Is "posse" a racially charged word?

[Neurotic Guy]

I think there is some racial connection with regard to modern use of the word -- but it doesn't matter.  If someone tells me they are offended by the term, I wouldn't use it.

It would be great if both PC and anti-PC folks could relax a little.  I really have no say in what someone finds offensive -- there is plenty that I find offensive that others wouldn't, and vice-versa. And frankly, if I am offended and someone who has no knowledge of my life and my experiences in the world tells me I shouldn't be, it's probably not the start of a pleasant conversation. 

[MBunge]

As always, the question is whether or not it's true.

Does LeBron have a bunch of guys who basically just hang around him with no real jobs other than being LeBron's buddies?  That's a posse.  If you're talking about a manager, an agent, a marketing person, bodyguards or people who have real jobs in the multi-multi-million dollar corporation that is LeBron James, that is NOT a posse and it would be a teeny bit racist to apply that term to them.

I'm not sure the fact that posse is seemingly used more with African-Americans and entourage more with white folks makes much of a difference.

Mike

[celticsclay]

It's a goofy old time phrase said by a 70 year old recounting what he thought another 70 year old man thought. There are really horrific racial things happening all over the country right now that are extremely overt. Lebron is grasping at straws here and it is a waste of his podium.

[GetLucky]

People are totally overthinking this. It's a collective noun that was cool 10ish years ago, nothing more, nothing less. (I have white and Asian friends that self-identified their friend groups as their "posses," so I won't let anyone convince me otherwise.) Had Phil said "thugs" or even "gang" there might be an argument as to whether or not he was being intentionally ambiguous, but the word posse does not suggest to me any premeditated jab at LeBron.

This is all pending the interview. If PJ said "LeBron was with his...(dramatic pause)... POSSE," maybe there's something there. If not (which I think the case is), then I chalk it up to: 1) the wonderful, open-to-interpretation-without-context-and-vocal-tonality, full-of-synonyms English language 2) LeBron being easily-offended and trying to make the criticism about race rather than his character

[bdm860]

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/video/teams/cavaliers/2016/11/15/1479228323927-161115-lbj-946849

"To use that label, and if you go and read the definition of what the word 'posse' is, it's not what I've built over my career. It's not what I stand for," James said. "It's not what my family stands for. And I believe the only reason he used that word is because it's young African-Americans trying to make a difference."

From Merriam Webster

Full Definition of posse
1:  a large group often with a common interest
2:  a body of persons summoned by a sheriff to assist in preserving the public peace usually in an emergency
3:  a group of people temporarily organized to make a search (as for a lost child)
4:  entourage

From dictionary.com:

1. posse comitatus.
2. a body or force armed with legal authority.
3. Slang. a group of friends or associates:

What the hell is he talking about?

[saltlover]

In my inner-city high school growing up (mid-to-late 90s), black kids had posses and gangs, Hispanic kids had crews and gangs, and white kids had cliques.  Posse was a more positive word than gang, but there was definitely a racial connotation to it.  I could see a negative connotation being associated with it over time or in different areas, because that's how language works. I don't know if the words flowed up from the students or down from the teachers.  But those were the words.

I'd also note that there was no negative term for "group of white kids."  Make of that what you will.

[Roy H.]

I love that when Carmelo was defending Lebron's reaction, he called his friends his "crew". I'm fairly certain that if Phil used that term, the reaction would be the same or enhanced.

[jpotter33]

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/video/teams/cavaliers/2016/11/15/1479228323927-161115-lbj-946849

"To use that label, and if you go and read the definition of what the word 'posse' is, it's not what I've built over my career. It's not what I stand for," James said. "It's not what my family stands for. And I believe the only reason he used that word is because it's young African-Americans trying to make a difference."

From Merriam Webster

Full Definition of posse
1:  a large group often with a common interest
2:  a body of persons summoned by a sheriff to assist in preserving the public peace usually in an emergency
3:  a group of people temporarily organized to make a search (as for a lost child)
4:  entourage

From dictionary.com:

1. posse comitatus.
2. a body or force armed with legal authority.
3. Slang. a group of friends or associates:

What the hell is he talking about?

Yeah, I just love the fact that he contradicted himself by referencing the definition lol It's a large group with a common interest, which is almost certainly true of his organization, yet the definition indicates nothing regarding racial ties. It's ridiculous. This is only racist to racists themselves who are looking for something to cry racism over.

[PhoSita]

"Posse" is a word I think I've mostly heard in an Old West sort of context.

I know people sometimes use it to refer to their group of friends.  I'm not sure why LeBron took offense.

But hey, in this sort of situation I say, it can't hurt for Phil to reach out and ask LeBron, "Hey, I can see that really bothered you.  Could you explain it to me so I don't make that mistake again?" and try to understand where LeBron is coming from.

[Snakehead]

Posse was that Western cowboy term but since then has definitely become a term used among African Americans.  Three Six Mafia and their larger affiliate group/record label is the last times I really have seen it used a bunch (a rap group), for reference.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnotize_Minds

I think its a sensitive reaction but it's not totally wrong either.  Phil Jackson probably doesn't know the use of it that way.   But either way it almost always has a criminal connotation.

In the end, Phil Jackson calling someone else out for kind of having their own way and throwing their weight around is too rich.  He's the king of it.

[PhoSita]

I love that when Carmelo was defending Lebron's reaction, he called his friends his "crew". I'm fairly certain that if Phil used that term, the reaction would be the same or enhanced.

I could see how Phil using the word "posse" or "crew" might seem condescending or disrespectful in some way, if it seemed like that's not a word Phil would normally use to describe his own group of friends.  Almost like he's putting quotation marks around the word.

[jpotter33]

I think there is some racial connection with regard to modern use of the word -- but it doesn't matter.  If someone tells me they are offended by the term, I wouldn't use it.

It would be great if both PC and anti-PC folks could relax a little.  I really have no say in what someone finds offensive -- there is plenty that I find offensive that others wouldn't, and vice-versa. And frankly, if I am offended and someone who has no knowledge of my life and my experiences in the world tells me I shouldn't be, it's probably not the start of a pleasant conversation.

Why? That seems to run counter to the liberal/Western conceptions of freedom of speech and moral autonomy.

That just doesn't make any sense to me. People can be offended about anything, and you have no control over it. However, you do have control over your usage of a word and how you're using specific terms in language, so doesn't your conception of how you're using the word ultimately determine the moral nature and appropriateness of your words/language?

[Snakehead]

I love that when Carmelo was defending Lebron's reaction, he called his friends his "crew". I'm fairly certain that if Phil used that term, the reaction would be the same or enhanced.

I could see how Phil using the word "posse" or "crew" might seem condescending or disrespectful in some way, if it seemed like that's not a word Phil would normally use to describe his own group of friends.  Almost like he's putting quotation marks around the word.

Yup exactly.  And if it was you personally you could see how it would be insulting, even if you aren't taking it as super racist or something.  You have to ask if anyone would say it about a white player, coach, etc.

[Snakehead]

I don't think it is overtly racially charged, but I will say I don't really ever hear of a white person's group of friends being referred to as a posse.

Their name came from an actual gang they formed, which used the "posse" title.  So there are clearly negative connotations virtually all uses of the word, race aside.

[LooseCannon]

There is something potentially racist about it if an old white guy is using it to describe blacks who he thinks are behaving incorrectly.