As to not hijack this thread, is ‘mulatto’ that politically incorrect, and if so, is there a better word? I’ve always thought of it as being somewhat out of date, like calling someone from east asia ‘oriental’, but I’ve never found it offensive or anything. I can’t think of any other term that explains it as well, since ‘mixed’ is kind of vague and ‘african-american/caucasian’ or whatever is pretty wordy. The only reason I don’t use the term so much is because it sounds like a drink you’d order at Starbucks to me. Is there some other term out there that I should be using?
I’d consider it at best hopelessly outdated and wouldn’t use it.
Of the people I know personally who could be described as “Mulatto”, none actually used that term. One hated it and said it was a racist word, the others never mentioned it at all. All described themselves as “mixed” or “biracial” and elaborated if necessary. One had also coined what I thought was a rather clever self-descriptor-- “Halfrican-American”.
Why, exactly, do you feel the need to distinguish African-Americans of obviously mixed heritage from those who are less obviously of mixed heritage? Yes, “mulatto” is offensive, and unless you’re writing period novels, it’s no more excusable than “high yaller.”
So, I guess “octoroon” is right out?
Well, I find the phrase “African-American” offensive, stupid and often inaccurate, so, so there! I have black friends who are neither African nor American, and two African-American friends who are not black.
See? Ya can’t win for losin’.
I’ve never even heard of “high yaller” and am at a loss to see how it’s offensive. Would someone explain this to me?
And in what way does “mulatto” relate to any of them? “African-American” is an absolutely correct term for a specific group of people, most of who are Black. It’s not my fault that many people are afraid of the word “Black,” nor that they use “African-American” as a euphemism for “Black” as if they meant the same thing.
“Yaller” is a transliteration of the Southern pronunciation of “yellow,” and, back in the day, referred to the golden skin tone of certain people of mixed African and European heritage. “High yaller” meant they were nearly white. And the reason you don’t recognize it is because it’s as passé as “mulatto.”
I’m just asking because I am biracial (or mixed, or whatever) and every once in a while it comes up. I like to distinguish the fact that I’m mixed because I happen to be proud of both sides of my family. ‘Mulatto’ is the word that most accurately describes what I am, but no one I ask seems to know whether it’s appropriate, outdated, offensive or what. Without any evidence to the contrary, I’ve been going on the assumption that it’s outdated but acceptable.
So sites like
CIA - The World Factbook Field Listings which list ethnic groups
are racist?
Eve, it’s possible to have black friends who are not African nor American (Bob Marley, anyone?) But unless your African-American friends are albinos I’m afraid they must at least be racially and/or culturally black --or else one of you misunderstands their background. If they’re descended of black African slaves who lived in America since at least the 1860s – they’re African-American. If they’re immigrants or mere expatriates here, they’re not. Lumping other blacks with us like EVERY SINGLE person of African descent belongs in one big monolithic group is what’s stupid and inaccurate. Nothing stupid or inaccurate about “African-American” when used properly, though I will not presume to know what offends you Eve dear.
Master Control. Terms like negro, mulatto, mestizo, octaroon and the like are common racial descriptors in Spanish cultures and aren’t meant to be racist, though their use even in Latin countries is decreasing, and using them here is just unwise.
Nametag. “High-yellow” is more slang than slur. It’s been in use in the Southern African American community for the better part of the last century, if not longer. It is somewhat passe, which is why I’ve always preferred 'redbone."
Typically Sunday. “Biracial” or “Mixed” is the vogue term for people of multiple distinct racial heritage in the states. If you’re from a Hispanic country and want to call yourself Mulatto you aren’t going to offend anybody with a grip on reality and things better to do. You have options, lucky you.
I’m sure Eve will correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought she was referring to white immigrants of African birth, like Dave Matthews or Charlize Theron. They are as African as I am American.
I know a woman who describes herself as a “Trinidadian Mulatto.” In all fairness, she’s pretty eccentric (We’re both theater folk) and not part of a large movement I’m aware of.
