"Black" - Offensive or not?

[Miaplacidus]

This thread is directed toward EC members of African heritage.

Is the word "black" considered offensive? I'm asking because here in Uruguay it isn't, but I got a negative reaction (from someone not of African heritage) when I mentioned that someone was black.

The context was the following: There were some pictures of guys, only one of which was of African heritage. I thought he was the hottest, so I said "Don't you think that <name> is hot?". This guy asked "Who is <name>?" to which I replied "The black guy". I really didn't mean it in a bad way - in fact I had just finished saying that he was hot (and damn he was)!

As I said, in Uruguay it isn't considered offensive. I'm friends with a family whose members are all from African heritage - they are my oldest friends by far, our families are pretty much one. And they (especially the father) refer to themselves as black. The father even jokes about them not being technically black, but brown.

So, would you please shed some light on the subject? Thank you very much.

Although Im as pale as fuck, half of my family is black

I think its mostly considered offensive by people being too politically correct.

"Oh no, you musn't say half cast! You should say coloured!!"

I mean like if there was a picture with loads of black guys and one white guy I'm sure no one would say anything if i said "oh the white guy is hot", so why not the other way around?

[Chris]

well, i have a nlack grandpa. we's always saying " my black ass this, my black ass that ". but i guess so you don't get in trouble say " that fine looking african male ", just to make them happy!

[Miaplacidus]

Well I don't think this particular guy has ever been to Africa... he's American, and I don't think he'd like to be called foreign.

[Davey]

like i've stated to people before i find myself very confused on what to say. to some people you should say one thing but then you turn around and another group finds that offensive and the thing that offended the others not offensive.

there are so many trip wires in this sort of field that i get scared to enter. i find any reason to stay out of conversations or other things would make me have to use a certain "term".

this goes for other subject to!

[LOVEjames]

My 8th grade teacher made a point about "African American" being wrong. Like, just the phrase, because a lot of them have never been to Africa, and were born here. Like, we don't call people who have a heritage in Germany "Germans" - so why point out black people.

And I use the word 'black' all the time... like, when I'm referring to someone, anyone, and I don't know their name, I find a distinguishing mark that's obvious. If someone's the only black guy in the room and I'm referring to them, I'll say "The black guy." - if there's a red-head in the room and they're the only red head, I'll say that. xD I mean, I don't use it offensively, and I don't really think it's taken that way.

It all depends on how people use it. same with words like asian, gay ....(well thats what I think)

Its just a descriptive word.

[Level N Human]

Pish posh, those people are too sensitive. I doubt you're prejudiced, but you're not color-blind either. It was just an obvious way to distinguish him.

[musicgirl112233]

I think the way you used it wasn't offensive.

[Martin]

I hate things like this. I never actually know what word to use to refer to peeps incase it offends them. Damn political correctness. >.<

I don't know what other term you could use. I thought the word 'black' came into use because the terms like 'coloured' that preceded it came to be seen as politically incorrect.

I think that guy was being a bit pious to be honest.

I think as someone who has a half african heritage and half white heritage , I should say it all depend. Sometimes It is not necessary to specify someone as black. If he is the only black person in the room , It is better the introduce yourself and ask his name. Sometimes like you case in the pictute It is okay to refer someone as Black. I think it all depend of the context.

Originally Posted by LOVEjames

My 8th grade teacher made a point about "African American" being wrong. Like, just the phrase, because a lot of them have never been to Africa, and were born here. Like, we don't call people who have a heritage in Germany "Germans" - so why point out black people.

And I use the word 'black' all the time... like, when I'm referring to someone, anyone, and I don't know their name, I find a distinguishing mark that's obvious. If someone's the only black guy in the room and I'm referring to them, I'll say "The black guy." - if there's a red-head in the room and they're the only red head, I'll say that. xD I mean, I don't use it offensively, and I don't really think it's taken that way.

I think you don't understand a bit about African and African American heritage. Tell you teacher that he/she is wrong because he/she does not understant the African American history. They are descendant of Africa. Theirs ancestors all came from Africa. With DNA test an African American can find his roots in Africa . Did you "teacher" knew that. I think that is why I would prefer that people like you who have no clue about the African heritage and African American heritage should stay away from these kind of comments. Your "teacher" is one of those. I am mixed Half African ( I love it) and half white( I love it). When I don't understand something about others culture, I rather ask instead of taking the low road . Really what you teacher said was offensive.Stay away from that kind of remark. From example when you have a german root like you state they don't call you "german" because is a country not a continent like Africa. They are calling the balck population here African American because theirs races represent another continent which is Africa. That is why they are called African American (meaning African descent). You teacher did not know that .

