Headline 'No-No' - Did they read it before putting it up?

Crystalina wrote: I'm not always pc and alot of the time all the pc nonesence I just don't get. I can't think of any examples right off the bat but sometimes I think you can be "too" pc IMO.
So I go to my homepages this morning to read the news and I see this headline.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17372057/

Are they seriouse? Why not say "Darkies" or Negros? I don't know. Maybe it's just me this morning but that's idiotic.

stella6979 replied: I don't know...black is the most common term I hear and I don't see anything wrong with it. I'm not African American though so my opinion is irrelevant.

hopefulmomtobe replied: I try to look at it like this - If they headline read "Whites shifting to Obama, poll finds" That would seem disrespectful to me so I can understand that although "blacks" is commonly thrown around word, I still think it sounds rude and disrespectful, especially in a headline of a paper.

Crystalina replied: You could be right. I live in a small town. Our African American community is very small. The African Americans that I know would not like to be called "Blacks". It could be a small town thing. I know in bigger cities where there are more AA's there are probably more that they will "accept" to be called. If an AA were to be called a "Black" here their response would be, "My skin isn't black." Maybe things are just different here.

Crystalina replied:
That is my point. I think for it to be in bold red print is a bit much.

stella6979 replied:
I live right outside Detroit, so the term "black" is VERY common around here, amongst other terms that I'd rather not hear. Just about every African American I know refers to themself as black, but that doesn't mean it's not offensive to others. I'm still trying to break my step-dad of the habit of using the term "colored".

punkeemunkee'smom replied: I don't see the big deal with it...IF the paper said Whites shifting towards Obama-I don't think anyone would even give it a second thought. No disrespect intended but I think sometimes the whole black/white PC terminology gets wayyyy out of control.

redplaydoh replied: I don't see anything wrong with it myself. I've heard the terms black and African American used equally. But can't someone have dark skin and not be of African heritage?
I agree that black skin isn't black but white skin isn't white either (most cases). I would be considered white but actually my skin is kinda beige with blotchy red marks here and there.

Crystalina replied:
I agree that it gets out of control. To me Political Correctness of most kinds get out of control not just the racial ones. You never know what to say without ticking someone off but maybe if the term was used in conversation I would not be as shocked as I am seeing it as a headline, where by the way in smaller type underneath they have written African American, I don't see why they didn't use that in the main heading instead of the slang "Blacks". It's kind of unproffesional looking if you ask me and for such a popular site as MSNBC.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: I guess it may be a little 'unprofessional' but I think it is also a broader term than 'African-American' one of my closest friends in highschool (and her family) are from Trinidad and I know for her she got tired of being classified 'African-American' Maybe that is the thought process of the author of the article.....

skinkybaby replied: I must be missing something

Kat replied: nm

CantWait replied: I think I'm missing something also. Around here "black" is the common term. I've never heard of "Darkies" (that IMHO sounds disrespectful), and if you were to call a black person a NEGRO here, you'd be shot dead, at the very least would cause an uproar.

Crystalina replied:
Like I said before then it must be where you are from. I've never heard anyone use "Darkies" either. That was back in the lynching days. My point in saying that they might as well use that term was because for me "Blacks" is not differant. The same with "Negro". I was trying to make the point that it sounds like they just went back in time.

Crystalina replied: Also, I think if it were used in a discussion I would not like it (depending on who was using it) but I don't see how anyone can think that Headline is proffesional. This is about the headline not everyday talk.

skinkybaby replied: Sorry, but it really isn't that bad. While some people do have a problem with it, it's a socially acceptable term, just like white is. Its used in headlines all the time.

