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AIBU?

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Original poster

to wonder why people still use this word.

372 replies

Creepycrawler · 30/04/2023 16:30

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?

OP posts:
olderthanyouthink · 30/04/2023 16:45

Mixed race I guess is race in the same context as racism. You cant say racism isn't a thing because there's only one human race, language is a bit messy.

IrregularChoiceFan · 30/04/2023 16:45

I don't think you should be saying mixed race either, I have been advised to use the term dual heritage instead.

Butchyrestingface · 30/04/2023 16:47

I'm in the North of Scotland and haven't heard "half caste" for years.

Then again, like others, I've heard objections to "mixed race", "BAME", "ethnic minority" "Black" ("I'm not black, I'm brown").

Different category entirely, but 3 years ago or so, everyone was saying 'QTIPOC' at my work events. Now I never hear it. Has that one bitten the dust?

LBFseBrom · 30/04/2023 16:47

It is an offensive term and that is not something said only recently, it has been the case for years; I first heard so in the early 1980s.

Why anyone's ethnicity has to be mentioned in the first place is beyond me.

I'm sure the woman meant no harm but I'd have thought society had moved on from using such phrases. If she was in her eighties I could understand it but she must be a relatively young person.

The fact that she noticed another child's ethnicity enough to mention it in regard to your child puzzles me. You know her, we don't, but I would be concerned that she might want to be seen in a particular light. Most of us don't have to make a conscious effort.

Original poster
Creepycrawler · 30/04/2023 16:47

True, words do keep changing and it's hard for me to keep up too. I just thought this term was a particularly unpleasant one having read up its origins.

OP posts:
Dortmunder · 30/04/2023 16:48

Butchyrestingface · 30/04/2023 16:47

I'm in the North of Scotland and haven't heard "half caste" for years.

Then again, like others, I've heard objections to "mixed race", "BAME", "ethnic minority" "Black" ("I'm not black, I'm brown").

Different category entirely, but 3 years ago or so, everyone was saying 'QTIPOC' at my work events. Now I never hear it. Has that one bitten the dust?

We've been told at work not to use POC as it's offensive.

Silvergoldandglitter · 30/04/2023 16:48

I genuinely didn't know its offensive. Its still used around here by people.
Like previously mentioned, what's offensive and what isn't seems to change every day, I can't keep up so I find it easier not to use anything at all.

Butchyrestingface · 30/04/2023 16:50

We've been told at work not to use POC as it's offensive.

What did they tell you to use instead?

treetea · 30/04/2023 16:50

I am mixed race. I don't have an issue with that term and neither do any of the mixed race people I know.

Half caste has been a slur/offensive/inappropriate for years and years now.

It's not a "recent" change that's impossible to keep up with.

Merryoldgoat · 30/04/2023 16:51

notsayingmuch · 30/04/2023 16:33

Well, you have used an outdated word yourself! We were told in a staff meeting to never use mixed race but to use dual heritage. Words keep changing and unless you get told to use different words it can be hard to keep in the loop.

If you can’t see the difference between mixed race and half-caste you’re an idiot.

YANBU OP.

My aunt (black) and her husband (white) went on holiday in the UK once with their children. My uncle was shouted at in the street and called ‘traitor’ and to take his ‘mongrels’ home.

Racism is fucking everywhere.

Nimbostratus100 · 30/04/2023 16:51

I have always hated "black" and "white" a these words have specific scientific definitions which are not appropriate to apply to humans. And they are inaccurate

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 30/04/2023 16:51

notsayingmuch · 30/04/2023 16:33

Well, you have used an outdated word yourself! We were told in a staff meeting to never use mixed race but to use dual heritage. Words keep changing and unless you get told to use different words it can be hard to keep in the loop.

Duel means two, so it’s incorrect as a person’s heritage may be made up of more than two races.

Original poster
Creepycrawler · 30/04/2023 16:53

Yes but 'mixed race' does not imply one of those races are inferior to the other. Half caste does as it basically means unpure breed. Mixed race was also not used in colonial times to single out specific people due to their skin colour as far as I'm aware.

