Stop teaching child that it’s okay to refer to someone’s skin colour

[CannotThinkOfName]

Calling someone - a random person you don’t know - black is racist. I don’t care if your personal friend or your family member or someone else you’re close to doesn’t mind being referred to like this because they’re speaking for themselves as individuals.

Pointing out someone by skin colour is rude at best and at worst a form of racism. This is because

1. Skin colour that I was born with is brown.
2. Skin colour that I was born with does not define anyone. It doesn’t define your traits, characteristics, hobbies, goals, ambitions or anything else that truly defines who a person is.
3. It’s a form of racial harassment to start bothering someone at random and bringing up their race and colour for no real reason and singling them out by it.

I’ve seen people say there’s nothing wrong with their child referring to people by skin because they are just “saying what they see”. This is wrong because as a child, I never ever saw myself as “black” or described myself “black”. This is taught as a way to refer to people, it’s not simply a child “saying what they see”.

Please stop teaching your child that it’s okay to refer to people that you don’t know this way. If you do know someone and they’ve told you to call them black then that’s their choice as an individual. They don’t speak for anyone else but themselves.

If you don’t know someone’s name, - just ask them what their name is and call them by their actual name. Not “that black girl” or “the black woman” or “that black lady”.

You don’t mind being called black but you have zero right to act like we all want or accept being called black.

But why do you have the right to act like all black people are offended or upset by being called black?

It's so odd to chastise people for something you're doing - acting as if you're the gatekeeper of what terms black people do or don't mind.

Black people aren't a monolith, everyone is individual. Your view is not more valid than that of other people who share your skin colour and vice versa.

This reminds me of the Amy Schumer skit where she is trying to describe the man in the store without saying black/Asian (can’t remember which race) and describes the plaid shirt, the glasses, the beard - and then every single store man fits that description and she still feels too awkward to say what race they are as feels like it’s racist. I think this is one of those things, obviously don’t call someone a “black lady!” Just like someone calling me a “white lady” for no reason would be offensive. BUT if you’re describing an individual in a group it’s natural to point out their most obvious and least defensive descriptor. Maybe there is one fat lady out of a bunch of skinny people, you wouldn’t say “the fat lady” - you’d probably describe the hair or clothing. However “black” shouldn’t be offensive like “fat” should it, so in that context, if it was a bunch of different ethnicities and there was one black lady, you would describe as the black lady. Same as if there was one white lady - although there you might say, blonde lady if she was blonde I guess. I don’t think that’s racist is it?

[quote CannotThinkOfName]**@fulanigirl* I can’t quote you but what if I told you I wouldn’t be offended at all of someone referred to me as b-tch? Can I then say you’re ridiculous for saying that you’re* offended? This is what you’re currently doing with me[/quote]
Bitch is used by some as a term of endearment between mates but the vast majority of the time is an insult. It's also not a factual descriptor. So it's not equivalent.

Once again I can’t quote you @fulanigirl but I’ve said over and over again, if YOU want to be called black - it doesn’t mean that it’s a nice term, it doesn’t mean it’s a neutral term, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have bad origins - all it means is that you, as an individual don’t mind being called black, regardless of whether it’s offensive or not. Which is fine, because it’s your life not mine.

*offensive.

That’s the biggest load of crap I have ever heard someone say. There is nothing whatsoever racist about the word black. It’s a colour!! Colours can be used as descriptives. It entirely depends on the context as long as not in a derogatory way.

I cannot stand it when people are scared to use the word black. That’s outrageous, sorry. My sibling is mixed race and I am not in any way a racist.

@youvegottenminuteslynn

You don’t mind being called black but you have zero right to act like we all want or accept being called black.

But why do you have the right to act like all black people are offended or upset by being called black?

It's so odd to chastise people for something you're doing - acting as if you're the gatekeeper of what terms black people do or don't mind.

Black people aren't a monolith, everyone is individual. Your view is not more valid than that of other people who share your skin colour and vice versa.

Where did I say all people of African descent are offended or upset by being called black? I haven’t said that.

I even gave the example of many women not being offended by being referred to as b-tch, which is fine because it’s their right to be called what they want. However, it would be wrong to fail to acknowledge that plenty of women wouldn’t want to be called such names.

Same with black. Accept it. You want me to say, it’s alright for you to call people black because some people aren’t offended by it. I’m not going to say that because it’s unfair to people who don’t like it. The views of people who don’t want to be called black should be respected too. Which I don’t think they are.

So if someone is Black British we should refer to them as brown? Even if they're black British...?

Should white people be referred to as beige or pink then?

@youvegottenminuteslynn and black is used as a compliment? By who?

In what way is calling someone black factual but b-tch is not?

Thanks for posting that clip @CannotThinkOfName I've seen it before but don't actually remember it in full the way you've posted. So maybe I saw a different shortened clip.

I agree. Words matter. Words have meanings and significance. It's fine if you don't believe but subliminal proclamation or declaration upon oneself is important.

@Clumsyvolcano

That’s the biggest load of crap I have ever heard someone say. There is nothing whatsoever racist about the word black. It’s a colour!! Colours can be used as descriptives. It entirely depends on the context as long as not in a derogatory way.

I cannot stand it when people are scared to use the word black. That’s outrageous, sorry. My sibling is mixed race and I am not in any way a racist.

If you’re not black yourself, you don’t have any right to tell someone what’s racist or not because you’re not at the receiving end of it.

