Wow! You learn something new every day! Just asking Roland, if someone called you “son” would that be offensive?

Seeking first to understand. Don’t kill the messenger.

Similarly us Asians were (still are in some areas) being called “Charlie” in real life, and or movies. It is not a term that we appreciate or want associated with. We all have our own unique names; call us that and be done with.

Roland,

I am a black man who was called ‘boy’ by (southern) white friends in jest during my childhood. They knew it’s context as you explained, but not everyone does. Although I wasn’t offended as they were friends, it remains that this term still has a markedly pejorative connotation.

I’m glad, as a black person, that Sen. Obama has given this country to look at its cultural values as this surely would have not been in the news if these comments were made a year ago.

Please continue to cover stories like this; I believe it is paramount for people to begin open dialogue about race and I hope Sen. Obama’s historic candidacy makes a good catalyst for doing so.

Well said. The reality in all of this is that Davis spoke what he honestly believes; his forum gave him the courage to speak what is truly in his heart and how he really views “those people”. So, the seed of cynicism is once again planted in the cavities of the conscious. I have more respect for those that are up front and honest about how they truly feel about certain Americans, rather than those of this mindset. And just think, we pay for this things salary and then some.

It’s been generations since blacks have had to ride in the back of the bus, drink from separate water fountains and be treated like 2nd class citizens.

It’s time to get over it.

Compared to most politicians who run for President a mid 40’s candidate for President is a mere boy. It’s not color, it’s age. Obama’s people should have responded by referring to the others as Gramps.

Just how long will liberals let Obama and his people pull the race card?

Mr. Martin: For once I agree with you. No excuse for using that name. You can’t explain your way out of that - it wasn’t a “mistake”, it’s how blacks are referred to, especially in the South. This happens over and over again with the remarks usually coming from “educated”, southern, white men. (By the way, I am a white, middle-aged woman who lives in NYS)

all i have to say is that if obama gets the nomination, no black MAN can ever call for racisim again. it will be over.

People try to be too PC now a days for fear of being called racist or whatever. We can’t always nor should we have to sensor our selves. That’s the beauty of living in America…we can say anything that we want.

Calling someone a boy or a kid in the past may have been a bad thing but now it isn’t. We don’t live back then it is dead and gone and we need to move forward and stop always dragging up the past.

Roland–Thanks for writing this. I remember my deceased father telling me (he was born 1913 and raised in Mississippi) that he was called “boy” throughout his life in the South. The word “boy or kid” actually meant(s) the “N” word to African Americans., and many of us know that. It not only insults Senator Obama, but it insults every African American. Another thing, when European Americans make comments like that, they hope we do not get it–they laugh it off and say, “that’s not what I meant. What anger sme most is that, the media allows them to get away with it. The nerve of the media and the Clintons to play on the word “bitter!”

Anderson,

As a Black Man I do not have a problem with this Congressman saying Boy. I would rather know a racist when I see him, than have to try to figure out who is who. I am glad that the younger generation is nothing like the older generation. That’s why the younger generation Loves Obama, and more Republican Congressmen are loosing their seats in Congress.
Sincerely,

One Black Boy

You don’t because it’s derogatory and reeks of the Plantation Old South…And until people stop making derogatory, stupid comments like this without thinking (or God forbid still doing it on purpose) we need to have these conversations until behaviors change. I really think I live in a perfect bubble some days because until this election I honestly didn’t realize how ignorant and bigoted a lot of America still sadly appears to be in ways I never considered.

why would this not blow up into a major story as obama’s comments were. i think blowing this up would be a good opportunity to start the conversations about this type of covert racism. i would like to hear all the experts give there comments about what was meant by these statements.

Let me get this straight and to use the statement of Keith Olbermann of “Countdown with Keith Olbermann. A white man named Geoff Davis arbuably and/or coincidentally named after the former president of the confederacy in an old confederacy state calling a sitting U.S. Senator, an African-American “BOY” and this not getting coverage. IT BETTER GET COVERAGE!

