Racist?

[_Simpson_ 250]

Hello all,

I wanted to get peoples opinion on something. I own a redbone coonhound. I was told by a cousin that ####### was racist term. I thought huh, what?, so I googled it. I really didnt find much on it that would imply that it was a racial term. In my searches I came across this a article where a Republican used the word uppity when referring to Obama. Once again I was surprised that that could have some racist reference to it.

I think its rather riduclous that one would get offended if coondhound was mentioned when talking about there dog or something similar, same with "uppity" when in the context of what has meant to me. People are just too sensitive these days.

I was wondering what those words mean to people here and maybe give me some history on it

thanks

Edited February 21, 2009 by looking_up

[_Simpson_ 250]

here is the article I was referring too if anyone is intrested -

(CNN) - Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland was unaware a word he used to describe Barack and Michelle Obama on Thursday carries racial overtones, a spokesman for the congressman told CNN.

Westmoreland, who represents Georgia’s third district, described the Obamas as “uppity” when asked by reporters in Washington to compare Repubican vice presidential canidate Sarah Palin with the wife of the Democratic presidential candidate.

“Just from what little I’ve seen of her and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they’re a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they’re uppity,” Westmoreland said, according to the Capitol Hill Newspaper the Hill.

Westmoreland’s spokesman, Brian Robinson, insisted the congressman did not know the word has been used with a racially derogatory intent against African-Americans.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Hello all,

I wanted to get peoples opinion on something. I own a redbone coonhound. I was told by a cousin that ####### was racist term. I thought huh, what?, so I googled it. I really didnt find much on it that would imply that it was a racial term. In my searches I came across this a article where a Republican used the word uppity when referring to Obama. Once again I was surprised that that could have some racist reference to it.

I think its rather riduclous that one would get offended if coondhound was mentioned when talking about there dog or something similar, same with "uppity" when in the context of what has meant to me. People are just too sensitive these days.

I was wondering what those words mean to people here and maybe give me some history on it

thanks

Are you for real?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=#######

[tmma 467]

Well, I don't know. I remember in England someone banding that word [#######] about and it was considered 'racist'...But that was years ago when there was a ban on the golly wogs on the marmalade wrappers....

As far as racist pet breeds go......We have a big Maine ####### cat. I have no problem calling him a big Maine ####### cat-that's what he is...plus, I thought the name was refering to him looking alittle racoon like in his colouring.

I think if people object to you calling your pet what it officially is, and saying it's racist are alittle over sensitive...

[_Simpson_ 250]

Funny you should ask Mr. Bill it so happens that I am "for real".... sigh, I would really appreciate constructive conversation about this, many(I believe most) have never used this word in a racist way.

On a serious note I did a search for coonhound thinking that maybe the name came about because these dogs were used to hunt black people back in the day. I always thought it had to do with raccoon and my searches proved to be true. Wikipedia can back me up, look up coonhound.

Edited February 21, 2009 by looking_up

[Otto 83]

For the most part, and depending on the use/context of the word - ####### will usually come across as a racist word - ####### hound might/might-not since there are actually people who hunt with ####### dogs/####### hounds.

I know some folks from Louisiana who consider themselves #######-a$$ - with no regard to skin color - repeat that word in different parts of the country, and you'll get some sideways stares to be sure.

So who knows...

[amberdima 6]

i don't think calling your dog by it's breed name is using the term in a derogatory way; however, it's an anachronism. '#######' was widely used many years ago as a racist term for black people.

Edited February 21, 2009 by amberdima

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Click on Link -----> http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=####### <------- Click on Link

[_Simpson_ 250]

I had clicked on the link the first time you posted. A point I was trying to make was the "for real" comment was not constructive.

I also looked up uppity in urban dictionary. It was also used by sourtherners in a racist way. That was them not me and means other things too. So I dont plan on taking that word out of my vocabulary. ####### by itself I will not use, not sure if I will use coonhound in the future considering that I could say redbound hound dog and most would know what breed im talking about and in the same processes not be mistaken as a racist. Now if one was to get offened because I said it , I would not feel sorry at all and would probably let them know that they need to put there purse down(uh oh I opened another can of worms,lol).

Edited February 21, 2009 by looking_up

[peejay 327]

Slang terms describing someone's ethnicity are definitely in bad taste.

In the USA a ####### is often used to describe a black person. A redbone widely refers to a mixed race black that has obvious genetic features contributed by a white person with red hair and freckles.

That said...a coondog is a dog used to hunt racoons. Most likely a redbone coondog has reddish hair. Whether it is intended to play a cute game with words is open to question.

That also said...in the 1970's when I was a union steelworker in Houston I worked with an old black guy that raised racoons and sold them for pets. He had a sign painted on the door of his pickup truck that was a painting of a racoon and "Coons For Sale" and his phone number. Apparently he was refering to racoons when he used the word "#######".

Racist? It depends on intent.

[Laura+Tom 2]

I always believed uppity (in the UK) means someone who is a bit highly strung and stresses out to much about something. Similar to uptight.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Yes all about context.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Hello all,

I wanted to get peoples opinion on something. I own a redbone coonhound. I was told by a cousin that ####### was racist term. I thought huh, what?, so I googled it. I really didnt find much on it that would imply that it was a racial term. In my searches I came across this a article where a Republican used the word uppity when referring to Obama. Once again I was surprised that that could have some racist reference to it.

I think its rather riduclous that one would get offended if coondhound was mentioned when talking about there dog or something similar, same with "uppity" when in the context of what has meant to me. People are just too sensitive these days.

I was wondering what those words mean to people here and maybe give me some history on it

thanks

Does your special needs PC cousin know ####### is short for rac#######? THE DOG IS USED TO HUNT RACCOONS AND OTHER QUARRY!!!!!

Edited February 21, 2009 by LuckyStrike

[Peikko 1,575]

This is just silly. Coonhound is one word and so long as it has never been associated with any derogatory use as a whole word it can't be supposed to be racist. It's like suggesting a blackboard is a racist word. All that does is soften the edges around the old derogatory terms that were used to suppress and instill a sense of superiority by those who used them to describe peoples of different skin colour.

I have a sneaky suspicion that these ideas are propagated by racists to cause confusion and fudge the real issues which are the derogatory stereotypes that promote the idea of treating people differently based on features that are skin deep. Disingenuous and wrong.

[amberdima 6]

I always believed uppity (in the UK) means someone who is a bit highly strung and stresses out to much about something. Similar to uptight.

i think uppity is racist when accompanied by the 'n' word. as in 'uppity n*&^%.'