Thread: Attitude to food allergies?

Originally Posted by Hanna

In Sweden, there is a very popular snack sold in cafes that has the word "neger" (negro) in it. It has gone by the same name for 50 years or so. But recently the dessert had to officially change name, because the old name was unacceptable! I did not know this, because I had been in the UK and the cafeteria staff member was totally shocked because I accidentally used the old name.

I guess, it's a bit of a stereotypic name for chocolate based old-fashioned desserts. There was a popular cake in the USSR called "Negro in foam/suds" ("Негр в пене"). It still goes by that name even if commercially produced. They'll probably change it eventually too.
Here's the picture:

For those who don't know any Russian, I'd like to stress the fact that the word "негр" ("negro") in Russian language was (and still is, to some extent) absolutely non-judgmental and neutral. It was an official and acceptable term for a person of African decent, and only for a decade or so it have been actively eliminated from usage, since it's considered offensive on the other side of the globe. The irony is that it was never used as an insult until people were repeatedly told that it can be used like that.

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

and only for a decade or so it have been actively eliminated from usage, since it's considered offensive on the other side of the globe.

What do they say, then? Афро-американцы? I'm asking because I don't really watch TV, and people around me still say негр as a neutral word.
I suppose, "black" (черный), is out of the question.

Originally Posted by E-learner

What do they say, then? Афро-американцы? I'm asking because I don't really watch TV, and people around me still say негр as a neutral word.
I suppose, "black" (черный), is out of the question.

Indeed, we cannot use "black" because it is reserved for the people from Caucasus. We can use "чернокожий" "black-skinned" instead, but this sounds more pejorative than "негр" to me.

In the USA "Black" or "African-American" are used and are polite. I myself never use "African-American" because I went to school with a girl from South Africa but she is white. Unless you want to be offensive, the word "негр" is never used here now.


Scott

Originally Posted by E-learner

What do they say, then? Афро-американцы? I'm asking because I don't really watch TV, and people around me still say негр as a neutral word.
I suppose, "black" (черный), is out of the question.

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

I guess, it's a bit of a stereotypic name for chocolate based old-fashioned desserts. There was a popular cake in the USSR called "Negro in foam/suds" ("Негр в пене"). It still goes by that name even if commercially produced. They'll probably change it eventually too.
Here's the picture:

It's true - why should all of the rest of us change our languages just because Brits and Americans engaged in slave trade.... Russia for example never did anything to Black people, quite the opposite.

The cake looks a bit like Schwarzwald gateau! (black forest cake) Schwarzwald is simply the name of an area in Germany. Only that usually has some fruit or jam in it as well as the chocolate.