How insulting is Colored (vs. African American)

[DrPhil]

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. It's not going to be a perfect country, but I think we will be moving in the right direction by getting rid of the "African American", "Asian American", "Native American" etc... on the legal forms/placement exams etc....

The selective observations of a Marine stationed in Germany for two years mean absolutely nothing.

Arguably, both America and Germany are no where near getting rid of those categories in everyday life and on forms and exams. We don't need to, either. People confuse social equality and nationalism with a need for being "color blind" or erasing any distinctions between people. We can reduce discrimination and inequality without pretending that we're all the same people holding hands in the sunlight. The need for the false utopia is what I consider to be a 2 year old child's concept of social life.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

People confuse social equality and nationalism with a need for being "color blind" or erasing any distinctions between people. We can reduce discrimination and inequality without pretending that we're all the same people holding hands in the sunlight. The need for the false utopia is what I consider to be a 2 year old child's concept of social life.

This is probably the best summation of that particular point I have ever read. Some people still don't understand that Brown vs. Board of Ed was about getting equal educational opportunities with schools that had actually been updated since the 1920s - not about "pleeeease give me the privilege of sitting in class with white people!"

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This is probably the best summation of that particular point I have ever read. Some people still don't understand that Brown vs. Board of Ed was about getting equal educational opportunities with schools that had actually been updated since the 1920s - not about "pleeeease give me the privilege of sitting in class with white people!"

Exactly. There is absolutely nothing wrong with celebrating different cultures, ethnicities, and races; however, there is something wrong with being intolerant of our differences.