TAKING OFFENCE
Too often it seems there is this sense
Of those too keen to take offence;
Indulged with ill-informed applause
Rude champions of an absent cause.
Comments
I really did find it hard to believe the uproar over Cumberbatch's positive referral to 'coloured' actors as being so offensive. It was a bit 'old-fashioned', yes, but why so much more odious than 'black'? 'Black', currently, is often used for every skin 'tone' not pinkish-white, a referral that is ridiculous, but rampant.
'Negro', once a term of real respect, is now hardly ever heard, and yet, it just means 'black'. I know many people who would be offended if they were called 'black', yet could still accept without friction 'coloured'. The degree of 'colourism' among 'blacks' is still highly contentious. And that's a whole different social issue.
Short and to the point. I have felt these sentiments on far too many occasions. :-D
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M.C. Newberry
Thu 29th Jan 2015 14:41
An interesting observation noted on the "coloured"
dispute: that black and white aren't colours
but shades, which, when added to others, alter
the colours to which they are added. Pretty
accurate if you consider the range of skin
tones in kids resulting from inter-race marriages.
I don't see why the word "coloured" causes such
annoyance as there are degrees of black & brown
in human skin pigmentation, just as there are
degrees of so-called "white" - through its more
accurate ranges of pink, red and bronze!