to wonder why people still use this word.

[Creepycrawler]

Half caste

My children are mixed race and my son when to his friend's house for a sleepover last night.
I was chatting to the mum when she used this term about another boy who '' is half caste as well''. Luckily, my son was in the car and didn't hear.
I was recently in hospital and having a conversation with someone who also used the term and I excused myself to go outside and sat somewhere else.

... And it's not just here. Several years ago H' s (Nigerian) aunty visited from Africa and used the term. We were both very uncomfortable and H told her we don't use that word.

Do people really not understand that it's offensive?

There is still a lot of racism where we live now (South Wales) and we get a lot of it at school ( where I work). I don't think this woman made the comment intentionally but surely people know by now not to use it?

I was referring to your now revised stance on using the term mixed race.

This thread illustrates the concept known as the Euphemism Treadmill. This is where a word/phrase becomes offensive over time, so it is replaced with a kinder less offensive euphemism, which in turn becomes offensive over time. It also means that words/phrases commonly used today will become offensive in the near future and will need replacing.

It applies not just to racial descriptions, but to any concept. For example, the word "imbecile" was offensive and was replaced by the kinder "retard". This in turn became offensive was replaced with the current "special needs". From a comment above this may also be on its way out to be replaced by "additional needs". The well known charity "The National Spastics Society" fell fowl of the word "spastic" becoming offensive and had to change its name (in 1994 to "Scope"). Very occasionally a word will be reclaimed and make a comeback - "queer" is an example of this.

For ethnicity, I have no doubt that half-caste is now offensive, but it seems that the fight against using "mixed race" is well underway. Another word/phrase will soon become the more acceptable euphemism.

PS. This thread was the first time I have encountered "ADOS" (American Descendants of Slavery). Whilst the term may have a specific accuracy to a certain group of people, to me it seems it wants to create division against people of similar ethnicity who are not descended from slaves, or are not (or no longer) American. It seems extraordinarily right-wing.

And I live with two mixed dc who aren't offended by that term at all. And i very much doubt they're the only ones

@Creepycrawler and @skippy67. My point was never to cause offence and apologise if it did.

There are terms that are clearly derogatory, that unless you are living under a stone you would know not to use. I would've used mixed race, but then I was told dual heritage in a inclusion and diversity course.

Again, I apologise. I certainly didn't mean to trivialise the issue.

Probably the safest bet for now is to just use the term "mixed" (without race).

Half-caste has always been offensive.

The root of 'half-caste' is the Latin word ‘castus’, meaning pure, and its Spanish and Portuguese derivative ‘casta’, meaning race. So 'half-caste' means impure, it means white is pure and anything else just muddies the blood.

So ‘half-caste’ was never ‘a kinder less offensive euphemism’ 🙄

Not at all running. I'm learning here as well!
At least you are open to discussion and that's what's appreciated imo.

Yes but you can't really now claim ignorance of the fact that some mixed people do find the term "mixed race" offensive, in which case it's best to avoid it.

I personally don’t know anyone who finds mixed race offensive.

And say what? I doubt in reality there's a term to describe people of more than one ethnicity that doesn't offend part of that group.

Yes, it does, doesn't it?

I don't dispute it being an offensive term, which you would know if you'd read my posts. I would far rather people were aware and didn't use it but I think the thing to do is kindly clue people in who are using it in all innocence and trying to be polite, not refusing to say anything to enlighten then and then condemning them on the side for still not knowing what you refuse to tell them.

Since we're issuing commands: stop stoking racial divisions between people who bear no ill-will and simply don't yet know what you (refuse to tell them you) know.

Here's another article explaining why "mixed race" is offensive, from the The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (UK).

15 reasons to question the terms mixed ‘race’ and biracial and multiracial as terms of reference

https://www.baatn.org.uk/people-of-mixed-black-and-white-ethnic-heritage-identity/

Have any mixed race people said on this thread that they’re offended by mixed race?

@Creepycrawler thank you. It's also a term I wouldn't use regularly anyway. It's not because I don't want to celebrate another person's race, I love learning about others if they want to share that. I don't use it often because I'd never go up to someone I'd just met and randomly say 'Are you mixed race/dual heritage?'.

I think once I'd got to know someone well enough, they'd describe themselves the way they wanted and if I ever had to describe them, for whatever reason, I'd use their preference.

To quote that BAATN article I linked:

The term half-caste is proposed to have been promoted by the nineteenth century British colonial administration as a pejorative term associated with the moral disapproval of miscegenation.[3]

The term Mixed ‘race’ with its continuation of the historically misguided and misinformed terminology and use of a term of reference indicating ‘racial mixing’ is not much better than half-caste. There is only one race, the human race.

This issue comes down to blatant ignorance. There is an inherent racist under tone in the UK. It's just widely and unbelievably accepted. There needs to be more discussion like this one. If someone doesn't know, and you do please educate them.

I am 'mixed', 'mixed race' or simply brown and not British/English. I am from several mixed backgrounds. In the past month alone I have heard the terms, blacks, half caste, mulatto, Paki (for anyone of south east Asian orgin) pikey, tinker, basic white, wranger, coloured and people of colour. Plus, other derogatory terms around sexuality and gender.

This is just not acceptable. It needs to stop. It's demeaning. When used it shows a complete lack of respect and ignorance not to mention prejudice and racism. It should not be tolerated. Tolerance is not the same as acceptance.

And your age or generation and what was once acceptable is not an excuse for ignorance. Not when we have so many resources readily available.

Educate to eradicate. We should be promoting diversity and inclusion. Not only from action but through thought and opinion. Being open and able to discuss these topics should help to eliminate the 'issue' of race.

Only last week I was corrected for describing a person as black, knowing full well they describe themselves so. The person that pulled me up was white, and insisted I use "coloured".

As a child in the 70's every term to describe a person was used in a way the for many, many years have been unacceptable and frankly inaccurate.

I don't think it's unreasonable in 2023 to be questioning whether you're likely to offend someone and adapt accordingly.

Also, thank you to those who do not make excuses for this type of behaviour and speak out on behalf of humanity.

I used BAME in an article recently and was emailed to say it's no longer accepted as a term in my workplace.

It can be really hard to keep up with changes in language.

Well I’m not offended by it.
Neither are any of my family or friends so as I said I personally don’t know anyone who is offended by it.

Heard someone use that term in a shop last week...to describe a baby! Shop owner corrected the person and told them it was offensive. Apparently they had no idea.

I can't believe people in 2023 don't understand it's offensive. It didn't only become unacceptable last month fgs 🙄

That is some racist shizzle, anyone who speaks like that is defiantly not going to the kingdom of heaven

The person who pulled you up was talking bollocks.

Second that.

I was shocked when I worked in Liverpool and found it was in common use, even by educational professions. I had to tell them it was offensive and they were mortified. This was only 10 years ago. I think it's mainly ignorance and places taking longer to catch up. I grew up near London and didn't hear it used growing up.