WHAT!!!

Grannyknot - she was of course talking complete rubbish if she felt there was an 'issue' about the word - but it's ill- informed if well - meaning people like that that actually cause problems as they detract from the serious issue of racist language. My understanding is that the word chalkboard is actually an Americanism - so THAT would be a good reason not to use it

If one of my DDs said something like that (which they wouldn't) I'd straight out and tell her not to be such an eejit. It's only by confronting such nonsense that it is stopped, at least in ordinarily sensible people.

The blackboard thing is ridiculous.

The reason the use of the word "black" is frowned upon in some cases is because it often has negative connotations:

"blackmail"
"black market"
"black look"
"black sheep"
"black mark"

In the word blackboard the word black merely refers to its colour.

Conversely, white tends to have positive connotations, e.g. "whiter than white"

Now I could be wrong here , and if I am I am sure I will be corrected.

I was talking to the Deputy head of a school--ie my DIL and mentioned chalk and blackboards and she told me that they now use what I would best describe as a sort of "WIPE OFF "" surface which the teachers write on with what can only be described as a WRITE_ON, WIpe--OFF type of pen.

So the days of Blackboards and chalk seem to have vanished

Phew!

Yes blackboards disappeared a long time ago in most educational establishments - white boards came in, then interactive white boards

She is such a star , Deputy head at 40.

So very proud of her !

I have recently seen black people described as non-white. Why is it ok to have an association exclusively for non white people but not for white. A white board is ok but a black board not! Why is a whitewash ok but a black mark not. Am I missing something.?

Bye Bye Blackbird

Forgive me but that sounds like a load of Bo******s. You say you were half listening . What was the context of the conversation? Are you quite sure it was not something said tongue in cheek ?
Sorry to sound confrontational but if you were half listening are you sure it was appropriate to post on something you only half heard.

I once worked in such a politically correct establishment, that you could be disciplined for the mearest transgression. However, because nobody ever knew what words we couldn't say, because nobody said them, it became a right royal confusion!
I was once told I'd be reported for saying 2 words, but bobody would say what. It's still in use by the BBC, so I guess not too contentious.

Brenda -.blackboard is ok , there is not one shred of evidence to say otherwise. Black mark is considered not ok because it has negative connotations and links to black people who for centuries have been oppressed and treated like rubbish - bought and sold, separated out - think USA until 50 years ago, think South Africa less then 20 years ago. The word white just doesn't have those links with an oppressed group of people.and if you can't begin to understand why discriminated groups - blacks, women etc need separate groups to represent their interests and give them a voice, then I despair.

Black mark has no connotations of black people to me; it does have connotations of a black mark on one's (Catholic) soul – stuff I was taught as a kid. THAT is the context. Nothing to do with skin colour whatever.

A 'black look' is just a dark and glowering look, to me. Nothing at all to do with skin colour.

And I don't see how anyone could really believe it has racist overtones.

Grey or purple or whatever being "the new black" is to do with clothing colours. Nothing at all to do with skin colour.

I'm getting browned-off with all this!

Some people see political incorrectness and racism where none exists. They must have a very narrow and blinkered view of life.

I was hoping that the Japanese Knotweed which is rife around here could be routed out, but I suppose that would be racist. We must leave it to take over.

The female blackbirds around here just tweeted me and said that they are actually more a shade of brown they'll have you know #brownblackbirds

I think I am female and I think my ethnic group is 'other'. I think I also understand what discrimination is (I have probably been discriminated against) so don't despair!

Well Ana - you are just wrong and as a white person not qualified to judge quite frankly on what has racist overtones and thatbags, language has moved on since we were children and meanings change. And you well know that!

Rose - wtf have blackbirds to do with this discussion?

papaoscar,

granny I did not realise that when you posted at 16.23 & I replied , it would turn into this Bru-Ha.

Crazy really !!

The meaning of black mark has not changed. A mark that is black is a mark, not a reference to a person. It could be on a whiteboard, or an article of clothing, whatever. It's not racist to talk of black marks in a perfectly reasonable context. It's not racist to talk of black anything in perfectly reasonable contexts. People who take offence (if any really do) are just being silly.

granny someone mentioned them earlier on this thread so I just thought I would ask them what they thought. They said also that they are as entitled to their opinion as you !
Like all threads it is meandering - for instance someone mentioned blackboards, but imo blackbirds are more likely to be mentioned on a gardening programme than blackboards.
Blacbirds eat worms, worms live in the soil, soil is in gardens - yes?
Not sure what wtf means ?

There are black marks on the outside my wash-house wall. It is mould of some sort.