Was This Elderly Lady Being Racist?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2477153/Disabled-pensioner-banned-using-Sainsburys-home-delivery-service-calling-driver-coloured-gentleman.html

Perhaps not quite the correct term to use in this day of Political Correctness, but was it serious enough for Sainsburys to ban her?

/// Using the term ‘coloured’ to refer to black people is considered to be offensive because it dismisses everyone who is not white as the same. ///

[Sqad]

\\\\I don't get my knickers in a knot if someone calls me white, when I'm more of a pale blue.\\\

Is that the colour of your skin or your knickers?

[jim360]

To be honest Sqad, you shouldn't really take my advice as to what is PC and what isn't. Not that you were going to anyway, mind... but I don't say the problem with using the word "Black" per se, except that it's descriptively inaccurate in my opinion.

This image probably covers the checklist -- ideally you describe country of origin, and if you don't know then the word "Black" is legally approved, apparently:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Img/310580/0090189.gif

[pixie373]

"Coloured" is just a bit outdated, but that has changed through recent generations and a lot of the elderly people I know, use words which I wouldn't. However, they don't generally mean them in a bad way - it is what they were brought up with, as normal. It is about intention and i find it hard to believe a supermarket would ban a customer for saying "a lovely, coloured gentleman." I'm more inclined to believe Sainsbury 's version. She got a couple of wrong orders and used derogatory terms towards the delivery driver.

[Sqad]

LOL...thank you Jim....what would we do without a link?...;-)

[ummmm]

I was brought up saying coloured...and calling mixed raced people half caste. That's just what we said...no bad intention behind it.

When I got mucky my mum used to call me a dirty little Arab....again, no bad intention behind it, just a bit ignorant with hindsight.

[jno]

Following three separate incidents in which racial slurs were used in an aggressive manner against our colleagues we had no choice but to ban this customer.

Sounds as though more than just the phrase "lovely coloured gentleman" was involved here. I wonder if the Mail has accidentally omitted any salient details?

[anotheoldgit]

Providing the Salisbury's operator was not a black person, I cannot see any reason for that person to correct her, since it was a one to one conversation, no one was actually personally offended.

[vulcan42]

The quote by jno caught my attention as well, I wonder if Sainsburys record every conversation with their customers?

[jno]

I would if I thought my customers might ring up the Mail and tell fibs about me.

[jim360]

"Providing the Salisbury's operator was not a black person, I cannot see any reason for that person to correct her, since it was a one to one conversation, no one was actually personally offended."

That rather depends doesn't it? You don't need to be a woman to be offended at sexism after all, or black to be offended at racist words (or words with racist overtones). It's possible to be offended at the views that person holds, or perhaps appalled by them, or at least feel it's worth mentioning. And finally since that delivery man was a fellow employee, you might feel a need to stick up for or defend them.

[anneasquith]

jeez oh, at least she didn't refer to anyone as '' that big fat guy who was smoking a fag . LOL

[viv38]

Speechless !!

[anneasquith]

spit it out viv :) :)

[anotheoldgit]

Is it offensive or isn't it?

Taken from another blog site.

http://www.soaw.org/img/original/pocc.jpg

[FredPuli43]

AOG, I suspect that operator was not a black person ! And what do you make of Sainsbury's version of the history ? We are to believe are we, that this sweet, innocent, old lady had rung up and said something along these lines "Your delivery driver, a coloured gentleman...." whereupon Sainsbury's said that they wouldn't deliver in future?

[jno]

don't confuse people of color with coloured people. Next thing you'll be confusing men of Kent with Kentish men, and then there'll be hell to pay.

Anyway: the Mail quotes one person's claim from one incident. The shop says there were three incidents. So you're not being told the full story.

[pixie373]

Exactly, fred. I think there's much more to it.

[anotheoldgit]

There maybe more to the story than we are being told, but don't you think that Sainsbury's so as to protect their name would make a press announcement giving their complete side of the story, or even the person who took the call or even the delivery driver.

If the Mail refused to print their side and I see no reason why they wouldn't, the accused Supermarket or the individuals concerned could always take their side of the story elsewhere.

[jim360]

You mean, if Sainsbury's gave a press announcement referring to more incidents than the one reported, as well as talking about aggressive manners? thought they already had released something to that effect. Releasing the full transcripts is probably in breach of Data Protection, so it's not clear what else they can do.

[sp1814]

Hand on heart - and I you all know what I think about Daily Mail reporting...but this is an absolute crock.

You can see from a mile off that her delivery service was suspended for reasons other than her referring to a 'lovely coloured gentleman'.

Most people are aware that older people were brought up with the term coloured, rather than black.

Indeed, I have heard from friends that their parents are uncomfortable with the word 'black'.

So was she being racist?

Absolutely not.

However I simply don't believe her.

"Who made the delivery Mrs Burke?"

"Oh, I don't know his name, but he was a lovely coloured gentleman".

Now - think about it. If the call centre worker 'blew up' at her, she would've been in the wrong, and Sainsbury's would have initiated a damage limitation exercise.

The fact that they have kept the suspension in place makes me think that on the other two occasions where she had reason to call...she may have used a more pejorative term to describe the driver.

This story stinks.

There's bits missing.

And I think she's not telling the whole truth.