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.
Context matters. The phrase “colored people” in the US refers only to African Americans, and comes from a time when regular things in the world were labeled “white only” and “colored.”
“People of color” in the US refers to all people who aren’t white, and further prioritizes “people” over race.
Most importantly, we call people what they want to be called. It’s not unreasonable for black people in America to not want to be referred to as “colored people,” and everyone knows it. Continuing to use that language, with full knowledge that it’s received as offensive by the people you’re using it to describe, is being racist on purpose.
The outrage is not about specific words, it’s about people being racist on purpose, and that’s not manufactured.