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.
Oh, you mean like a “Clarence Thomas”?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
I know it as a person with one black parent & one white parent; an oreo is black & white together.
It’s a threesome with one white and two black participants.
Of course.
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!
According to George Jefferson, he’s/she’s a zebra!
I’m really curious, what was the context and who was the public figure being called an Oreo?
No, that’s an Obama.
Someone speculated that Charles Brown was appointed to his role as the first black Air Force chief because he is an Oreo.
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.
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.
See above.