People Of Different Colours.
Can somebody please explain to me why it is regarded as racist to call somebody ‘coloured’ but perfectly acceptable, even cool and hip, to say ‘people of colour’?
Answers in the comments please. Even politically-correct lefties are welcome to contribute.
Peter Reynolds 
I don’t think it wrong to use either, as someone in a inter-racial relation, I think it about intention. My mother may come out with non-PC statement, but it’s not her intention to offend, so we tent to laugh.
John-Paul Hay
March 22, 2015 at 10:44 am
I agreed it’s John, it’s definitely the intent. I drive a bus full of teenagers for a living and they are constantly shouting rascist and sexist and this ist and that ist. It’s quite rude how much language we have had taken away because it might offend someone. Gay has been reclaimed on my bus. When someone used to say someone’s gay, the response is always.”yes, me too! I’m always happy”. No longing has any clout. Had an Indian lad once tell me the kids were being rascist in the bus. When I asked what they had said to him his response was “they called me brown”. I just pointed out that he was brown, that was just a fact. If they had said there was someone wrong with brown…that’s not right. We have become very sensitive and touchy about everything. More control and lack of freedom I guess. It’s exhausting worrying who you might offend every time you open your mouth. I struggle holding things in…it’s kind of Tourette’s (but not). My problem is I say what I see (in a nice way of course) x
Jilly Jones
March 22, 2015 at 2:01 pm
Apparently dual heritage is the PC term now. I’d feel more uncomfortable saying that than half caste, which I never really understood the offense for. Saying dual heritage makes me feel like I’m purposely trying not to offend!
Danhod
March 23, 2015 at 2:40 pm
One word. . . .connotation.
Tony
September 7, 2020 at 6:36 pm