This is a MAJOR Slight and DISRESPECT and should not be swept under the political rug as a gaff by Congressman Davis of KY. Does anyone including you Roland Martin find it interesting that a congressman who in our form of government is below a senator calls one a boy to somehow elevate himself above Senator Obama. It is also not surprising this is from a Republican congressman.

It breaks my heart whenever people make racist comments or sexist comments, I don’t get it,it’s really sad so many things are going on in the world I feel that people the media especially are not paying enough attention.We are supposed to be a country of Christians or beleivers in a much higher power,but meanwhile we are judgemental
it’s really sad and painful,we as humans cannot be forgiving ,loving toward one another.Don’t get me wrong ,we are all humans we will say and do things and then apologize,why not think about what we’re going to say before we say it.

While I agree with the points you make, I nevertheless believe that it is better for all of us to say whatever we wish and for which we are willing to take a beating. The other alternative leads to the logical extreme of being criminalized for saying anything with which the government disagrees. Legislating proper/healthy/safe behavior has cost use more freedom than any other laws passed by the Federal government.

Oh my God. This gets the “silly post of the day” award. I find it hard to imagine that even one person felt offended by this. I am sure there will be people agreeing with you all over this comment list, but I guarantee that they did not feel this way until someone made it a big deal.
The ultimate sign of disrespect? Sounds pretty lame to me. I can show someone disrespect without saying a single word, this is not disrespect. Davis is Obama’s elder, he has every right to call those who are ten, fifteen years younger than him a boy or girl.
It is an age word-not a racial slur. He didn’t call him a child or kid or “George” for that matter. You even told your own story of being called boy-a harmless comment, as you stated. What makes this any different? Oh yea-the fact that you and many others can’t get over this race issue.
“Easy to say when you aren’t the one who is being targeted.” Umm…I believe when you referred to those in Pennsylvania, they WERE the ones being targeted. Just my obvious interpretation.
This is just an overreaction that will spark a heated racial inequality comment-fest. Let the posts begin.

I totally agree with you. The congressman who called Obama a boy, called him that to disparage him. There are many people out there who do not want Obama to be the nominee for whatever reason. Calling him “boy” in my view feeds into that anti-Obama sentiment. I think when he called him boy, he meant boy in the historical sense, and to diminish Obama’s manhood, is to diminish the man.

Politics is a rough and tumble world. When you are black and a trailblazer, you are going to run into this kind of thing. Talking about racial thinking is a good way to make people aware of their prejudicial attitudes. Maybe through making it a greater issue we can work toward eliminating it.

The problem is we are all too sensitive. I am offended by being called someone’s “old Lady”. Apparently that is a term of endearment from men. I still don’t like it. You are saying is If I called an African-American (must be politically correct these days) child Mr. Smiths boy, instead of his son, they would be offended. Then yes, I agree…get over it.

Obama acts like a child and lashes out in sarcasm like a teenager, so he acts like a child, is that better than saying he is acting like a boy? Honestly. Obama is overacting, and he does this to get the “African-American” vote, as he is one of them and no one understands “them” better than him.

I have a small boy/ son/ kid/ rug rat/ ankle biter, who asked me why the boy at school told him that my son is “white and that he (the other boy) is black”. He told me “mom, I am ham color and he is brownish”, why does he say he is black? How about not all parents teach their children we are all the same inside, and I think it is the “African-American” community that will not let it go, and are too sensitive.

I am a white middle class male and I find no excuse whatsoever for calling a black man a “boy”. It is as bad as the N___ word and everyone knows it.

This is the problem with white America today. They don’t realize that it pains alot when you demean someone because of his skin color and that is what this congressman was doing to Obama. This type of behaviour should not be allowed to go on in America. I don’t care whether you are the president, senator, judge, lawyer, congressman calling a grown up man a boy is demeaning to human race. This has to stop.

If this congressman happened to be aa blackman saying this dirty racial remarks, the white people would have taken it to the waves forcing him to apologize to the whiteman. That is wrong. Maybe this congressman owes senator Obama an apology for callinh him a boy.

