And "kite" is a word that has been around for a long time -- whereas Moolatta is obviously a play on something -- if you didn't know it was playing on "coolatta" (if that is what it is) then mulatta is a very obvious choice.

Clarification; I have read, in the past the word and it's connotations. I have, however, never in concious memory ever heard it said out loud or in a context that was newer than 30 or 40 years in the past.

In fact there are many supposed derogatory terms I've had to take people's word for because I've apparently led a sheltered life.

I figured it was a play on the fact that Moo is a slang for milk from the 90's (?) that I didn't fit the demographic which which to use it.

And Latte being a coffee drink that already contains steamed milk.

I guess I believe that if people forget mulatto and remember MooLatte, we're all better off as a people.

How many people know or care about the origins of "gyp," other than a bunch of Buffistas?

The school play when I was in 8th grade (1978) was West Side Story. I had to ask what Mick, Spic, and Wop meant.

Then I had to ask "What's a social disease?" I knew (theoretically) what STDs were, but calling them "social diseases" struck me as a twisted form of humor.

I knew "gyp" (as in "The machine took my quarter and only gave me one gumball. I was gypped!") from a very young age, but I didn't make the connection to Gypsies or Egypt until I was in my 20s. I had never heard "Jewed" until about five years ago, in an article quoting some white supremacists.

I had never heard of "Jewed" until just now, but I'm ok with that. I say, again, though, that buffistas is the most interesting education I've ever gotten.

How many people know or care about the origins of "gyp," other than a bunch of Buffistas?

I imagine a lot of Gypsies know and care.

But the point is, that a lot of language started out in a lot of sources and evolved.

If we are going to rip apart our language to remove any last trace of former evils and dig up old rivalries, we might as well give in to the Bushes and the Rush Limbaughs in this world as well.

Sure language isn't perfect. the past isn't perfect, the present isn't perfect. What we have to strive for is a world where it's all just a "huh" to *everyone.*

It's the education factor, as well. I used to watch old cartoons that featured what are now considered racially-based characters. And yet, if I see a Speedy Gonzalas character, I can say, "funny fast mouse" and not think "Because all mexicans are like that." I can see PePe Le Pew and not think "All French stink and think they are good lovers." I can watch The Honeymooners and not think "All bus drivers are jerks who threaten to beat their wives."

The point is to make it not matter anymore by education and examples and showing people these stereotypes are to be laughed at and disregarded.

I'm not trying to put down the suffering of all the peoples who have suffered, it's just that every culture has had enemies that caracaturize and demonize the others. Racism, Sexism and jingoism and patriotism have been with us, and are still with us and the world wasn't built, for good and bad, by sterilizing the language.

The only thing a big outcry against the MooLatte does is reintroduce the concept of the mulatto to a larger audience. Great. Now more people will know how to use the word, and try to hurt people with it.

Sometimes it is better for a small number of people to roll their eyes than to stir up old hatreds.

It's only a ice cream coffee drink. It will run it's course and be dropped in favor of another item.

I figured it was a play on the fact that Moo is a slang for milk from the 90's (?) that I didn't fit the demographic which which to use it.

And Latte being a coffee drink that already contains steamed milk.

Well, yes, of course, that's what they're going for. It doesn't change the fact that they managed to make up a word that [to some of us] clearly recalls another word, not as archaic you might think. And they're using it in a context that also resonates (coffee and cream, cafe au lait) as skin color terms. I don't doubt that they were entirely unaware of these connotations - but I'm more than a little appalled that they could have been. It's idiocy, not malice, but still worthy of note (IMO, of course).

The only thing a big outcry against the MooLatte does is reintroduce the concept of the mulatto to a larger audience. Great. Now more people will know how to use the word, and try to hurt people with it.

Errrrmmmm... not sure I buy that argument. To me, it smells too much like "sex education will make kids more promiscuous". Education is ultimately always a positive.

The problem is that with terms of racial prejudice, particularly, it is difficult to treat them as trivial, even if others (perhaps mistakenly) see them as such. People have been killed and abused and raped and hurt using these terms in the past, and it is not so simple to disregard.

We will not get past it (as people, as humanity), unless we object to it, and make our objection known.

None of this is to say that anyone who saw the particular item in question and either did not make the association or was not offended by the association needs to revolutionize their thought process or feel inadequate for not thinking in that direction. But those who did take note have every right to strenuously object.