How insulting is Colored (vs. African American)

[moe.ron]

Originally Posted by Xanthus

I agree with both of these posts. A friend of mine was in the Marines and was stationed in Germany for two years, and he said the same thing. However, he did say he didn't see the color barrier like he sees it over here.

There's definately a color barrier there. It's just hidden better and they just don't talk about it. It's more open and freely discussed in the US. Just ask anybody from Turkey about the color barriers.

[Xanthus]

Originally Posted by moe.ron

There's definately a color barrier there. It's just hidden better and they just don't talk about it. It's more open and freely discussed in the US. Just ask anybody from Turkey about the color barriers.

Technically, the color barrier is everywhere, but here it's taken to another level. I'll use Russia as an example. Over there, especially when it was the Soviet Union, it was more status based. I have a friend who lived there when it was the USSR changed over to just Russia. He said it was a drastic change, but he didn't see a color issue because it just wasn't there. I'm sure if it would have they would probably have the same problem. Here, I believe it's taken further though. I'm sure Turkey is like that also, I know India is. Nothern Indians have a lighter complexion than Southern Indian, or the other way around. I keep forgetting. But I know there is a big color barrier there. In the U.S. there are too many labels.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by Tired Black Man

And before I get started, you try this shit with me and I will beat the hell out of you with an extension cord. You hear me?

Originally Posted by DrPhil

^^^ A poor attempt at a racial parody.

Even so, I actually did just wince at a particulary bad memory...

Out of curiosity, have threads like this been started regarding any other races and their label preferences? Can anyone recall one? Because I can't even remember having a conversation let alone a debate about this when it's someone else's race.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

Even so, I actually did just wince at a particulary bad memory...

Out of curiosity, have threads like this been started regarding any other races and their label preferences? Can anyone recall one? Because I can't even remember having a conversation let alone a debate about this when it's someone else's race.

I don't remember seeing any threads. They usually get thrown into the "black" threads. It's weird, though, because I've listened in on "Hispanic vs Latino" (and even "Asian vs Oriental") debates IRL.

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I don't remember seeing any threads. They usually get thrown into the "black" threads. It's weird, though, because I've listened in on "Hispanic vs Latino" (and even "Asian vs Oriental") debates IRL.

You know, IRL, I've definitely heard the Hispanic/Latino conversation way more often.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I don't remember seeing any threads. They usually get thrown into the "black" threads. It's weird, though, because I've listened in on "Hispanic vs Latino" (and even "Asian vs Oriental") debates IRL.

Originally Posted by DSTRen13

You know, IRL, I've definitely heard the Hispanic/Latino conversation way more often.

Okay, I've never had an Asian vs. Oriental debate per se...more like someone will say, "the Orientals" and someone else will correct them. But Hispanic vs. Latino I haven't heard before. The argument against calling anyone who speaks Spanish a "Mexican person," now THAT one I hear a lot. I'm always surprised at how many people don't understand that not everyone who speaks Spanish is not from Mexico--or even that no one in this world speaks "Mexican." Quite as many who don't get that not all black people have direct heritage from African or that people who live in African do not speak "African." )

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

Okay, I've never had an Asian vs. Oriental debate per se...more like someone will say, "the Orientals" and someone else will correct them. But Hispanic vs. Latino I haven't heard before. The argument against calling anyone who speaks Spanish a "Mexican person," now THAT one I hear a lot. I'm always surprised at how many people don't understand that not everyone who speaks Spanish is not from Mexico--or even that no one in this world speaks "Mexican." Quite as many who don't get that not all black people have direct heritage from African or that people who live in African do not speak "African." )

The conversations are usually spin-offs of the "Mexican vs ______" conversations. IIRC, Hispanic makes several people uncomfortable because of the Spain reference. I've seen more people using Latino in its place.

[Xanthus]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

So, you prefer class, status and caste distinctions and hierarchies over race and ethnicity?

In racially and ethnically heterogeneous contexts, class, status and race intersect so much that they are almost interchangeable. Whether based on class, status, race and ethnicity, region, or complexion; the U.S. does not have more labels than other heterogeneous nations.

I don't know. It seems like the U.S. has more labels based on color than anything else. Class and status separation are everywhere, but placing someone in different categories based on race alone, seems to happen here more. I know people who have move here from other countries. They said race separation is looked at much more differently when compared to where they once lived. Great Britain and Germany. I'm not sure if I'm understanding what you're posting, but the way I'm reading it is you mean diverse. Right?

[DrPhil]

Other countries sometimes call it something other than "race," because race is considered a North American construct, but it is all the same general construct and social hierarchy.

You don't have to rely on the selective and limited observations of the people you know who lived in other countries. There is a ton of interesting literature on this that you can check out to satisfy your curiosities.

ETA: People who live in settings in America and overseas where everyone looks alike often claim that there are no racial (and similar) distinctions made between people. Well, of course if you're basing your opinions on such matters solely on what you see, you wouldn't observe anything if 95% of the people in the areas you are in look the same. Even in more diverse settings, a lot of people are waiting for some overt sign of distinctions made between people, usually a form of bigotry. "I've never seen a minority person be mistreated;" "Minorities walk around and they are barely noticed as minorities, so race doesn't matter;" and "we call people by their names and not by their races" are common responses that actually have nothing to do with the topic at hand.

[Xanthus]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Even in more diverse settings, a lot of people are waiting for some overt sign of distinctions made between people, usually a form of bigotry. "I've never seen a minority person be mistreated;" "Minorities walk around and they are barely noticed as minorities, so race doesn't matter;" and "we call people by their names and not by their races" are common responses that actually have nothing to do with the topic at hand.

This is pretty much what I was getting at.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Xanthus

This is pretty much what I was getting at.

I hope not.