How wrong is it to call someone a aunt thomasina?

[sea dee]

How wrong is it to call someone a black person aunt thomasina?

I am trying to explain to a white friend of mine just how bad this is.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Depends on the context and who is saying it

If Al Sharton said it, I wouldn't raise an eyebrow.

I didn't raise an eyebrow when Harry Belafonte made his comment about Powell.

[Name removed]

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[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. Agreed.

[maveric]

2. Could you explain why? This ignorant white boy wants to know.

[Name removed]

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[maveric]

7. Yes. I'm not familiar with the Aunt Thomasina slur.

I've yet to hear that. ???

[Name removed]

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[maveric]

9. Oh. Duuhhhh! on me.

Thanx

[alphafemale]

4. "unspoken" things.

...some phrases shouldn't be used at all.

Especially by whites.
Some phrases carry too much pain and hurtful history.

But....

Anyone primarily interested in self agrandizing and serving only the top 2% in their small inner circle is held in contempt by me.

Their character is lacking.
Who cares what color they are?

On Edit:
Hit Send a little quick.

[Name removed]

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[tuvor]

10. I'm white. If Harry Belafonte calls Colin Powell an Uncle Tom

and I think I understand where he's coming from, should I feel bad about that?

As long as the shoe fits, I don't see what the big deal is.

[Name removed]

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[tuvor]

12. It might help if I understood the circumstances.

I hope you understand I'm speaking only in generalities.

[Name removed]

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[tuvor]

19. You're confusing me.

You say "there are no Uncle Toms" (i.e. race traitors, if I'm understanding you correctly) and then you suggest there actually are some, by saying there are few exceptions.

Since you're not wishing to be specific, which is fine by me, here's my general impression again:

It's possible for one to betray their own race. Call that person whatever you like.

[alphafemale]

20. An elite group of many races is betraying ALL of the rest of us.

Certain terminology is rude and hateful.

And it's clouding the issue of what we are facing.

[tuvor]

21. Well, you asked the original question, "How wrong is it...?"

ON EDIT: Sorry, I thought you were sea dee. My bad.

[alphafemale]

24. not my thread. I just had an answer to your secondary question.

Lived the same but different experience of having "race traitor" flung from the other side.

It's a bad experience.

And it brings nothing to the debate.

[Name removed]

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[alphafemale]

18. It's no cake walk if you're in the majority either.

Being called a Race Traitor or any of those other jolly words that is.

Though the implications are different when I'm called things like that.

And welcome to DU btw
:hi:

[Name removed]

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[meow2u3]

13. It's wrong because there's no such term

The female counterpart of an Uncle Tom is known as an Aunt Jemima, not an Aunt Thomasina.

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[libodem]

14. This is my take

...once on a Jerry springer type show a few years ago I saw some teen-aged white boys trying to act like gang members. They used all the,pimp, ho, nigga, cap in yo ass, talk, emulated the gestures, clothing, and activities you would expect from inner-city black kids. It was pure attitude. Imitation is the highest form of flattery. They were white 'niggas'. It's a pop-culture life style not a color. Candroidleessa is a puppethead, no matter how beautiful, talented, educated, and refined , she may be. I think she has sold her soul. Politically incorrect as it is, and against my better non- bigoted judgment I think she is a parrot..Auntie Tomasina

[lenidog]

22. Don't ask me

because in my ENTIRE life I have never heard a single person of any color, creed or gender ever use the term. The only time I have ever heard anyone ever mention the name Thomasina is in reference to an old Disney movie called "The Three Lives of Thomasina" which is about a cat.

[alphafemale]

26. I've noticed the term a few times in the past couple of years.

I can dislike peoples' policies without their race being a factor though.

[ultraist]

27. They had a big hey day calling Clarence Thomas "Uncle Tom"

And in many instances, whites were just jumping on board as an excuse to throw around racial slurs because it makes them feel superior. We see it sometimes here too, a little crack in the door opens up the opportunity to engage in Gay bashing or racial bashing; Group think sets in and people start foaming at the mouth like a pack of rabid dogs.

[Name removed]

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[WillowTree]

29. 100% wrong.

But then, I'm opposed to name-calling in general. I've yet to see an instance when it isn't either hateful or sophomoric.

[Behind the Aegis]

30. Never heard that one

I use "Aunt Jemima." It is the female equivalent of "Uncle Tom." Generally, these terms were used by African-Americans to describe other AA's they felt had "sold out to the Man." Therefore, if a non-AA use the term, it generally doesn't inspire ire, unless it is used against a black icon (i.e. one would NEVER call MLK, JR an Uncle Tom, as that would be a HUGE insult). Using ANY racial remark requires you know your audience and how it will be received.

[Moderator]

31. Locking

They disrupted poorly.