Racial slang

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

We have slang words for just about everything. Sex, sex positions, drugs, individual slang words for each individual drug, slang for bodily functions, slang for animals, slang for nationalities, slang for religions and their followers, the list goes on.

However. Every single slang term imaginable for skin colour and race is considered racist (do correct me if I'm wrong here).

Why do you think this is? And do you think it should stay this way?

Edit: Nevermind, I'm stoopid, read post 4

 

[Lilani]

However. Every single slang term imaginable for skin colour and race is considered racist (do correct me if I'm wrong here).

Which ones are you referring to, specifically? All of the ones I can think of DO have either racist roots or are often used in racist ways. ******, spic, wetback, kite, coon, *****. Even negro, while for a time was an acceptable way to refer to black people, is still a term closely associated with the time periods where the battle for civil rights was at its hottest. And colored is on its way out for the same reason, at least here in America.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Every single slang term imaginable for skin colour and race is considered racist (do correct me if I'm wrong here).

Why do you think this is? And do you think it should stay this way?

Well duh, using race as a primary determinant equals racism. "Racist slang" literally means "slang pertaining race". You ask why something is considered racist, the answer is obvious: it's racist because it's racist.

You're racist when you single out a race, never mind what you actually say about the race in question.

 

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

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I don't mean as like a way to describe someone, I mean as sort of joshing around with someone. I might say "bloody yanks" as a joke, using "yank" as a replacement for "Americans", but there doesn't seem to be an accepted slang term for any race.
Unless using the 'unacceptable' slang word in jest is ok and it's just in certain circles that it's not...

Well now I just feel silly. Mods, please delete my blind stupidity.

 

[Lilani]

I don't mean as like a way to describe someone, I mean as sort of joshing around with someone. I might say "bloody yanks" as a joke, using "yank" as a replacement for "Americans", but there doesn't seem to be an accepted slang term for any race.
Unless using the 'unacceptable' slang word in jest is ok and it's just in certain circles that it's not...

Well now I just feel silly. Mods, please delete my blind stupidity.

Slang tends to come from a "rougher" background than other words in a language. It's often got roots from either vulgar words or vulgar people, often the lower class. Until very recently, neither the lower nor upper classes had ever been interested in referring to people of other races in a way which was respectful or gratifying, or even in a friendly joking manner. So yes we have plenty of slang words for people of other races, but due to how the general population viewed minorities until the last few decades, none of them are very friendly. On the other hand, the US and the UK have been on friendly terms in general for a good while now, so it makes sense we'd have endearing ways of referring to one another.

 

[FalloutJack]

Slang derives from personal culture and the habit of nicknaming things. I'm from Pittsburgh. I talk differently than someone from North Carolina. It happens. Differing dialects shouldn't be worried about unless people are just being jackasses, in which case the problem is people being jackasses, not slang.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Hmmm...paddy for the Irish? We don't hate the Irish anymore, so it's probably not racist.

 

[JoJo]

Hmmm...paddy for the Irish? We don't hate the Irish anymore, so it's probably not racist.

Well, the OP did put nationalities such as the Irish in a separate category in the OT, otherwise we could also have Limey for the English, Yank for the American, Frog for the French (though they might find that one offensive, never tested it out) etc. I'm struggling to think of any racial slang that would be considered acceptable, even the ones that weren't meant to be deliberately offensive come across as patronising now, like pickaninny.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Hmmm...paddy for the Irish? We don't hate the Irish anymore, so it's probably not racist.

Well, the OP did put nationalities such as the Irish in a separate category in the OT,

"Irish" is more than a nationality, though, you have lots of people claiming to be Irish because their grandparents (or further back) were, who've never seen the country themselves.

 

[inmunitas]

Hmmm...paddy for the Irish? We don't hate the Irish anymore, so it's probably not racist.

Well, the OP did put nationalities such as the Irish in a separate category in the OT,

"Irish" is more than a nationality, though, you have lots of people claiming to be Irish because their grandparents (or further back) were, who've never seen the country themselves.

No, they are saying Ireland is where their family comes from, really they should be saying they are of "Irish decent".

 

[inmunitas]

I don't mean as like a way to describe someone, I mean as sort of joshing around with someone. I might say "bloody yanks" as a joke, using "yank" as a replacement for "Americans", but there doesn't seem to be an accepted slang term for any race.
Unless using the 'unacceptable' slang word in jest is ok and it's just in certain circles that it's not...

Well now I just feel silly. Mods, please delete my blind stupidity.

Depicting someone purely by their race is racism. Terms like "People of Color" are inherently racist.