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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have gone right off Benedict Cumberbatch

529 replies

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 27/01/2015 04:22

I read today that Benedict Cumberbatch has had to apologise after using the phrase "coloured actors". Coloured? Seriously?

He did apologise and said that he knew it was wrong, but the fact that it was in his head in the first place is what's so troubling. I am older than him and have always known that "coloured" is an offensive term. Yes, I am aware that it wasn't considered so until the late 60s, but it hasn't been acceptable in his lifetime.

What was he not thinking?

OP posts:
PerpendicularVincenzo · 27/01/2015 12:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VeryMessyHair · 27/01/2015 12:25

yes, he'll be terrified to remind people now.

When I was working in a nursing home briefly a few years ago, one of the old ladies said to me "are you Jewish?". I didn't want to say 'no'. As I was saying "would it be a problem?" another member of staff was shushing me saying 'no no no she's not''.

muminhants · 27/01/2015 12:26

OMG so many responses?

He made a very minor mistake which he apologised for. End of story.

Why are people getting offended over nothing?

And yes mumsnetters are perfect and never ever make mistakes.

YABVVVVVVVVU.

VeryMessyHair · 27/01/2015 12:27

Well not all of the responses are criticising him!
As said upthread by another poster and I wholeheartedly agree, I'm glad nobody's following me around making a note of all my gaffs.
I feel for him.

FringeDivision · 27/01/2015 12:29

dual heritage is a daft phrase imo. Unless your parents are brother and sister, then surely everyone is dual heritage.

Chilicosrenegade · 27/01/2015 12:30

I was born 1976.

Said coloured all my life. At uni it changed to black as black music black origins black style shared equal status. And Asian music style etc took status too.

Coloured might not have been used by your area since late 60s (Hmm I don't believe you) but it was round mine. London!

Bumbiscuits · 27/01/2015 12:31

And so? Other people aren't privvy to the contents of your head and may be totally unaware that you are the ultimate authority on this. And perhaps you've missed all the posts on this thread where other posters have stated that they were taught (however mistakenly) that 'coloured' was the polite term to use during that period.

Not just the contents of my head, I think you'll find. What an insane thing to post.

I suppose anyone who was previously living in ignorance, and is now enlightened, can thank BC for saving them from being a little bit racist in future, happy days Hmm Hmm

daisychain01 · 27/01/2015 12:31

My DM and I were talking about BY today after it came up on the radio.

We agreed he was better off not saying anything at all. It is unfortunate he chose the wrong words because his genuine intent to highlight the lack of opportunity for black people in his profession has been derailed because of a word. It will stop people from speaking out for fear of offence.

There will be a lot of people who are affected by it but I bet there are also the professionally offended who just want to have a go at him because he is white and from a privileged background

BarbarianMum · 27/01/2015 12:31

god am I not allowed to be 'mixed race' now.

Sorry lynniep did you not get the email? Please engage your link to the the hive mind of persons of colour, duel or multiple heritage for reassignment to a new category.

Personally I refer to myself as a mongrel which makes everybody squirm.

daisychain01 · 27/01/2015 12:32

BC

daisychain01 · 27/01/2015 12:35

Myhovercraft xposted with you Smile

ExitPursuedByABear · 27/01/2015 12:38

Well I have had to google BME.

Reminds of SME.

What a soulless way to refer to anyone.

TheLastThneed · 27/01/2015 12:47

I'm black and in my 40s and was always described as 'coloured' when I was growing up. I find it strange, because it's out of date, but to me it's no more offensive than being called black - especially as my skin is actually dark brown.

RandomFriend · 27/01/2015 12:48

I grew up in the 1970s and understood "coloured" to be a purely descriptive term for someone who was quite dark skinned. We sang "ba-ba-blacksheep", the teacher wrote on a "blackboard" and coffee was "black or white?" and simply "sugar?" when asking if someone wanted milk and sugar added.

Then, in the 80s, I went to uni and learned that everyone who was not "white" was "Black".

In the 1990s, the department secretary in our South London office who was "Black", referred to people's "complexion" when she wanted to mention shades of skin.

