You cowardly racist people show everyone who you really are!!!!

I think the term is still used a little bit in some countries without being racial. Also the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) has not changed their name in spite of being one of the largest  and strongest AA advocacy Organizations  in the country. President Obama made a recent speech at one of their meetings. With President Obama, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton continuing to support this powerful organization I think that the term "colored" does not purely connote racism.  But I agree- I would be very careful not to use the term. I think yours was a good reminder of that.

Yes, I am completely aware of this too...but even though the higher-ups in society support this organization, you will never hear that term nonchalantly come out of their mouths in conversation, speeches, etc. (even when they reference it, it is ALWAYS the n-double-a-c-p, not the full acronym version).  It is a profound organization which has come so far and created a name for itself with seemingly impossible success - of course they aren't going to change the name/acronym at this point.  I get that...but the term itself is just not acceptable *where I live* to throw around haphazardly.  My 92 year old grandmother was the only exception to this rule before she passed away...she was not changing her ways of talking for annnnnybody and I frequently heard her refer to my best friend of 29 years as "the pretty colored girl you always run around with," no matter how many times I tried to explain it to her.  LOL!!  :)

You are exactly right and you summed up the concept perfectly.  N-double-A-C-P aside, I have lived all over the country and, in every instance, the use of the term "colored" is considered racist at worst and ignorant at best. 

I've seen a general 'pass' for people over 85 or so, since the term "colored" is considered the 'lesser evil' considering what that generation probably grew up saying.

Again, great explanation!

Unfortunately racism is alive and well in the north.  I have heard or saw so many instances of racism.   

-like the time I started a new job and a girl told me in a hushed voice "don't say the word ni**** because the other lady we work with is married to a black man"  OK????  I wasn't planning to.

-or a couple of weeks ago when I was walking with a goup of people and a Middle Eastern man walked by us dressed in one of those robes and one of the ladies said "when I see someone like that it scares me"  when I tried to talk to her about how she didn't need to fear him...he was probably a very peaceful friendly man... she didn't need to think like that all Muslims are terrorists....two other people jumped in and agreed with her.  Only me and one other person felt that the man was harmless and wasn't plotting against us. 

-or the time someone called a person they were talking to on the phone a spic when they were on hold.  When I told the woman that my daughter is half Puerto Rican, she never talked to me again. I found out later from someone else she doesn't believe in "mixing races"...

I could go on and on...sometimes I say something sometimes I just walk away.  And sometimes I try to talk to the person to make them see they are wrong...but it does no good no matter what I do.  There was the time I worked with a white woman from South Africa and she told me about how their laws were and how horrible things were the people in the slums.  I can't tell you she wasn't racist but she made an effort to change the way she was brain-washed to think and I respcted her for that.   All these other people I try to feel sorry for them because of all the hate they have in them and I don't want to feel hate for them too....but it's hard not to hate them.

It is admirable that you feel sorry for them. It is hard to not get frustrated so when you can have compassion and patience with people who say bitter things it is very kind.   You may turn some hearts and minds.  BTW  Half-Puerto Rican - I bet you have a beautiful child :)

Well, Im an african american and we dont like to be called "COLORED". Although I could tell no mallace was intended. Unfortunately racism is very much alive. Change starts within. It starts with the person you look at in the mirror.

Both of my parents grew up in the 60s but whereas my father still spouts off about Puerto Ricans and so on and so forth my mother has really worked to change her ideas.

It is hard to convince my father that not all Puerto Ricans are lazy or freeloading or etc. In his eyes he lost his job when a man from Puerto RIco bought the company he was well loved at, brought in his cousins and other family members and suddenly my father was out of a job. In his experience the people he has worked with who came from PR don't work hard and sadly in our area we have a very large, fast growing, poor population.

I work at an inner city drug and alcohol clinic and see people of every background that are some the kindest, caring people I have ever met. I sometimes wish he could see the world the way I do.

I don't see nearly as much racism against black people but this may be due to the fact that they are not our fastest growing pop. Just like the Irish and the Chinese before there will always be a least favorite group who don't raise their children right, wear weird clothes, have an annoying language, and make smelly food.

One other thing on vocab, I try to always use whatever language that person uses to refer to themselves and to hell with the PC terms. If someone says African-American I do too, if they so black, that is what I write down. Same with Hispanic (which I was told in a multicultural class in grad school to NEVER use) Asian, bi-racial, and mulatto - to each their own.

On a side note and just for the fun of knowing - the deaf community overall prefers the word "deaf" not the PC term "hearing impaired." - Just a personal interest of mine

I wanted to comment about what you were saying about vocab and what to call people from different races.  It's a sad thing but I did hear you weren't supposed to use the term Hispanic anymore but I don't know what I am supposed to say...and my family is Puerto Rican...I should know this!!!!

Also, some people just have to be educated on the right terminology.  I used to say Oriental all of the time...until my daughter told me that I shouldn't use that term anymore I should say Asian.  She said I can say Oriental for inanimate objects like rugs or lamps...but not people.  It took me a few tries to remember to use the right word and then I was fine. 

The other term I am never quite sure about is "Jews"...is it bad to say Jews or is it always Jewish...I don't know.  If I knew any Jewish people I would ask them directly...I don't think they would mind a question like that. 

As far as Puerto Rican goes despite the fact that people may say Puerto Rican with an air of disdain that does not make it so. I feel that Puerto Rican is an acceptable term. The Jews I have known are just fine with the word Jew but I still usually go with Jewish *shrugs*

I am married to a woman from El Salvador and have friends of many different ethnicities.  I live in a very multicultural city (San Francisco).  I have a four year old daughter who is technically hispanic I guess....but she is whiter than me and has red hair.  What a cutie.  Anyways..  I can tell you that some of the MOST racist people I have come across are actually minorities themselves.

If you get any particular race in their comfort zone and around their "own" people....ie all hispanic, all black, all white, all asian, etc....the things that come out of their mouth about other races will astound you.  They all co-exist just fine and are professional to each other at work and in public...but at the BBQ with mostly people of their own race around.....the gloves come off.  And also...just because you are white...don't think you aren't beind talked about behind your back by some people too. 

The people are are recent immigrants are the worst.  A few generations down the line...they tend to be more accepting.

On a side note....I recently visited friends/family in South Carolina and the people I encountered there actually were some of the nicest and least judgmental I have met in a long time.

Just my two cents.