Congressman Geoff were you born in America? How can you forget the history of the blaack people in America? Is it because you are a white and you have a free pass to say anything you want about Obama? Congressman your remaarks stinks and it makes you look like you are a racist. Do you want to be known as a racist congressman? I don’t think so…then don’t be ignorant about the Africaan-American History.

You know what, this country is messed-up by people like you congressman Geoff Davis. This is 2008 and I can’t believe there are still people like you in Kentucky. Your remaark of “boy” torwards Obama were outrageous and necessary and makes you look a bigotry.

I

Roland, great article. It ’s laughable how some see what Obama said last week as him being as “elitist”, yet the comment by Congressman Davis should be seen as a slip of the tongue.
He knew exactly what he was saying, and why he said it.
I know there are forces out there that truly want to see Barack fail.
I pray for this man so much.
I do hope and pray he gets the nomination, but if he does not, God has a bigger plan for him.
I love watching you on CNN. Keep up the good work.
God bless.
Dawn
Brampton, Ontario
Canada

Well put. I remember when I was a boy, my father made a point of calling me “boy”. I knew that was his way of keeping me in my place until he was done raising me.

But when I turned 18, he then made the point that he couldn’t call me “boy” anymore — and told me not to let anyone else call me “boy”.

To refer to a grown man as a boy (or a grown woman as a girl) is not a mistake. It may be childish, mean-spirited or just plain stupid, but it is not a mistake. In his deliberate attempt to demean, belittle and diminish Senator Obama and in his complete disregard of the racial overtones implied by using this term, Congressman Davis demonstrated his own immaturity in a particularly ugly and disgraceful manner. It is not ‘overly-sensitive’ to respond to a deliberate underhanded attack by a bigot, even if that attack has, in retrospect, been proclaimed ‘innocent.’ An adult would have acknowledged his mistake, asked for forgiveness and moved on. Congressman Davis prefers the apology of children, “I didn’t mean it, do it, touch it, etc.” So who is actually acting like a boy?

I can’t fully relate to this story because I am not a man but, I understand the level of disrepect that it often attributed to minorities through words. I do feel that to label a black man a boy is a bit disrepectful. I agree with Roland about the history and connotation behind the word “boy”. When said to a WELL ACCOMPLHISHED, RESPONSIBLE, AND INTELLIGENT Black Man, it becomes insulting. If we use the word towards a irresponsible black man then well, that saids it all! But it shouldn’t used against someone who is accomplished and responsible because that word does not apply.
I think its safe to say, “Let’s be careful with our use of words, phrases, and conclusions.”

Roland,
Thank you for a clear and precise commentary. It confirms the importance of how understanding history and culture, both corporately and as individuals makes a difference. With your explanation, none should use the the term “boy” in reference to a black man, except for with deliberate malicious intent.

Prejudice, intolerance and many of the “-isms” of our society are the result of not taking the time to get to know each other, to understand each other–to walk a mile in one another’s moccasins. As a result, labels and stereotypes are created.

Pehaps if we took more time to communicate with one another, there could be more mutual appreciation, and there-by tolerance of our differences. As I heard it said, “If we walk a while, and talk a while together, perhaps we can learn to be friends.”

Some of our politicians get too emotional and say what’s so much uncalled for. Rep Davis made not only wrong but also very weak statement. And by doing this, Davis put himself down, not Obama. His apology is just for political expedience.A gentleman/lady does not insult others and then apologize. He/she watches his/her words.

While I appreciate your informed perspective on calling a black man ‘boy’, I don’t understand why you can understand how anyone can dismiss Congressman Davis’ use of the word as well-meaning or a mistake. In what positive or even neutral context can he claim he would refer to a senator, 3 years his junior, a boy? — Has he been known to refer to his other colleagues as boys? Did he believe Senator Obama to be a lot younger? When did his choice of words become a mistake? — After he said it? After the round of applause from his audience? Or after it was reported?

This was a racist comment. That’s it. It seems that political correspondents are weary of calling this spade a spade.

