When did the word "negro" become unacceptable?
Mind your language
OK, now I've heard it all. Political correctness is alive and well, and living in police call centres...
Apparently when reporting a suspicious incident it is unacceptable - when asked to describe the person's skin colour - to use the word "negro".
I was just admonished for it.
"Do you want to confirm that word, sir?
This call is being recorded."
I wasn't asked for a description of what they were wearing, but before closing the call the operator returned to the point to re-iterate "you can't use that word, sir".
Talk about obsessed.
It took me a moment to understand what he was getting at.
Me: "But I used it in a purely descriptive form, answering your question that he was possibly part-asian or part-negro. Nothing offensive about it, and nothing implied."
Operator: "To some people it is. I'm only going over this because this call is being recorded and may be listened in to."
So "part-negro" - bad; "part-asian" (somewhat vague, given the broad interpretations it could have) - fine. Logic defied. I mean what am I supposed to say? "African"? (No caucasions in Africa, these days?) "Black"? (My shoes are black. My car tyres: black. People: not black.) "Slightly darker than a strong cappucino"?
If I'd said "nigger" or "coon" I could understand it, but when did "negro" become an offensive word? For obvious reasons I'm all for taking a strong stand against racism, but this beggars belief. (I wanted to make a gag about a PC PC, but he's probably a civvie.)
