In 2026, Is It Still Acceptable To Use the Term "Colored" When Describing Human Beings?

[seoulsearch]

Hey Everyone,

There is a discussion going on in Lynx's Which Witch thread in which this user made the following remark:

Is black Friday when all the colored people go shopping for Christmas presents?

When confronted about making a racist statement, he then said this:

Calling black people colored people or negros is not being racist.
You're the only one here apparently with racism on the brain.
I'm surprised Jessie Jackson never filed a lawsuit against all the big retailers for calling it "Black Friday"
He's shaken down large companies for less.
Black people call white people crackers which is being racist against white people.
You good with black folk calling white folk crackers?

That's just your opinion.
Saying "colored people" is not a racist term just so you know, for future reference.

As for me, I was raised by white people.

One of my best friends is black, and the rest of my friends and family are a mix of various ethnicities and backgrounds. We sometimes call each other this or that, but it's all born out of love, respect, and the familiarity of having been around each other for decades.

My black friend calls me the whitest white girl he knows. (In case you can't tell by my picture and avatar name, I'm not actually white.) But he's earned the right to say those things to me after almost 25 years of walking through the fires with me when I was going through them. He could call me "Cracker Girl" all day long and I wouldn't think twice, because we have a history that's hard to match.

Everyone in this life has had experience with some form of racism or at least bullying in some way.

The thing that makes the difference to me of whether a term is wrong or not is the relationship between the people involved.

When a stranger/someone unfamiliar with someone calls or refers to them by socially questionable terms or words that have a socially charged history, then yes, I see that as racism -- no matter what ethnicities are involved.

But that's just me, and I realize others feel differently.

Seeing as this is a wide and diverse Christian Community with people from all over the world, and from every race and background, I think it's an important subject to discuss.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Lynx]

Speakin as a sutherner, down here where suthern is spoke like it oughta be spoke...

"Colored people" is a bit antiquated, but I don't see nothin wrong with it. I don't hear nobody sayin it no more, but it wouldn't be no cause to get all in an uproar if someone did say it.

Sayin black friday is when colored people go shopping... That is definitely racist and he oughta be tarred and feathered. And no fried chicken or sweet iced tea for a year.

 

[seoulsearch]

Speakin as a sutherner, down here where suthern is spoke like it oughta be spoke...

"Colored people" is a bit antiquated, but I don't see nothin wrong with it. I don't hear nobody sayin it no more, but it wouldn't be no cause to get all in an uproar if someone did say it.

Sayin black friday is when colored people go shopping... That is definitely racist and he oughta be tarred and feathered. And no fried chicken or sweet iced tea for a year.

I appreciate the different perspective, since you grew up in a different part of the country.

I grew up in the Northern USA, and I absolutely despise the term "colored" as a description for human beings, because where I came from it was almost always used as a derogatory term. But maybe it's just me.

I wasn't sure if this thread was going to be allowed, and I'm very thankful for the administration for putting it up, because in light of what was said in the other thread, it seems pertinent to discuss.

This is the answer I was writing to another one of Scooter's posts before I knew the other thread was closed (sorry for the redundancy, but I didn't know this thread had been posted yet.)

OK, so you subscribe to liberal wokism. I do not.
Where is your outrage when colored people call white people crackers?
That is a racist term for white people.
I see so you admit to using racist terminology then?
It's all good as long as you smile at them and position yourself as being less important than they are?
That's t5he white guilt trip the white liberals are trying put on everyone.
I like Martin Luther King's message that everyone be treated equal. That went out the window after he died.

I was raised by white people. I am not white. I worked in an area with a very heated relationship between blacks/whites.

Racism against any color or ethnicity brings out the anger in me like few other things.

Where I worked, white people blamed the black people for the area's economic decline. Black people came into our store and insulted the white girls I worked with, calling them racist, not knowing many of them had children/marriages with black men.

When I finally got out of that small town and went to college, I asked God for friends from all races and backgrounds, which He granted.

I despise racism of all kinds, in any form.


Now, my friends and I will tease each other using various stereotypes because it's a way of turning the racism we've personally faced on its head. To us, it takes away the power of something meant for evil when you can turn it into something that makes you and those you love laugh.

The difference to me is the relationship it's centered around.

Whatever boundaries friends and families set for each other, that's between them and their own private rules for each other.

But when a stranger feels they can set their own boundaries while having no relationship with the person or other people involved, that's where I personally draw the line.

But again, that's just me.

How about you?

