is this racist?

Question

OK on my course there are two sams. One is Black the other is White. So when referring to them I call them black sam and white sam because it helps to define which one you are talking about. However a friend of mine said that this is racist because its making a point of his race *interestingly she only thinks its racist to black sam).

My argument is that its not doing it to either of them in a derogatory way its just a way of identifying them, not really any difference to calling them long haired sam and short haired sam etc.

What do you think?

I should point out that i don't talk to them as white and black sam. When i see them i just call them both sam. I just use that if talking to someone else.

Thanks for your suggestions. They do have surnames but my memory for names is very poor so can't be sure i will remember + not sure the person i am talking to will remember which is which.

Good idea to use a different characyeristic but when they are both English, 6ft, bald, and thin you would say they look very similar except the fact they have completely different skin colour. So i still think my description is best

Answer 1

No, I don't think its racist. I had a salon with two Mary's who came everyweek. We called one Mary TallMary and the other LittleMary. Tall Mary was conscious about her height, but as I'm almost as tall, she didn't find it offensive. LittleMary - isn't offended by her name either.
As you said it surprising your friend didn't find White Sam racist. I suppose if there was a red haired sam and a blonde haired you could call them RedSam and BlondeSam, but as you said, if the only visible thing is their colour - so long as nothing is said in a derogatory way - there shouldn't be a problem.
My sister is a social worker and very p.c. (to the point where you can't have a conversation with her). In her house, you can't have black coffee - its coffee without milk - funnily enough, you can have white coffee! The children didn't have blackboards, they had chalk boards, at University, we have whiteboards (?). What I would like to know is, exactly who finds it racist? I bet it isn't either of the Sams.

Answer 2

I don't think it is racist at all it is only a way to determine which one is which. Now if you used a derogatory word that starts with N to identify the one who is black, then I' say yes. You could also give them a name like Sam A could be the one who is black and Sam B is the one who is white.

If there is a last name given to these two Sams then use them unless they both have the exact last name.

Hope this is helpful.

Answer 3

It's not racist if you don't mean it that way.

If you call someone "Ginger" or "Blondie" - i.e. making a point of a physical feature - it's not insulting unless done in a bad spirit. Why is skin different?

I once worked with two guys called Eric. One was a communist and got nicknamed Eric the Red; the other was black & was, naturally, Eric the Black. No one took offence simply because we were all friendly. The same words could have upset either or both of the Erics if used differently, in different circumstances.

We all get too uptight about race, especially skin colour. Race in men is like breed in dogs - they're all dogs, however different they look. Guys, lighten up a bit. Save the worry for when someone says or does something nasty - don't worry too much about a bit of innocent nicknaming.

Answer 4

no i don't think it is racist. and as for the fact that she thinks it's racist to only black sam, it is probably because of the oppression years ago by white man, the case of them making it seem like they are a superior race among others. So in a scenario where you have a black and white dude, anyone will say you are being racist against the black person. Unfortunately, people don't realise that certain actions can actually be racist towards a white person......i guess those are just some of the circumstances.

Answer 5

Are their race important in their story? Don't they have a last name? Isn't there any other descriptions that can identify them? Maybe you can say English Sam and Irish Sam. Think about it. What would you do if they were both white?

Answer 6

You are a rabid racist PIG! I am NOT a WHITE man I am caucasian! How dare you insult my caucasian brother by calling him WHITE? Have you no feelings, you uncle Tim? As for people with long or short hair whats the difference? They are still PEOPLE. You are a HAIRIST!!
And don't you dare call my partner a female! She is a person no matter what genitals she has. You are wrong, wrong, wrong, FACIST.
I bet you call Muslims, Muslims and Jews, Jews. What next French people FRENCH? Have you no shame?
Why did you need to tell us your friend was female? SEXIST!!
You must be one of the worst people to have posted here on YA. I'm gonna report you and get you banned for LIFE!
RACIST, SEXIST and ANSWERIST! Dam you burn in hell. I bet you HATE Christians too. RELIGEONIST!!
Dogs are not animals they are our four legged friends, ANIMALIST!!
Bet there are some sports you don't like too SPORTIST!!
I've had enough of this, I am an ENOUGHIST and PROUD!!
YES I am a PROUDIST too!
Be gone evil boy, never darken these pages again. Go,go go...retreat back into that dark nasty world you inhabit. That world of normality where innocent friendships and normality exist there is no place for you here amongst our righteous P. C. world ( or is that a computer store? ) NO matter. Get thee behind me and REPENT REPENT REPENT, Evil one!
I shall be calling your college to inform them of the evil student they have attending their course as, yes, you see, I am a STUDENTIST as well.
Goodbye EVIL one. your life is over, you are doomed, doomed to a life of exile from our P.C. world ( it is a computer store isn't it! )
I go now to continue the fight. I have heard of a man that uses the word fish and not pisceans FISHIST PIG!! I will destroy him!!
Say hi to the two Sams for me and tell them their protector is here if they ever need me.
I am gone.

Answer 7

I think your friend is a prat. It's not racist. If a black person called the 2 blokes Black Sam and White Sam, nobody would question it.

This racism thing only seems to be directed at us white people, but it happens both ways

Answer 8

that's not racist-- that's merely making an observation about someone's skin color. however, if you're really concerned about coming off wrong, try referring to the Sams in a different way, such as Tall Sam or Thin Sam or Funny Sam, etc. =]

Answer 9

interesting, have you tried asking them how they keep eachother apart when in conversation.

Picking on an obvious physical trait is nowerdays very un pc.
Try Fat Sam and Thin Sam? - you are a fattist
old sam and young Sam - ageist etc..

you could be classed as a bigot (or perhaps a bully), by PC-Nannies..

Surnames is best - Sam 1 & 2 is safe enough although if you put one Sam before it may be looked as favouritsm.. oh what difficult times we live in today..

Answer 10

no i dont think its racist at all. i think this world has become all too readily very PC!

notice how she only thought it about black Sam? if it was racist it would be racist to both, not just black Sam, and not just to white Sam.

i think coloured people get away with so much racist talk towards caucasians, we say nothing about them being racist towards us, yet when we say something back it all too readily becomes an issue of race. for example - "isi cos i is black?!"

wheres the equality in that?