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Is it racist
I'm wondering if it's racist to call a black person chocolate as a compliment. I hear it used in books and stuff often. But I've heard some people say it's offensive. Is is racist? Preferably answers by black people.
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HAHHAH!!! There are sensitive black people where everything you say is offensive. Then there are chill black people who really could careless.
Personally, I love chocolate! And in commercials chocolate is always bringing people to their knees and looks so delicious. CALL ME CHOCOLATE lol.
It's all in context. If your intentions aren't offensive, don't let others make you feel bad.
It's not a big deal.
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Honestly, going about commenting on a person's skin colour is just not really a good idea. If someone is looking lovely, or even has great skin, or dressed really well or does their makeup really well, or has a flattering hairstyle. If they are warm and kind, or funny... Any of that. Compliment any of that.
Comment on a person's choice. How they choose to present themselves. The personality they put out to the world. Compliment that.
There is no reason to compliment, or insult, a person's skin colour. It's not always going to be intentionally racist, or even unintentionally racist, but it's also not a real compliment, because skin colour is something no one has any control over. They didn't choose to be a colour you think is pretty—anymore than anyone choose a colour of skin you don't find pretty. You may as well compliment someone on being tall, or having small feet. Those are silly things to compliment. They are not valuable compliments, and it may well be seen as insults.
Some people like to say what really matters is the intention, but that's bullshit and it's everyone knows it if they think about it for five seconds. Just because you intend to be nice, doesn't mean you can't be wrong, or won't hurt someone's feelings. It happens all the time in the world that someone means to say something nice, but ends up saying something that is hurtful, because they didn't understand the other person, that person's life experiences or values.
You don't get to decide how other people feel about what you say. You have to try and be respectful, and listen when someone says you've been hurtful.
So don't listen to that simplistic "It matters what you INTEND". Intention is important, but it's not a magical cure all. You can intend to not be racist or cruel, but still end up being racist or cruel. You can look around very easily and see people claiming that they don't MEAN to being racist—who are clearly being racist.
The easiest way to think about this, is that if you like or admire someone, you can probably think of a much more meaningful compliment to give than their skin colour. That is the easy fix.
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It honestly depends on the persons motives behind it. I've heard it as an actual compliment and I've heard it used in a derogatory sense. It completely depends. I mean as a black female if someone called me that I wouldn't necessarily be offended by it unless the person purposely said it in a negative way. Hoped that this answer helps!
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