Is it racist to commment on Afro hair?

Easy now.

At work earlier today we were having a conversation about hair. A colleague was commenting on how she has to get up early to straighten her hair. I don't thinke her hair is naturally that curly and simply made a passing comment of , "Imagine how long it would take if you were black". Instantly I heard gasps of shock and a couple of members stated this was racist. I naturally asked why as black people naturally have really curly hair. I was informed that because they're born with it I was singling them out. I told them I thought this was piffle.

What do you think forummers. Do i or my easily shocked colleagues need some educating?

I'm driving im a minute so won't be replying until later. I await your replies.

It is physically different so it is akin to saying that person has blue eyes. I don't know where or why racism would come into it unless they were offended by the use of the word black?

some people are just stupid im afraid

It's not really racist, I suppose you didn;t have to mention race at all though. Black people aren;t the only people with curly hair. But I'm pretty sure all black people's hair is curly.

Obviously black people are born with afro hair, just down the road from where I live is a hairdresser specialising in afro hair and it says this on the front of her shop, she hasn't been pelted with egss or been closed down by the politically correct brigade so it must be acceptable.

I know that black ladies pay quite a lot of money to have the curl in their hair relaxed, whereas white ladies (of a certain age) pay quite a lot of money to have their hair permed into curls. Seems none of us are ever satisfied with what mother nature gave us, and yes I can talk, I'm a ginger!!!

It's not really racist, I suppose you didn;t have to mention race at all though. Black people aren;t the only people with curly hair. But I'm pretty sure all black people's hair is curly.

but curly hair is different to afro carribean hair. They are completely distinguishable. It is a racial characteristic but as we do have racial characteristics stating them can't be racist.

You were not being racist, but your colleagues appear to lack any understanding. This is exactly why "political correctness gone mad" is often bandied about. What you said was not impolite or insulting to anybody.

My guess is that your colleagues do not know any black people well, if they think that any mention of black people or their hair is racist. They seriously need to get out more.

Easy now.

 

At work earlier today we were having a conversation about hair. A colleague was commenting on how she has to get up early to straighten her hair. I don't thinke her hair is naturally that curly and simply made a passing comment of , "Imagine how long it would take if you were black". Instantly I heard gasps of shock and a couple of members stated this was racist. I naturally asked why as black people naturally have really curly hair. I was informed that because they're born with it I was singling them out. I told them I thought this was piffle.

 

What do you think forummers. Do i or my easily shocked colleagues need some educating?

 

I'm driving im a minute so won't be replying until later. I await your replies.

You work with incredibly dim people.

I would think that 'imagine getting the curls out of afro hair' would be a more acceptable way of putting it. Seems to be no need to mention colour at all. I don't think it's racist just pointless.

Why should we have to work out how to phrase sentences before we speak for fear of upsetting one group of people or another. If the statement was said offhandedly and with no malice then how can it upset anyone.

Why should we have to work out how to phrase sentences before we speak for fear of upsetting one group of people or another. If the statement was said offhandedly and with no malice then how can it upset anyone.

Some people do, normal people dont.

I always think it must be murder to get nits out of black kid's hair, the same way that I think it must be murder to get nits out of any hair that is dense and curly regardless of skin colour.

It's ridiculous of your colleagues to say your remark was racist. It's about time we started challenging nonsense to be honest.