Is it rude to refer to President-elect Obama as a black?

[Fraz]

I believe the proper term is dual heritage

I think to a certain point a dual heritage (I like that) person has got it even worse as they are a product of what a lot of racists seem to hate most, the thought of interracial relationships.

If anyone saw in the news about the Spanish website willing Lewis Hamilton to crash, get a burst tyre etc.. some of the comments like "Filthy Half Breed" were disgusting.

Makes me sad for our children (should we have them) as they will be dual heritage.

We're having children?!

[staffsMike]

I thought I'd get away without mentioning my gf again having already done so in the thread but if I must.. Makes me sad for our children (mine and my GIRLFRIEND's!!!!!) ..

[iranu]

I find the whole topic interesting and amusing at the same time. The problem is really twofold. Firstly layman's language and interpretation, along with the fact that nearly all of us are laymen when it comes to anthropology. Secondly that human beings are programmed to look at the differences between people and not the similarities.

One person's meaning of the word "black" is not that of someone else's, mix in a dose of PC and the term African-American and there is plenty of room for confusion. Why are American-Indians not called American-Americans? Play around with this nomenclature and you soon find out what a load of old twaddle it is. Could, for example; a white person born in the USA from South African parents, who were of Dutch origin, be classed as an African-American? Would they be a white African-American or are they a white European-African-American? If an American-Indian went to live in India, would their offspring be classed as American-Indian Indians? (I think I've found a new game!). So in that respect, I think it's not a better sounding accomplishment.

However, in the context within which most people equate "black" and "African-American" in the American psyche then either is appropriate - I guess it's their POTUS! I can see the confusion(?) perception(?) of the OP, but there's no way that black equates to n*gger in the US, in general terms, e.g mainstream TV. There's obviously the racist element, but also the fact that the n-word has been used amongst blacks/African-Americans themselves for some time in many different contexts.

I'm a picky Rosbif so I'm more inclined to look at it from a genetic point of view. Unfortunately that information is not stamped on our foreheads and so we take other cues, most prominently vision. We're all mongrels, even the Mongols (although they make better jokes).

Again I find it both grating and amusing that people refer to "Asian looking" or "Asians" when Asia is the largest and most populous continent and has a very wide array of peoples with allsorts of characteristics (and cultures). All these labels do is put up unnecessary barriers. At least if someone is American or British or Chinese then there is not an automatic distinction due to colour (and we can all got on quietly with the business of nationalism and xenophobia, yer yank/bosch/frog/spic/wap/dago/limey/argie/ozzie/paki/nip/paddy/cheesehead/chinky/<insert>,<delete> as inappropriate/ bast*rds! - apologies if I've missed you out ).

When I look at Obama I am aware that he is non-white, non-yellow, non-purple, or black if you want (or he wants), but I'm quite colour blind with respect to him being POTUS or for that matter any other job, yet I understand the significance with regard to American history. I still have prejudice(s) which is quite natural, but I am aware that I have them.

[educatedfool]

Why do we need to involve colour in his description in the first place?

[Stewart]

Because the 43 Presidents before him were white men, he is not a white man, and so obviously this is significant.

[educatedfool]

But there is no logical need to involve colour. Being black doesn't make you a better or worse candidate.

Okay, so it's important if you want to dwell on the past and keep bringing up all the bad things that have happened. But in my view the more we keep rabbiting on about colour and how significant it is the more we force people to distinguish between black/white/asian whatever, when in reality the difference is only skin deep and should be ignored.

[Blitzen]

I cant see the problem. Obama is black. If someone described me as white i wouldnt be offended as thats what i am.

I also dont like the term coloured. If someone is branded 'coloured' does it means they are green or purple?

[bsodmike]

Black, in my opinion, is along the same lines of nigga.

I don't think so, and that 'n' word is actually more loaded and quite derogatory.

Being Sri Lankan and quite 'brown' I may not like being referred to as 'Indian'...but that is more akin to how some people just classify, quite ignorantly of course, all yellow people as chinese or some other singular asian race.

It is simply quite an achievement for Obama to become president; I just worry that the good old Aryan brother hood and other racist "muppets" will get to him in the future...

As someone else pointed out, it would be far better if people referred to themselves by nationality rather than race...it would cause for far less headaches imho, unless someone specifically inquires into your ethnic origins.

[Richdog]

But there is no logical need to involve colour. Being black doesn't make you a better or worse candidate.

Okay, so it's important if you want to dwell on the past and keep bringing up all the bad things that have happened. But in my view the more we keep rabbiting on about colour and how significant it is the more we force people to distinguish between black/white/asian whatever, when in reality the difference is only skin deep and should be ignored.

You need to bear in mind how only 60 years ago blacks were still persecuted and thought of as inferior. It will take at least 15-20 generations before we get over that completely, and to say that "colour shouldn't come into it" is naieve at best considering the world we live in today. It will take a while yet before we get over the whole race thing, and as long as people continue to identify with race and indeed be proud of it and promote it then it will continue to be an issue.

[Dmytro245]

In my opinion (even though I'm white), calling somebody black isn't offensive. If somebody called me white I wouldn't be offended, it's just a fact lol. I think I'd be more annoyed if they gave some kind of 'special' name so they wouldn't 'offend' me. Just my opinion anyway

[yamangman]

I don't think so, and that 'n' word is actually more loaded and quite derogatory.

Being Sri Lankan and quite 'brown' I may not like being referred to as 'Indian'...but that is more akin to how some people just classify, quite ignorantly of course, all yellow people as chinese or some other singular asian race.

It is simply quite an achievement for Obama to become president; I just worry that the good old Aryan brother hood and other racist "muppets" will get to him in the future...

As someone else pointed out, it would be far better if people referred to themselves by nationality rather than race...it would cause for far less headaches imho, unless someone specifically inquires into your ethnic origins.

I've got a Sri Lankan friend, he absolutely loves it when I call him black

[Saracen]

The Andrew Marr show this morning played a rather comical clip of an Irish group singing a song that claimed Obama is Irish. Silly though that might seem, it was pointed out that he's as Irish as JFK, by virtue of his great, great grandfather ( I think that's the right number of greats, but wasn't paying that much attention) coming from (IIRC, as I wasn't paying that much attention) Donegal.

And given as the Kennedy's are regarded as being about as close to aristocracy as the US has (or wants), and that they categorised as Irish Catholic East-coast Brahmin Irish prices, or some such cobblers, it seems highly ironic if, as the first "black" President, Obama is actually as genetically Irish as JFK.

As far as I'm concerned, whether he's black or not is immaterial. Others may not see it that way, but I do. If I'd had a vote, I'd have voted for him if I thought he was the best candidate for the job, and that comes down to policies, experience, personality, etc, and a balance of them at that, not his skin colour, and I'd not have voted for him if I thought he wasn't the best candidate.

[Marcos]

Is it rude to refer to President-elect Obama as a black?

No

not for me anyway, im half black/half white too and i dont mind being called black, since i am darker than i am light

[Zadock]

It is really tricky to know how to refer to someone... you can see from this thread that different people have different ideas of what is offensive and what is not.

Its all very well saying ignore peoples colour or race but I find that sometimes, particularly in young people, that people like you to notice and they are proud of the outward signs of their heritage.

So... swings and roundabouts.


It was very encouraging to see Obama win, and for the right reasons... gives you a little more faith in humanity. Exciting times for americans, it'll be interesting to see what he does. I particularly liked his speech about how he wanted change americans foreign image, and loose the whole military muscle image.