@Allsorts1

This reminds me of the Amy Schumer skit where she is trying to describe the man in the store without saying black/Asian (can’t remember which race) and describes the plaid shirt, the glasses, the beard - and then every single store man fits that description and she still feels too awkward to say what race they are as feels like it’s racist. I think this is one of those things, obviously don’t call someone a “black lady!” Just like someone calling me a “white lady” for no reason would be offensive. BUT if you’re describing an individual in a group it’s natural to point out their most obvious and least defensive descriptor. Maybe there is one fat lady out of a bunch of skinny people, you wouldn’t say “the fat lady” - you’d probably describe the hair or clothing. However “black” shouldn’t be offensive like “fat” should it, so in that context, if it was a bunch of different ethnicities and there was one black lady, you would describe as the black lady. Same as if there was one white lady - although there you might say, blonde lady if she was blonde I guess. I don’t think that’s racist is it?

This is the point I've been trying to make. Op is entitled to her opinion but she doesn't get to tell me how I feel and how others feel. She didn't say I feel, she made a blanket statement on behalf of black people she had no right making.

[quote CannotThinkOfName]@youvegottenminuteslynn and black is used as a compliment? By who?

In what way is calling someone black factual but b-tch is not?[/quote]
Surely because bitch means either a nasty woman or a female dog. It's not just saying female or woman.

Whereas surely black just means someone who is of black heritage? I'd be happy to call you brown rather than black if you were my friend and that was your preference, but I don't really see how black is an insult if people identify as black.

[quote CannotThinkOfName]@youvegottenminuteslynn and black is used as a compliment? By who?

In what way is calling someone black factual but b-tch is not?[/quote]
Because bitch is subjective, not factual.

I feel like there’s a lot of unfairness. Why can Asians be called Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi when many of them are dark brown too. Why does no one here force them to accept being called black?

If people of African descent are black, then Asians are too. So are North Africans and Middle Easterns. In fact why stop there, Indigenous Australians are also black, Polynesians too, also add brown skinned South Americans.

If people disagree with this post, I would like to know why.

I feel like there’s this underlying need to make sure people of African descent are kept at the bottom. With the “brown people” allowed to be in the middle, then white people at the top. No, I’m not accepting that.

[quote CannotThinkOfName]@youvegottenminuteslynn and black is used as a compliment? By who?

In what way is calling someone black factual but b-tch is not?[/quote]
How can btch be factual? Are you a female dog? It's not a factual way to describe someone, especially a stranger. There is no way a person would not be offended if a complete stranger described them as being a b*tch.

@fulanigirl which blanket statement did I make? Or are you confusing me with yourself who came in this thread to insist that being called black is accepted by everyone and not just you

Black is a colour though, it is a descriptive. If someone goes missing or is wanted by police etc it sure is helpful to know the colour of someone’s skin so people know who they are looking for!

I do not condone racism but you are being ridiculous and I’m certain my sibling would say the same.

It seems some people look for anything to be offended by.

If I was speaking to a man for example, I probably wouldn’t say, ‘’I spoke to a black man today’’ I would just say ‘’ I spoke to a man’’ so in that sense I get it. But to think a colour is offensive is really strange!

Black people refer to themselves as black man or black women in the same way I refer to myself as a white woman.

@fulanigirl black is factual? - Are you the literal colour black? I’m not. Are you?

It’s not racist. Completely disagree with you OP.
I get that you personally do not like it, but that doesn’t make it racist.

@Clumsyvolcano

Black is a colour though, it is a descriptive. If someone goes missing or is wanted by police etc it sure is helpful to know the colour of someone’s skin so people know who they are looking for!

I do not condone racism but you are being ridiculous and I’m certain my sibling would say the same.

It seems some people look for anything to be offended by.

If I was speaking to a man for example, I probably wouldn’t say, ‘’I spoke to a black man today’’ I would just say ‘’ I spoke to a man’’ so in that sense I get it. But to think a colour is offensive is really strange!

Black people refer to themselves as black man or black women in the same way I refer to myself as a white woman.

Not all of us do. People refer to me as black. I’ve never been black a day in my life. Your sibling is mixed race and likes being called black. Good for them but they’re not me.

[quote CannotThinkOfName]@fulanigirl black is factual? - Are you the literal colour black? I’m not. Are you?[/quote]
OP good luck! I'm out

@CannotThinkOfName

I feel like there’s a lot of unfairness. Why can Asians be called Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi when many of them are dark brown too. Why does no one here force them to accept being called black?

If people of African descent are black, then Asians are too. So are North Africans and Middle Easterns. In fact why stop there, Indigenous Australians are also black, Polynesians too, also add brown skinned South Americans.

If people disagree with this post, I would like to know why.

I feel like there’s this underlying need to make sure people of African descent are kept at the bottom. With the “brown people” allowed to be in the middle, then white people at the top. No, I’m not accepting that.

watch Philly Philly Wang Wang on Netflix

he says that there are 2 kinds of Asians: "plays cricket Asians" and "eats weird shit Asians"
🤣🤣🤣
there you go

@Courtier and a man could say they don’t see why b-tch is an insult as many women identify by that term. Even Lizzo said in her song she’s 100% that b-tch, so according to you, no woman should ever be offended by being called that.

OP you aren't open to people challenging the irony / hypocrisy of your post. Even though multiple people have done so. You made your statement and have repeated it a number of times. Perhaps best to agree to disagree with people on this one.