In the 00's, DD brought this book home from her graded readers:

www.amazon.com/Oxford-Reading-Tree-Treetops-Stories/dp/0199196451

The world has changed and so has the terminology for various groups of people. I like BC and I think what matters is whether he intended any slight or put-down. I don't think we should get so worked up about the mis-use of a term on a single occasion. He has apologised and won't use the wrong word again.

Willferrellisactuallykindahot · 27/01/2015 12:56

I absolutely love it when one of our dementia patients shout "I don't want anyone coloured washing me".

You love it?! Why? Confused

I agree that 'dual heritage' doesn't work as a replacement for 'mixed race'. I am dual heritage but im not mixed race, I am Caucasian (well, pasty Caucasian, I'm half Irish Grin )

Is it the 'mixed' part of mixed race that is offensive?

AWholeLottaNosy · 27/01/2015 12:57

Oh God it's about to be discussed on Loose Women now. Watch out for PC gone mad comments!

cardamomginger · 27/01/2015 13:00

I was hauled over the coals in an NHS training session once for using the term 'Afro-Caribbean'. I genuinely had no idea that the (then) accepted term was 'African-Caribbean'. I felt absolutely bloody awful and that everyone was looking at me like I was Nick Griffin's best mate.

Later on in the session, a participant who was African-Caribbean used the term 'coloured'. This was allowed to pass without comment. I really wish I had had the courage to speak and ask why. This was an ethnicity and diversity training session and the facilitator could have started an interesting discussion about choice of language, how the acceptability of terms evolve, and possibly how to tell the difference between genuine racism and someone who might just not be up to speed on what's currently deemed acceptable. But no. I got stomped on and he didn't.

YABU to go right off him for this (unless it turns out that, unlike me, he actually is Nick Griffin's best mate).

Bambambini · 27/01/2015 13:01

Hoohaar over nothing. Does make you wonder what diversity education the private upper class schools get or got.

I was shocked though when two guys I knew (boarding school buddies) told us about the laugh they had at school when they and their pals jumped the new paki student and put a balaclava on him and marched him to the top of the building (was just a short drop) and pushed him off. They were surprised at all our shocked (state school) faces.

wreckingball · 27/01/2015 13:02

I have to say I feel sorry for BC too, it doesn't read as if he were being deliberately offensive and he has apologised.
I remember reading about Halle Berry not so long ago and how her Mother is white but she identifies as black, she has a child with a white man and insists her baby is black also, she says she believes in the 'one drop theory' which I always thought was derived from a racist edict.

Namechangeyetagaintohide · 27/01/2015 13:11

I think he probably mixed it up with people of colour which is used a lot in the USA. Along with African American. Both phrases I sort of feel slightly uncomfortable with knowing black people who identify mainly with their Caribbean heritage and wouldn't appreciate being refered to as African and how the whole "coloured" phrase is viewed here.

Different cultures use different works. My friend is American Chinese but refers to herself as Asian.
I was speaking to a Pakistani guy who said he would really only use Asia to refer to someone Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Indian.

I think it can be difficult as one phrase is accepted somewhere but not in another nearby country or similar culture.

Namechangeyetagaintohide · 27/01/2015 13:13

Actually can someone explain people of colour vs coloured to me please ?

Theboodythatrocked · 27/01/2015 13:14

Child of the 70a here too. Inner city Handsworth Birmingham so pretty sure I trump multicultural childhoods.

Coloured was commen term. So was black.

What a ridiculous bloody fuss about absolutist fuck all.

By 2pm today I suppose BC will have said this holding a burning cross in a pointy hat!

Theboodythatrocked · 27/01/2015 13:17

There are always professionally offended. Personally I don't know any amongst the myriad of friends and family who are all colours and all sexual orientations.

The most offended is my welsh mum being ever called British.

ExitPursuedByABear · 27/01/2015 13:17

I know Indians who don't class themselves as Asian.

It's a veritable minefield of possible offence.

Quangle · 27/01/2015 13:19

I think I have heard Diane Abbott refer to herself as a "woman of colour" so I can see why people might get confused about what is ok terminology and what is not. I see why "coloured" is not right and I completely acknowledge that reasoning but not sure why "person of colour" would be ok. However, I'm not going to go against Diane Abbott on this Grin.

I think it is difficult for people who don't want to be racist but don't spend much time thinking about racial politics (ie, most people) to get it all right all the time. That said, I would have expected BC to do a bit better than he has done.