Crystalina replied:
No it isn't. Not everywhere. Maybe where you live. I can only go by what the AA's in my area appreciate being called. I have one friend that does not like being called a AA because she says as far back as she knows she isn't from Africa. She has said call her by her name or call her a woman or an American. Her and another aquiantance had a conversation and she asked the girl, "How many times do people refer to your color when speaking about you? So why do it to me?"
So I cannot argue what is acceptable in other areas. To me the headline looks ignorant. If others do not see it then oh well. I'm not here to convince anyone it's wrong. Just to see if anyone else thought it was.

skinkybaby replied: Heck, even CNN uses it in their headlines
We'l just have to agree to disagree

DansMom replied:
So do I, and I agree that "black" doesn't seem to be perceived as an offensive term in Michigan---it might indeed be regional.

The question of race and Obama has become pretty fascinating to me. Stephen Colbert interviewed someone a few weeks ago who said that Obama is not really African American or "black" because he doesn't descend from the part of Africa that slaves came from; so in the African American community, she stated, he is perceived as "an American of African descent" but not "African American". He doesn't have the American experience of his ancestors being enslaved.

A&A'smommy replied: Okay so what should white people be called?? I'm white and I don't care if someone refers to me as white so why shouldn't black people be called black.. maybe its just my souther attitude but how can someone be called african american when they weren't even born in africa!?! Especially when they don't have DIRECT links to Africa.. I don't know I just find the whole race thing ridiculous BTW that is JMO I'm not being disrespectful to anyone!!

DansMom replied: Crystal, I appreciate all your points---really gives me something to think about. Thanks!

Boo&BugsMom replied: No matter what term is used there will always be someone who is offended, IMHO. I live right outside Milwaukee so the term black is used more often than not. In fact, an old friend of ours prefers the term black (he happens to be black) over African American. The reason is because he's "never even been to Africa", he says, so he just prefers being called black. He calls white people white, not caucasion (sp?), so why not black? If people make a big deal about it, then it only becomes a big deal, IMO. It's not like using the term is hate speech or meant to be offensive. But that's just me. Around here, the term is acceptable. Perhaps it's different in other areas.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Bah. I get called white, and as far as I know, I'm more of a peachy color.

The term for "whites" is "Caucasian"...what is the term for "blacks"?

As far as I'm concerned, I'm not going to call someone with more melanoma in their skin's pigmentation African American, unless they're African with an American citizenship. A Canadian is a canadian is a canadian, doens't matter where they're from originally... if someone immigrates from Europe, we don't call them Euro-canadian... it's just canadian...

This pc stuff is RIDICULOUS. Probably one of the reasons a lot of people tend to segregate themselves within their own cultural/ethnic/religious groups... they're too afraid of offending someone. It's all bullcrap...

Crystalina replied: Rocky I totally agree about the pc stuff getting out of hand. No matter what I know someone will get offended. I don't get offended easily but alot of the posts on here seem to be pertaining to "social" instances. I believe that if you have AA's in your area and the term "Blacks" does not offend them then so be it. Call them that. Most of the replies to this have said basically that it's the norm and whats the big deal? I guess the big deal is that if you are in a small area and the AA's in your area don't particularly care for that label then you kind of don't do it. kwim? I'm sure in bigger areas AA's don't think it's so bad compared to other names thrown around. But I guarantee you that that headline would not be in our local paper. Which like I've said before this post is about. You do what you do in your area, say what you want. You know what is ok and what isn't. Here "Blacks" isn't. It's not that I'm being overly pc because I'm not. I just think it was a shock to see that as a headline. I guess for most it isn't.

A&A'smommy replied: Okay so if its offensive to call someone black is it ofensive to call someone who is white, white??? or someone who is asian, asian... Its kinda silly for someone to get offended by something like that. I'm white thats fine if I was black I would be fine with that too. Race doesn't even matter and for people to get offended by something that has very little do to with who they are as a person is just silly (trying to be nice about this). I don't even understand why its an issue. Anyway Again I'm not trying to offend anyone I just understand how you could get offended by something like that!

Crystalina replied:
Ok, this is going to be my last post in this thread because I feel like I'm kicking a dead horse when I say in my area that's how it is. I've lived here for years so I've pretty much conformed to the ways in this small town. Believe me, I grew up in the Bronx (Co-Op City) so I know that to some people "Blacks" isn't offensive. I also don't know why it wouldn't look bad for the article to say "Whites" instead. And as far as Asians, the article wouldn't say "Asians" as you posted it would say "Yellows". Some would find that offensive yes. You are calling a race by their color. So really we wouldn't be "Whites" we would be "Peachies" and I wouldn't like being called that in a news headline which is what this post is about. I am also trying to be nice about this but I don't understand what some of you don't understand that if you have a way of doing things and saying things in your area that is fine. You know your limits, what is socially acceptable and what isn't. Why is it so hard for you to understand that in my area it is not socially acceptable to use that term. I'm not saying we have the "slang" police out and about but if your around AA's who don't appreciate it then you just don't use it. The reason for the post was to see if it was shocking to anyone else. It is very obviouse that I'm the only one who lives in a community that doesn't readily use that phrase so I don't know what else you would like me to say. I'm not going to start a racial debate which it seems that some of the posts in here are pulling in that direction. I'm not biting. I've said on more then one occassion that I'm merely speaking of the proffesional look of the headline. There are things that you say on the street and then there are things you print IMO. To me you don't put "Blacks" in bold red print on the headline. And it's not because they didn't want to use the term African American because they had no problem putting that in smaller print below. That's my point. Why not just use AA from the get go. I wasn't going anywhere else with this thread. Do what you do in your area. I have no problem with that. It seems to work and fine.
I'm done.

CantWait replied: Crystal, you said you don't get offended very easy, but you asked, and people are just stating their opinions. This may not be the way it is in YOUR area, but it is the way it is in OTHERS.

No one is jumping on you, but you're trying to change others opinions to suit yours.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I see your point Crystal.

Crystalina replied:
I know I said that was my last post but this is just retarded. When did I ever try to change anyones mind? Please. All of my other posts are still here. Point it out. I've continually said that is not how things are in my area.....if they are like that in your area fine....maybe it's just a small town thing...the African Americans that I know....

And as far as not getting offended easily when I mentioned "Darkies" or "Negros"....if you would have read the post I said in my area you might as well put "Black" in that catogory. That's how our AA community feels about that word. And the next time I have a meeting with the "Blacks" I'll ask them why they feel that way. I mean come on. You want me to expain to you why they don't like it. I don't know. I'm not "Black"! I just know what my friends prefer and it isn't that. I do not use that word in describing them because they don't like it. Simple as that. So in the 20 yrs that I've lived here I kind of don't use it so if I see it in a headline it bothers me. If it's fine for you then so be it!!!.

We have very smart people on this site and I don't see how this is difficult for some of you to understand...unless you are trying to start a debate.

MommyToAshley replied: I have a completely different problem with the headline and many others like it. Who cares what color a person's skin is when they vote? We are supposed to be the melting pot of the world where it doesn't matter what color a person's skin is... so why do we do divisive things like point out what color a person's skin is that is voting for a particular candidate. This is what irritates me the most! I don't think we will ever teach our children that the color of our skin doesn't matter when we keep pointing out the differences ourselves.

Crystalina replied:
I so agree with you.

CantWait replied:
I'm not TRYING to start a debate. If you read the post, I simply said that others have their opinions as well, and NO ONE is trying to come down on you for having yours. They are just saying that this is how it is in THEIR AREA, and that THEY see nothing wrong with it.

I don't understand why people post a topic if they are so worried of others opinions.

Crystalina replied:

Yea, and I don't know what that's supposed to mean. I did ask for opinions and I also said in one post that it's obviouse I'm the only one who has this opinion on this matter. I've never put down anyone elses opinion I've only tried to defend mine.

CantWait replied:
Yes, but you're also complaining that it's like trying to beat a dead horse because people aren't getting what you're saying. I'm just trying to say in essence that they getting it, but they are also saying what it like where they are.

Crystalina replied:
My comment was in response to the post I quoted. I'm not here to argue for the races which is where that post was going. I was here to post about the unproffesional look of the headline that was it. She wanted to know how anyone could get offended by it and I've stated from the begining of this thread why I got offended. I'm not saying it was wrong for anyone else. If that is how things are in your area then I'm merely ignorant to your ways. Nothing wrong with that. The "kicking a dead horse" was because I keep repeating myself about why it offended me. Ok, now I'm starting to feel like I'm in 'Groundhogs Day'.

A&A'smommy replied: I understand what your saying and I guess I did turn this around to be a race issue and I could easily turn this into another arguement but I will just leave it at that. I deal with race problems ALL the time because of where I live (small southern town, with small southern minds) and I promise you the black people here call each other much worse things then black people. So I guess I just don't see it as bad or really all the unprofessional, if they called them negros or darkies here it would they would get poed here. But I do agree with Dee Dee, and you too a certain level.

Calimama replied:
No kidding. As a half black person I feel Negro is worse than black and actually quite offensive. People these day's get offended by EVERYTHING. We can't please everyone. I'm black but I'm not African American so I can see why they used the word " black".

Crystalina replied:

Just making a point. And it's JMO since we don't use "Blacks" here.

A&A'smommy replied:
that is exactly the point I was trying to make!!

Calimama replied:
I read that post and I was just stating my opinion on that word. I'm sorry but I don't see ANY other word that would have been acceptable and not made someone somewhere mad. Not all black people are African American.. so that is out. "Darkies" is out.. "colored people".. are out. So seriously what is left to use? I feel they picked the word that is the least offensive.

Crystalina replied:
You know what I don't understand and that is how some of you find it hard to understand how someone can be offended by this. I'm not asking any of you to be since shortly after starting this thread it was obviouse that not many of you were. You (being whoever) are saying that that I'm trying to change peoples minds (which I'm not) yet it seems to me that you (being whoever) are the ones having the problem with the way I take it. It's almost like you are offended because I'm offended. I don't get it. You're not offended yet I am. It's not that difficult to understand and yet it seems like I'm being judged for being offended. Nice.

Crystalina replied:
Excuse me but they used African Americans in the subtitle.

Calimama replied:
I understand that some people may be offended but if you read my edited post above your's.. what other choices are there?

Calimama replied:
I was addressing the main title. Just curious but what would YOU rather it said?

Crystalina replied:
I read it and responded.

Crystalina replied:
I've already responded to this already as well in the thread. The proffesional way to write it would be to use African Americans from the begining. But that's just me.

A&A'smommy replied: I really think everyone should just agree to disagree.. we all have different views on this.

Calimama replied:
Which is why I'm asking questions so I can see her view on things. Seeing another person's perspective can teach me things.

Crystalina replied:
Yes we do and you are right. The headline is up. Obviousely there is nothing wrong with it in the majority's eyes and majority wins.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
ITA! Goodness. It really just depends on where you are brought up. When it comes down to it, there is always someone who will be offended by anything. It's just the matter of finding out what offends people and being sensitive to them. In this situation, when touching a very broad and large group of people, sometimes you just have to use your better judgement and pick something which is what the article did, but always know someone will always be offended. If they printed another term, I'm sure a whole different group would be offended as well. Just agree to disagree.

Crystalina replied:
Yes, but you also have to understand that I'm not here to debate race, only the headline that I didn't like.

Calimama replied:
I'm not debating race either!! I give up, for everything I say I feel you come up with a response that has attitude. I was really trying to see where you were coming from, not start a fight.

Crystalina replied:
I'm not trying to start a fight. I'm merely thinking that if you would have read the entire thread you would already know my thoughts. That's it. And I don't have attitude and I'm sorry if you think I do. I'm only replying to your posts. Would you rather I just ignore them?

Boo&BugsMom replied: I think you two need to just ignore each other! (ok, I was truly looking for a judge smilie with a gavel).

Come on...group hug...and STOP IT!

Crystalina replied:
You're right. I'm done...again.