Is it rude to describe someone as being black?

Question

Is it rude to describe someone as being black?
Would it be better if I said African American or dark skin?
I try not to say any of these things because I don’t want to offend anyone.

You see what I mean every one has a different idea or opinion

And no I didn’t burn anyone

It’s just a question I have never known the answer to
I would hate to say the wrong thing to the wrong person and offend them
Ether way in the end I always feel unconvertible

Answer 1

I always describe myself as being Black, and prefer that others do so also, although I am not offended by African American. Just don't be one of those people who describes Black people from any country as African Americans. If they are not citizens of the USA, then they are either Black or African-(fill in the country).

I always find it rediculous when people are afraid to describe someone by their race. I had a conversation with one of my Asian friends in college about this. In one of our classes, she was the only Asian student, and I was the only Black student. One day I was talking to one of the White students when she was absent and I mentioned her. The student didn't know her, so I said the Asian woman, and the student then knew exactly who I was talking about. I told my friend about this later, and she was offended that that was how I described her. I asked what would she have done if the roles were reversed, and she said she would have described me saying something like the tall woman with shoulder length hair that always sits up front. That description could have been about at least 5 different people in our class, as opposed to saying the Black woman when the person would have known exactly who I was.

Answer 2

It depends, from my experience, Black is the least offensive in most cases... .... some people get offended by "African" American, because they don't perceive themselves as anything BUT American, because they are so far removed from Africa, others think it's OK.
I think it depends on how you say it.... For example... Someone finds their car KEYED, and asks, generally who did it, and someone pipes up... That black kid there! That's not going over very well. Why BLACK kid, why not ..That kid there with the Lakers hat.. or whatever... because to refer to a color immedietly implies a focus on the color....maybe if more details are asked, say he's black.. but there's a thin line.
I'm in Canada, and there was a descrition of a suspect in the paper, unknown to the victim, as "African American", wearing a black hat and ..." and I was thinking, now how the heck do they come up with "African American" when the guy is IN Canada.....

Answer 3

When you describe people of other races , do you make it a point of including their race?? ( I have a white friend named joe, or my hispanic friend jose, or my friend katie, oh by the way she's asian) why not try this, let your description include everything except race or skin color. Why does it seem necessary, in this society, to use race as part of a description,when that person is of a different race (esp. Black)
Except for medical purposes, I find it boring at best. We need to replace the last 200+ years of racial problems, with some common sense (which I have discovered few people seem to have). I am a female of african/indian/ asian american hertitage. And proud to be referred to as a black woman. when I speak of my friends of different cultures I never use that as a description. I say, " I have a friend, named Mary, we have been friends for a very long time." Her race isn't important to me, her character is.

Answer 4

Nah, not if you are describing them. If you're labelling them, then you're a racist.

Personally, I find African American more offensive. It implies second class citizenship.

Note that this appears to be a uniquely American problem. You don't refer to African Germans, African Dutch, or African English - you refer to them as Black. In Africa, they have Black Africans, and White Africans. France has French Africans, however, though it is used to describe Arabs as well as the more dark skinned.

Answer 5

Perhaps the bigger question to ask yourself is WHY you need to describe them in the first place. So often I hear people need to describe physican attributes of someone- only if the person they're talking about is something other than their own race.

For example, when my uncle, (who is caucasian), tells a story, he only assigns a race to a person if it's someone who is not white. He'll just say, "I was talking to a guy this afternoon." (That means the "the guy" was white.) Otherwise he'll say, "I was talking to a black guy this afternoon." And usually, if there's race ascribed, it's because he has something critical to say.

My point is, why feel the need to physically describe the person, anyway, unless it is required (as part of the story) for some reason?

Answer 6

No it is not wrong to describe someone as black. For example to call a Haitian, or African African-American is considered an insult. I work in a very politically correct corporation and black/white is often used in pointing someone out.

Answer 7

If you are completely sure the person is black I wouldnt think it would be too rude. Problem is, I, and alot of other minorities are mixed. Ive been labled black before and its a bad feeling. Its like the world just sees your skin and lables you without any thought or interest to consider they are not just one race. Im not even "dark" just tan and I get called "black" or "the white-black guy" and even that neglects my asain lineage. Anyway I think most people assume race very easily and just throw labels around and when you say "that black person" it just perpetuates itself and people think you are this black person without even personally getting to know who you are. I think its better to just leave race out of any kind of description unless its absolutely required to bring it up. I personally have quit using race to get my points across. It doesnt really add to any sort of story and if you are proficient in the english language there are much smarter and clasier ways to get your point across. People do pick up on that and will judge you in return. They wont think you are 'racisst' however its a matter of sounding educated vs. ignorant.

Answer 8

Describing someone as dark skin is rude.....If you dont want to offend some one referring to them as an African American should be fine.

Answer 9

Black, is good Dark skined is bad I'm black and when people say that I think's it's ok but when people say African American I feel like their to hard not to offend me, but then by them trying to hard that offends me more!

Answer 10

I'd rather use the (more accurate) descriptive term "dark-skinned" or something like that.

Then again, even better is to describe the color of their clothes or possibly their hairstyle, because "blue shirt" is more descriptive than trying to get someone to know exactly what shade of skin you're talking about, especially if you're trying to point someone out in a group of people. *chuckles*