Is it racist to say "black person"?

[Thirty3Three]

all kinds of races live in the ghetto, not just blacks

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

But mostly blacks. There's a reason too. It's their parents' state in terms of finances, as well as their harsher discipline on their children (starting with slavery to now, yada yada). Not even stereotyping. There is a reason that the poorer areas statistically are filled with black families as opposed to those of another race. Their parents parents were brought up in a rough spot, and the cycle continues. Not to mention the amount of poorer black parents I serve at work, yelling across the store, making a scene, telling their children to "GET YOUR FUCKING ASS OVER HERE OR I WILL SLASH YOUR FACE IN", etc, after all they do is walk two feet ahead of the parent... Yes I was being colorful with that, but it's that viscous cycle and horrible parenting, as well as that cycle of upbringing and financial care that causes the ghetto areas to stay primarily black. I'm tired. Hope I explained this right.

 

[LightyKD]

I know it probably isn't, but for some reason if i'm talking to someone, they or even me might say "dark-skinned" or something instead of just saying "black"... Is it racist to say "black person", or is it racist to try to avoid saying "black person"?

I'm black and I don't find it racist at all. From reading your post, you're simply trying to describe a person to another person. Personally you can call me chocolate or coffee. I'm yummy, dammit! In all seriousness I don't see why it's an issue.

 

[SG854]

I'm black and I don't find it racist at all. From reading your post, you're simply trying to describe a person to another person. Personally you can call me chocolate or coffee. I'm yummy, dammit! In all seriousness I don't see why it's an issue.

Wait chocolate comes in all different colors... White, Dark.

 

[deinonychus71]

"person of colour" is the proper way currently, as "black" kind of just pigeon-holes them to one identity. And that's something to be avoided whenever possible.

Intent is important, but also understanding how your actions have consequences beyond your intent (the road to hell is paved with good intentions) must be considered as well.

See, being from another country that has no problem with this word, I didn't even know I wasn't supposed to say it in America. I would just use it as part of normal language, with absolutely no ill intent.

I'm sure most people are smart enough to realize there's actually no ill intentions behind calling someone "black". Given that, when you choose to openly get offended by it, you are becoming part of the problem. (using you as people in general)
Just like you don't generally take it badly when one says "Blondie" "big guy" or "tall guy".... this is part of what you are, why would anyone feel insulted by that?

The "consequences" you're talking about is potentially offending someone. That's true. But as to where the fault lies I wouldn't be so sure. I really believe that people should just learn to chill, and not go looking for fights whenever they hear a word that they're immediately going to translate as "offending".

In my former country, you can't even say "blind person" anymore, because apparently, that's offensive now. This is just how we keep removing words hoping that people will be better if they stop using them. It doesn't work that way. All it does is rising frustration on the part of the population that want to keep using the language they've been using since they were born, and who don't understand why suddenly something that was perfectly OK is now considered offending.
The word "retard": Yes it's not nice at all, but when people fight and call themselves that, they aren't thinking about making fun or another category of the population. If you're going to remove it ok, but then please no more "oh god", "holy shit" etc, because I get offended by constant religious talks... (No I don't give a crap, but some people do xD)
Probably a stupid example but that's what we're living right now, every single community or even fraction of a community wants its piece of the language to be offended by, and it's becoming quite silly in some extreme cases.

It only takes to look back at old comedy movies to realize how paranoid our modern society has become.

 

[linuxares]

Is black a colour? Yes. Is white a colour? Yes. Is yellow a colour? Yes.

If people could stop viewing down on words. You will eventually get caught in a trap where you can say nothing.

 

[ThoD]

I for one call blacks blacks, as that's what they are, no changing that (unless your name is Jackson)! There's nothing wrong with it, there's no resentment or hate when I call them that, it's just a word, people need to learn that words don't really mean that much, attitude matters a lot more. It's like saying that it's a bad thing to call a bulldog a bulldog, like seriously, it's just a race and a simple word that is somewhat linked to it, no need to go out of your way to not offend people. Just like how I don't feel a thing when called a white, black is fine to refer to people of that race, as long as it's not said in a mean, vindictive, resentful or hateful manner, it's the least people need to worry about

 

[Langin]

In the Netherlands people will frown if you say 'zwarte persoon', or literally 'black person'. Here people would rather say 'getinte persoon' or rather 'tinted person'. It sounds somewhat weird but thats how reports on the news on tv are here.

