The term 'coloured'

[Ticktock12]

So I'm a new member of a team and one of my colleagues described someone and said 'Oh the coloured lady'. I corrected her obviously stating its offensive.
Aibu or is this a term people still use?

Not ok. My Nan used to say this until I corrected her. Some people just don't know they're saying something unacceptable if you don't tell them.

If you know someone it's far better to say, "The lady from [insert country]" and shows you have been listening.

Mulato dates back to the slave trade, so I can see why some would find it offensive. When the slavemasters raped the slaves and produced offspring ... they were the mullatos.

Using colour as a description isn't something to take offence to in my opinion

The police have codes to describe colour as anyone who works for them or who has an awareness knows. IC1 = white IC3 = black IC3.5 =biraciAl (black /white).

I had Pakistani neighbours growing up who never wanted to be referred to as "black" because it was used negatively by white people

That is likely to be because "black" is used to refer to people of African descent, so your Pakistani friend would not be black at all. (It's also very telling that "black" was used so negatively by white people, but that's another topic for another thread...)

She's quite young though. I am 50 and have known for years that coloured is pretty offensive in the UK. My parents and pil used it though as they thought it was less rude than coloured.

We're all coloured

I don't like it as a term to describe ethnicity because it was too often used to make people feel inferior but I understand that it's difficult for people to know which term to use these days.

I had Pakistani neighbours growing up who never wanted to be referred to as "black"

They aren't black that's why. It just goes to show the level of ignorance

I'm black and wouldn't want to be referred to as Pakistani.

I think the best approach is just not to refer to people's skin colour at all. I find I'm perfectly able to get by using people's names or failing that, their occupation, who they sit next to at work, what shop they're in, where in the street they live, whose friend they are: stuff like that. I certainly have never, ever found it necessary to refer to a work colleague's skin colour as there are plenty of other ways to identify the person.

That's the way I avoid the minefield of polite-versus-impolite skin-colour terminology and I think it's fair to say that it is a minefield. What is polite has changed a lot over my lifetime, and frankly I've got more than enough for my brain to cope with. The fact that people seriously argue that "person of colour" is polite whereas "coloured person" is impolite just shows how technical the whole thing has got.

Except not that long ago, in political circles, there were (and still are) people of Pakistani descent who would have described themselves as Black - it was a political classification, not an origin one, as it were. It's different now, mostly, but it was absolutely a thing.

Is it ever necessary to describe what someone looks like?

Unless you're the police investigating a crime.

I've only ever heard 'coloured' being used by my grandparents.

But I wouldn't describe anyone as "the black lady" either, I would usually try and find another way to describe them if possible.

Is it ever necessary to describe what someone looks like?

Yes it is.

I was conducting a disciplinary investigation and the person I was with had to get someone from the reception area in. He had never seen her and he asked what she looked like

I said she was black and slim. I don't see anything wrong with that.

There's nothing wrong with using some one's skin colour as a descripter.. or there shouldn't be.

I look forward to the day when saying 'can you take this to Mr. Jones in accounts you know, the black guy with glasses'
is the same as 'Can you take this to Mr. Jones in accounts, you know, the blonde haired guy with glasses'

That's when we'll really know we're all equal

"I look forward to the day when saying 'can you take this to Mr. Jones in accounts you know, the black guy with glasses'
is the same as 'Can you take this to Mr. Jones in accounts, you know, the blonde haired guy with glasses'

That's when we'll really know we're all equal"

Well, lucky you! Equality has been achieved!

But I was brought up to try not to use physical characteristics to describe people if at all possible. But I wouldn't twist myself into bizarre shapes to avoid it.

Do people think its similar to saying 'take this to Mr Jones, the fat bloke with glasses' or 'you know Susan, the woman who smells funny'

Because it isn't. Its not a negative feature or pejorative term.

Exactly this!

My ds has just started school and referred to a boy in his class as the brown boy. Not racist, he's never heard any racist words or descriptions. But I guess it was just the most distinguishing feature like he still says orange hair and yellow hair instead of red and blonde. He had brown skin and hair so he called him brown.

Not really helpful to you though! I think you were right to point it out coz it is offensive.

My mum is 76 and she's managed to learn the correct terminology. Age is not an excuse.

I have plenty of friends of Pakistani and Indian descent who refer to themselves as black.

Mrsdevere I am totally with you! I am white, my husband is Asian. We have been to places where I have been the only white person. If he was trying to point me out to someone & didn't say she is the white one I would think he had totally gone mad as it would be the easiest way by far to find me. I am totally certain he feels the reverse is true & would be more than happy for me to point out his skin colour as part of his description.

There's nothing more awkward than watching a white person squirm around a colour description.

"You know, Janet, the lady with err, dark hair... Uh... dark eyes? Quite, err... tanned? Beautiful woman, absolutely beautiful... Um... curly hair, really curly. At least it was curly yesterday... Sometimes she wears it straight though..."