To have gone right off Benedict Cumberbatch

[UsedToBeAPaxmanFan]

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?

I agree Kim and said as much several pages ago.
For the people who still don't understand why it's offensive, maybe this very simple guide will help
www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/30999175

Thebodythatrocked
"Half cast" blimey there's a blast from the past.

And incidentally, the argument that people who are saying he was right to apologise for using the word don't care about the Holocaust is pretty offensive, simplistic and plainly daft!

I am puzzled by the American organisation for the advancement of colored people being fine if " coloured" isn't.

It's historical. When the NAACP was founded in 1909, "colored" was the generally accepted respectful term for black people. That changed during the Civil Rights Movement, but the organization did not change its traditional name. It has usually, then and now, been referred to by its initials only.

As a white child growing up in the American South during the 1950s, I was taught to say "colored" as the respectful term. In the sixties, this changed with the Civil Rights Movement, and we began to say "black."

No one in my family ever used the N-word. I mention that because sometimes on MN, people seem to have the notion that in the South, this was a term that everyone used at one time. This is not true. It was viewed as offensive then as it is now.

caucasian is european aborigine grin
??? ie, white. Isn't it?

No, it's broader than that.

You may want to check out the other thread a pp has started then, where she says people care more about BC than the Holocaust

Overprivileged and overhyped. His PR people should keep him on a leash and counsel him to avoid off the cuff interivews.

I like the way my young DC talk about people.
They are light brown, I am pink, their father is dark brown, very dark people are very dark brown. Not so eloquent in an interview though.

I tick mixed race on forms for the DC. Surely dual heritage can apply equally to people of all colours?

I think part of the problem is we are talking about people defining them by their skin colour. Hopefully by the time my DC arent too much older it will be irrelevant. (Idealist)

The problem with non-White is it comes from a world view of white people.

how offensive would it be to refer to men as non-women?

A majority have said "coloured" is unacceptable in the UK. "Person of color " is correct in US and "colored" may possibly for historic reasons and in a certain context be ok in the US.

A small minority of you have said you object to black, including one poster who vehemently stated her mother is proud of her Cape Coloured heritage and doesn't want to reject it.

One of you is educating your 90 year old grandfather that he may no longer think of himself as coloured. Which seemed a teeny bit arrogant if that is what he wants ; particularly given several of you have said the correct terminology is actually whatever the person concerned wants.

Any term which the person concerned finds offensive is offensive.

Some of you have also said non - white is also wrong.

I am white European. In the context of say a conversation about the lack of members of my profession who are not of white European origin and the reasons for that it would seem "Black" or " person of colour" are the terms least likely to be considered unacceptable by the majority. There is still the risk of offending those of you who have argued against those terms.

Finally I doubt that poem was written by a 5 year old. The concept of being yellow is metaphorical not literal and it seems unlikely a child so young would have grasped it. (And I've only once seen someone actually go green due to severe food poisoning)

No, Caucasian does not mean European. It is sometimes used to mean European whites. It sometimes means Turkish or Iraqi. It actually means "normal", so originally means whatever the speaker refers to as normal.

Oh confused
So.....
Australian Aborigine - bad
Australian Aboriginal - bad
Aboriginal - OK
Clearly Aboriginal is OK. So it's the use of the word "Australian"?

No - sorry. It's the word Aborigine that is outmoded. It's really not "bad" as such, it's just not quite pc. Nothing wrong with Australian Aboriginal AFAIK. I really no expert though.

I am willing to give BC a break here. I do think that it can be confusing between "colored" and "people of color" and maybe that's what tripped him up. It's a particularly American distinction, I think, and he does seems genuinely sorry.

I can see myself struggling with cultural differences in language. I sometimes have to stop and think when posting on MN that "learning disability" in the UK means something different than it does in the US.

Racism has gone too far.

People are now afraid to use 'words' because they will be flamed for being racist.

Cumberbatch was NOT being racist. He was being supportive of black/coloured/Asian/African/Afro-Caribbean/People of dark skin etc, etc.

