Talk:Half-caste
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Someone has suggested that 'half caste' and 'half-caste' articles be merged. I don't know of any examples where the absence or presence of the hyphen makes a difference to the way the term was/is used, or changes its context, so I think that they should be merged. Any thoughts? Brucehassan 14:50, 12 November 2005 (UTC) I've merged them Barbara Shack 14:27, 29 December 2005 (UTC)
Barbara Shack 12:16, 31 December 2005 (UTC)I’m not sure about the copyright status of John Agard’s poem. I found it on the history of Half cast. I can't get to it anymore.
I removed:
"Half-Caste by John Agard is a perfect explanation for all racist people and how they prey on those who are different from ourselves. It is a poem that is strong enough to make anyone realise that they are no different from us, and that they deserve to be treated the same as everyone else. It is basically saying think with all of your mind instead of 'Half'"
As it is POV (note the "different from ourselves" and "no different from us"). The sentiment might be laudable but wikipedia is not a soapbox for personal opinions on racial tolerance. I also think it's worthy of note, though the article does make clear the uncertainty surrounding the term, that half-caste has always in my experience just been a neutral term for someone of mixed ethnicity. I've never heard it used perjoratively, though it might well be by some. Panlane--82.38.227.22 15:18, 14 January 2006 (UTC)
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[edit] racist?
I am half cast, and my family use the term without racist meanings Conglacio 12:12, 30 January 2006 (UTC)
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- Exactly the same here. I've always used the term when talking about my race. Skinmeister 09:07, 4 February 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Offensive?
How's it offensive, I mean there's going to be someone, somewhere who finds the word hello offensive and since we've had several mixed people on here saying that they accept it as a term maybe we should remove the writing about it being 'offensive'.
BOV1993 20:17, 23 February 2007 (UTC)
We should base ourselves on what is verifiable. It clearly was offensive in the past, but that was a differentt world where rascism itself was acceptable in a way it isnt today, SqueakBox 20:22, 23 February 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Article or editorial?
This article seems to be more a statement against "politcal correctness" than an informative description of the term "half caste." What is the origin of this term? Where is this term more commonly used? What is the source of author's information, other than his or her personal opinion (which is really irrelevant)? The information about Indian castes is actually incorrect. In the Indian subcontinent before British colonization, the term "caste" referred to an occupational category; later these categories changed into the rigid, class-based associations currently associated with the term. The author could do MUCH more on contextualizing this. Kemet 13:27, 28 May 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Is it just me
As a child I would use the term regularly, and I would often describe my cousin as halfcaste. Its been about 7 or 8 years since I was first told that the term could be offensive, (to my surprise), because the word caste has more than one meaning, as in half made. After that time I have noticed that the term has fallen out of use dramatically.
[edit] No it isn't
I grew up in a mixed race area (White City/Shepherd's Bush) where as a child in the late 60s/early 70s it was very usual to use the term 'half-caste' - among all the ethnic groups. However, sometime ago (circa 1992) a Jamaican collegue was shocked that I could still be using such a term & I haven't used it since. I think that the main article needs to reflect that in the UK today this term can very much cause offence & that the more neutral term 'mixed race' is the preferred description.
[edit] Modern Context
Approx 15+ years ago, this term was the norm in the United Kingdom to refer to a person of mixed parentage (usually specifically black and white), however, it is no longer considered to be appropriate and hasn't been so for around 10 years. I spoke with the British government's chief adviser on racial equality in 1998, relating to my job at the time, and was informed that the term was considered outdated and potentially offensive. 'Mixed Race' is now entirely ubiquitous and has replaced Half-Caste, which is now seen as being offensive. In some other countries, however, it is still acceptable.
And is this to do with the dual meaning of the word Caste? Ajuk 17:17, 9 July 2007 (UTC)
