Regarding racial sensitivity, what topics should be avoided when talking with black people?

If a black is too light, is it ok to ask about their race? Does a black get offended when confused with a mexican or indian? If by doing so I just put a shoe in my mouth, how do I fix it?

Regarding racial sensitivity, what topics should be avoided when talking with black people?
Hi Martha !!! I've read your Q/A page and from looking at a few of your answer's-this being your first question-I know you did not mean to provoke a responce-so, first read again your 'guidelines' you must read the list of forbidden question's okay,or how do you know if your breaking the rules;now the nice bit-click on any avatar and you can read their Q'A's too-all of them-so you can check anybody out and they can't pretend to be someone they are not,answer (give) lot's,ask (take) little and wisely and above all be nice-enjoy .ktf.x
Reply:Thank you so much,we all make mistakes but if you learn by them they become valuable lesson's and not wasted sufferance.x Report It

Reply:ummm. just don't talk about how your great-great-great-great granddaddy used to own his or her great-great-great-great granddaddy and you'll be okay.
Reply:Don't ever mention basketball, watermelon or fried chicken!








Just kidding and you're a troll!!
Reply:if there's a watermelon shortage, keep it to yourself.
Reply:What the hell do you mean too light? What is too light and who determines that? If you have to try that hard to be politically correct when talking to a black person, you must have something to hide. Why do you care what a person's race anyway? I can't speak for all black people because I am only one of many, but as a light skinned black woman with brown eyes and long hair, my race is sometimes questioned. I am the proud product of two other light skinned black people. Black people come in all shades. Our race is blended. I feel as though black people are generally receptive of our differences. If you have already put your foot in your mouth when talking to a black person, then just chew it off and limp away. You sound like an undercover racist to me or maybe not. Maybe I am or maybe I'm overly sensitive. Either way, just let it ride and don't do it again.
Reply:The term "black people." The term "a black." If you put your foot in your mouth, just say "Scuse my whitebread brain -- I can't help it." They'll understand.
Reply:monkeys and evolution.
Reply:All races have points they are sensitive about. I would have to know someone really well before I would approach the subject of race or color at all. There are people I have worked with for years of various nationalities that respect each other and can laugh about certain things without getting angry. If there is a race joke to be made, I let the person of color do it themselves. I just say we are all in the "human race." There is a lot of pain associated with certain race topics and I wouldn't want to stir up painful things. Just like I don't want to be called whitey, redneck, or get comments about not being able to dance. :)
Reply:I would not "avoid" any topics at all, just be sincere about the topics you do discuss. More real talk creates fewer problems.
Reply:You should ask yourself why, you need to quantify the "degree" of blackness a black person is. Why are you curious about "how black" they are. When you see a light skinned black person, why are you curious "what they are mixed with"?





I think the only reason why you would ask anyone how much black they have in their background is because you are trying to rationalize "how much black does someone have to be to look light skinned like you", "how much 'other' are you mixed with".





Why should it ever cross your mind?


Can't people just "be" people?





What you have obviously forgotten is that Blacks have been in the USA for 500 years, during that time there has been a lot of cultural blending, and that accounts for the differences in skin colors. I wouldn't ask anyone "how much black they have or how much white they have" unless I was an extremely good friend. And if you were such a good friend, you wouldn't care what percentage of white/black they are. You should just leave it at that.





If you ask a stranger and they are offended, you deserve whatever comes from them.
Reply:Yeah, try NOT caring. We're all human beings. My black friends and I LAUGH about our differences.
Reply:those are not insults! you are just being curious as most white people are.
Reply:Treat all persons the same.I think you would be better off remembering that we are all the same under our skin, and not to worry about colour. Our blood is red, we all have vital organs, we all are born and we all eventually die. We are all human beings.We all deserve to be treated with respect despite of our colour, religion, ethnicity or age.
Reply:it seems obvious you are talking about americans of african descent.
Reply:Why don't you just forget their skin colour and treat them like a person? Just as you'd like to be treated.
Reply:How about treating them as a person and not worrying about their skin colour or what race they are?
Reply:Make fun of white people
Reply:How about when you are talking to someone, you speak to them as a human being rather than a race or a color. That's a novel idea, huh?! ? And if you do stick your foot in your mouth, the best way to fix it is- big shock, here- say "I'm sorry" . How 'bout that for brilliance?!!!?
Reply:well well well mr bigot......
Reply:You can talk about anything you like,provided what you say is not humiliating them. But this applies for every kind of people and races, not only blacks.
Reply:Why don't you think of everyone as a person and not as a skin color? That would go a long way to change your way of thinking, which is the problem!!
Reply:How about not caring if they're black,mexican or whatever? Not important anyway and I would not talk about slavery...
Reply:Everyone is an individual... I guess the best thing I can tell you is to think before you speak. If you think you might insult or offend someone then don't say it. If you do say it anyway (insert foot in mouth here) then apologize sincerely... maybe ask that person to talk to you and educate you about their culture. By the way - there is no such thing as "a black being too light" - people from all different cultures come in many different shades and no shade is the right shade. Some white people have darker complexions than others, that doesn't make them 'wrong'.
Reply:Say "hey are you mixed"?then you will get a answer without a negative attitude.Its just rude to start assuming.Avoid when hanging around black people the N word of coarse. You may see black people call each other that and feel comfortably fine with it, because they share the same emotional back ground of the word.Whites or any other race will never know what it feels like to humiliated with just one word. Avoid trying to act black,if your white be white.It only makes you look dumb and fake by trying to fit in by using slang.Black people like white people that act white because they are white.other than that be yourself.And because your probably not use to associating with black people you might want to bring some pepper sprey?lol (just kidding,I'm black)lol, lol, lol.
Reply:I am not offended by any sincere questions or topics. If you really know the person, it will not bother them. If you don't know this person well, I'd keep my mouth shut.





It's not just Black people. I had an Italian friend in college and I always wanted to ask the mafia question. Not all Italian familes are in the mob but what the hell we were friends. He wasn't offended at all. If a stranger had asked the same question it might have pissed him off.
Reply:Don't bother asking about their race. It's not particularly important, unless you're going to go around saying, "one of my best friends is a black person." It's not necessary to know. The person will probably understand that they appear racially ambiguous and volunteer their own information.





Also, do not bring up slavery or say how horrible something a lot of black people support is. It can turn a meek and hospitable housewife into a mad black woman.
Reply:Just talk to them as if you couldn't see a skin color but a person, You shouldn't "Avoid any Questions with any one if you have to ask just ask in a nice way. I think when someones talking to a Black Person they tend to "avoid" certain subjects only because a lot of times (In Movies, TV shows etc.) Black People are Portrayed as Loud mean Angry People but that's not always true a persons skin color does not determine there Personality.
Reply:Ribs, chitlins and black eyed peas.



skin problems