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Post by shanni on Dec 21, 2014 16:28:17 GMT
I learned the term in my High School genetics class 25 years ago. Definitely NOT something I would say today, or anytime in the last 20 years however. I'm sure it was offensive when I learned it too, but that is what our teacher taught us, so that is the term I used. I have never heard the history of the word though, so thanks for sharing. Now if I hear someone use the word, I will be able to explain WHY it's offensive.
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Post by myshelly on Dec 21, 2014 16:29:20 GMT
That term has been outdated/offensive for at least 25 years.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 4:30:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2014 16:35:20 GMT
I'll be honest and say it was a term used by myself and others in my youth/high school years maybe? I'm 48 now and haven't heard it in years. However, I never knew it to be considered offensive, ignorance I suppose on my part.
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Post by sillyrabbit on Dec 21, 2014 16:39:12 GMT
I had never heard that term until a few years ago. I guess I would just say biracial unless I knew what race they identified with then I would use that term. Except I generally don't refer to anybody racially.
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Post by happymom on Dec 21, 2014 16:42:52 GMT
Mulatto. Never Bi-racial. Used by me Mixed- used by my kids to refer to themselves and their friends. I like it- it is general and vague and can refer to any mixture. Are the specifics important anymore?
Honestly though race isn't an issue. Hardly ever spoken about. No problems for this married couple or my bi- racial boys.
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M in Carolina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,128
Jun 29, 2014 12:11:41 GMT
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Post by M in Carolina on Dec 21, 2014 16:50:47 GMT
I had only seen the word in historic documents and old books/movies or heard it from racists until I joined 2peas. There was a pea on the old board that used the term to describe her adopted and foster children. She even called one of them "latte". Her excuse was that people would call them that anyway, so she was trying to make it "cute". I always wondered what her children thought of the whole thing. I hate the word. I don't like all the descriptors that "white" people use to compare themselves with others. My inlaws are like that, and it makes me want to vomit. My MIL even told me that if dh and I adopted a mixed race child that they wouldn't be the grandparents. I understand biracial people using descriptors amongst themselves. I have no problem with that. I'm just tired of people using it as a more "pc" way to be racist.
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Post by pierkiss on Dec 21, 2014 17:54:26 GMT
Wow, I had no idea that was the origin of that word! To answer your question, no, I don't use that word. I never have. I find it to be an "ugly" word, and it's never felt right in my mouth. .
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Post by giatocj on Dec 21, 2014 18:32:38 GMT
The only time I've ever seen that term is in the historical romances I used to read years ago. I haven't seen or heard it for years.
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Post by rst on Dec 21, 2014 18:47:16 GMT
What Jane Austen movie covers bi-racial issues or uses the term mulato?
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Post by myboysnme on Dec 21, 2014 18:52:05 GMT
I would never use that term unless I was reading an old census on Ancestry.com.
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Post by lesserknownpea on Dec 21, 2014 20:16:44 GMT
What Jane Austen movie covers bi-racial issues or uses the term mulato? Mansfield Park. There's a plantation in Antigua.
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Post by M~ on Dec 21, 2014 20:49:17 GMT
God no. Well, unless you lived before civil war. I'm not black and I'm insulted by the term.
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Post by PEArfect on Dec 21, 2014 21:12:22 GMT
Honestly, this is the first time I've heard the term mulatto. I'm guessing, without reading responses, that it would be more like a derogatory ethnic slang term. I wouldn't use it personally.
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Post by lesserknownpea on Dec 21, 2014 21:20:34 GMT
PEArfect, 3 of my nieces are in their 30's, educated, grew up in black communities in the Seattle area, and used that term until about 8 years ago. Not frequently, but on occasion and without a negative feeling.
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Post by AussieMeg on Dec 21, 2014 22:01:51 GMT
I've never heard that word nor seen it written, not that I can remember anyway. DS is mixed, so when obnoxious people ask him what race he is, his standard answer is "human." Can I ask an honest question? When you say "when obnoxious people ask him what race he is", do you mean that he only gives that response when the person is obnoxious, or are all people who ask about his race obnoxious? Is there any polite way to ask that question or should it not be asked at all? And is everyone offended by the question or just some people? I took DS to a school friend's house recently and was having a coffee with the mum. Her sister was there with her 8 month old son who was clearly mixed race (and one of the most stunning little babies I have ever seen). I was curious to know what nationality/race the father was but was wasn't sure how to ask. In the end I waited until the sister had gone and asked the school mum.
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Post by librarylady on Dec 21, 2014 22:30:14 GMT
I have never heard anyone use the word, and only encountered the word in sociology classes or old novels.
I am very surprised to hear that anyone in modern times used the word. I consider it from the era when those of another race were treated differently....similarly, I have never heard anyone use octoroon.
from the online dictionary: Origin of MULATTO Spanish mulato, from mulo mule, from Latin mulus First Known Use: 1593
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Post by walkerdill on Dec 21, 2014 23:01:22 GMT
I have never heard that word before today.
