re: #109 marjoriemoon

I’m a racially, religiously tolerant person. I believe in immigration. Bring em on. The more the merrier. I love living in a city with people of all colors, creeds and religions. I’ve lived in the country and although I love the laid back lifestyle, I would live there again.

But I have a question.

“People of color”.

How is this any different than saying “colored”? I can’t stand this terminology.

I use it sometimes because people know what you mean, but I hate it, for a number of reasons, mostly based on my early ’90s liberal arts education.

One of Berkeley Breathed’s strips did a great bit on it:

Mom: (standing by the window, watching child jump rope) Oh, look, it’s that cute little colored girl who lives up the street.

Son: MOM! We don’t say ‘colored’ people anymore.

Mom: Sorry dear, I meant Negro.

Son: Mom!

Mom: Black?

Son: No, Mom, we say ‘people of color’.

Mom: People of color?

Son: Yes. People of color.

Mom: Colored people.

Son: NO!!