Hermione's AND Hagrid's rude comments

[loonyloopyrjl]

No: HPFGUIDX 75157

I don't think Hermione was being racist or prejudiced when she 
referred to centaurs as "horses" to Parvati and Lavender [OoP, 
Chapter 27].  Rude, yes, but not necessarily racist or "speciest."

Hagrid himself (although not known for his tact) referred to the 
centaurs as "mules" IN FRONT of the centaurs themselves:
"I won' be kept outta the fores' by a bunch of mules like you!" said 
Hagrid. [OoP, Chapter 30]

And walking away from them, Hagrid says to Harry and Hermione:
"Ruddy old nags though, eh?" [OoP, Chapter 30]

And back in PS/SS Chapter 15, Bane says of Firenze:
"Have you no shame? Are you a common mule? . . . . It is not our 
business to run around like donkeys after stray humans in our forest!"

I would expect Hagrid, more than anyone else, to be not racist or 
prejudiced against other species.  He is half-human and imperfect, as 
is Hermione, so he will say stupid things. The centaurs, on the other 
hand, have no problem insulting their own as mules or donkeys, so I 
think it's understood that this is an "acceptable" insult.


Loony Loopy