[Étoile]

Being black myself, I'm not offended by it. Black has many meanings but when you use it to describe an African-American, there's nothing wrong with it. I actually think 'African-American' sounds too formal and forced. I'm not evil, bad luck, undesired, or anything else that's associated with the word 'black', so I'm good. But you should respect someone's request to be called African-American instead of black.

[Lexington]

Again, from a white guy...

The term "Black" seems to be the generally accepted term. Fewer people seem to have a problem with it than any other term. There are some who find it problematic, and prefer "African-American", but it seems using "Black' as a default is probably the wisest move.

Lex

I think the only people who should really give their opinion about the meaning if the word "Black" are black people. I think , the people who really understand this or pass their judgement on this are black or mix people. How a straight person can explain how it feel like to be caracterise as a gay person. I think the only one you can explain that must be a gay person. This is a very sensibe subjet. We must be careful to past a judgement to others when we don't even fill their shoes. Talking about race or about others people cultures is like walking on a thin line

Originally Posted by bitou

I think you don't understand a bit about African and African American heritage. Tell you teacher that he/she is wrong because he/she does not understant the African American history. They are descendant of Africa. Theirs ancestors all came from Africa. With DNA test an African American can find his roots in Africa . Did you "teacher" knew that. I think that is why I would prefer that people like you who have no clue about the African heritage and African American heritage should stay away from these kind of comments. Your "teacher" is one of those. I am mixed Half African ( I love it) and half white( I love it). When I don't understand something about others culture, I rather ask instead of taking the low road . Really what you teacher said was offensive.Stay away from that kind of remark. From example when you have a german root like you state they don't call you "german" because is a country not a continent like Africa. They are calling the balck population here African American because theirs races represent another continent which is Africa. That is why they are called African American (meaning African descent). You teacher did not know that .

That's pretty harsh, sir. His teacher is pretty blunt in his point, but it does have some sort of resonance. My heratige is partially from Germany, and other parts of Europe. Personally I don't refer to myself as a "German-American" or "Italian American" or a "European-American" and neither has anyone I have ever met. Now if I were from Germany originally and came to the states, people would refer to me as German, or perhaps European. Same with those who come from Africa to the states. We would call them African.

Just because someone's heritage is from Africa doesn't mean we should be forced to call them African Americans. I mean, do you ever refer to your white friends as "Americans". And if your friend had Australian heritage, but grew up in the states, would you call him "Australian American"? Certainly not, you would refer to him/her as white. Then why should you refer to your black friends as "African Americans".

Originally Posted by bitou

From example when you have a german root like you state they don't call you "german" because is a country not a continent like Africa.

But Europe is a continent. And we don't refer to white people in that way. Blacks here in the states are fighting for equality every day. To be closer to equality shouldn't we NOT refer to their heritage as a descriptor, since no one refers to the White man's heritage as a descriptor, at least in normal conversation, or brief description?

BUT then again, we call persons with an Asian heritage "Asian" and not "Asian American" and that is also widely accepted. Have you ever referred to someone as "Asian" instead of including "American" afterwards?

The word "white" has been used for as long as I've known, so why wouldn't black be used? Why do some black people find the word "black" offensive, then, I wonder. I don't find the word "white" offensive, I actually never have.

And then, since you are mixed of "WHITE [White being an IMAGINARY CONTINENT] and "AFRICAN", and lets say you have a white skin tone, should we call you "White" or "Caucasian African American". Lets say you have a black skin tone, wouldn't you then be offended if someone called you "African American" instead of "Caucasian African American".

When dealing with skin tones, mistakes of heritage are avoided, and in my opinion is the better route to take. I think where we have gone wrong is adding descriptors to skin color, like saying a black person may be untrustworthy. It should just be a color, and should not reflect on their personality when making judgments. In fact no judgements should be made when referencing a skin color, but that is in the far distant future, if that kind of thinking will ever exist.

[gentlegiant4]

I find that whenever I'm addressing someone by their race, to use "gentleman" or "lady", makes it a bit less harsh.

The black guy > The black gentleman

The asian chick > The asian lady

I think guy/girl/etc. are just a bit too informal if they're only being described by their race... I don't rightly know why, though. :P

[Miaplacidus]

Originally Posted by gentlegiant4

I find that whenever I'm addressing someone by their race, to use "gentleman" or "lady", makes it a bit less harsh.

The black guy > The black gentleman

The asian chick > The asian lady

I think guy/girl/etc. are just a bit too informal if they're only being described by their race... I don't rightly know why, though. :P

It would have been ridiculous to refer to a shirtless late-teen guy as "gentleman"...

[gentlegiant4]

Originally Posted by Miaplacidus

It would have been ridiculous to refer to a shirtless late-teen guy as "gentleman"...

Enjoy that opinion, then. :P I would, especially if you're in a position not to insult anyone.