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ubertuber · 08-05-2003, 06:09 AM

EleqTrizi'T -

I hear what you are saying about being Mexican-American, and it makes sense. However, Mexican refers to a national heritage, not an ethnic one. So to equate to African-American you would have to be called hispanic american... The term African-American is sort of meaningless, however, if you are Egyptian-American, well, then that is declaring something. Seems to me that the push to find "safe" labels for people or to describe them by all their characteristics except skin color is to give race more importance than it should have, not less. If I was standing with a group of asian people and you wanted to point me out to someone, I think it would be perfectly fine for you to refer to me as "that white guy over there". This way, being white is a physical characteristic, much like having brown hair or blue eyes. As for black people not having black skin, or vice versa with whites - well, you only use red to describe orange when you are talking about hair color, so there is a precedent.

08-05-2003, 06:09 AM	#32 (permalink)
ubertuber spudly Location: Ellay	EleqTrizi'T - I hear what you are saying about being Mexican-American, and it makes sense. However, Mexican refers to a national heritage, not an ethnic one. So to equate to African-American you would have to be called hispanic american... The term African-American is sort of meaningless, however, if you are Egyptian-American, well, then that is declaring something. Seems to me that the push to find "safe" labels for people or to describe them by all their characteristics except skin color is to give race more importance than it should have, not less. If I was standing with a group of asian people and you wanted to point me out to someone, I think it would be perfectly fine for you to refer to me as "that white guy over there". This way, being white is a physical characteristic, much like having brown hair or blue eyes. As for black people not having black skin, or vice versa with whites - well, you only use red to describe orange when you are talking about hair color, so there is a precedent. __________________ Cogito ergo spud -- I think, therefore I yam Last edited by ubertuber; 08-05-2003 at 06:12 AM..