Roland “RIGHT ON” As a southerner, I too often hear the Terms “gal” and “boy”… I used to ask, How old does a woman have to be or a man in that fact before we are considered full grown men and women? It’s down right disrespectful. I teach my sons, that it’s about respect for oneself. In my household words, like: boy, girl, My N, etc. Are officially ommitted from our vocabulary, thus forth we do not allow others to say these words to us!

Maggie,

I think you missed the point of the whole article. Barrack Obama is a grown (blank) man. You dont refer to grown men as boy especially a grown black man based on its historic use in this country. No one is talking about children being called boy….I have a 6 year old who is called or refered to as boy daily…I have no issue with this. When a 45 years old black men is still being refered to as boy by a white man I see this as a huge problem.

Michael NC,
First off.. the “gentleman” who made this remark knew exactly what he was doing in making this remark..subtle racism hoping to fly under the radar..I do agree that there has been too many so-called racist remarks in this nominee process.. this one actually applies..and for the SAME reason why it doesnt bother YOU.. because it was said against the Senator whom neither of you actually like very much. This is the very reason why we “cant get over it”. We are being reminded subtly all the time that it still exists and quite possibly always will. But brushing it off such as you have won’t help us get over either.

i totally agree that in general A LOT of people should think FIRT when they start talking. They shoudl think at the consequences their words may have. Beacuse words can be more offensive than certain acts. Not only in politic but in every field of life.

And we definitely cling onto words and disect words WAY too much these days.

watch any slave movie and the word “boy” is commonly used by SLAVE MASTER talking down to SLAVES…

Will someone please come up with a dictionary of words we are not allowed to say, because they might offend someone else. I have had to start calling my 90 year old (white) grandmother whom I have called
“mammie” all my life “grandma” for fear some racist like Roland Martin may be offended. We have so many important causes we should be bringing to the forefront of America.

What we see is are those true hided feelings that alot of white men still harbor today about black men. They still see themselves as being the superior being and blcks in general are beneth them. What this congresman has done is no different then what is being said in the world today, by white men with seeded hatered toward African Americans

The congressman was wrong in referring to Obama as “boy”
that derogatory remark went out way way long time ago. but racism still exists and is quite common in the deep south.

Very good article.

I think Maggie above did not fully understand your point. An African-American child can be called “Mr. Smith’s boy” without offense. A grown man should not be called a boy, whether he is black or white. It is particularly galling for black men, I would assume, because that is what they were called throughout the Jim Crow era.

Do blacks make too much of it? I think not. I am white, but I remember Jim Crow during my childhood in Texas. Sen. Obama’s campaign has caused me to remember and think about those years. Frankly, I do not see how anyone could have survived the institutionalized insult of that system with any sense of dignity or self-worth. Since I haven’t walked in those shoes, I can’t say how angry a black should be.

It is true that younger blacks may not have experienced such obvious discrimination first hand. Nonetheless, just as my attitudes are formed by my parents’ stories of the Great Depression (and my husband’s attitudes are formed by his family’s stories of the Mexican Revolution) each generation bears the historical stamp of its predecessors.

We’ll get over it! Yes, but calling someone “boy” was not acceptable in the past and definitely is not in the present. Do you notice that there was no big to do in the media aboutt this? It’s because Obama is beyond this. Why can’t everyone relax. The person who made this comment will have to answer to his maker. ” Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself .”

And to Chris,

Just how long will liberals let Obama and his people pull the race card?
—————
When White people stop pulling the race card. You see, what you obviously don’t know, is that the “race card” is pulled out and used against us EVERY SINGLE DAY of our lives. BUT WE, Obama and “his people” go on and STILL WE RISE. Why? because like you and everyone else her on earth, WE ARE HERE! and ONLY by the GRACE of God are any of us here and WE, too have job to do. SOoooo, just get over it and deal!

