is the term 'chocolate' offensive?

[Anonymous]

My MIL from Pittsburgh uses this term when speaking about blacks and prior to meeting her (I am in my thirties), I had never heard this word used this way. I have corrected her with AA, but she says 'chocolate' is an accepted word where she lives.
So before I continue to be bothered by what i think i s MIL's idiocracy - this an okay word to use?
I'm not interesting in a big flame throwing thread - I just want to know this is an acceptable use ofthis the word in our country.

[Anonymous]

Is your MIL white? I assume she is, and I would find it at the very least a little offensive coming from her. The fact that African-Americans (or other ethnic groups) use a certain term among themselves doesn't mean it's available for public use. But YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My MIL from Pittsburgh uses this term when speaking about blacks and prior to meeting her (I am in my thirties), I had never heard this word used this way. I have corrected her with AA, but she says 'chocolate' is an accepted word where she lives.
So before I continue to be bothered by what i think i s MIL's idiocracy - this an okay word to use?
I'm not interesting in a big flame throwing thread - I just want to know this is an acceptable use ofthis the word in our country.

It's not acceptable in Pittsburgh (leave us out of it, thanks) or anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Sexual Chocolate?

[Anonymous]

I believe they also say "yunz" or "yinz" in Pittsburgh to make "you" plural. I wouldn't take anyone's word from Pittsburgh about anything semantic. My sister, who lives there, says people leave out the verb "to be"-- i.e. "My car needs fixed."

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry your MIL grew up in an area where she learned to use such a term. It sounds offensive and is not acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe they also say "yunz" or "yinz" in Pittsburgh to make "you" plural. I wouldn't take anyone's word from Pittsburgh about anything semantic. My sister, who lives there, says people leave out the verb "to be"-- i.e. "My car needs fixed."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yinz

[Anonymous]

Would she want to be called vanilla?

[Anonymous]

I find that racists often justify their use of unacceptable terms by claiming they are widespread or in use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find that racists often justify their use of unacceptable terms by claiming they are widespread or in use.

Yes, and also denying that they are not in use everywhere. . .

[Anonymous]

I have heard D.C. being called Chocolate City by AA or someone who is not AA saying something in a light hearted manner using the term 'chocolate'. Usually the reference is sexual though. Ex: " He is a good looking chocolate man".

[Anonymous]

I'm black. Have only been called chocolate by other black people (mainly men....and it's meant as a compliment). Would be offended if a white person called me chocolate. When did simply saying "black" become too difficult?

As someone else noted, does your MIL called white people vanilla? If not, she's being offensive. And I highly doubt that she calls a black person "chocolate" to their face. That's the one common denominator among racists....they're cowards.

[Anonymous]

Perfectly ok - if you are describing a labrador.

[Anonymous]

It was the (black) mayor of New Orleans who referred to it as a chocolate city. Then at that White House press dinner Stephen Colbert mockingly said, "Welcome DC, chocolate city with a marshmallow center."

[Anonymous]

*welcome TO DC