To not know if describing a person as coloured is politically incorrect.

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

Was talking to a friend today and I mentioned I had met one of his colleagues (but I wasn't sure who). He said. Oh was she a coloured lady?

I said yes and we each knew who it was I had met. I was a bit taken aback as you don't really hear the word coloured used anymore. But it was probably the best way to describe her (kind of Mediterranean / Indian).

Was I being too politically correct for being at the way he described her?

Yes I worked with a south african girl who was pretty much offended about being called mixed race. She defined herself as coloured and was proud.

My dm rom east africa married to my white father.She calls herself indian coloured and would tell anyone on mn to fuck off if they called her anything else.

But because she isn't white she must be called what the great and good mn call her and she fully understand she must be defined by it. That's racism in her view.

No you right OP it is not PC, its racist, I for one would not like to be described as 'coloured', someone made the mistake of doing so once and they got what for from me.

fullofregrets, nobody is saying that you can't describe someone by their ethnicity; that would be absurd. The point is that 'coloured' is an offensive and outdated term. Why not say 'The black lady'? or 'The Asian man?'.

"No, Im not racist. To be racist I would have to assume (a) I am superior and (b) discriminate purely on the grounds of colour/ethnicity/nationality. I don't assume Im superior and I treat all as equal."

Nobody has said you are racist, trois. Just that the term 'coloured' is.

Someone who continues to use the term once they are aware of its offensiveness, however...

Where do you get this from?

Ghastly psycho-babble inculsion course I went on >shakes head< ..... but it was done by making you write down first descriptives of someone walking into a room.

And, I have to say, giving a witness statement to the police ... the questions went .... male/female? what colour was he?, can you guess the age? can you describe the build? then it was other things - what was he wearing? what was his hair like? could you see anything else that would let you identify him.

But I'll stand corrected if thats wrong and not how we subconciously process information.

I also was brought up to understand black to be an offensive term, and am also aware that coloured is very offensive. As a result I will go round the houses to avoid saying either. It's all a bit mad really.

Those who want to offend will offend, but people like me who really don't probably will, out of confusion.

There are specific reasons why Obama is described as black or African-American though, which have their roots in American history: the one drop rule etc. Fundamentally, it is to do with a peron's experience of racism if they self-identify as black- its not about 'denying' any other heritage.

I am offended by the term, and so are other black people I know.If the person your referring to is offended that should be enough for you. In 2012 why are people using these term and it does not matter who says it, even if it is a black person, it is racist, sheesh

Why is the Op a casual racist? I know you are being sarcastic nowitty but I am coming across as racist here?

I feel offended when i hear 'coloured', are you a whitey?

Someone who continues to use the term once they are aware of its offensiveness

I don't continue to use the term, but I have to self correct to not use the term, because as corroborated, it was the correct term 30 years ago . Life is a learning curve; but I wouldnt automatically assume someone is being racist by using a term they were brought up with especially if they were my age or older.

can't see anything wrong with it. white isn't a colour, so someone who is darker is "coloured". few people are truely "black" (and white for that matter). also, i had discussions about this and similar topics with asians and black people and none of them saw a problem! not one! it is just political correctness gone crazy...

*i meant - was she a whitey?

I think coloured is racist. And I think that those that are saying it isn't, wouldn't say it to a black person. I find it offensive and am astonished that people still use it.

I'm probably more of a pinky than a whitey, but can't get upset about either GoingforGoal!

My mum says coloured. I have asked her not to in case it upsets people. She doesnt mean anything by it just doesnt know a better term i suppose.

And ditto troisgarcons.

suburbophobe you cannot compare the racial history of America to the U.K. The term African American is specific to the context of the U.S, and relates to slavery and the Civil rights movement, read a book. The way American society is, regardless of his mixed heritage generally he is viewed as a Black man, also, he has never denied any of his heritage, read his biography

I am a whitey. (great term no racism there). I didn't use the term coloured but was shocked by my friends use. Am posting to check it is out of order and I was right to be shocked. Evidence is yes instincts were right.

Think I will have to name change after this as everyone will think I am a casual racist pig now.

No, because you aren't black.. do you not get upset at people being called a mong or a spaz just because your children are not disabled?

Not too long ago, a very,very old person (nearly 100) I know said 'a beautiful negress'.

What can you do?

chocolategateaudeluxe what a load of tosh, the word coloured is a racist term and no amount of people that agree with you will make it any less so. I get it you have black friends eyeroll

"i had discussions about this and similar topics with asians and black people and none of them saw a problem! not one! "

How come you don't refer to them here as 'coloured' then, chocolategateau? I can think of 20 black people I know who would find it offensive, probably the same again of Asian people- how many do you need to counteract your 'solid proof' that the term 'coloured' is, in actual fact, racist?

You know those black and Asian people you talked to who didn't see a problem with the term? They were wrong.

an't see anything wrong with it. white isn't a colour, so someone who is darker is "coloured

Head::desk

White is the default then, and non white people are all ''coloured'? White might not be a colour, but Caucasian skin is not actually white, is it? The word white is just a descriptive meaning European Caucasian ethnicity. Just as African skin is not black, but the word denotes African or native Australian ethnicity. Oh yeah and by your logic black isn't a colour either so neither white or black people are 'coloured'

Coloured is obviously considered offensive by the majority otherwise ITV news would not have had to apologise for using it in a story about (irony) racism in football.

tiptoptoe I'm a researcher, so yes we put people in boxes all the time based on race and quota based on race so yes unfortunately there is still huge amounts of categorisation based on race. saying you can't put race on an application form is also not true since job ads explicitly say whether it's a BEE (i.e white people do not apply) job or not. I hate it but that is sadly the way it is.

I went to a conference the other day and the speaker said why is it in every other country she goes to she is called South African, yet in South Africa she is called Indian.