 

[Lynx]

Well down here, on the rare occasion I hear colored people, it's always a black person saying it. White folks just call them black folks.

And for me it's all in whether I know somebody. You or cinder or Rob, for example, could call my mother a mudworm, and I would be waiting for the punchline because I know y'all. Don't get me started on throwing a green owl for a forward pass. But we know each other a bit. Someone else pulled a blade and threatened to slice the emerald glutton, you would probably be very concerned.

 

[Churchgoer]

I say go for it, freedom baby !

 

[Churchgoer]

When people can't win an argument, they will use anti this anti that, racism......

I say just list the facts, don't use those words, they are annoying.

 

[ScooterJackson]

Racism against any color or ethnicity brings out the anger in me like few other things.

OK so when you hear blacks calling white people crackers, you git all up in their grill over it?
I highly doubt you do. If you did they would accuse you of being racist and wouldn't have anything to do with you anymore.

Now, my friends and I will tease each other using various stereotypes

Well yeah, that's how to keep the racism thing alive and keep the races in division.
If you were truly against racism you would cease using "various stereotypes" altogether.

Whatever boundaries friends and families set for each other, that's between them and their own private rules for each other.

Of course, like black people calling each other the N word all over the place.
That's exactly how to keep the racism thing alive and keep the races in division. People are making money off of this.

I know some black people who think this is wrong and other blacks laugh at them, call then uncle tom and other such nonsense claiming they side with white people over their own race.

But when a stranger feels they can set their own boundaries while having no relationship with the person or other people involved, that's where I personally draw the line.

That's your opinion. If black people wanted to help stop racism they would stop using the N word altogether.

The fact of the matter is black people are very racist against not only whites, but against Latinos, Asians, and even against black people that have light skin complexions and against those that are not 100 black such as Barack Obama.

Like I mentioned in the other thread, the message Martin Luther King had went out the window a long time ago.
He advocated for all people to be equal and no one race having superiority over any other race.

Now in the end, to the Lord there are only two races: Those who have been born again who are abiding In Him, and those who do not abide in him who in opposition to Him.

Matthew 13:41,42 - The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus is the One we should worry about offending.

 

[Lynx]

OK so when you hear blacks calling white people crackers, you git all up in their grill over it?
I highly doubt you do. If you did they would accuse you of being racist and wouldn't have anything to do with you anymore.



Well yeah, that's how to keep the racism thing alive and keep the races in division.
If you were truly against racism you would cease using "various stereotypes" altogether.



Of course, like black people calling each other the N word all over the place.
That's exactly how to keep the racism thing alive and keep the races in division. People are making money off of this.

I know some black people who think this is wrong and other blacks laugh at them, call then uncle tom and other such nonsense claiming they side with white people over their own race.



That's your opinion. If black people wanted to help stop racism they would stop using the N word altogether.

The fact of the matter is black people are very racist against not only whites, but against Latinos, Asians, and even against black people that have light skin complexions and against those that are not 100 black such as Barack Obama.

Like I mentioned in the other thread, the message Martin Luther King had went out the window a long time ago.
He advocated for all people to be equal and no one race having superiority over any other race.

Now in the end, to the Lord there are only two races: Those who have been born again who are abiding In Him, and those who do not abide in him who in opposition to Him.

Matthew 13:41,42 - The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus is the One we should worry about offending.

Oh sure, getting "all up in their grill" is sooooo productive. That always causes enlightenment and friendship and rainbows and lolipops all around.

Bet you're a lot of fun at parties. Oh wait, those are way too unholy for you to EVER be part of. Much to everyone else's relief.

You know how many times people have called me a cracker? Zero. Maybe because I don't act like a stereotypical cracker.

So how many times has someone called YOU a cracker? Can I make a guess? (Can I count that high?)

 

[seoulsearch]

Well down here, on the rare occasion I hear colored people, it's always a black person saying it. White folks just call them black folks.

And for me it's all in whether I know somebody. You or cinder or Rob, for example, could call my mother a mudworm, and I would be waiting for the punchline because I know y'all. Don't get me started on throwing a green owl for a forward pass. But we know each other a bit. Someone else pulled a blade and threatened to slice the emerald glutton, you would probably be very concerned.

See, now this is fascinating to me.

I have never heard a black person refer to other blacks as colored. Not ever that I can remember. Where I grew up, it was the whites who said it, and it was usually the older generations that did not mean it in a nice or neutral way, which is why I grew to hate the term.

Several years ago, my white friend and I took her daughters to a corn maze. I was admittedly nervous because it was a very white-centric area.