JPHowell, NY

Ok thasan,
I guess I should stop using the word “boy” altogether. This is ridiculous. Everyone is called “boy”, not just violated black males. I have NEVER heard of this garbage, and I have lived in the south for 19 years. Seeing that Kentucky is even farther north than NC, I find it hard for anyone there to be more knowledgeable of this than anywhere else.
For you to say that I don’t see this as racist because I don’t like Obama is pretty closed-minded. I have no problem with Hussein, Hillbillary, or old-timer McCain. I just think this issue is the real “step backward” as many of you are stating.
Have you looked at Roland Martin’s site? Give it a glance. You will find that it is nothing more than an african american activist site. Period. There’s nothing but columns of inequality and the need for activism on the part of blacks. If you ask me, all of you people pointing your finger at others need to step back and see that you are pointing the others back at yourself.
So yes, “brush it off” and bury this NON-issue. The growth of this issue is the reason for racism. Wake up.

The past is the present!! That is why those that have been discriminated against can not get over it! Just becasue it is not publicized on TV/radio does not mean the times of racism has ended. As a female, I have been called girl by older white people but not older black people…..and Yes, I’m 30, but I’ve also seen the same older white people call white 30 year old females miss/lady. This does not mean that they are racist, but have been raised around or their environment had similar ways of addressing different ethnicities.

michael in nc,

what’s wrong with an african american activist site? does that mean that roland martin has no clout? does that mean that he doesn’t have the knowledge and experience to speak on this issue?

this is the closemindedness that i have an issue with. again, there are so many white people who think that they have to get their knowledge a certain way. education comes in many forms. i don’t care if martin has a doctorate from an ivy league institution or if he’s some “uneducated” brother from around the way. it doesn’t matter. understand that martin is speaking his truth, which is also the truth for so many other black people in this country.

i’m not trying to attack you but from the comments you’ve written, it sounds like you and people who think like you are the ones who need more education. study racism, read some books, TALK TO SOME PEOPLE. that’s gotta be the best education to get. and think about your place in this society–your level of privilege–before you make any more oppressive comments.

i’m not prefect either; i’m sure i have my own prejudices. but at least i understand how important it is for me to examine that aspect of myself and share what i learn with others. i’m not going to direct any more comments to you, but i hope you will also examine yourself and teach others.

WELL WRITTEN ROLAND!!!

GREAT AS USUAL!!! DEF. SOMETHING TO THINK ON..

Here we go again, the old excuse that there are no living slaves or slave owners in the country today! Racism is ALIVE in America and those who think that black people are being overly sensitive because racism is a thing of the past, fail to understand that it is NOT a thing of the past. Here is an example in front of your face to illustrate the insidious racism faced by black men (accomplished or not) everyday. Just because slavery ended, does not mean that the attitude that made it possible has ended. If you look closely and see, that a black man who has paid his own way, worked hard and lived a good and decent life, who has lifted himself above all the stereotypes that americans like to throw a black men, has the courage and the love of country, enough to offer himself as a candidate for president can still be referred to as ‘boy’, you can see what the average black person is STILL up against. Racism is here and everyone should acknowledge it, not just ask black folks to ‘just get over it”. That implies that you still want us to turn the other cheek and let you’all say whatever comes into your head.. It aint gonna happen again.

And by the way, where did you read that Obama has reacted to this story? People are already talking about how he is screaming about this …. Lies. Neither he, nor his campaign has uttered word one about this insult.

Great article, Roland, but sad that the issue even needs explaining. Race aside, BHO is his political senior and is front runner for the Democratic Nominee for POTUS. And while I commend Rep Davis’ letter of apology, I think a short press conference to publicly apologize might have shown a little more class.

A man is man and not a boy black or white

Roland,

Having experienced racism and racial discrimination myself, I would say to you: “right on!”

I guess America is still not ready for a black woman as commander in chief then. But then how do you explain Condoleeza Rice?

The way Black man are socializd here in America, leads them either to death or lands them in jail. This mentality have got to change.

And why does the media care about the way Hillary dresses? She looks well groomed and taken care of despite the little 20 minutes of sleep she is getting every night. Isn’t that a clue enough that she can handle leadership?

