Is saying half caste racist, if so why?

StrandedBear · 2012-03-29 11:57:11

I have always, as have my family and social circles used 'half caste' to describe someone who is mixed race. My half caste (or is mixed race better?) friends refer to themselves/their children as this. I was having a conversation with another (newish) friend about how attractive some men were we walked past --not that we were oggling-- and I used this term. She was horrified and told me that it was actually really racist to call someone half caste. I had never heard this before especially since it is an accepted term within my circles by all races. So was really shocked at this. I will of course not say it again if it is offensive and am sad that I could have used this term and offended someone. What I would like to know is why is it racist?

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