racism

[milkybarkid]

is it racist to call a black person "coloured"? another ABer said it and i thought that wasn't very politically correct. is this right?

[ianess]

I'm sure we can all remember the episode of "Porridge" where Fletcher [The late great Ronnie Barker] was in conversation with I think the Governor regarding his description of a fellow prisoner.
"No doubt about the colour of his skin Sir, and the gentleman did admit he was illegitimate, so how could what I called him be offensive?"
This country has gone totally loopy and it's about time things lightened up.
The PC mob seem to have had a total sense of humour bypass. It doesn't mean we are racist because we take the mick out of each other. What about Anne Robinson and the Welsh, and many other examples too numerous to mention?

[stoo_pid]

"They will never admit to banning something like that"

Erm, how would they be able to ban it then?

[zara 4]

We were told it is not politically correct to say BLACK SHEEP!

[joko]

di they actually ban it - ot just mention that some people might be offended?

did they send a letter telling your parents and you that it was banned? did they put notices up?

how di they actually ban it?

could it just have been a teacher mentioned it?

[fabfabfab]

i dont like the word coloured i perfer begin called black

[zara 4]

Yeah thats what i said,fabfabfab,black is black,not to offend anyone but thats what it is,the words from the school was"we're not allowed to say black sheep as it is offensive to black people"but the black people i know want to be called black.

[oldbob]

Yes it is racist as the word itself is an attempt to disguise racist overtones. Using the word "Black" or "White" or "Brown" is merely stating an obvious fact and is usually used to differentiate between various peoples whose skin color just happens to be different. The use of the word "Black" or "White" or "Brown" or whatever is not therefore racist, it is merely being clear and honest.

[madein1978]

In reply to stoo_pid: By the time honoured new labour tradition, bring it in by the back door!! By telling the kids they want them to sing the new song and that the old one was old, thats how!

[stoo_pid]

Except that's not what you said. You said they officially banned it. In fact, you claimed: "On a SCHOOL NEWSLETTER I read, it was stated that the department of education told the school that the nursery rhyme Ba Ba Black Sheep was no longer to be sung in case it upset the coloured children, instead they have to sing Ba Ba Happy Sheep."

Looks like Fatboy was right.

[Redsaint]

I am sooo confused by all these ramblings..My life is now going to be so much duller.Does this all mean, that I can't describe anyone that I have met anymore.

Can I not say.....The woman doctor that I met at the hospital the other day was really nice. She was really slim and pretty with long dark hair. I think she was asian.

Should I just say... I met a doctor!

I think I should tell my children that adjectives will no longer be required in the English Language

[michellemac1]

This term is regarded as outdated in the UK and should be avoided as it generally viewed as offensive to many black people. When applied to South Africa, the term reflects issues of ethnic divide and apartheid, and needs to be contextualised and used with specificity. In the United States of America, the term "people of colour" is often used as a form self-reference for people who suffer from racism and discrimination on the basis of visible skin colour difference to the white anglo-saxon (WASP) political majority population.

[madein1978]

They didn't use the word Banned, they were requesting that it was no longer sung, there is a distinction! Fatboy isn't right!!

[madein1978]

This is stupid, who cares, people offend people everyday without giving a second thought unless they are a minority member, I'm quite surprised at all of this actually, because observing modern people, quite a lot seem to be out only for number 1! Thats the way I see it, people offend me by the things they do and say every day but no-one seems to care anymore. But as soon as the word coloured or black or asian is mentioned then all of a sudden all hell breaks loose, the "R" word rapidly gets bandied about, I'm afraid this subject just leaves me angry, frustrated but strangely curious, I suppose its a true saying, nowt queer as folk!!

[equalibra]

coloured,' coloured in'?

[BoroughGal]

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread - but what makes madein1978 think that all British people take the mickey out of Scots/Irish/Welsh etc? Its not something that I do personally - I have respect for anyone's roots. That's not even taking into accout that your 'original jibe' is probably something they've heard for the millionth time that day, hence not funny and possibly offensive.

It makes me laugh how much hatred people have for others. Don't they realise how self destructive it is? Just live and let live. Just stop concerning yourself with the 'PC gone mad' argument that only exists in your own head (someone proved that with the Baa-Baa Black sheep myth that's been doing the rounds for years - I'm waiting for the 'can't celebrate Christmas' one next, like any other relgions CARE if we celebrate Christmas! The myths are merely designed to add weight to racist arguments!).

Personally, it doesn't bother me what people want to be called. Black, of colour, mixed race, dual heritage. Why would I want to choose a word that offends over one that doesn't?

And most of all, I agree with the earlier poster - why is someone's skin colour mentioned to describe them (other than the obvious, for police purposes etc, when it matters). Why would you say a black doctor when you could simply say a doctor? It just shows how different you think "they" are.

[mei2525]

in the usa the term was given to those who were black (not sure about other races)

in south africa it was a term given to people of mixed heratige

[bobisright]

HECK NO!...not one bit....how is it racist???....how is ****** racist???....how can names decide if your racist???????......you ******** make no sense......when a white is called "cracker" or "honkey"..it's not racist, but when a white calls a ****** a ****** it is autimaticly racist.....does anybody know why?...