if we were talking about a black person that did look chimpish are ape-ish, would that allow that the caricature would not necessarily be racist. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/23 "2010-09-19T13:03:08Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Makes sense. I’ll go with that. But if we were talking about a black person that did look chimpish are ape-ish, would that allow that the caricature would not necessarily be racist. I think most people would still perceive it as racist. The person making the caricature might not _mean_ it to be racist, but given the context and the strong association of black people charactatured as monkeys with racism in this country, most people are going to think its a racist attack. The point of communication is what other people think you mean after all, not what deep down inside you really mean. ETA: By the same token, I think the OP was right to warn off his co-worker. Coming from China, she might not realize the context her dogs name is going to be taken in, but thats not going to stop people from taking it in that context. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/24 "2010-09-19T13:28:55Z")
Probably less than calling Obama a black dog. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/25 "2010-09-19T14:43:50Z")
Bravo! ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/26 "2010-09-19T15:12:32Z")
You could name it “Mr Obama” and that would tone it down a lot. Remember how on _the Dick Van Dyke Show_, Sally had a cat named, “Mr Henderson.” ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/27 "2010-09-19T15:17:43Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > One of my college housemates in the 60s had a big black dog named “Nigger.” The dog managed to get outside, and the girl was too embarrassed to go out yelling the dog’s name. She never saw it again. Pfft. [She should have said he was named after a war hero.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigger_(dog)) I don’t think naming a black dog Obama (or a yellow cat Tse-tung, or a white cat Pik) is necessarily offensive. But what do I know? I wanted to name a pair of black kittens ‘Sambo’ &, iirc, ‘Negro’ as litter names once. My mother overruled me & called them Bruno & Martin. Well, they were her cat’s kittens, so not so much overruled as refused to take my stupid suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Mozart1220](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Mozart1220](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mozart1220)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/28 "2010-09-19T16:06:47Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > One of my college housemates in the 60s had a big black dog named “Nigger.” The dog managed to get outside, and the girl was too embarrassed to go out yelling the dog’s name. She never saw it again. You must really get around, because I heard that story from a friend of my brother’s, except he spoke of a man who did this. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/29 "2010-09-19T16:26:23Z")
I think that, if anyone questions her on it, all she need say is that her father named the dog, not she. Was it racist of the father to name the dog that? Likely. Was it a particularly bad or dangerous instance of racism? Probably not. Does it reflect on her what her father named a dog? No. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/30 "2010-09-19T16:47:03Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > Just tell her it’s technically inaccurate since BHO is mulatto and not negro, therefore the name doesn’t make any sense. So, a Dalmatian named Obama would be ok? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anduril](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Anduril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduril)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/31 "2010-09-19T16:51:21Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > With Obama, it’s only because of his race and nothing else. He does not have a simian appearance, nor does he exhibit stupidity or cluelessness. Well, to me at least, he does look like a chimp and he does exhibit stupidity and cluelessness. Why should it be racist to call Obama a chimp if calling Bush the same name is NOT racist? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/32 "2010-09-19T17:03:47Z")
> [@SomeBodyUK](#): > > She’s a nice person, I just don’t want people giving her shit for it. Unless you’re her older brother, I’d say let her deal with that. > [@](#): > > A while ago a white collegaue wondered out loud if she was a racist for coming in to work on Martin Luther King day. Well, that person was being an idiot. I don’t know if we can save our friends from comments made by idiots. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/33 "2010-09-19T17:08:12Z")
> [@Anduril](#): > > Well, to me at least, he does look like a chimp and he does exhibit stupidity and cluelessness. Why should it be racist to call Obama a chimp if calling Bush the same name is NOT racist? For the same reason that calling Obama a “Porch Monkey” is racist, while calling Bush the same would just get you curious looks, but you knew that already. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/34 "2010-09-19T18:08:28Z")
In the OMG must share category, I just saw a Chia Obama on TV. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/35 "2010-09-19T19:07:58Z")
It’s the workplace. Pet pics serve no business function. It _might_ be offensive to some, and that’s enough. She should take it down. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/36 "2010-09-19T19:44:24Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Probably less than calling Obama a black dog. _Hey Obama gonna make you move Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove_ 😛 (Sorry, that was the first thing that popped into my head) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/37 "2010-09-19T19:48:03Z")
Unless it is a Kenyan Water Dog, it is racist. ---
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/38 "2010-09-19T19:54:10Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > One of my college housemates in the 60s had a big black dog named “Nigger.” The dog managed to get outside, and the girl was too embarrassed to go out yelling the dog’s name. She never saw it again. Was her last name, by any chance, [de la Poer?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rats_in_the_Walls)😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anduril](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Anduril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduril)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/39 "2010-09-19T23:22:12Z")
> [@DMC](#): > > > [@Anduril](#): > > > > Well, to me at least, he does look like a chimp and he does exhibit stupidity and cluelessness. Why should it be racist to call Obama a chimp if calling Bush the same name is NOT racist? > > For the same reason that calling Obama a “Porch Monkey” is racist, while calling Bush the same would just get you curious looks, but you knew that already. No, I don’t know that already so please explain. I’m not American so I’m not all that familiar with the subtext. My position right now is “what’s good for the goose should be good for the gander” unless I’m missing something. (I’m not feigning ignorance here) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246/40 "2010-09-19T23:57:28Z")
Except that what the goose got here is centuries of slavery, legally-enforced discrimination, and a festering racism that persists to this day. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to just pretend that all that never happened. Hopefully someday we’ll be far enough past that that it’ll be acceptable to compare politicians of any race to monkeys, but we’re not there yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-naming-a-black-dog-obama-racist/554246.md?page=3)