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Post by Pahina722 on Dec 21, 2014 23:33:28 GMT
I've never heard that word nor seen it written, not that I can remember anyway. DS is mixed, so when obnoxious people ask him what race he is, his standard answer is "human." Can I ask an honest question? When you say "when obnoxious people ask him what race he is", do you mean that he only gives that response when the person is obnoxious, or are all people who ask about his race obnoxious? Is there any polite way to ask that question or should it not be asked at all? And is everyone offended by the question or just some people? I took DS to a school friend's house recently and was having a coffee with the mum. Her sister was there with her 8 month old son who was clearly mixed race (and one of the most stunning little babies I have ever seen). I was curious to know what nationality/race the father was but was wasn't sure how to ask. In the end I waited until the sister had gone and asked the school mum. It's the tone of the questioning (and sometimes the stupidity of the questioner) that elicits that response. When someone is genuinely curious, especially another student who realizes that DS is the son of ghostly pale Mr. A, he will tell what we know-- that DS is 2/3 white and 1/3 black. If the person refuses to believe DS or if the original question was along the lines of a snarky "what ARE you?" then the "human race" answer comes out. Just honest curiosity never bothers him or us. Off topic, We have no idea how DS is 2/3 white, 1/3 black genetically, but that's what the testing said!
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Post by Linda on Dec 22, 2014 0:04:40 GMT
It's not a term I personally use. I've seen it on old census and probate records and stuff like that (genealogy) and in literature and history books.
As far as hearing it used by others. My (white) GMIL who is in her late 90s has used when talking about the old days. I suspect it's a term that was more common/acceptable when she was young and I doubt she means it offensively. I've also heard it used by my elderly (black) neighbours who are in their 80s and 90s - again I suspect it was a term they've used all their lives. I understand what they mean by it but I wouldn't personally use it even in conversation with them.
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Post by hennybutton on Dec 22, 2014 0:14:10 GMT
I have never heard anyone use the word, and only encountered the word in sociology classes or old novels. I am very surprised to hear that anyone in modern times used the word. I consider it from the era when those of another race were treated differently....similarly, I have never heard anyone use octoroon. from the online dictionary: Origin of MULATTO Spanish mulato, from mulo mule, from Latin mulus First Known Use: 1593 Same here. I'm relatively old (53) and I've seen the word in writing, along with quadroon and octoroon, but I don't think I've ever heard anyone use it. I live in California, if that makes a difference. What's really odd though is that I also don't remember ever hearing the terms "mixed race" or "biracial" until about 10-15 years ago. What, if any, term was used before that is beyond me.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 4:30:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2014 0:43:58 GMT
If you have a mixed race Japanese/other race child believe me we have lots to talk about. We talk about how to get our kids to speak both languages at home, if we are going to do a 3, 5,7 year old party for the child. What did you do for the first birthday. Did your son/ daughter wear zori (sandals)? What about seijinshiki? How will you handle that? Go back to Japan for it or do something here?
There is quite a lot we talk about.
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ComplicatedLady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,037
Location: Valley of the Sun
Jul 26, 2014 21:02:07 GMT
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Post by ComplicatedLady on Dec 22, 2014 2:38:02 GMT
I've only ever heard the term in Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" "A mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido...yeah" I remember learning the words to that song and having to look up what mulatto meant. I haven't heard the term since.
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Post by I-95 on Dec 22, 2014 2:48:02 GMT
Wow, I haven't heard that word in eons. I would hazard a guess than most folks under about 40 have never heard it verbally used, but may have read it in a book.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090
Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on Dec 22, 2014 2:49:40 GMT
I was under the impression that that term was no longer used by most individuals. The only time I even see it is on old census reports and other old paperwork that I look at for genealogical research purposes. According to some, the term is used in Latin American countries with no insult taken
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caro
Drama Llama
Refupea 1130
Posts: 5,222
Jun 26, 2014 14:10:36 GMT
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Post by caro on Dec 22, 2014 2:54:38 GMT
I believe it was used many years ago as were many other derogatory words. I say biracial.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Dec 22, 2014 3:16:45 GMT
The only place I have ever heard/read that term is in historical period books or movies or discussion there of. I have never, never, ever heard that term outside of a humanities or literature class. ( except by a character performing ) I've never anyone refer to themselves or anyone else in real life as a mulatto. Same here.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 4:30:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2014 3:33:05 GMT
I had no idea anyone still used that term in this day and age. Gross
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Post by Outspoken on Dec 22, 2014 4:11:05 GMT
I have never heard that word before today.
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Post by Outspoken on Dec 22, 2014 4:14:34 GMT
I've never heard that word nor seen it written, not that I can remember anyway. Can I ask an honest question? When you say "when obnoxious people ask him what race he is", do you mean that he only gives that response when the person is obnoxious, or are all people who ask about his race obnoxious? Is there any polite way to ask that question or should it not be asked at all? And is everyone offended by the question or just some people? I took DS to a school friend's house recently and was having a coffee with the mum. Her sister was there with her 8 month old son who was clearly mixed race (and one of the most stunning little babies I have ever seen). I was curious to know what nationality/race the father was but was wasn't sure how to ask. In the end I waited until the sister had gone and asked the school mum. It's the tone of the questioning (and sometimes the stupidity of the questioner) that elicits that response. When someone is genuinely curious, especially another student who realizes that DS is the son of ghostly pale Mr. A, he will tell what we know-- that DS is 2/3 white and 1/3 black. If the person refuses to believe DS or if the original question was along the lines of a snarky "what ARE you?" then the "human race" answer comes out. Just honest curiosity never bothers him or us. Off topic, We have no idea how DS is 2/3 white, 1/3 black genetically, but that's what the testing said! Wow! The things I learn here! I had no idea you could be tested for such a thing! What situation would make this test necessary or beneficial? No snark. Just curiosity. If not appropriate, please disregard.
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,368
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Dec 22, 2014 5:44:45 GMT
I haven't heard that term used in decades. I find it offensive but it was used in the 60s when I was growing up.
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