Everyone knows (or should know) that the word nigger is offensive. That is a good starting point, but today I want to talk about two words that would seem harmless, but when put together make my blood boil. They are two words that people use everyday without offense, but there is just no "okay" way to say them together. The two words are...
"You people".
Go ahead and try it. There is no good way to say it.
You people are so interesting/creative - Condescendingly offensive.(What am I? Your damn show monkey?)
You people are funny/crazy or I don't understand you people - Insulting offensive. (We are individuals with varied senses of reason. That I would have to say that only reinforces the offense.)
You people like hip-hop and R&B -Straight up offensive (This was actually said to me by I-Pad boss when I knew Bono's birth name for his daily trivia question. It was preceded by, "That is a surprising answer for a black girl.) I am starting to think my I-Pad is just payment for my silence, seeing as how I have yet to report him to HR. Thankfully, for him, I tend to be more fascinated by his level of willful ignorance than disgusted, but we are getting there.
The thing that I don't understand is how can people really use that term and not know that they are being offensive, jerky and racist. What is more racist than talking about a group of people set apart my physical characteristics in a way to highlight your view of yourself as superior.
I don't really even know what else to say. I would normally make a joke, but some things just AREN'T funny.
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