What's wrong with 'black'?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

This is honestly a question I'd like to get opinions on.

I was raised near Chicago and live in black neighborhoods and attended mostly black schools. It never bothered me to be around people of other races because it was a part of life....you know, same people just different color.

I have attended black churches and have many black friends. We are open and honest enough with one another that there are times we discuss our ethnic differences and even joke about it. We aren't afraid to speak about 'white' or 'black' to each other cause that's what we are.

But I have noticed something. There are people who are offended at my speaking about someone as 'black'. Someone, help me understand this.

I mean, I'm white. I don't mind someone calling me 'white' instead of 'European', 'Caucasian', or 'Anglo' or whatever. I'm white. Nothing I can do about it as I don't tan or stay in the sun too long.

I know that black people have not been treated well, and some of that still goes on in certain areas of the US, and that's a bad thing that needs to stop yesterday, and all through the years, they have been called 'names' to single out their ethnicity, some which are not desirable.

In the world of political correctness, it seems that the description changes so it's less offensive.

"Colored" refers to the 60's when they were made to ride on the back of the bus, so we can't use that anymore.

The N word was used in a derrogatory manner and shouldn't be used for anyone of any race. That's just a nasty word to me, but believe it or not, it's acceptable by black folks in certain areas, and they call themselves that. Whatever. I won't go there.

"Afro" or "African-American" is what some use to describe them, but I don't like that and I have heard some black folks offended at that because "African" makes them seem like natives in loincloths or something. And I don't hear whites wanting to be called 'German-American' or 'Russian-American' or any combination of 'white' countries.

"People of Color" is another one I think just reeks of being overly politically correct. It's like I'm trying to hard not to be offensive that I have to make up something that 'sounds really nice and sweet' so they don't think I'm racist or something.

"Black" is what I use because I see it as less offensive without coming across as overly politically correct, however, it's still offensive to some in certain areas. I'm not sure why, but there are people that I can't even talk to about ethnic differences because they think I'm forming stereotypes or something against them. That's just not the case. I feel that we are free to discuss things without fear of prejudice.

Just like there are differences in men and women, there are differences in black and white. I'm not afraid to speak about male issues from my POV, so why do I feel I have to be so careful when speaking about black issues from my POV?

Anyway, I won't be on until later tonight as I have to leave for work, but I'm honestly wanting some input on this subject by other white folks, the hispanics as well as black folks on this forum. I love you all, even if you are purple folks.

It's just a circumstance of political correctness and liberals run amuck.

Same with people from south America...Do I call them hispanics? Latinos? South Americans? If they are from Mexico do I call them Mexicans? If they were born here or naturalized do I call them Mexican Americans? Do they want to be called Chicanos..they still have Chicano studies here in the college....

[berkeley]

I wrote in "American" on my application at the DPS in Texas. When I got my printed paper work back, they had me down as "white".

The thing is, you describe someone by their most defining characteristic... if there is one black guy among 300 white guys, what is the most obvious way to describe the black guy?

I beleve in racial tolerance and acceptance, but some of this is ridiculous...

If a man had no arms and no legs, and was at a swim meet, do you have to describe him based on his baseball cap?

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Sherri

When my son graduated a few weeks ago, there were three black guys in his class at this private school. I didn't know there were any, actually. So that afternoon, I said something to him about "I didn't know there were any blacks in his class", not that I cared, just that I hadn't known. He freaked out and told me not to call them "blacks", that it was rude and derogatory. I had no idea!!! That's what they used to want to be called.

We have several black people in our church and they are loved and accepted by everyone. But now I don't know what to call them!!!

So what did he say they wanted to be called? African American? If so I find that funny because they are no more African than I am.

I also have always found it funny that they take offense at the word "Negro" yet it is the accurate anthropological term.

Oh, and how about the political incorrectness of the full name of the NAACP????!!!! I can't believe they didn't change their name 30 years ago.

[chaotic_resolve]

Originally Posted by crakjak

I think it is time we not define folks by the color of the skin, I noticed that you did not say how many white folks are in your church. My second son attended a Christian school and his best friend was black, after years of association with him and his family, we realized they are just folks too. Being raised in the South there is just a culture separation even when we claimed no prejudice. We have observed that our children do not have that innate prejudice, we have prayed to be set free from any racism from our Southern culture. What is difficult is to make the transition without patronizing our black neighbors and friends.

This is funny. The first sentance states we shouldn't define folks by the color of the skin . . . but then it goes on to define folks by the color of their skin. Just thought it was amusing, that's all.

The church I go to is nicely mixed with whites, blacks and hispanic. None of the black folk mind that they're referenced as black. I'm close with several hispanic saints and they regularly talk about me as a white boy.

In fact, most all of the hispanics and blacks I've known have always referenced people as either black or white.

This first happened to me when I was a kid growing up, but recently I was on outreach with a young black man and we've been friends for a while . . . we were clownin and messing around when he told me, "dude, you a funny N."

I've called him the N word a few times, but always emphasizing with an A at the end instead of an ER. There's a difference.

Of course, he's the only one that I've used that word with recently, because of our close friendship and he knows he has my respect.

People just shouldn't be so sensitive about it. I don't think you should use any word in a demeaning or derogatory way - at all.

[berkeley]

Everything else stems from these:

"..."Negroid", "Caucasoid", and "Mongoloid", or even the older "Caucasian", "Negro", and "Oriental." Nowadays, the terms "Black", "White", and "East Asian" are the more common usage..."

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by chaotic_resolve

This is funny. The first sentance states we shouldn't define folks by the color of the skin . . . but then it goes on to define folks by the color of their skin. Just thought it was amusing, that's all.

The church I go to is nicely mixed with whites, blacks and hispanic. None of the black folk mind that they're referenced as black. I'm close with several hispanic saints and they regularly talk about me as a white boy.

In fact, most all of the hispanics and blacks I've known have always referenced people as either black or white.

This first happened to me when I was a kid growing up, but recently I was on outreach with a young black man and we've been friends for a while . . . we were clownin and messing around when he told me, "dude, you a funny N."

I've called him the N word a few times, but always emphasizing with an A at the end instead of an ER. There's a difference.

Of course, he's the only one that I've used that word with recently, because of our close friendship and he knows he has my respect.

People just shouldn't be so sensitive about it. I don't think you should use any word in a demeaning or derogatory way - at all.

Yeah, I thought the same thing as I was writing it, I certainly don't have the answers just giving my opinion.

From what I've seen lately in corporate America and government is that race or ethnicity is not readily used to identify a person. If you are going to speak of someone to identify them to someone who does not know them, think of some other factor to discuss that would let the person know about the other person. All of this "political correctness" seems silly sometimes, but that's life in the year 2007.

[Trouvere]

Originally Posted by Berkeley

I wrote in "American" on my application at the DPS in Texas. When I got my printed paper work back, they had me down as "white".

but then isn't white a racial term? Caucasians don't all look white.

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Trouvere

but then isn't white a racial term? Caucasians don't all look white.

Decades ago, we were considered to be Caucasian. My older aunts have "caucasian" on their birth certificates. I don't even think there is a race option on my birth certificate. I may be mistaken.
When I took the ASVAB, I could not fill in "race". They had a special section for us under "ethnicity".