African American

unblock

(54,234 posts)

2. (white person speaking) i've certainly heard white people use the term "articulate"

Thu Aug 16, 2018, 02:52 PM

Aug 2018

in a patronizing way toward black people. to my ear, it's more of a broad smear, implying that white people are presumed to be articulate but black people are presumed to be inarticulate.

white people don't compliment other white people for being "articulate". it's just a taken as given.

so when a white person refers to a black person as "articulate", first it implies that this should be considered surprising as opposed to taken as normal and natural; second, it is dismissive and demeaning. you say something important and the response is, wow, how remarkable that you speak clearly.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

43 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Is this really an insult? [View all] Panich52 Aug 2018 OP

That's become a thing since some bridled when Obama was described as articulate. FiveGoodMen Aug 2018 #1

Every compliment is NOT an insult. Stop making shit up and try and listen for once. bettyellen Aug 2018 #7

it began with Colin Powell being referred to as "articulate" JHan Aug 2018 #16

And this from Biden radical noodle Aug 2018 #17

yeah that was unfortunate to say the least JHan Aug 2018 #19

Biden means well radical noodle Aug 2018 #20

You seem a wee bit hysterical. LanternWaste Aug 2018 #23

No, it didn't become a thing over 8 years ago Kind of Blue Aug 2018 #39

Then because sarcasm exists, EVERY compliment is a potential insult FiveGoodMen Aug 2018 #42

You, my friend (sarcastically speaking). Kind of Blue Aug 2018 #43

(white person speaking) i've certainly heard white people use the term "articulate" unblock Aug 2018 #2

Still compliment to me Panich52 Aug 2018 #9

It's certainly a compliment if (and only if) we remove the implied 'compare and contrast' qualifier. LanternWaste Aug 2018 #24

So what? My dad was reared in a former British colony Kind of Blue Aug 2018 #40

This happy feet Aug 2018 #10

'white people don't compliment other white people for being "articulate"' FiveGoodMen Aug 2018 #11

ok, i was speaking in general terms, so to clarify... unblock Aug 2018 #12

White people who claim black people are "articulate" fleur-de-lisa Aug 2018 #3

I think your explanation is obvious LanternWaste Aug 2018 #25

Racism destroys legitimate interactions Panich52 Aug 2018 #32

Yes. Describing a black person as "articulate" is insulting. cyclonefence Aug 2018 #4

I agree. Laffy Kat Aug 2018 #6

It's not that it's intentional, and that's the point Panich52 Aug 2018 #33

I get your point cyclonefence Aug 2018 #35

Too choose that particular adjective is insulting and racist The Polack MSgt Aug 2018 #5

To pick that word now, especially, in reference to AA is obvious. Eliot Rosewater Aug 2018 #26

I asked it here because if one wants a serious, truthful answer Panich52 Aug 2018 #34

+1000 Thank You. Kind of Blue Aug 2018 #41

"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a braddy Aug 2018 #8

You're doing a disservice to Biden. rogue emissary Aug 2018 #13

Any "disservice" is in your own mind. braddy Aug 2018 #14

Yeah that's how writing works. rogue emissary Aug 2018 #15

When did we start talking radical noodle Aug 2018 #18

I was making a bad joke. rogue emissary Aug 2018 #21

Gotcha! radical noodle Aug 2018 #22

Yes, it's an insult MaryMagdaline Aug 2018 #27

I deliberately describe white people (I am white) as "well spoken" now just to annoy RWers MaryMagdaline Aug 2018 #28

They call this the soft bigotry of low expectations. nt. Corvo Bianco Aug 2018 #29

it could be either KT2000 Aug 2018 #30

I'm thinking about how I would react if a black person told me Croney Aug 2018 #31

I love this - JustAnotherGen Aug 2018 #37

Default Setting JustAnotherGen Aug 2018 #36

Yeah, it's up there with non compliments such as in my experience... Kind of Blue Aug 2018 #38