how do you feel about the terminology "colored"

Laura - posted on 03/26/2009

My son and I just say that people have different shades of brown.  I am "white" but in the summer, I turn brown by being in the sun.  His father is dark.  So we don't label black or white.  We are all shades of brown, some lighter than others.  When I fill out his paperwork, in the other ....mixed or white and black. 

Cheryl - posted on 03/25/2009

My daughter will say Im peach, daddy is brown and she is peachy brown, I quite like hat and its so much more accurate :)

Marissa - posted on 03/25/2009

It may seem inappropriate.

The rainbow is of many colors... and so too is our world and the people in it.

My children say that Daddy is brown... not black and that I am white... they being of different skin tones themsleves call themselves light brown or tan...

We may not know how to act or have our own oppinions on what is correct but... "out of the mouth of babes..." My children are innocent to all the negativity in the world so for now we indulge them and go with the flow.

Cheryl - posted on 03/24/2009

The term Cape Coloureds refers to the modern-day descendants of slave labourers imported into South Africa by Dutch settlers as well as to other groups of mixed ancestry originating in the present-day Western Cape. They are the predominant population group found in the Western Cape Province. Their population size is roughly 4 million. Most Cape Coloureds are mother tongue Afrikaans speakers, as a result of their cultural development in the Dutch and Afrikaans-speaking areas of South Africa; but a minority are English speaking. Slaves of Malay ancestry were brought from Indonesia, Malaysia, Madagascar, and Mozambique; and from these diverse origins they gradually developed into a grouping; along with coloured people (African and European origin); that was subsequently classified as a single major ethnical grouping under the Apartheid regime. In many cases the slaves were imported to be concubines and wives to single male Dutch settlers. People from India and the islands within the Indian Ocean region were also taken to the Cape and sold into slavery by the Dutch settlers. The Indian slaves were almost invariably given Christian names but their places of origin were indicated in the records of sales and other documents so that it is possible to get an idea of the ratio of slaves from different regions. These slaves were, however, dispersed and lost their cultural Indian identity in the course of time, hence being labelled Cape ColouredsTechnically, the term Cape Coloured referred to a subset of Coloured South Africans, with subjective criteria having been used by the Apartheid bureaucracy to determine whether a person was a Cape Coloured, or belonged to one of a number of other related "Coloured" subgroups such as the "Cape Malays", or "Other Coloureds". Currently the term "Coloured" is used very crudely to distinguish people of mixed ancestry from the phenotypically (and generally more genetically homogeneous) paler South Africans of European descent, and the darker black South Africans. There are often exceptions to this generalization, and consequently Apartheid classifications often led to tragi-comic consequences, with some paler family members being classified as white and others coloured. This contentious classification had in the past no consistent meaning among South Africans – opinion, more than anything else, dictates who is classified as Cape Coloured.

The Cape Coloured group is far from being homogeneous: the divisions within it were accentuated by the Apartheid classifications which defined type hierarchies with this grouping. As a consequence, there is much racial intolerance between self-defined groups of Cape Coloureds. Many Cape Coloureds are from totally different heritages, some having mostly European and others mostly black South African heritage. Many also have mostly Indian or mostly Indonesian/Malay heritage. Religious differences also exist, many being Christian and others Muslim. Therefore many Cape Coloureds feel very insulted being classified into the single Coloured racial category.

A group of Cape Coloureds were interviewed in the documentary series Ross Kemp on Gangs. One of the gang members who participated in the interview mentioned that black South Africans have been the main beneficiaries of South African social promotion initiatives while the Cape Coloureds have been further marginalized.

Monde World Films has just released the film I'm Not Black, I'm Coloured - Identity Crisis at the Cape of Good Hope 2009 USA release. This is one of the first historical documentary films to explore the legacy of Apartheid through the viewpoint of the Cape Coloured community. Interviews with elders, Pastors, members of Parliament, students and everyday people struggling to find their identity in the new South Africa.

