Many groups have "that word" that they find offense with. But sometimes "that word" becomes acceptable or something to shrug off by that community at large. For the black community, that seems to be the N-word, or even "boy" or "son".
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch recently used the word "coloured"/"colored" to describe non-white actors, actors who, in comparison, are starkly denied the same creative opportunities as white actors. I personally think his heart was in the right place and this was an extremely unfortunate choice of words on a huge issue based on racial politics.
His apology seems sincere enough and although I don't know the man, his prior intentions in haven't signaled anything other than being open and honest as you can be while in the public eye. Maybe that's what makes him a great actor; who knows?
What do you think? What words do you tolerate in private but not in public? Do you feel that society or your community has possibly imposed words or classifications upon you that you wouldn't have accepted otherwise?
Please feel free to sound off at my Facebook page, A Black Girl in West Hollywood.
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