Is it racist to call a grown man 'a boy'?

Question

U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, a Hebron Republican, compared Obama and his message for change similar to a "snake oil salesman" [at a Northern Kentucky Lincoln Day dinner].

He said in his remarks at the GOP dinner that he also recently participated in a "highly classified, national security simulation" with Obama.

"I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button," Davis said. "He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country."

An aide to Davis, Jeremy Hughes, declined to comment on the remark, and didn't dispute the accuracy of the quote.


Is it okay to refer to any grown man as 'a boy'?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Where have some of you people been? Calling a black man, a "boy", is a negative sentiment meant to "keep a black man in his place", and to always remind him of his history of slavery and slave master . It has no age requirement. The man only had to be "african-american". Congressman Davis has only proved Pastor Wright "right". Racism is alive and well in america. Anytime a black man attempts to rise to uphold his place in humanity, there is a "bigot" right there pulling him down . Some of you people need to see "Roots" again.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

I'm white, and grew up in the south - and you don't call people 'boy'. You just don't. It has way too strong of a negative connotation.

I agree with your answer - unfortunately racism is still alive in the USA.

It best we deal with it face-to-face!

Answer 2

Of course it is. Boy is an old racist term so check your history.

Source(s):

http://www.technorati.cn/videos/youtube.…

Answer 3

No. I hear black people saying it too. "Boy,get your a** over here."

Answer 4

Obama can claim that looking at him too long is racism, and the Media would eat it up. In this context, I see no racism.

Answer 5

no that is subtle racism...but it's perfectly acceptable in America.....just as long as it does not offend white people

Answer 6

Most Black men do not like being called "boy". Historically in the South, this was a racist insult.

Answer 7

Yes, every single thing a person says about Obama is racist. Good, bad, neutral, it's racist. Looking at him, thinking about him, talking about him, dreaming about him, they are all racist actions. It's sickening.

Answer 8

Wright uses "rich white boy" ALL OF THE TIME
and Obama has no problem with that.

Obama's paternal lineage SOLD SLAVES so I'm sure his family used the term a lot.

Answer 9

Political Correctness can be tough sometimes when Boy is used so often in conversation -- what about:

Obama is Wall Street's Golden Boy -- in Grass Roots Clothing

Your Boy's Not Going to Win

I'm certainly not racist. Do you consider the above racist?

What about Obama is the favorite of all the Good Ole Boys in the Senate and will never buck the status quo as he claims.

Oh Boy -- Obama is conning US

Answer 10

Just a good ole' boy, never meanin' no harm...

Answer 11

Going by the good ole double standard just about any word is racist...except gubmint check.

Answer 12

Not unless it's your father or mother. Otherwise yes, it's an old derogatory term and something I'd expect from an old southerner

Answer 13

I have to agree with the other answers. The comment was not racist. Also you have to look at the age gap between Mr. Davis and Obama. I personally use the term all the time while referring to many different races. I look at it as a term highlighting intelligence and maturity than race.

Answer 14

sorry little, pathetic attempt to play the race card one more time. maybe, you should go back and play the speeches of reverend wright and reverend meeks, if you want to know what racist hatemongers sound like.

Answer 15

It's EXTREMELY inappropriate and a very sore spot for blacks, especially in the South.
That is the most overly bigoted statement I've heard so far in this election cycle.
An older white co-worker referred to me as 'girl' once and we had to take it to HR and she was reprimanded.
I cannot believe he said that. I'm also surprised that more people don't know the history behind the word.

Answer 16

'Boy' is often percieved as racist when used to address a person of color.

For instance, if you tell an African-American valet "Don't scratch my car, boy," you're making a reference to a mode of address used in the ante-bellum south.

It can also just be used as a condescending reference to age and inexperience. Obama is 'young' for a Presidential candidate, just as John McCain is 'old' for one. No one objects to McCain being called and 'old man,' 'coot' or whatever.

I think the congressman's remarks were not propperly respectful, but neither were they obviously or intentionally racist.


And, really, if the only objection you can come up with to those remarks is a choice of pronoun, then, are you /sure/ you want Obama as commander in chief? I mean if, "He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country" is he really a good candidate?

Answer 17

No, it is ageist. He was underlining Obama's relative youth and inexperience.

Answer 18

No,
First of all thats how he speaks. He is from Kentucky and is a country boy himself. He made that comment from his experiences in life,military and political service. Just read his small bio and you will understand a little more about him.

I think that all this rhetoric and media build up of these canidates making statements in the wrong context is a waste of time and dont allow the true issues to get out.

I call my children the wrong names sometimes so that makes me a bad father!
No!!!

Source(s):

http://geoffdavis.house.gov/About.aspx?S…

Answer 19

Oh, for God's sake! I'm 63 years old. I refer to a lot of people younger than me "a boy", or "a girl", for that matter. I have told Obama supporters "Your boy can't cut it.". I have told McCain supporters "Your boy's too old.".
"Boy" can also refer to ineptness, inexperience, and ignorance. Pick any one you want....they all refer to Obama.
Will you please get off your politically correct wagon and realize that in parts of this country there are vernacular and colloquial phrases of speech that have absolutely nothing to do with your "racist" radar.
Phfffttttt.

Edit to B. Kevork... Obama can't make a decision on anything. Want to know what his "decision" on boycotting the Olympics was? Obama said a boycott "should be firmly on the table," but that a decision should be made closer to the Games. LOLOLOLOL. Yep, I really want him in the Oval Office....NOT

Answer 20

It's not necessarily racist, but in the South it does still carry some racist undertones (black men were either 'boy' or 'uncle' depending on thier age). However, I don't think that in this particular usage was intended to be any more racist than the phrases "good ol' boys" or "that boy ain't right" or even "boys will be boys". It may have had more to to with Senator Obama's relative youth & political inexperience than anything else.
If Rep Davis had made a similar remark about Senator Clinton "That girl's finger..." would you be asking if the remark was sexist or otherwise demeaning?

Answer 21

I don't where people come up with new ways to be insulted.They scream for the sins against ancestors but fail to recall sins of their ancestors.For what white did to black,noone wants to talk about what white and black did to red. A lot of my ascendents were massacred,robbed and betrayed by the hand of friendship,etc. but I have to ask myself,why can I be mad at the 3rd great grandson or daughter of the people who were responsible for these atrocities. I can't. And I don't ***** about it.It would seem too much like hating the law for not catching a crook a century ago.

Answer 22

Yep, You can call them fat and ugly too. Guess what? Its not being racist either, well not unless its a black person, then its racist.

Answer 23

Some never grow up.

Answer 24

Remembner that Davis is a Southerner and they always call men "boys". Just because it was leveled against one who happens to be black doesn't make it racism. I'm sure he has called plenty of young, white men "boys" too. Here we go with people crying about the race card again.

Answer 25

It is racist but what can you expect from the GOP