The girls' father is black. At one point, there was a group of white school kids passing by them and one shouted something I could only hear part of, but it was, "What do you call... black people..." And they all laughed. Whatever he was saying, it wasn't good.

And I was. HOPPING. MAD.

If I could have seen who that boy was, I would have asked him to come forward and said, "Obviously, you want to introduce yourself to these girls, but they're so pretty, you must be too scared -- so you had to hide behind everyone else to shout at them. Why don't you go ahead and introduce yourself now?"

But I couldn't see who it was.

I've spent many a restless hour praying over that moment, even after all these years. Because I'm always telling God, "I know why you didn't give me kids -- I would have wound up in jail the first time someone shouted something ridiculous at them."

Speaking of which...

Lynx is referring to my TURQUOISE (NOT green) owl, Winston, whom he always seems to have beef with -- for some reason (it's a running joke.)

For the sake of not getting in any more arguments tonight, and because we've been friends for so long, I'll let his comments pass... but only for tonight.

 

[ScooterJackson]

Oh sure, getting "all up in their grill" is sooooo productive.

That's what they say in the hood. In other parts of town they would say getting in someone's face, both of which means talking to someone face to face.

You know how many times people have called me a cracker?

Yo! Wassup cracker!
There ya go, your welcome.

Maybe because I don't act like a stereotypical cracker.

You probably one of them uptight crackers

So how many times has someone called YOU a cracker?

At least they can't call me slacker.

 

[Churchgoer]

Oh sure, getting "all up in their grill" is sooooo productive. That always causes enlightenment and friendship and rainbows and lolipops all around.

Bet you're a lot of fun at parties. Oh wait, those are way too unholy for you to EVER be part of. Much to everyone else's relief.

You know how many times people have called me a cracker? Zero. Maybe because I don't act like a stereotypical cracker.

So how many times has someone called YOU a cracker? Can I make a guess? (Can I count that high?)

I say there is only one human race.

Most jokes are allowed.

 

[seoulsearch]

OK so when you hear blacks calling white people crackers, you git all up in their grill over it?
I highly doubt you do. If you did they would accuse you of being racist and wouldn't have anything to do with you anymore.



Well yeah, that's how to keep the racism thing alive and keep the races in division.
If you were truly against racism you would cease using "various stereotypes" altogether.



Of course, like black people calling each other the N word all over the place.
That's exactly how to keep the racism thing alive and keep the races in division. People are making money off of this.

I know some black people who think this is wrong and other blacks laugh at them, call then uncle tom and other such nonsense claiming they side with white people over their own race.



That's your opinion. If black people wanted to help stop racism they would stop using the N word altogether.

The fact of the matter is black people are very racist against not only whites, but against Latinos, Asians, and even against black people that have light skin complexions and against those that are not 100 black such as Barack Obama.

Like I mentioned in the other thread, the message Martin Luther King had went out the window a long time ago.
He advocated for all people to be equal and no one race having superiority over any other race.

Now in the end, to the Lord there are only two races: Those who have been born again who are abiding In Him, and those who do not abide in him who in opposition to Him.

Matthew 13:41,42 - The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus is the One we should worry about offending.

I do find it very sad that blacks call each other the N word.

Or that anyone calls anyone else, even their own race, derogatory terms.

Living in a fallen world truly sucks.

We're all anxious for Jesus to come back, and to finally live with Him in a place where all of that will be abolished, once and for all.

As for the various details, yes, you and I obviously have different opinions.

 

[Churchgoer]

I do find it very sad that blacks call each other the N word.

Or that anyone calls anyone else, even their own race, derogatory terms.

Living in a fallen world truly sucks.

We're all anxious for Jesus to come back, and to finally live with Him in a place where all of that will be abolished, once and for all.

As for the various details, yes, you and I obviously have different opinions.

If they want to call each other the n word, I think it is ok.
It is like white people will say white t word.

 

[seoulsearch]

Along with "Cracker," I also find it offensive when white people are called "Rednecks" or "Hillbillies."

But again, for me, it's all about the context and relationship.

We've had plenty of people call themselves rednecks, etc. here on the forum in a joking manner -- they're choosing their own terms, and their own context.

And if they have an agreement to jest in such ways with close family and friends, I consider that to be their business -- it's not something I would participate in or terms I would use with them as an outsider.

But that's just me.

 

[seoulsearch]

If they want to call each other the n word, I think it is ok.
It is like white people will say white t word.

