The meaning of “black” and Salon.com
I think you’ll find these letters sent to Salon.com interesting. The writers are furious at Salon editor Laura Miller because she denounced a “black” character on a television program as an “oreo” because he obtained some education and spent most of his time with “whites.” The writers correctly deduce that Miller is saying that a true “black” is an ignorant thug. Since Salon.com prides itself as a site for “liberals” who are the enemies of all “racists,” what does that say? No wonder the same type of people are promoting the “anti-passing” screeds. It’s a way of saying “inferior” without using the word, but the intent is obvious.
Salon.com: Letters
http://www.salon.com/ent/letters/2003/11/06/spike/index.html
Apparently this Laura Miller person has a huge fixation with the word “oreo.” I think she learned it a long time and never learned to stop using it, since no one really does anymore.
Anyway, here is a reivew on “Finding Forrester” in which she describes the biracial (presumably) student in the movie as an “oreo.”
http://dir.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2000/12/20/forrester/index.html
12/3/2003 11:03