to think the term 'people of colour' is inaccurate, outdated and not generally used in the UK?

[poorincashrichinlove]

It came up in a fbook (sorry) post by an American. I asked if the term was usual in the States and she replied that 'people of colour' was considered polite there. Fair enough. I was then further corrected by someone in the UK who said that it's a description that's normally used here in the UK. I disagree. AIBU?

I generally just say black, Asian etc and it wouldn't occur to me to really say people of colour. DP is black and just describes himself as black.

The OP is correct. it's a stupid phrase. meaningless and not helpful

But SecretWitch, people of color is not the same as African American surely. POC encompasses more non-white ethnic groups, like BME in Britain.

And I've also lived in the US for over 20 years although don't live there now.

It's not a term I hear very often, but each state has its own vernacular; just because it isn't common where I live doesn't mean it's not used in other states in the US. I personally use black for black people. That's how most black people I know refer to themselves, so I do the same.

It is not true that "black" is considered rude in the US. Some black people prefer to be called black rather than African American. Barack Obama refers to himself as black. There have actually been polls on this and they show that most African Americans have a preference, but have no problem with either black or African American.

And I grew up in and still live in the US South where it is especially important to get these things right.

I can't comment on the US as I've never been, a load if US people use it on Tumblr though. Although tumblr is the place for buzz words and phrases.

Tumblr is it's own special breed of ignorant people. They are not representative of any American or country. They are representative of the high school children who want to have a persecution complex to feel unique and different. Really they do the communities they're trying to defend more harm than good.

That aside People of Color is the politically correct term here in the US. African American is mildly offensive because not all black people here are from Africa. A lot of our friends are from Jamaica or Barbados. They don't want to be lumped in to African American. People of Color is just a politer way of saying "minorities", since minorities gives the impression that they are minor and not as important.

It is not true that "black" is considered rude in the US. Some black people prefer to be called black rather than African American.

This.

African American is not offensive to refer to people who are of African origin.

I agree with ADHDNoodles, though. It's not offensive IF the person is of African origin, but I've always been a little about calling every black person that, which I think a lot of people do, without considering that the person may not actually be of African heritage. You wouldn't call all Hispanic people Mexican-American, or all Asian people Chinese-American, or all white people Irish-American, so why assume all black people originate from Africa?

I think that it's important to understand the historical connotation of "black" in the US. Its use arose during the civil rights movement through a concerted effort to replace “negro” and “colored.” During the transition period, its use by a person (especially a white person) would signal their sensitivity to and support of civil rights. It has an honorable history.

The only person I've heard use this term here regularly is James O'Brian on LBC. I like him in general but this irritates me.. A lot more than it should!

I agree, Scone. As I said, the vast majority of black people I know, both personally and professionally refer to themselves as black.

Same for my experience, steff.

Steff13 all black people DO originate, ethnically, from Africa. They may however have ancestors who were taken by slave masters to the Caribbean or Brazil before the family line ended up in America, but there isn't any conceptual difference between a black American whose family line goes back to Africa via Jamaica centuries ago and one whose Dad emigrated from Nigeria in 1975.

Personally I find it interesting that so many black Americans favour the term "African American" because (a) they may well feel no cultural link with Africa and (b) "Africa" is such a big continent so it's odd not to specify the country. However they have the absolute right to define themselves as they wish.

Many don't know their country of origin, although that is changing fast with high tech genealogical research and DNA testing.

And didn't we all originate in Africa?

Several of the early posts are correct about "people of color." The term was devised as a more positive term to replace "non-white" and "minority."

And I agree that people should be called what they want to be called, but "person first" language is very important in the US. It's something that I have had to get used to on MN, but it still jolts when I hear children with the disability my child has referred to by the condition.

I hate that term and it actually reminds me of South Africa where there was category of people who were called coloured.

I remember an old drunk asking me if my daughter was coloured, I told she was strictly black and white.

I also hate to be called white, I am extremely pale, but if you want to refer to my colour call me yellow or pink if you want.

I am in the US too secretwitch and I hear POC frequently. I think because it is more descriptive. The term African-American is lessening in popularity now.

I believe coloured is still is a term used in South Africa within their current legislation....

Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) is a programme launched by the South African government to redress the inequalities of Apartheid by giving certain previously disadvantaged groups (Blacks, Coloureds, Indians, and Chinese who arrived before 1994)[1] of South African citizens economic privileges previously not available to them. It includes measures such as Employment Preference, skills development, ownership, management, socioeconomic development, and preferential procurement.

I do think it sounds a bit of a clunky phrase - it's not a structure we use often. I think it probably is a bit more American, I've tended to see BaME here more (although rarely in conversation either).

I think BaME is perhaps more inclusive though - you can include minority white groups, whereas they might get left out of the 'persons of colour' grouping.

Having said that, colour's awkward to define - I have a friend from Bulgaria who's darker skin toned than another friend who's half Nigerian, but one would be considered white (maybe olive skinned, but that's not a race descriptor) and the other mixed race.

Another American here. I'm in San Francisco, so a bit different perspective from Scone.

Good points made so far. Agree "black" is not rude here at all - many prefer it to "African-American" which can be very misleading or inaccurate.

People of color is the popular term in my area, especially in such cases that the heritage of an individual is not known or specified. It's also become a replacement for the previous blanket term "minorities", as besides having vaguely negative connotations, the changing cultural landscape is making that description inaccurate and obsolete.

It fills the role of a positive phrase which puts the person first, can be widely used, and does not describe in "white" terms.

I used to think this was a dated phrase but my work colleague, who is British born with Nigerian parents, uses it to describe herself. I can't argue with that and would always take her lead for self-determination. This is a very complicated area ...

It is an Americanism. I have only ever heard very young people in the UK use it.

Black is an older UK political term used mainly by people fighting for their rights.