"Tar baby" a racially offensive term?

[Pseudolus]

(please vote before reading the story)

This was a new one to me.

Governor Mitt Romney yesterday apologized for using the expression ``tar baby" -- a phrase some consider a racial epithet -- among comments he made at a political gathering in Iowa over the weekend.

``The governor was describing a sticky situation," said Eric Fehrnstrom, the governor's spokesman. ``He was unaware that some people find the term objectionable, and he's sorry if anyone was offended."

In his first major political trip out of the state since a ceiling collapse in a Big Dig tunnel killed a Boston woman on July 10, Romney told 200 people at a Republican lunch Saturday about the political risks of his efforts to oversee the project.

``The best thing for me to do politically is stay away from the Big Dig -- just get as far away from that tar baby as I possibly can," he said in answer to a question from the audience.

The expression ``tar baby" has had different meanings over the years.

A definition from Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary traces the expression to the tar baby that trapped Br'er Rabbit in an Uncle Remus story by Joel Chandler Harris, which became popular in the 19th century. The dictionary now defines the expression as ``something from which it is nearly impossible to extricate oneself."

But it also has been used as a pejorative term for dark-skinned blacks.

In 1981, author Toni Morrison published a novel titled ``Tar Baby," and she has compared the expression to other racial epithets. She says it's a term that white people used to refer to black children, especially black girls.

Reached at her home near Princeton University, where she teaches, Morrison called the expression ``antiquated" and one that's ``attractive to some people, when they begin to search for hints of racism."

She described it as a ``forbidden word" that she sought to restore to its original meaning, one that illuminated an old African tale about the connection between a master and slave.

``How it became a racial epithet, I don't know," she said. ``It was my attempt to rescue the phrase from its low meaning. I wanted to annihilate the connotation and return the meaning to its origins. Apparently, I haven't succeeded."

She added: ``I suppose it should be avoided because it could be offensive to some people."

I only knew about the Br'er-related, "sticky" meeting.

Oh, and apparantly (from further in the story) we're not supposed say "black sheep of the family" anymore, either. That's a term I wouldn't use in a context where it might be interpreted racially (for instance, referring to the only black person in a group, even if the "black sheep"ness I was talking about had nothing to do with color), but not one I would drop all together.

[fallout]

I couldn't vote because I didn't know the meaning of the term even though I had heard it before.

Of course the correct answer is either a) "I am a democrat and of course it is offiensive because a republican said it" or b) "I am a republican and of course there are not racial connotations because a republican said it".

[Jack]

C'mon I can't believe that people aren't aware that it's a slur.

It's not a liberal/conservative thing, it's a stupid thing.

Based on what I know to date I'd still consider voting for Romney, we all say stupid stuff once in a while.

[Uma Karuna]

I knew of the racial connotation, but only because I had used that term - intending the sticky connotation - here on the RF and someone pointed out the unintended meaning.

So, yeah, it was new to me.

[Y2Mozz]

I only know the racist term usage, and I still wouldn't vote for a Mormon

Interesting usage of the term, though... I should call my next big botched assignment a .... (shuts up)

[The President]

Originally Posted by fallout

Of course the correct answer is either a) "I am a democrat and of course it is offiensive because a republican said it" or b) "I am a republican and of course there are not racial connotations because a republican said it".

I am a Democrat, I had never heard the term used before, after hearing the context of the comments I have no issues.

[The President]

Originally Posted by Uma Karuna

I knew of the racial connotation, but only because I had used that term - intending the sticky connotation - here on the RF and someone pointed out the unintended meaning.

racist.

[The Drunken Actuary]

I'm a democrat and have only heard the racial meaning. Or, have never heard the other meaning and assumed it was a racial term. I dunno. I'm not that smart. Maybe someone at McDonalds can splain it to me.

[The President]

Originally Posted by Jack

C'mon I can't believe that people aren't aware that it's a slur.

Could be a regional thing, could be that some of us never hung out with the type of people who use racial slurs. In any case, I would be interested in seeing a dictionary of offensive terms that I know I shouldnt use.

[SamTheEagle]

I was only familiar with the racial meaning, but I don't think I've ever actually heard anybody use the term.