Deshawna - posted on 03/24/2009

I have never liked that term. Too much hatred and disrespect behind it. Personaly, I prefer to be called Black but I don't mind or correct when African American is used. I've used the term Hispanic because I felt that the term Mexican just seemed disrespectful unless you're talking about food or objects. I have friends on either side of the fence in the cases of Black vs African American and Hispanic vs Mexican. I guess it just depends on the person and their background.

Stephanie - posted on 03/24/2009

The very sad fact is that there are still some people who think that the term colored is polite.  My husband and I were attending a funeral in my home town in rurual Virginia (on the borders of West Virginia and Kentucky), where there are NO black people.  I had warned him ahead of time that most people there had never met a black person (let alone a black person with dreads to their butt) and had only seen them on T.V., so he was prepared to be the object of curiosity.  I gave him the option as to whether to come or not, I wanted him there and am very proud to be his wife however at the same time I would never want to put him in a position where he isn't comfortable.  He chose to go and be there for me for moral support, and I was so glad he did.

  I was very surprised and proud that my family rolled out the red carpet for him to make sure that he felt comfortable and welcome.  My cousin, who is very very sweet and had invited him for a visit many times over the phone, made a point to thank him for coming and ask him if everyone was being good to him.  She then patted him on the leg and said "I just wanted to make sure that you were comfortable and no one was being mean to you over you being colored".  If the circumstances and area were different I think he would have been offended as would I, however the context she used it in was meant to be kind, loving and respectfull.

When the opportunity presents itself I'm going to let her know that black is the more appropriate term....if she thought she had said something wrong it would have hurt her to her core.

If someone who knew better used the term I would be very offended.  

Gabrielle - posted on 02/22/2009

Hi all, I don't take it to heart too much but for someone to call me African American when I am indeed Jamaican American is an insult. Someone noted above that they do not have family in Africa, know anyone from Africa or anything to the such, so its not apart of my heritage. Not that I don't want to be associated with that term, it does not describe me. Again, someone else noted that if you are to call a Puerto Rican, Mexican or any other spanish speaking native out of term, it's insulting to them. Then people want to get mad when you positively correct them on your background and say well, the world sees you as this. I see and know myself as what I am and you should concern yourself with what you are.



Barbara, I love that your daughter calls her skin color brown sugar. My almost three year old says, "Mommy, I need some coffee!" and comes and get kisses. (I'm coffee colored, by the way).

Barbara - posted on 01/23/2009

Brandi, that is 2 funny!  My daugher calls her skin color "brown sugar". 

Carolyn - posted on 01/23/2009

I'm with Brandi...Gabrielle If you know something I don't please educate me. I don't want to offend anyone, and never thought Hispanic to be offensive. My son's friend who is from PR says he's hispanic, but get's p.... off if my son calls him a Mexican ( so of course my son calls him a Mexican). I thought Hispanice meant spanish speaking so it was a broad classification..Am I wrong ? If so someone please help, make me aware

Amanda - posted on 01/22/2009

Gosh this is confusing!! I am from Australia, so it's a little different here, but i used to argue with my ex (from Africa) when he called people coloured, because it's not considered respectful here, but that's the generally accepted term in his country for someone who is black/white/indian or any combination.

Taneeka - posted on 01/15/2009

i think that is is important not to generalize people of color. not every person with varying degrees of black skin is african american by using the term black we encompass haitians and other islanders. Colored is offensive it is an archaic term...it is not the same as people of color...

Brandi - posted on 01/15/2009

Quoting Gabrielle:

I suppose I'm not technically "mixed race", since "Hispanic" (now there's a word I hate) is supposed to be an ethnicity of white (or black).

 

Okay - question Gabrielle, why do you dislike the word "Hispanic"?  I use that word often in order to not offend.  I know some people who REALLY dislike being called by the wrong nationality.  (Such as a person from Puerto Rico that will GO OFF if you call her Mexican)  I always that that  "Hispanic" was more all encompasing - to include people from countries that speak Spanish.  Am I wrong about this?  It is a word that I have educated other to use (rather than calling every person who speaks Spanish Mexican). 