Unless they hold dual citizenship with a country on the continent we currently call africa, once they are naturalized they are americans
If they were born here, they are americans
I don’t differentiate people by the color of their skin. I personally don’t give a crap. You are an american citizen, or an alien waiting for naturalization [or on a work visa] or a naturalized citizen.
Awe, come on now. I see your hearts in the right place. But let’s just say we know two people that are named “Trey”. One is Black the other is White.
Now when I tell you I talked to Trey the other day and you ask me which one; is it bad form to say Black Trey?
This assuming we didn’t know there last names.
There are other examples, but you get the jist.
Make that Black Trey. and “…their last names”
I usually call my “mulatto” kids by their given names.
I also prefer to use biracial or matisse when push comes to shove.
Quadroon, octogonal: hard to use because of definition. Don’t know about the entire mr kiffa family tree because it stops around the time of the Civil War - can’t go much further back than that.
Racial identity for my kids has always been a bit confused since we have lived in SubSahara Africa for most of their lives. When young, the boys thought themselves brown and their sister white and Africans were Blacks. This was found to be inadequate when one of the boys realized that he was his sister’s twin - so how can he be brown and she be white?
After spending some time in Ne Florida and connecting with family in Detroit; they all decided that they were African Americans. They have continued this since returning to Africa since it is a considered cool to be both in this city that still talks about Mohamed Ali’s fight waay back when.
I hope she will correct me, too, as I assumed that’s who/what she was talking about. I agree: they are indisputably Africans. But they are, as you said, white immigrants. They don’t share my ancestral bondsman heritage. They are not African-Americans. Neither are Obama Barack, Miriam Makeba, my old college roommate Daniel from Panama, my play uncle Samuel from Nigeria, my art professor Dr. Igwe from Ghana or your theatrical Trini mulatto friend. African immigrants, expatriates and their families who strongly identify with their cultures, languages, foods and family histories in Africa and elsewhere are the FIRST to tell you they’re not African-Americans. For Eve to mislabel them as such reflects an ongoing misuse of the term by many people that is usually inaccurate, potentially offensive and often disingenuous. The term itself is none of those things.
kiffa, would I be right to assume that your children’s extended blood relatives in Florida and/or Detroit are descended from black slaves?
No, it’s not offensive, just more along the lines of calling black people colored. My cousins refer to themselves as mixed or black. These terms both work since people can look at them and see that they’re probably not fully black, and mixed only means one thing around here.
I also agree with Shake’s point. I once ended up in a similar situation when talking to one of my friends about a guy named Trevor. The other friend wanted to know what he looked like, since she also knew a Trevor. Apparently, it was horribly wrong for me to say that the Trevor I knew was Asian. Instead, I should have stood around all day answering questions about this guy’s height, hair color, and hobbies until we figured out whether the friend knew the same kid or not.
A random question: Why are the blacks in the Carribean somehow less African than the blacks in America? The slaves all originated over there, and just got dropped off in different places.
My brother is married to a South African woman. Their kids are white African-Americans, but of course not in the sense the word is usually used.
My sister is married to a black guy from Guyana. Their kids are black Irish-Americans. I suppose they also might be called African-Americans, but not in the sense the word is usually used.
I don’t think that “mulatto” is offensive or racist, just out-of-date (except in technical usage). I would go with bi-racial, even if that is ambiguous.
The phrase “African-American” is as vague, misleading, condescending and inaccurate as “Native-American.” Hell, I’m a Native American, and I got the birth certificate to prove it.
Are you going to tell my friends Pat and Nikki–both of whom were born in Africa and are now American citizens and both of whom are white–that they’re not African-Americans? Because they’re white, their opinions don’t count?
Are you going to tell my black friends Terry and Hugues they’re African-Americans when one was born in France and the other’s family hails from the British West Indies?
–Eve (the Russian-Transylvanian-American)