Was I unreasonable to correct this?

[PablosHoney]

I work for a school and a student came in today to make a statement/report about a ‘coloured girl’ her mum had told her to come and report the incident so I presume it was maybe mums words? I didn’t tell her off I just said that it was a word we don’t use any more and to leave it out of the statement. Was I wrong?

@PablosHoney did you tell her to use 'black' or did you just tell her not to use 'coloured'?

At my childrens school they have to refer to all non white people as brown. So a black person is a brown person.

In a statement use the exact words (even if the N word was used - it is justified here).

Coloured is no acceptable anywhere - very Apartheid to my ears.
Person of colour is used by some groups.
Black is normally okay in UK, but in some groups is seen as offensive.
Some Americans would use African American even if not American and their African ancestors are way back - and there are huge cultural differences between people from Africa and those from the Caribbean/Americas - because of the whole slavery thing.

I think you did fine. You simply explained it wasn’t the term used anymore.

Lilonetwo
It’s a minefield

Not really. Has it ever been considered unacceptable to say black? Why not just say black? Even if you don’t say it, we know you’re thinking it!

Her statement her words you are wrong to correct it

Correct to talk to her about her use of the word

Absolutely NOT correct to leave it out of her statement

I am alarmed that you have responsibility for recording a statement and that you think this is appropriate

South African "coloured" refers to anyone not white in apartheid context.

No It doesn't. A black person in South Africa wouldn't call themselves coloured. Coloured is an official ethnic group - you can tick 'coloured' in government census just as you can tick white or black. It's a term used in legislation etc.

OP, is the child or the child's parents South African?

It is a bit complicated.
When I was growing up, we were expected to use the term 'coloured'. 'Black' was considered unacceptable.
Then when I was an adult, 'coloured' became unacceptable, and 'black' was used.
Now it seems we should use the term 'person of colour', and definitely NOT 'coloured'.

I'm another one asking if they're S African - it is something akin to "mixed race" in how it's used there, and a term in current use.

No pickedbyyou not South African. You can rest easy then Loveoddthings its a senior school so as I said they make their own statements.

But we do have South African kids at the school so thanks for that

Who knows what we are allowed to say these days. Whatever is acceptable now, won't be next week.

Coloured is no acceptable anywhere - very Apartheid to my ears.

I think your ears need educating then!! There are over 5 million people who are 'coloured' in SA. They are not black Africans, they are not Asians and they are not white. They are coloured. Don't you think that they should get to decide what they want to be called. The coloured population in SA has its own unique characteristics and challenges (inc discrimination). They need to be counted as a separate group because they are a separate group. The government census lists coloured as a separate group.

https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/331843/population-in-south-africa-now-at-58-8-million/

I would not use the term coloured outside of SA though as it's not acceptable. TBH I'd avoid using any term if possible.

These signs give some clue as to why coloured is unacceptable for those who are more visual learners.

People of colour or Black is perfectly acceptable. It's also acceptable to get it wrong if you listen, apologise, and respond to feedback. Hardly a minefield.

My mother feels black is inappropriate, but coloured is more PC

My Dad was the same. He thought he was being PC but we reminded him that things change and that if he has to he should use the term 'black'.

"
I think some people don’t pick up on subtlety very well. "

To the point where you'd be tempted to think it's intentional but with enough wiggle room to claim plausible deniability

@PickedByYou I'm not sure SA should be held up as the example of how the rest of the world should treat its people of colour 🤔

"Coloured" doesn't necessarily mean black though. I've been called "coloured" and I'm mixed race White/Asian. My experience is that people in the UK who use coloured, use it to mean "not white".

@Teacher22 those are certainly all words.

I don't understand that it is not acceptable to say 'black', but quite OK to be termed 'white'. Some people may find it offensive to be termed 'white' (as in pale, uninteresting, bland).

Why is 'woman of colour' acceptable but not 'coloured woman' ?

It is acceptable to say black

@Teacher22 lol.what? Wrong forum for strange conspiracy theories