When I was about 21 years old (1983) I worked in an engineering department with an african american designer I admired a lot. We had a great deal in common, and we used to joke about nearly everything.
(e.g. me: "is it true what they say about black guys?"
him: "Nah. It's a myth. Most are 12"-14" like you and me"
I am from a rural and very white hometown, and (without really understanding the subtext) I referred to him as "an oreo". In my defense, I was young and ignorant and considered it a backhanded compliment, as in; "we're more alike than it appears"
...much the way I considered it a compliment when he referred to me as a brother. 
I consider a day in which I don't learn something a loss. That day I learned a fair bit. 
So yeah, No. It's not appropriate.
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