# Is the term "Oreo" a racial/ethic slur? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 12, 2020, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512 "2020-06-12T04:00:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/21 "2020-06-12T11:24:02Z")
I know it’s rude, but I’m not sure it’s racist because the only times I’ve ever heard it used have always been by a black person about another black person whose behavior they disapprove of. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/22 "2020-06-12T13:06:14Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I know it’s rude, but I’m not sure it’s racist because the only times I’ve ever heard it used have always been by a black person about another black person whose behavior they disapprove of. No, of frigging course it’s still racist in that context. It’s a black person telling another black person that he’s not “really” black. It’s assigning characteristics to both black and white people. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/23 "2020-06-12T13:08:49Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Most definitely. I don’t think of it as being much in current use, but it’s a Black person who “acts” like they are really White. Black on the outside, white on the inside, get it? Oh, you mean like a “Clarence Thomas”? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/24 "2020-06-12T13:20:15Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I know it’s rude, but I’m not sure it’s racist because the only times I’ve ever heard it used have always been by a black person about another black person whose behavior they disapprove of. No, it’s used by a black person about a black person who they believe to have “white” affectations/mannerisms. Almost always it is an insult, but it’s quite a bit more specific than “black person whose behavior they disapprove of”. As **MrDibble** explained, it is not the same thing as Uncle Tom. A person can meet the criteria for “oreo” but not be an Uncle Tom. And the reverse is also true. Uncle Toms have a specific political disposition. Oreos just behave a certain way. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/25 "2020-06-12T14:02:43Z")
> [@Didi44](#): > > Not the same, > > Uncle Tom is a black person who kowtows or at least pretends to kowtow to white people. I’ve never read the book, but got a new perspective on it from the late 70’s/early 80’s show _ **Benson** _. When someone calls Benson an “Uncle Tom”, the Governor get’s upset, but Benson explains it’s a badge of honor because Uncle Tom was actually a strong and noble man as explained here: > > “Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” to promote the abolitionist cause, basing some of her novel on the testimony of an escaped slave. Her central character was a man of dignity, a good Christian, who suffered the abuses of slavery nobly and died protecting others. So how did Uncle Tom become the byword for a race traitor — a “shuffling, kowtowing, sniveling coward”?” > > Source: [https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-04-19/american-icons-uncle-tom-s-cabin](https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-04-19/american-icons-uncle-tom-s-cabin) As I understand it, the modern connotation of “Uncle Tom” comes from unauthorized minstrel show productions of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, in which the character was portrayed by white actors in blackface, and the character twisted into an apologist for slavery. This portrayal edged out the character of the actual novel in the public consciousness. [More here.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Tom#Epithet) ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/26 "2020-06-12T14:10:07Z")
Yes, it is, but it is normally used by Blacks to derisively characterize another Black as appearing Black on the outside (skin/hair) but, in reality, being white on the inside in terms of thinking and behavior. It’s akin to one Black calling another an “Uncle Tom” or some such. I can’t remember the last time I heard about a white person using the expression. ---
**Author:** ![Skinnybones\_Lampshade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skinnybones_lampshade/32/2872_2.png) [@Skinnybones\_Lampshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skinnybones_Lampshade)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/27 "2020-06-12T14:15:40Z")
In the Streisand version of “A Star is Born,” she is the lead singer in a trio called “The Oreos.” As the lead singer, (white) Barbra Streisand is positioned in the middle and is flanked by backup singers (black) Venetta Fields and Clydie King. The group name struck me at the time as a good-natured joke probably cooked up by the women together. In this particular case, although it does refer to race, I don’t find it to be racist. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/28 "2020-06-12T14:37:47Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I know it’s rude, but I’m not sure it’s racist because the only times I’ve ever heard it used have always been by a black person about another black person whose behavior they disapprove of. No, that’s still racist. It’s _self-hating_ racism, but it’s still racism. Or at least it was when “coconut” was used on me. And not in a joking way. The other, much less euphemistic, term from my milieu is “try-for-White”. Lays it all bare, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/29 "2020-06-12T14:45:52Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > It’s akin to one Black calling another an “Uncle Tom” or some such. No, it really isn’t. Can y’all please stop repeating this craziness? Lemme give y’all an example. Kanye West has been called an Uncle Tom for supporting Trump. You will be hard pressed to find anyone who thinks Kanye West is an oreo. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/30 "2020-06-12T14:53:20Z")
The way I said it a while back is: an Oreo is a black guy who acts white, an Uncle Tom is on Team White. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/31 "2020-06-12T14:57:03Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Most definitely. I don’t think of it as being much in current use, but it’s a Black person who “acts” like they are really White. Black on the outside, white on the inside, get it? I know it as a person with one black parent & one white parent; an oreo is black & white together. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/32 "2020-06-12T15:22:11Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > A sexual context? Have not heard. Will not Google. It’s a threesome with one white and two black participants. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/33 "2020-06-12T15:30:02Z")
Of course. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/34 "2020-06-12T15:45:44Z")
Well, outside of the world of porn aficionados the term is rather well established as a black person acting white. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/35 "2020-06-12T16:42:28Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Well, outside of the world of porn aficionados the term is rather well established as a black person acting white. A lot of terms are contextual. As stated above, there are non-sexual situations where the term Oreo or Reverse Oreo can be used. I’ve jokingly told a white friend that he was the filling in a Twinkie when he was walking between me and my Asian friend! ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/36 "2020-06-12T17:03:08Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > I know it as a person with one black parent & one white parent; an oreo is black & white together. According to George Jefferson, he’s/she’s a zebra! ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/37 "2020-06-12T17:29:29Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > I was recently involved in a discussion where someone white called a public figure an “Oreo.” No one in the room was African-American, but one participant (an Asian) objected. > > Is “Oreo” a racist term to be slapped down, at least when used by whites? I honestly don’t know. Up until now I hadn’t thought so, but I’m open to learning that I’m wrong. (Personally, I’ll err on the side of caution - I can get by without using the term, so I will.) I’m really curious, what was the context and who was the public figure being called an Oreo? ---
**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:** [June 12, 2020, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/38 "2020-06-12T18:18:51Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > I know it as a person with one black parent & one white parent No, that’s an Obama. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/39 "2020-06-12T19:26:35Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I’m really curious, what was the context and who was the public figure being called an Oreo? Someone speculated that [Charles Brown](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-defense-airforce/as-u-s-struggles-with-race-issues-senate-confirms-first-black-air-force-chief-of-staff-idUSKBN23G2X2?il=0) was appointed to his role as the first black Air Force chief because he is an Oreo. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512/40 "2020-06-12T21:06:51Z")
I am surprised to see the pushback on actually black people about the meaning of terms and how they’re perceived. It’s weird, frankly. It’s like when people argue with me about how my name is pronounced. I’ve had it my whole life. You don’t get to correct me. > [@Asuka](#): > > I’ve heard of Oreo but “Uncle Tom” seems to be the “acceptable” version I see people use much much more all the time. This has been said, but I want to repeat it. No, they are not the same. No, Uncle Tom is not acceptable. Both are racist. Do not use them. > [@elfkin477](#): > > I know it’s rude, but I’m not sure it’s racist because the only times I’ve ever heard it used have always been by a black person about another black person whose behavior they disapprove of. See above. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-term-oreo-a-racial-ethic-slur/855512.md?page=3)