Why is it not acceptable to say "color" anymore to describe someone?

Question

I've heard that now you are supposed to say "complexion" instead of "color". I agree with this, I just want to know why it is unacceptable to use the word "color" to describe someone.

Answer 1

Maybe some people are offended by the word "color" being used to describe someone. I personally think complexion sounds better though, just my opinion.

Answer 2

I think color was used so long to classify and discriminate that some people feel that that is the only use for calling someone a color. Complexion allows for more shades of variation so if you want the best description of a person, maybe that would be a better question. If I say a person is black, that carries a lot of baggage and doesn't tell me much about their actual appearance. If I say they have a milk chocolate complexion, that allows a much better visual impression. I know color can be used in the same way but people have become too accustomed to just saying black or white for the question to mean anything else. Also color doesn't really account for races other than black and white or for persons who are racially mixed. Asking what color a person is and getting the answer Samoan really sounds dumb from both sides but that's the way people say things.

Answer 3

It is still acceptable to ask "what color?" I have never heard anyone ask what complexion someone was when they actually meant "what color." I've even heard folks ask, "What's your background?" I wouldn't ask a complete stranger though. In the US there are so many mixtures of races, that it's easy to accept a person w/o ever asking that question at all.

Answer 4

I don't find the term "color" offensive at all, but like the first person said "complexion" is just more formal and grammatically correct.

Answer 5

I don't know, but at one time, it was polite to call someone coloured and rude to call them black. Now it's the other way round.

Never heard the word 'complexion', to describe someone, though.

Answer 6

somebody who's Jewish or extra coloquially a "Jew" is a undemanding connection with somebody who follows the Hebrew faith of Abraham and Moses. over the years it has additionally come to point somebody of Hebrew ancestry. traditionally it has additionally been used as pejorative for somebody who's grasping and tight fisted with funds (the unfavourable stereotype for a Jewish guy or woman). So it concerns in what context you're utilising the term "Jew". Are you refering to the guy from a spiritual group, the ethnic group, or as a insensitive pejorative. i'm hoping this facilitates. Edit: Israeli in straightforward terms refers to a citizen of the country of Israel. basically like American refers to a citizen of america. for this reason no longer all Israelis are Jewish, and not all Jewish anybody is Israeli. in any different case it could be like each Catholics calling themselves Italian.

Answer 7

I never heard that... but then again I never ask "What color is he?" I just say "Is he white?" or "Is he black?"

I think the political correctness has gone too far in this country. Especially with the term "African American". It's racist. Not all blacks in America are from Africa (Haiti, Brazil, etc) and not all Africans are black (South Africa).

This is just another one of those "things" that make no sense.

Answer 8

Correctly speaking the colour of our skin is our complexion, so if you want to speak correctly you use the right words.
Just like the young always say....she goes, to mean, she said.
It's understood, but is not correct English usage

Answer 9

alot of times i will be telling a story or something i heard on t.v. and my friends will say.."what color where they" i think that is more natural to say then what complexion where they...but that's only my opinon.

Answer 10

i don't think color is an offensive word describing anyones skin color