OP posts:
LovedmyRaleighChopper · 30/04/2023 16:53

How interesting that you should be posting from South Wales as that is where I was born and brought up. There were only two mixed race kids ( brothers) in our village and at that time it was the normal term used to describe them “half caste”. They didn’t think it was offensive and neither did anyone else, the n word was freely used around Cardiff and we had a vague idea that was offensive but honestly thought half caste was both polite and descriptive. Times have obviously moved on, taking language with them and I’ve not used the term nor heard it used in many years. Plainly there are pockets which political correctness has not completely penetrated yet but I wouldn’t castigate these people as being deliberately offensive. Look at the intention behind the words - and really would a racist be encouraging a friendship between your children? She would probably be grateful for a bit of education on current terms, honestly they change so fast.

Flowertight · 30/04/2023 16:53

I grew up saying it and had no idea it was wrong. Wasn’t in the slightest bit racist, nor were my family, live in a multicultural area etc. I genuinely just thought that was the proper name.

Until I learnt it wasn’t and that it’s offensive. I guess some people probably haven’t learnt that yet - why don’t you just point it out politely to them?

Nimbostratus100 · 30/04/2023 16:53

notsayingmuch · 30/04/2023 16:33

Well, you have used an outdated word yourself! We were told in a staff meeting to never use mixed race but to use dual heritage. Words keep changing and unless you get told to use different words it can be hard to keep in the loop.

see, I dont think "dual heritage" is at all appropriate, because "dual" implies "two" your are assuming someone only has two origins, and for most of my family, it is 3 or 4.

Bigpinktrain · 30/04/2023 16:54

I’m not 💯 sure why people still reference each other by skin tone, it’s rarely necessary. I also disagree it’s hard to keep up, that’s like saying it’s hard not to be a prick. Just be respectful and you won’t go far wrong.

CarrotCake01 · 30/04/2023 16:54

I heard the term a lot more growing up than I have in recent years but I don't always think it was necessarily meant with any malice.

People find a lot of different terms racist, it can genuinely be hard sometimes to keep up with the correct terms.

Original poster
Creepycrawler · 30/04/2023 16:57

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 30/04/2023 16:51

Duel means two, so it’s incorrect as a person’s heritage may be made up of more than two races.

Show quote history

That it true!

OP posts:
Anotherselfemployedcleaner · 30/04/2023 16:58

I haven’t heard the term used for years - I do remember it being used when I was a kid (and I using it myself). To me (then) it just sounded really exotic!
I took Latin at school when I was 14 and remember being pretty shocked when I read that the word caste is derived from the Latin castus meaning pure.

x2boys · 30/04/2023 16:59

People used to.call people Coloured,and then we were told that was outdated and to use black,white etc, and now it's people of colour which unless aim very dense is very similar to Coloured?
I really don't want offend anyone but I do struggle sometimes knowing the correct and acceptable terms

eyesfullofstars · 30/04/2023 17:00

I really disagree that it’s hard to keep up with what language is acceptable. It doesn’t change that often. Though I don’t know what language tends to be used in Nigeria and whether it would still be seen as acceptable there.

I would have corrected her when she said it as I would assume it wasn’t actually coming from a racist place. It surprises me that anybody would still use it though.

DojaPhat · 30/04/2023 17:00

I haven't heard that term in common usage for decades! But maybe some places are more insular than others. That aside chuckling at pp who think we're all one 'human race' oh what life would be with such a rose tinted view of the world Grin

Nimbostratus100 · 30/04/2023 17:02

DojaPhat · 30/04/2023 17:00

I haven't heard that term in common usage for decades! But maybe some places are more insular than others. That aside chuckling at pp who think we're all one 'human race' oh what life would be with such a rose tinted view of the world Grin

it isn't a "view" it is a scientific fact - there are no separate "races" within the human species

SongsThatBoughtTheHouseAndCars · 30/04/2023 17:04

It’s not really ‘hard to keep up’ though is it if you’re mixing with people, watching TV etc which most people do

It’s just an excuse and it’s what my racist PIL said with a smirk on their face when they knew they were being racist. If you challenged/corrected them, they’d play the victim and say ‘oh I’ll just say nothing shall I’.

Funny that they managed to keep up with things like banking online and new car features. It was just language they struggled to ‘keep up with’ with when it was racist or homophobic.

Bollocks!

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