<p>Today it is generally no longer regarded as a politically correct term, however even that is debatable, due to its continued occasional appearance, most notably its use in the acronym NAACP. Carla Sims, communications director for the NAACP in Washington, D.C., said “The term ‘colored’ is not derogatory, [the NAACP] chose the word ‘colored’ because it was the most positive description commonly used at that time. It’s outdated and antiquated but not offensive.”</p>
<p>I got that from Wikipedia which I believe will serve our purposes well enough. This explains some of the confusion. Since you are from NE (or I assume you are), the term is used differently. In my state, it is used to describe anybody who is not white, and it is not offensive. Thanks for your interpretation though. I’ve noticed that vernacular differs from state to state. So your statement should be amended. The term “colored” is only derogatory in SOME parts of the US.</p>