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[SealyStar]

While you're at it, niger seed (common for birdfeeders) was so named because the plant was first cultivated in Ethiopia, and because the local word for it is noog, which went through the loanword grist mill and entered English as "niger" (prounounced like the country, probably through misattribution).

However, because of people who jumped on the "THAT'S RACIST" bandwagon (and no doubt some awkward pronunciation faux pas), you will never find it labeled as such in America these days. Now it's "nyjer seed".

I've also discovered that teachers of certain languages are apprehensive about teaching that language's word for "black". Spanish "negro" and Latin "niger" are, of course, the most avoided, but they're not alone.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

While you're at it, niger seed (common for birdfeeders) was so named because the plant was first cultivated in Ethiopia, and because the local word for it is noog, which went through the loanword grist mill and entered English as "niger" (prounounced like the country, probably through misattribution).

However, because of people who jumped on the "THAT'S RACIST" bandwagon (and no doubt some awkward pronunciation faux pas), you will never find it labeled as such in America these days. Now it's "nyjer seed".

I've also discovered that teachers of certain languages are apprehensive about teaching that language's word for "black". Spanish "negro" and Latin "niger" are, of course, the most avoided, but they're not alone.

This didn't come up in German at first, with the word for "black" being "schwarz". Then, we found out that the word "schwarzfahrer", meaning "black rider", is a term used to mean freeloader in Germany (usually in the context of somebody breaking the honor system on public transportation). That was slightly awkward. And then our instructor showed us this, which plays on and parodies the potential racism of the term (watch it until the end or you won't get it).

[smirk]

Lovecraft continues to confuse the hell out of me. On one hand, raging antisemite. On the other hand, married a Ukrainian Jew.

If I recall correctly, he mellowed out as he got older - his later works tend to be less racist than his earlier ones. Still not ideal, but he was capable of self-improvement.

[Lord Shonus]

Also. most of the explicitly racist stuff (as opposed to things like the Deep Ones that can carry a racial undertone) attributed to him wasn't his. A ton of the stuff he edited for magazines and such got his name tacked on when he exploded into popularity in the 70s and 80s.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I'm not really sure if you can consider the Deep Ones racist. Interracial marriages do not result in children suddenly metamorphosing into fish people on their fortieth birthday.

Spoiler: Plus- (click to show/hide)

The protagonist ends up being an unaware Human-Deep One Hybrid as well, and ultimately accepts this condition.

No racial symbolism really works with it.

[XXSockXX]

This didn't come up in German at first, with the word for "black" being "schwarz". Then, we found out that the word "schwarzfahrer", meaning "black rider", is a term used to mean freeloader in Germany (usually in the context of somebody breaking the honor system on public transportation). That was slightly awkward. And then our instructor showed us this, which plays on and parodies the potential racism of the term (watch it until the end or you won't get it).

Hehe. There is also "Schwarzarbeit", literally "black work", which means unreported employment. None of these terms have any racial connotation though.
Funnily goths are often referred to as "Schwarze" too due to their black clothes and have embraced the term, which has in some cases led to some very disappointed black GIs staring at a bunch of thin pale black-clothed people where they expected some entirely other kind of "black music".

[mastahcheese]

"THAT'S RACIST" bandwagon

Always hated those people. If you say anything even slightly related (like saying someone has black/brown skin) whilst near them, they'll say you're being racist, despite the fact there's... not really any way of saying it otherwise. It'd be like saying someone's prejudiced for saying they have blonde hair.

There have actually been cases on the news I've seen where people will refuse to say that a suspect/victim was black, out of fear that they would be accused as being a racist.

It's starting to hamper the enforcement of the law, it's so bad.

[i2amroy]

The obvious answer is to only refer to people's heritage rather then to them directly; "He appeared to have african heritage" is a true statement, and it's difficult to find anything that could be construed as racism there.

That said I do agree that it's reached the "stupid" levels.

[i2amroy]

No, greatorder. You are the racists.
And then greatorder was a zombie.

[mastahcheese]

No, greatorder. You are the racists.
And then greatorder was a zombie.

ARE YOU AGAINST ZOMBIES??? YOU RACIST

[scrdest]

No, greatorder. You are the racists.
And then greatorder was a zombie.

ARE YOU AGAINST ZOMBIES??? YOU RACIST

Vitalist.

[Kadzar]

This didn't come up in German at first, with the word for "black" being "schwarz". Then, we found out that the word "schwarzfahrer", meaning "black rider", is a term used to mean freeloader in Germany (usually in the context of somebody breaking the honor system on public transportation). That was slightly awkward. And then our instructor showed us this, which plays on and parodies the potential racism of the term (watch it until the end or you won't get it).

Hehe. There is also "Schwarzarbeit", literally "black work", which means unreported employment. None of these terms have any racial connotation though.
Funnily goths are often referred to as "Schwarze" too due to their black clothes and have embraced the term, which has in some cases led to some very disappointed black GIs staring at a bunch of thin pale black-clothed people where they expected some entirely other kind of "black music".

Does "GI" have a different meaning where you're from? Because in America, it almost universally refers to members of the military or things related to them, though I'm not sure if that works in this context, but I'm not sure what else it would mean.

[Helgoland]

There used to be - and still are - American soldiers in Germany. That lead to some problems with racism right after the war - but in general prejudice against blacks has never been a big issue in Germany. Mostly because there's so few of them.


Also, we have Turks for that.

[XXSockXX]

Does "GI" have a different meaning where you're from? Because in America, it almost universally refers to members of the military or things related to them, though I'm not sure if that works in this context, but I'm not sure what else it would mean.

No, I was referring to actual American GIs. I used to hang out in a club near a US military base. Sometimes a few (mostly black) Americans would come in, take a look around and leave. I suspect this was due to the fact that they misinterpreted ads for the "black" parties there.

[RedKing]

Does "GI" have a different meaning where you're from? Because in America, it almost universally refers to members of the military or things related to them, though I'm not sure if that works in this context, but I'm not sure what else it would mean.

No, I was referring to actual American GIs. I used to hang out in a club near a US military base. Sometimes a few (mostly black) Americans would come in, take a look around and leave. I suspect this was due to the fact that they misinterpreted ads for the "black" parties there.

That is something I would love to have witnessed.