If someone was to chant, shout, call, write such terminologies in an aggressive manner with a purpose to wind up, upset, cause outrage etc, etc THAT is racism.

I used to say as a child "I'm going to the Paki shop". I was/am not racist. I have every respect for people regardless of skin colour, culture, beliefs etc. It was a term I picked up as a child and loved the guy who owned the shop (of Pakistani origin hence the term used). He loved to banter with us, gave us sneaky sweet treats etc and was loved by al in the community and referred to as the 'Paki shop' by children and adults.

It's not to say racism doesn't exist, but I do believe that it is OVER discussed, OVER hyped in certain situations and used as an excuse (I remember there being a report into 'not enough black people' in the police etc). It's as though we NEED black people in every job as a representation of 'black people'. FFS, by doing that makes it an issue and separates them from society as a 'different group'.

People are people regardless and should be treated so. We talk about it too much, hence why people 'see' it as a problem. It is only a problem when a problem occurs. Same with gays/lesbians/trans-gender etc, etc.

Probably not making myself clear!!!!

Saying it's best to use the terms that people prefer is fine for individuals, but how does that work in terms of talking about groups of people? Not everyone of a particular ethnicity is going to like or be offended by the same terms, as others have pointed out on this thread. Even just in my own experience I have one black friend who would laugh in your face if you ever tried to call her a 'person of colour' (it's 'tumblr activist crap' apparently), and another who wouldn't want to be called anything else. If I had to describe both of them by the same term, someone would inevitably be annoyed. And if they ever met each other (unlikely), should they use terms that they each dislike to describe one another, or stick to their own preferences and cause one another annoyance/offence?

There are obviously some words that are so widely considered offensive that it would be stupid to use them, but on the whole I think you have to take what people say based on their intent, politely telling them you'd prefer a different term if necessary. Anything else is either clearly impractical or assumes that all people of a particular ethnicity function as some kind of hivemind with the same opinion on these issues.

I had no idea that saying someone was coloured was offensive.

Why do people who are half-white call themselves black ?
I honestly don't get it.
I am not racist.
My DH calls himself mixed race and he says he is coloured.
We must be behind the times.

The problem with non-White is it comes from a world view of white people.
how offensive would it be to refer to men as non-women?

That analogy falls down because the word for "non - women" is "men". There are 2 agreed words which are not offensive. You don't need other terms.

There's no consensus here about the acceptable word for someone who is not of white European ethnicity. As someone pointed out the word which an individual prefers won't work if 2 individuals don't agree which is correct.

I wish the world would be this handwringingly PC whenever some well-known person made a similar slip-up in how they referred to women.

I used to say as a child "I'm going to the Paki shop". I was/am not racist

Yes, you were, and you still are if you don't blush to your boots when you remember saying that. Liking the bloke doesn't make a jot of difference.

YABU OP. The guy inadvertently said an "offensive" term. He apologised immediately. That really ought to be the end of the matter.

TheOriginalSteamingNit I disagree - strongly. Just because at the age of 7 I used a word that I had heard others to use DOES NOT MAKE ME A RACIST. You are being judgemental - a bad character trait to have!

The owner of the shop NEVER took it as being racist. You obviously do because of social pressures. Also, it was many, many years ago. Not even sure if at the time it was a word that was 'socail acceptable or not'. But at 7, lots of children use 'socially unacceptable' words and have no idea what the meaning is. My 'favourite' is when they call friends 'gay' and when you quiz them why they have used the word, they have no clue. Doesn't mean they are being a homophobe.

At the end of the day, it is a word, that is all. The meaning and the context of words vary. It isn't a word I use now. When referring to people of Pakistani origin I actually say 'Pakistani' just like people say 'English Folk, people, man, woman, child' etc. etc.

Don't get too far up your own arse will you - it's a bit smelly!

TheSteamingNit what utter bullshit. Every child says something without knowing the full history behind a word and why it should or shouldn't be used.

Using a word as a child, then learning the meaning and offence behind it and not using it again doesn't mean someone is a racist forever and ever and ever and ever.

Ridiculous.