Observation on Race

IROC · IROC's Garage

I was listening to NPR the other day and during one report, a person listed their "race" as French. This struck me as totally odd. How can one list their race as "French"?!??! White people in France cease becoming "caucasian"? While this particular girl on NPR was misguided in my opinion, it raised some questions...

One thought led to another and it occurred to me that "African American" is not a "race". "Black" is a race. If a black person was born and raised in England, are they African American? Of course not. They're "black". Now, if one wants to come up with a different name for "black", that's fine, but it seems to me it ought to be universally applied...

So...why have we migrated away from simply definitions of race to things like "African American" when these terms might be "politically" correct but are not "technically" correct? Rhetorical question, of course...

Just an observation.

Mike

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Rich76_911s
I always thought it was funny when I had friends come from South Africa that were white. Do they get to put down that they are African American?

A buddy of mine did that - caused a bit of consternation at a job interview!

Moses · 05-05-2005, 09:41 AM

One of my favorte topics!

Most modern anthropologists have abandoned the old classical definitions, not because of political correctness, but for the sake of accuracy. Variations in the human phenotype are indistinct. There are an infinite number of "Shades of gray". Do these represent distinct races or just variation within a group?

The Far-East Asian/South American Indian is a great example. The migratory progression goes like this; Chinese, Inuit (Eskimo), Pacific Northwest Indian, Central American Indian (Aztek), South American Indian (Inca). The modern day Chinese share amazing genetic homology with South American natives including mitochondrial DNA and blood type.

Also, why do southern europeans have darker hair and skin? It's not due to the southerly latitude alone. Southern europe was invaded by north Africans man times. People from the south of Spain and Italy share DNA similarity with people from north Africa. Are they Caucasion? See? The classical definitions become meaningless.

island911 · 05-05-2005, 09:49 AM

Exactly moses.

The sooner we all realize that we are ALL "African" the sooner we can lose racism. -seriously.

yet, the liberal agenda wants to keep racism alive. For, without separating shades of grey, they can not define their 'victim" . . .who must be protected. . . .for a fee.

Jeff Higgins · 05-05-2005, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by widebody911
A buddy of mine did that - caused a bit of consternation at a job interview!

A buddy of mine did the same thing. Something like a fifth generation resident of the "Dark Continent", of Boer decent. As "African" as they come, and as white as they come.

928ram · 05-05-2005, 09:55 AM

There was some H.S. girl a while back that was 1/2 black/white that got chastized from all sides for listing herself as white on some school form.

Why is it that that she should automatically have to be black?

stevepaa · 05-05-2005, 10:02 AM

Exactly. Japanese are not Koreans are not Chinese are not Vietnamese are not Filipino, but the only race term "caucasians" might use is "asian", which is more of a geographical term.
I think her term of French is technically correct. Most countries are countries because of natural boundaries, mountains, lakes, oceans which separated peoples to their own "tribes". French are not Germans are not Danes are not Swedes are not Italians.

Maybe the laguage you are raised with is more indicative of your "race" than any choice between caucasian, black, or asian

stevepaa · 05-05-2005, 10:08 AM

Racism is alive and well in the US, and it ain't because of liberals. It's the "whites", "nothing like your own blood", N word users, or those who call "asians" slant eyes, for example, who make it alive.

island911 · 05-05-2005, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by stevepaa
Exactly. Japanese are not Koreans are not Chinese are not Vietnamese are not Filipino, . .. . French are not Germans are not Danes are not Swedes are not Italians.

See . . . Liberal = must keep race catagories separate. .. ..for noble purposes of integration, doncha know. And, of course, we need liberal "race forms" to track those races . . .to show how far we've come.

gaijindabe · 05-05-2005, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 928ram
There was some H.S. girl a while back that was 1/2 black/white that got chastized from all sides for listing herself as white on some school form.

Why is it that that she should automatically have to be black?

Historically that was so. By law.

FWIW: Jefferson's "black" mistress was only 25% African. His kids only 1/2 that.

The lighter skinned ones "passed" into white society and are lost to history it is the "black" ones we know of today...

island911 · 05-05-2005, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by stevepaa
Racism is alive and well in the US, and it ain't because of liberals. It's the "whites", "nothing like your own blood", N word users, or those who call "asians" slant eyes, for example, who make it alive.

"It's the "whites" . . ."

you slay me steve.

stevepaa · 05-05-2005, 10:14 AM

Well, you don't understand. I was pointing out the the common term for all of them was asian which is incorrect.

island911 · 05-05-2005, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by stevepaa
Well, you don't understand. I was pointing out the the common term for all of them was asian which is incorrect.

Yeah?

do tell, what IS polittically Correct?

Moses · 05-05-2005, 10:17 AM

When I fill out a form that asks me to designate race, I leave it blank. Whose business is it?

stevepaa · 05-05-2005, 10:17 AM

Well, it's because those are the people who have said things to me and my multi ethnic family.

Rich76_911s · Rich76_911s's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by stevepaa
Racism is alive and well in the US, and it ain't because of liberals. It's the "whites", "nothing like your own blood", N word users, or those who call "asians" slant eyes, for example, who make it alive.

The most racist statement I have heard all day!

stevepaa · 05-05-2005, 10:28 AM

I agree with Moses. I leave it blank or put NA.

stevepaa · 05-05-2005, 10:30 AM

Rich, maybe you missed the fact that I was referring to the people who spoke to my family like that, and using the terms they used.

id10t · 05-05-2005, 10:36 AM

I had to go thru this recently, signing my daughter up for kindergarten. My wife is Puerto Rican (born and raised), her family has the typical hispanic looks, but she is redhaired, fair skinned, and blue eyed.

To give my girl a slight "advantage" in the future (for scholarships, etc) we marked the "hispanic" box.

vash · vash's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Moses
When I fill out a form that asks me to designate race, I leave it blank. Whose business is it?

what about the gender box?