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Is it seen as racist or non-pc to refer to someone as 'coloured'?
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What is the correct terminology these days? I'm sure I heard on the ITV lunch time news today the reporter talking about the recent racism row between the football players and he used the term 'coloured coaches'.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I think the term 'coloured' to describe black people is largely obsolete, but language evolves constantly, and as some phrases are superceeded,, they remain in use by older generatrions who have grown up with them, and use them from habbit.
There are no cut-off points when one form of expression changes into another - reasonable people would simply see this as a slightly old-fashioned reference, but hopefully not assume that anything offensive is meant by its useage.
There are no cut-off points when one form of expression changes into another - reasonable people would simply see this as a slightly old-fashioned reference, but hopefully not assume that anything offensive is meant by its useage.
In the US the word '***' has gone out of favour, regarded as having racist overtones now because of its historical associations . That word was used several times, without any racist connection, by Martin Luther King in his 'I have a dream' speech. That's how language changes. And 'coloured' is definitely regarded as offensive. Use 'black' instead. Not sure about 'people of colour', which is still heard in the US and, occasionally, here.
I did wonder if the reporter was talking about the coloured mode of transport but I think not. I'll have to tune in for the tea-time news to see if they put that bit in.
I grew up in the north back in the 70s and the term 'black' was seen as racist so the word 'coloured' was used. When I moved down south, it was the reverse. In fact, I could always tell people (especially the older generation) who had moved down south because they were still using the same terminology but not meaning it in a racist way.
Also, in my youth, mixed-race was known as 'half-caste' then and it's not used nowadays.
I grew up in the north back in the 70s and the term 'black' was seen as racist so the word 'coloured' was used. When I moved down south, it was the reverse. In fact, I could always tell people (especially the older generation) who had moved down south because they were still using the same terminology but not meaning it in a racist way.
Also, in my youth, mixed-race was known as 'half-caste' then and it's not used nowadays.
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