Reid apologizes for "Negro dialect" comment

politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...

Washington (CNN) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid apologized Saturday following reports he had privately described then-candidate Barack Obama during the presidential campaign as a black candidate who could be successful thanks in part to his “light-skinned” appearance and speaking patterns "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

Reminds me of Biden's quote on Obama "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,"

I wouldn't expect anything less from the party that includes a former KKK member, Robert (Sheets) Byrd.



[edit on 9-1-2010 by Carseller4]

More proof that in this world, WHITE IS RIGHT.

Originally posted by EMPIRE
More proof that in this world, WHITE IS RIGHT.

More like more proof of what Democrats think of their biggest voter block.

Originally posted by EMPIRE
More proof that in this world, WHITE IS RIGHT.

The only thing it proves is that Harry Reid is a moron!

Of course, a lot of us figured that out before this remark!

that's the second time I've seem this very old fashioned word (Negro) brought up today...

First the word comes from the 1960's when America was first learning to be race tolerant. you see it was thought to be improper to call an Afro American Black so they found another world... "Negro" is the Spanish word for black, so really this is a poor choice... especially if you don't want to call someone Black

Anyway other than your OP this first instance come from the ten questions to be found on the 2010 Census... question number nine asks if your "Black, Afro American or Negro" seems their choice of words has a lot of people upset...
Census Questions

I thought it much more interesting that question 8 is all about if your of Hispanic origin they want to know where from in detail...

Well maybe Reid helped edit the 2010 Census too???


[edit on 9-1-2010 by DaddyBare]

reply to post by EMPIRE


White is right? i really hope thats a joke. if not, thats the second completely ignorant person i have seen on ATS today.

reply to post by DaddyBare


I had heard that African Americans don't like to be called negroes which is not the same as the other "n" word. I really don't get why it would be so disturbing since as you pointed out it is simply the Spanish word for black.
To be anthropologically correct the term would be Capoid, Congoid or Australoid if you're black.
Whatever, it's not me that is being referenced to.
However I hardly think "African/American" is in any way correct as most black Americans are many, many generations removed from Africa. I think this more seperatist talk. I think we should all just call each other Americans and forget about the stupid colors because I'm not white, I'm caucasian. I'd much prefer to just be a fellow American because there's nothing special about me , that's for sure.
As for Harry Reid, like most of congress he seems to act like he's anything BUT an American

They do study African American Vernacular English in linguistics. It is a variety of Standard English and varies from region to region.

Originally posted by gandhi
reply to post by EMPIRE

 

White is right? i really hope thats a joke. if not, thats the second completely ignorant person i have seen on ATS today.

I think, that is I hope that his comment was tongue in cheek sarcasm in reference to Harry Reid and not him/her self.

reply to post by Asktheanimals


Being older than most here at ATS I can say (As a non-black person) whenever I heard the word Negro used to describe a Black person it made me wince... often it was taken as a step up from being called "Boy" in many circles. not as Derogatory as the other "N" word you referred too but almost.

I suppose that is attributable to what's known as regional dialect



[edit on 9-1-2010 by DaddyBare]

whay apologize for calling a spade a spade? i am what i am and i could care less who recognises something i about me that i am comfortable with.

i'm far from prejudice. but, jews call themselves jews and so does everyone else. i don't see any problem in refering to anyone in the same manner they refer to themself.

[edit on 9-1-2010 by notsympl]

Just for those of you that are confused... most black people like to be called by their name instead of "African-American" "Negro" "Black"

Just an FYI.

And for those of you wondering why "Negro" makes most Black Americans upset, maybe you should crack a history book or *gasp* ask a Black person.

[edit on 9-1-2010 by CuriousSkeptic]

reply to post by CuriousSkeptic


that's a good one. listen to any rap song, watch any predominantly african amercian programming rated higher than pg 13. all of it will show you a more colorful story of what really goes on.

this could get fun... slavery and oppression were a part of african culture before the white man showed up.

on top of that, why is it still called the Nation Association for the Advancement of Colored People when their main concern is civil rights and equality/liberty for african americans? why tag yourself with a label you tried to remove?

[edit on 9-1-2010 by notsympl]

Originally posted by CuriousSkeptic
Just for those of you that are confused... most black people like to be called by their name instead of "African-American" "Negro" "Black"

Just an FYI.

And for those of you wondering why "Negro" makes most Black Americans upset, maybe you should crack a history book or *gasp* ask a Black person.

[edit on 9-1-2010 by CuriousSkeptic]

Somebody better inform the NAACP.

Unless they revised what the C stands for. Negro is a color. White is a color.

[edit on 9-1-2010 by Deny Arrogance]

The NAACP is over a hundred years old. They wear their name like a badge of honor. Same with all the rappers, and movies over PG-13 or whatever else pathetic things you mentioned. Doesn't mean you should use it. Besides most black people I know think that's abhorrent and wrong.

And keep telling me about Black Culture from your outsider perspective. I'm fascinated.

My fiancee is black. All of you should come back as an Irish boy trying to integrate with a black family. It'll open your eyes.

Originally posted by CuriousSkeptic
The NAACP is over a hundred years old. They wear their name like a badge of honor. Same with all the rappers, and movies over PG-13 or whatever else pathetic things you mentioned. Doesn't mean you should use it. Besides most black people I know think that's abhorrent and wrong.

And keep telling me about Black Culture from your outsider perspective. I'm fascinated.

My fiancee is black. All of you should come back as an Irish boy trying to integrate with a black family. It'll open your eyes.

I live in the middle of a large diverse city. I have black friends and co-workers. I have 2 black nephews. I am mostly Irish. You are prejudiced.

What am I "outside of"?

I just might make a donation to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).

reply to post by CuriousSkeptic


first, i don't believe i disclosed my ethnicity. sencond, right or wrong it's commonplace behavior. third, inside or out, it's how they represent themselves to the world. dare you tell me my eyes and ears lie?

and it does make sense to remind everyone the hardship that's been overcome. but it's rediculous to continue to use a derogatory word that no longer holds any bearing in the modern world they continue to help shape.

[edit on 9-1-2010 by notsympl]

reply to post by Carseller4


Reid is toast. He is an embarrassment to the U.S. Senate.
Reid should resign. Janet Napolitano should resign. Obama
should resign. Nancy Pelosi is next.

Reply to post by Asktheanimals

When that Nigerian guy pulled his flaming underpants stunt the new was interviewing people who witnessed it.

Nearly every last one of them called the Nigerian guy "African American".

Too funny.


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

Originally posted by DaddyBare
reply to post by Asktheanimals

 

Being older than most here at ATS I can say (As a non-black person) whenever I heard the word Negro used to describe a Black person it made me wince... often it was taken as a step up from being called "Boy" in many circles. not as Derogatory as the other "N" word you referred too but almost.

I suppose that is attributable to what's known as regional dialect



[edit on 9-1-2010 by DaddyBare]

Speaking of regional dialects, I was in Sandersville, GA a while back. It's a weird place: lots of former mid-19th century plantations and the like, still occupied.

A major notable cultural difference... it is considered polite to refer to black people with the term "nigra". Not "negro". Not "the N-word". Nigra. The local black people acknowledged it as polite also.

I was flabbergasted. Saying such a thing in Atlanta will get you into real trouble. There, it's considered respectable. However, I don't suspect Reid is from anywhere near Sandersville and has little excuse for his verbal faux-pas.