I used the term ''Black Person'' when describing a black person. I was then told i should not use this term as it is politicaly incorrect and i should use the term ''Coloured person''. I have tried to explain that this is not incorrect and merely describes the colour of someone. I have also tried to explain that blacks are not the same as coloureds. can anybody help me put this to bed please.
2006-10-13 09:53:49 · 37 answers · asked by Don D 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I believe that the politically correct term is "reflectance-impaired"...
2006-10-13 10:02:37 · answer #1 · answered by Vacas Mugen 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't think the word 'black' to describe a black person is politically incorrect or racist either, but then again I am not a black person. However I can probably see why some people think it is politically incorrect/racist in that you wouldn't refer to an Asian person as a 'brown person' and nor would you refer to Chinese/Japanese/Korean/etc person as a yellow person. Because that is politically incorrect/racist. Maybe white people should request that they are no longer be referred to as 'whites' either, because we are not white (if you thinking in terms of actual colours).
So basically to answer your question, there is no difference between the term 'black' or 'coloured', it is simply a term used to described a particular race of people. However I think black/coloured people just prefer to be referred to as a coloured person. Furthermore I would be interested to know what your definition of a coloured person is if you don't think it is the same as a black person.
2006-10-13 10:15:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why does it matter? People with the maximum amount of melanin in their skin do not have the luxury of dictating the language used to describe them. Once the majority population in a nation obsessed with the amount of melanin in an individual's skin feel that the majority are getting used to a certain term, they change it once again in order to emphasise the difference between themselves (with less melanin) and the "others" (who have more melanin), that way their "otherness" and status as "outsiders" is always at the forefront of the minds of the majority. I would advise all not to buy into this divisive nonsense calculated to keep the mind off the major issues (corruption in politics, illegal wars and occupations, poverty, destruction of the environment, taxing the proletariat to death etc) and focus the mind on minor issues (being a size zero, owning a widescreen TV, exotic holidays abroad, promotion etc). Don't believe the hype and don't sweat the small stuff. Peace.
2006-10-15 00:06:06 · answer #3 · answered by overnight celebrity 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not a difference technically. But as colored hasn't been used in a long time and there are many darker skinned people that aren't black (ie: aborigines, some Swiss, Italians, etc), I'd use black to eliminate any ambiguity. There could be some confusion in someone with limited experience with the word color.
2006-10-15 15:04:44 · answer #4 · answered by midwestbruin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The conflict between those two terms are coming from slavery. The plantation owners would class those coming straight from Africa as blacks and the children whom one of their parents were African slaves and the other a white were called coloureds. this was done because the whites at the time thought that once one of your parents were white you were not fully black.
Just think about mixing black and white paint.
2006-10-13 11:57:26 · answer #5 · answered by Niki 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THANK YOU nickthesurfer! America is not the only country where black people live...dang! "O no its not "coloured" its African-American" so what about in the UK (yes there are black people in the UK *gasp*) or elsewhere? Open you eyes people!
I personally prefer black but I dont really care. At the end of the day you can call me the most PC term and then turn around and direspect me, THAT is worse than any name you can call me.
2006-10-13 12:00:16 · answer #6 · answered by Mistress_T 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you will find that way back in the days before we were so politically correct, that black people were refered to as being black. The term `coloureds` was used to describe anyone who was not black skinned nor were they white skinned. For example, Indians and Asians including Chinese Japanese and any person who had a light coloured skin but was not white.!!!
Why does everything have to be so calculated and complicated?
Why can we not just be called, English,American African, Chinese etc. etc.?
2006-10-13 10:06:05 · answer #7 · answered by Social Science Lady 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Blacks, coloreds, Negros, African American, all refer to the same race. The newest term for PC is African American, which to me describes an immigrant from Africa, not someone who was born and raised in this country. I hate the way the media use nationality to divide us.
2006-10-13 10:31:23 · answer #8 · answered by Lola 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The term 'coloured' is deeply offensive to the majority of black people I know. You are correct to use black. The only time I recall 'coloured' being used on a regular basis was during apartheid in South Africa.
2006-10-13 10:00:50 · answer #9 · answered by annie 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Was it a "black person" who told you to use the term coloured? I agree with you, you should use the word black. I find the term "coloured" ignorant. But there is such a term as "a person of colour" if they are not black per se.
Oh and to college_republicans_club's a person of colour is not the same as coloured. You wouldn't say a "downsyndome person" you would say "a person with downsnydrome". There is a distinct difference.
2006-10-13 09:57:48 · answer #10 · answered by eboni 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
In addressing blacks that do live in America. What do the letters in NAACP stand for? As long as this organization exists you can call American blacks coloured if you want.
However, in space black holes are absent of color. lol
2006-10-15 08:51:23 · answer #11 · answered by Mr. Bernstein 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