Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz. referred to Black people as "colored people" Thursday in floor debate over his proposed amendment to an annual defense policy bill, prompting a stern rebuke from the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Lawmakers were debating a series of GOP-backed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, which the House aims to pass by the end of the week.
“Colored” is a term used during segregation explicitly as a racist term, for example, “colored-only” bathrooms and drinking fountains. At best, it’s considered an antiqued term but some still see it as having the same racist meaning.
“People of color” while sounding similar doesn’t carry that same history.