Anyone else that is of a Spanish speaking background dislike this word?

What do you suggest that people use?

 

Gabrielle - posted on 01/14/2009

It's funny, but I actually don't mind using "mixed", "mutt", or "half-breed" to describe myself. Mulatto (that's the proper spelling) is definitely a old term, and in my mind, anything based in slave times should be banished from common use simply for it's tie to that disgusting time in our history. I would never want someone to use a derogatory term for me or my child, but I also like to joke with people about my heritage. It seems to help, when they want to ask questions, to let them know that as long as I see them trying to be polite, I won't take anything personally. My brother and his friends came up with "Mexi-Jew" for us when we were kids, and we all think it's really funny, since we know it's not intended to be mean.



I suppose I'm not technically "mixed race", since "Hispanic" (now there's a word I hate) is supposed to be an ethnicity of white (or black). But I don't consider myself white; I definitely consider myself mixed - my parents' cultures are very different. And I've had over 30 years to get used to it, so my skin has gotten thicker.

Ashley - posted on 01/12/2009

I never knew Mulotto or however its spelled was a negative thing. When I was growing up it was just a word to describe mixed race children, but never ever in a negative way. I also refer to my son as mixed race, or I just tell ppl when they ask, he's black and white. Its not something that is seen often in the community that I currently reside in, so you have to have a bit of patience for those who do not experience these things too often. :-)

Dawn - posted on 01/12/2009

In UK the usual term is Mixed Race.. old terms like half caste are used but i usually put people right on that one.. coloured is used but mainly by older people..

Jamie - posted on 01/12/2009

I hate that word. It is a very racial term and where it comes from is a very hateful place. Many older people use it, and granted that is how they were raised, but I would hope that they would realize that the world has changed and become educated. That is the only way that racism will be done away with.

Linda - posted on 01/12/2009

Hate it and find it offensive.

Carolyn - posted on 01/12/2009

You need to start a new thread on that Malato....I never knew that, or I did and forgot. It faintly rings a bell. I knew I hated that word as much as Colored and wasn't sure why, at least now I have a reason. I can honestly say I have never used Malato to refer to any of my children. I use to say Mixed, years ago, then started hating that. Now I use Bi-racial, and that just seems to flow out of my mouth and across my lips and feels so right.

Christine - posted on 01/11/2009

i agree with you. its a rude and disrespective thing to call someone.

Kristina - posted on 01/11/2009

Wow....people still use that? I think I have old heard my grandma use that term and she's 90. The one I HATE is malatto!! Do people know that term originates from SLAVERY? It means mutt or MULE! Please, if you EVER hear people use this term in reference to your or any mixed children.....please educate them. You can find the word on dictionary.com.

Brandi - posted on 01/06/2009

I think that SOME use it to attempt to be respectful. My 83 year old grandmother uses it. She is in NO way being disrespectful. She said she doesn't want to use "black" as she feels she might be seen as rude.

As for African American, I personally do not really like the term and I know several black people who do not like it either. As one of them said, "I am not from Africa. My parents aren't from Africa. I don't even know anyone from Africa. I am American and I am black." That is how I see it too. I am not trying to be rude to anyone who prefers to be called that, it's just my opinion.

As for my child - she is more literal. She calls herself tan. She says that my fiancé is brown and I am "light". Some people are gold too. Love the mind of a four year old.

Gabrielle - posted on 12/31/2008

My husband has family living in Podunk, Tennessee, and they use colored, Negro, and N*****. They aren't really educated people, but they don't really mean any harm. They were fine about my white hubby marrying a half-Mexican Jew, but they just don't know much about the real world. I've heard of very old black people preferring colored or Negro because it's what they grew up with. I think it's a generational thing, mostly. Me, I kind of prefer African-American, since it indicates heritage and nationality and I don't think it offends anyone, but by the time my daughter grows up, there will probably be something else.