Thank you for this article Mr. Roland Martin. I am just as upset about this today as I was yesterday when I first heard it. This wasn’t an innocent remark or a slip of the tongue. Geoff Davis also called Senator Obama a snake oil salesman before he called him boy. This remark was meant to cut Senator Obama down. If I’m not mistaken, Geoff Davis is only 3 years older than Senator Obama so it isn’t as if he was a much older man. We still have a very long way to go in race relations (sigh).

A rule I created long ago, and a rule to live by:

If something you are about to do or say seems right; it may or may not be.

If something you are abound to do or say seems wrong; then it probably is.

Think before you do or say.

I understand where you are coming from. Just try being female
and work with a mostly male workforce. Honey, babe, beautiful,
sweetheart, etc are just a few of the names you are called and when
climb the latter of success I can’t even type the names you become
know as.

Roland,

Ok, so you don’t like the label. How much racism is self inflicted? My granndparents came from Poland, but I call myself an American, not a Polish American. Slavery ended 143 years ago, yet African Americans persist on dwelling on their differences. Roland, what’s wrong with being just an American instead of African American? Do you think we need a reminder that you didn’t come from Sweden? The Trinty UCC Church web site says they are “African people and remain true to our native land.” H I’ve seen blogs from blacks who say that they were beaten up for going to school because it was ‘too white’. WTF? Is that the path to equality? With all the inequities in the US, how many African Americans would like to ‘go back’ to Africa? I don’t see anyone lining up for plane tickets. If blacks want to be treated the same, act the same. If you want respect, stop disrespecting yourselves. How many black comedians use the ‘N’ word and get big laughs? How many rap songs have lyrics that are derogatory? Wasn’t Al Sharpton supposed to be working that one? I guess he was too busy with Imus. Why are there 2 sets of rules for what’s acceptable? I had some admiration for Obama until the Wright affair. I thought that for once here was a black leader who didn’t play the race card like Sharpton or Jackson. Well, that didn’t last long. Now his grandmother is a ‘typical white person’ and we need to all understand the lingering anger over the injustices of slavery. So, yes. get over it already! By the way, my Polish grandparents didn’t own slaves, and probably never saw a black person until they got here. So why do I need to share the collective white guilt over slavery? Life is 10% of the circumstances you are born into, and 90% what you do about it. I’m pretty sure Colin Powell didn’t get to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs by whining about slavery.

Excellent Job Roland,

The congressman calling Barack a boy was unexcuseable. I cant believe some of the racist comments that was written by others. America has come a long way but America has a long way to go.
The way the media treats Barack sickens me. There is never a big deal about anything anyone else says. Barack miss-speak and its played 24 hours daily until it becomes old news.

Thank you for making a difference!

I am a white female and when I read the comment, I am sorry I took offense with it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, because it is exactly how I took it.

Roland good article.

I don’t know the Senator so I can’t say if he meant it racially or was just trying to use boy because it plays into the way Obama is viewed as not experienced. However I think it is important to bring these stories to light to just discuss them so we all further understand each other. Just as what Obama said about people in Pennsylvania was it right no but we discuss it and can all learn from it. I follow Obama so I believe what he said was just worded incorrectly. As for this Senator I truly hope he didn’t mean it racially but in both incedents we can discuss them learn and become closer to each other. Even if we disagree, because we discuss these issues in a respectful manner and hopefully can at least understand why people feel the way they do.

I am neither black nor a man and those comments cut me. I cannot fathom that an educated government official could make a slip that ignorant.

And as for the poster who suggests “just saying what you want” and dealing with the consequences later I must ask, how exactly is it that you think racism and other forms of discrimination are allowed to fester? The answer is through “slips” like this, racial jokes, generalizations, stereotypes and the willingness to hear them.

Roland

Thank you for reminding us that there are some words that are loaded with negative meaning despite the intention of the person who utters them. As we have seen in this election, the words we use to describe someone or someone’s campaign, whether a noun or a adjective, can cast that nominee or campaign into either a positive or negative light. Your explanation of the word “boy” reminds us that some words can evoke memories of a terrible history of how African Americans were treated in this country.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL