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Discrimination
Kelda:
Please tell me off if I am being too forward or am out of line but I have a question....
--- Quote from: David on July 19, 2007, 02:09:09 am ---
My mother did her best to shield me from discrimination, and this is BEFORE she realized I was gay. Because, not only am I a gay man, but I also have Native American and African American ancestry. My mother knew discrimination, having been raised as a Native American/African American in the 1930's and 1940's. I suppose she wanted to keep me from experiencing the same hatred and injustice she was exposed to as a child.
The first time I heard a racial slur aimed at my family was when I was about 5 or 6 years old. I was shopping with my mother and her father (my grandfather, who looked quite a bit like Ossie Davis) and I remember hearing someone say "HUMPH! Now that's HIGH YELLOW if I ever saw it!" This woman was staring right at us when she said it, and later I asked my mother what "High Yellow" meant, and she told me it was a hateful word for people like us. People like us? Some people pronounced it "High Yeller" which was even MORE offensive.
--- End quote ---
David, I've never heard this expression before - if you don't mind can you explain it? Is this in reference to the native american or african american origin?
Also, can I ask another question.. when I met up with an old friend who emigrated to the US when we were 14 a few years ago in Washington DC, I was commenting on liking somebodys tshirt and she asked who? what tshirt? and I said the coloured guy over their wearing the purple top.
And she shoosshed me, saying You can't say THAT - you say black over here.
Can I ask why the word coloured to describe somebodys skin is deemed offensive in the US?
I've been lucky to have any discrimation minimised given that I grew up in the 80's.. In addition I have a very thick skin and will defend myself or others to the hilt, but definitely I have felt it a little bit not necessarily directly but- a) from being from a poor single parent family, and b) being female.
I'm sure in a previous life I was probably a suffragette.. maybe I associated with Emiline Pankhurst back in the days!
injest:
High yellow meant that the person had a lot of 'white' mixed ...and it was considered to be not a good thing to be 'mixed'. It was 'better' to either be ALL black...or all white....(or all Native American).
Coloured was used by bigots so much that it began to take on a bad connotation...it is considered demeaning.
David In Indy:
--- Quote from: injest on July 24, 2007, 07:44:33 pm ---High yellow meant that the person had a lot of 'white' mixed ...and it was considered to be not a good thing to be 'mixed'. It was 'better' to either be ALL black...or all white....(or all Native American).
Coloured was used by bigots so much that it began to take on a bad connotation...it is considered demeaning.
--- End quote ---
What Jess said, Kelda.
Most of the African American side of my family still lives in the South, in Louisiana near New Orleans. Most of the French side of my family also still lives down there. And every once in awhile, people will still refer to members of my family as "colored". In addition to what Jess said, it's also offensive because it was commonly used during the pre civil rights era. To call someone "colored" suggests to African Americans that they/we haven't made any progress. It reminds us of the "back of the bus" days. Most people of African descent in America today prefer to be called "African American".
There are many choice words for Native Americans too, and people have used some of these nasty words when referring to me; words such as "Prairie N*gger" and "Injun". Terrible words! Like I said, discrimination hurts. :'(
Kelda:
Thanks David and Jess fopr explaining.... there really is some horrid peoplel in the world.
David In Indy:
--- Quote from: Kelda on July 25, 2007, 03:16:06 am ---Thanks David and Jess fopr explaining.... there really is some horrid peoplel in the world.
--- End quote ---
You're quite welcome sweetie! Thanks for caring enough to ask! :D
That's why I started this thread. Because people don't know, or they are afraid to ask. The only way we will ever understand each other is to talk about it.
Thanks Kelda!! :-* :-* :D
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