Re:Please, call a spade a spade
by natrius on Friday February 24, 2012 @06:46PM
(#3631636)
The phrase predates the use of the word "spade" as an ethnic slur against African Americans, which was not recorded until 1928; however, in contemporary U.S. society, the idiom is often avoided due to potential confusion with the slur.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_call_a_spade_a_spade
Regardless, I think the vast majority of people won't be offended by that phrase.