Is the expression "black sheep of the family" racist?

Question

If so, what is a more PC way to say that someone is the family outcast?

Is it the equivalent of calling someone the N word?

Derek: The fact that what?

MikeGolf: The "black sheep" that I'm referring to is the narrator in a book I'm writing, not an actual person.

Answer 1

no because if people know what you mean by the word, then it's okay to use it.

Personally, I would just say "he/she happens to have difficulties, and seems to be on the outside of things."

There seem to be issues this person cannot shake off. Either way, instead of pushin them away, you have to help them out. They cannot help themselves completely. they need to take steps. but they also need someone to reach out and try to help them.

Answer 2

Black Sheep Expression

Answer 3

it is truly a racist phase, it derived from the white race when racist was it height...People that use this phase today might be totally innocent by using it...But your fore-fathers and fore-mothers wasn t so innocent..They knew perfectly well what it mean...It mean when a white family have a black sheep back in the racist days that family member was no good and was look upon like a black person or a ****** as they call it...You will never hear a black family using this phase.. I did my history on this phase. My 95 years white grand father said this phase were very offensive to the black race in his day and more offensive to the one being called a black sheep..When a white person call a white person a black sheep it was very offensive because he or she did not want to be call black period...look in Webster dictionary to see what the word Black means: "Atrociously wicked; horrible; as a black deed or crime. A *****; a person whose skin is black, thoroughly sinister or evil : wicked, indicative of condemnation or discredit...Back in the racist days white people thought the color black was bad or evil and the color white was good or holy. Everything that is bad white people associated it the color black. for example; blackmail, a black sheep, a black day,a black heart,a blacklist, a blackguard, a black market and etc....why couldn t it be bluemail or gray sheep of the family..Sheep can naturally spawn in the colors White, Brown, Black, Grey, Light Grey, and very rarely, Pink. Different colored sheep act exactly the same as the normally colored sheep, except when struck by lightning. You see a black sheep, white sheep and all color sheep blend in together and their is no outcast in the sheep world...So why do white people say a black sheep is a outcast....The answer is the sheep color was black.They was not referring to sheep but to a black person. They treated the black race like an outcast...Remember the white sheep didn t treat the black sheep any differently and the black sheep mingle with the white sheep.. They did not see color.. Like i said most people are innocent today by using this phase.. I am a black white man..what different does it make what color i am nothing matter but the truth..God bless you I love all people. We are all from Adam and Eve..

Answer 4

Derek is 100% right.
But, If you must, you can call the family outcast either a scapegoat, or the "identified problem" - this comes from family therapy where even though it is the whole family that is dysfunctional or "sick" they all choose someone, point their finger at them and say they are the problem, if it weren't for them, this would be a good family. He or she usually is the one that winds up in treatment and is the "identified patient".
Should we discontinue any negative use of the word black? A black cloud hangs over him; He was in a black mood; Black magic; it was a black day for them; things look mighty black; witches wear black; mourners wear black; black is associated with death; I know!!! we can all have surgery to remove the parts of our brains that think about these things. Yeah! that's the ticket!

Answer 5

No, and if anyone tells you otherwise, they're just displaying their ignorance. The expression is derived from the fact that most sheep are white, and a 'black sheep' wouldn't blend in with white sheep.

There's plenty of real racism in the world without creating imaginary racism too. If this comes off as too emphatic, DaisyLily, it's because some people beat the bushes looking for racism.

There was a situation a while back where a public official was forced to resign simply because he used a word that means miserly that merely SOUNDED like the N word, and that is the height of ignorance, and blindly emotional.

Answer 6

The black sheep is positive.
They are the family change agent
They come into a family usually by birth and are different to the rest of the family
Thru them many family problems are brought to the surface and resolved
A black sheep is often not effected by the change they cause at least not in the way the rest of the family is

Answer 7

The nursery rhyme not only is not racist, it has nothing to do with racism at all. I loved the nursery rhyme as a child. The black sheep in other forms: Black sleep of the family, meaning the one who didn't always obey the rules. That is disgusting to think your brother got into trouble over that. You did not mention who got him in trouble for it. It is plain silly anyway to get in trouble over this. Somebody is just trying to stir something up. Best advice: Let it be.

Answer 8

No, it refers to the fact that most sheep are white and only a few are black. But, as some people are sensitive to remarks like this, you should avoid using it. PC is to say someone is a family outcast or red headed step child, but red heads may not like this.

Answer 9

"black sheep of the family" has no racist connotation at all.
It just means the person who didn't fit in the family. For instance if all were strict and church going people and one in the family was an alcoholic and rebelled, then that alcoholic person wouldn't fit the norm for the family so they were considered the "black sheep". It's merely language used long ago.

Answer 10

No, we're referencing when black wooled sheep were not desirable as no one wanted black wool. These were born rarely hence the term, black sheep of the family