Genuinely confused, what is the 'correct' term for someone with dark skin- black or coloured?

[ilikeyoursleeves]

This is a genuine question as I really don't know what is 'PC' regards this. I was describing someone today and called them 'black' and someone said 'You can't say that, it's 'coloured''. To which I said that I was being in no way racist or whatever, it was just a description so they knew who I was talking about!

I am mixed race myself, and descibe myself as mixed race, and I am not racist in any way at all, although I do hate people describing me as 'different'

So just wondering what term I should be using and if we use the 'wrong' term does that insinuate that we are racist in some way? I hope not!

I don't think you can answer the question Scurry.

It's interesting. You have to say that we shouldn't categorise, and we should embrace the new...... the new 'categorisations' leave a gap

They can leave a gap but it doesn't mean we should revert to unacceptable terms....how about the N word...previously acceptable wasn't it and I know I wouldn't use it.

eh right. That's a good argument. Bring in the N word

Just illustrating a point

Magaly there's no talking to you as you won't let anyone work out the details of what you're talking about! So not much point.
Toccatan your explanation about the descriptions used in Zimbabwe (new to me ) makes your viewpoint on using the word perfectly logical. People disagreeing with you are doing so on the basis that you wouldn't use the phrase coloured in the UK without realising how offensive it would be to many people (with no Zimbabwean heritage/perception of the term).

I'm not reverting to any unacceptable term

Having been marginalised by both the white and black governments coloured is one of the few parts of their identity which they can be proud of.

Much the same way as here we may have here descriptions of a Black community, or Italian community, or Asian community, there is also a Coloured community there.

Iggis - I think you'll see that I clarified that point about not using it in the UK towards anyone other than those with Southern African heritage/perception quite some time ago

I get that. But an acceptable phrase in one country may not be acceptable in another (or at least not without a bit of an explanation).
Thinking of original OP and the advice she requested.

The last comment about reverting to unacceptable terms was aimed at Mag

Really have to go to bed now....thanks all

yes but that is assuming there are no other Southern Africans living here and that you're never going to meet any. We are living in a multicultural society (which I think makes the clarification and "tick boxing" even harder as what is fine to one group may not be to another).

I also however clarified much earlier back that coloured in relationship to black (which is what the OP asked) was wrong no matter again. Others also brought the discussion of the word coloured and why it was offensive up (and I was not the only person to mention the use of coloured in Southern African) saying that it was always offensive, and totally outdated.

Except in an ever increasingly multicultural society where many more Southern African coloureds are living here it's not so black and white as that

I think I should go to bed too - "black and white" in that last paragraph - in relationship to the debate - doh! (at myself)

actually maybe not bed, but off to put the dishwasher on and potter around for a while, not tired yet >>

Scurry, You're missing the point. You want me to say what country she was adopted from?! but to her that is not the point. She should be able to describe herself or identify with a label without having to mention a country she has never been back to.

You won't answer my question because apparently there's "no talking to [me]" but it doesn't change the fact that there is no acceptable word which has replaced coloured which she can use. Your answer is that she should now consider herself black. That's a policy booklet talking, not a human being.

Out of curiosity, why in America do they say African American etc? I do not refer to myself as English Australian and have never heard anyone other then an American use the term. I am Australian, no matter what colour skin I have.

And not all black/coloured/whatever you want to use people are from Africa. What about the Indigenous Australian/Aboriginals?

My black mates prefer to be called black. They are black like I am white. I do not call myself caucasian or anglo saxon.

It gets very confusing sometimes.

Well there seems to have been a good debate on this last night! It all makes interesting reading, looks like it's difficult to know what is the 'correct' term and that there actually isn't an overall term that everyone would be happy with.

Malagy I can see your point re your relative (sorry forgot who it was- MIL?). As I said earlier, I am adopted and I really can't stand it when people insist on knowing 'where' I am from. I was born and raised in Britain, natural mother was British and I have no idea what ethnicity my natural father was (birth mum had one night stand and can only remember he was from Mauritius, which doesn't help me seeing as there are loads of different ethnic groups there!). So when I say I am from Britain, people then say 'yes but where are you from originally?'. I guess it's because I have some ishoos about my birth mum etc but I hate having to explain that I have no idea where I am from blah blah. People don't seem to always just accept 'British' and suggest I am this or that, I have had people go through countries like a list and saying 'maybe you are from here? Or here?' I don't effing know!!!!

I have gone off on one a bit but just wanted to say I get where Malagy's relative is coming from, I don't want to have to label myself as from somewhere I have never been (mind you I might have done that if I actually knew where that place was!!!).

I have no problems saying I am mixed race though as IMO it covers all bases. After all, everyone is mixed race really!

you might be interested in Colour Coded a 2 parter on Radio 4 from tomorrow at 9pm

as always i'm late to this debate.. but this subject really bugs me

i can't stand the term 'mixed race' it just doesn't sound nice, especially hate it when used to describe my children! i prefer to be described by nationality/ies than colour but if necessary black is preferred