I find both options not suitable really. But the 'black' people probably say 'white person', if they talk about white people. And I don't think it is racist to say white people, is it? So I would consider it safe to say black person.

 

[tri_fin]

Might not be racist but it is incorrect.

No one is black and also no one is white. Dark brown? Pink? Grey...

It's a total minefield. Just look inside yourself... do you think more of less of someone due to their background?

 

[linuxares]

Might not be racist but it is incorrect.

No one is black and also no one is white. Dark brown? Pink? Grey...

It's a total minefield. Just look inside yourself... do you think more of less of someone due to their background?

I beg your pardon? Have you seen the Finnish people? They're so pale that the Russians lost a war against them!
(Yes this a joke, but people in the Nordics are generally more pale than the most in mainland europe)

 

[sarkwalvein]

I beg your pardon? Have you seen the Finnish people? They're so pale that the Russians lost a war against them!
(Yes this a joke, but people in the Nordics are generally more pale than the most in mainland europe)

But this is true. If the "white death" weren't so white, he wouldn't have been able to camouflage so well within the snow, and snipe so many Russians out of the game.

 

[linuxares]

But this is true. If the "white death" weren't so white, he wouldn't have been able to camouflage so well within the snow, and snipe so many Russians out of the game.

Why else do you think they have saunas? It's the only way to make them warm and pink!

 

[leon315]

our nice neighbours say ''n****'' all the time in Spain. absolutely nha

also you can use ''afro-[american/british]'' or even afro, which is politically correct.

if you are nig you can call another nig ''nig'' :-)

 

[tri_fin]

I beg your pardon? Have you seen the Finnish people? They're so pale that the Russians lost a war against them!
(Yes this a joke, but people in the Nordics are generally more pale than the most in mainland europe)

We have a lot of cloud in the uk so we have a pretty decent shade of grey here..!

On the subject of pale skin... whilst working in Japan I noted a shade that I could only wonder came from so many hours working inside?

 

[linuxares]

We have a lot of cloud in the uk so we have a pretty decent shade of grey here..!

On the subject of pale skin... whilst working in Japan I noted a shade that I could only wonder came from so many hours working inside?

D-vitamine insufficiency?

 

[sarkwalvein]

our nice neighbours say ''n****'' all the time in Spain. absolutely nha

People in Argentina also say n**** all the time.
It is the standard way to say "black person". Informal, but standard way, no racist connotations.
Buuut, n**** can also mean "friend", "person", "low class", "hard worker", etc.

PS: And the last two uses of the word "may" have originated in some racist generalization, but nowadays they are used daily and don't really imply a black person at all.

 

[tri_fin]

our nice neighbours say ''n****'' all the time in Spain. absolutely nha

also you can use ''afro-[american/british]'' or even afro, which is politically correct.

if you are nig you can call another nig ''nig'' :-)

I had a group of co hip-hop loving friends and after a while I was comfortable enough to use the n word with them. As a middle class white boy it was really hard but also totally liberating. I had nothing to do with slavery and all that crap and do feel really bad about it but love hip hop and cussing! I am totally out of my depth with what is correct to say to who though.

D-vitamine insufficiency?

I don't know I kind of threw that out there wondering if any one would pick up on the pale dudes in Japan. I was filming there and had real problems with skins shades.

 

[kehkou]

No one is black and also no one is white. Dark brown? Pink? Grey...

This. If you're pure black or pure white, something is wrong.

 

[wolf-snake]

Give it a couple of months and it will be racist to even talk to a person.

 

[tri_fin]

I think it's (sexual) harassment if you talk to someone.

Racist if you describe someone.

 

[SG854]

People in Argentina also say n**** all the time.
It is the standard way to say "black person". Informal, but standard way, no racist connotations.
Buuut, n**** can also mean "friend", "person", "low class", "hard worker", etc.

PS: And the last two uses of the word "may" have originated in some racist generalization, but nowadays they are used daily and don't really imply a black person at all.

Niga (니가) in Korean means You.

And this guy took it the wrong way. At least he has rocks tho.