For me, I personally believe it comes down to the intent of the speaker, and how the recipient will receive it, because what God is truly concerned about is the heart.

If something is said with the "right" intent, like endearment or affection, and done with respect, it might not be ok. It might not be ok even if the speaker means well, but the recipient is hurt by it.

But something is said with an attitude that's ignorant, hateful, and meant to disrespect -- we all know that isn't the manner in which God wants us to speak.

 

[Churchgoer]

For me, I personally believe it comes down to the intent of the speaker, and how the recipient will receive it, because what God is truly concerned about is the heart.

If something is said with the "right" intent, like endearment or affection, and done with respect, it might not be ok. It might not be ok even if the speaker means well, but the recipient is hurt by it.

But something is said with an attitude that's ignorant, hateful, and meant to disrespect -- we all know that isn't the manner in which God wants us to speak.

some black kids, when they have a fight, or intense football game, they will use the n word to trigger opponents, tricking them into mistakes stuff...
So I think probably they use it as a joke, a weapon...
The word itself just mean black, or with history it can mean slave. But we are allowed to say slave, correct?

 

[Lanolin]

I don't like the word colored because that reminds me of what happened in Apartheid South Africa, where they used that as a term of division.

I think 'people of colour' is pretty much everyone who is 'colourful' and thats a more positive way of using the word. Diversity is also another.

In NZ we have a different way of speaking about different ethnicities, still has some problems, but most of them are not derogatory, some are affectionate or seen as a positive way, also it is in the way you use or say the word.

We tend to not grade people by skin colour, that's a holdover from slave/apartheid times. In NZ we did not have that, but in the Pacific there used to be 'blackbirding' and also, White Australia was super-racist. Indigenous or first nations people have raised the issue and it's only right that they have an apology on behalf of the govt that treated them so badly, as if they were not human as well.

 

[seoulsearch]

some black kids, when they have a fight, or intense football game, they will use the n word to trigger opponents, tricking them into mistakes stuff... So I think probably they use it as a joke, a weapon...
The word itself just mean black, or with history it can mean slave. But we are allowed to say slave, correct?

Language is a funny thing, for sure.

I know these days there are all kinds of terms that are deemed more "politically correct." In the end, they're all the same words for atrocities done to fellow human beings.

I think we all have our own history of words we're not so fond of when referring to ourselves or others due to a bad history with those particular words.

In the end, it's funny how things have to be taught in order for us to learn to hate certain words, things, or people.

I remember my sociology professor telling us that "Oriental" was an offensive term 30 years ago. Most companies using it in any of their company names or literature (for perfume, etc.) now use other wording.

To be honest, I never knew "Oriental" was an "offensive" word because I didn't grow up learning that it was.

It's kind of funny to me that ScooterJackson said I must be a white liberal in some of his other posts.

I'm Korean, and was adopted into a white family. When I went back to Korea as an adult, it was the first time I was taught about the deep hatred between Korea and Japan (because Japan kidnapped a large number of young Korean girls and women as prostitutes for their army.)

I felt confused, because I had always admired Japan.

And I remember telling God, "I didn't know that part of being Korean... means I have to learn to hate Japan."

 

[Lanolin]

I think its sad that there are some Christians who still subscribe to white supremacist beliefs.

I have never thought of myself as 'white' it's always been 'other' and ok the top of the list of any ethnicity form seems to be European, even though Asian starts with 'A' and then the labels for everyone else are amorphous and don't even reflect what is reality. People who are born in NZ but maybe with British ancestry or from Europe are different from those who actually lived or were born there. They would not consider themselves 'European' and certainly wouldn't talk about themselves as 'white'.

White and Black is more of a USAsian thing.

In NZ its Pakeha, Palagi, Gweilo (ghost in Chinese) but most people just say if they are born here they are a Kiwi or New Zealander. Also, a lot of people have mixed ancestry because you know, people fall in love with other people who aren't the same. It happens. And they have children!!

 

[Lanolin]

My uncle and aunty owned a takeaway that was called 'Oriental Pearl' and they had Chinese and European food, basically chow mein. fried rice, and hamburgers and fish and chips.

Oriental just means 'Eastern' as opposed to 'Occidental' meaning Western.

Geography people!! You need to learn geography and migration patterns.

As for Japan, I do love the culture and the people, but its true they or those in power then did try to take over the world, as did Germany using aggression to do so, and invaded other countries. But those who colonised other lands did invasion as well, it was just called another name and made to look like it wasn't when it was.

If you are invited and hosted to another land it's a different thing.