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Labels are constantly changing. Someday maybe we won't need them anymore. They become offensive eventually. All labels wear out over time and people feel the need to update them. Its just silly. Then groups will also invent new labels and pretend that the group has never existed before:
Metrosexuals
Quirkyalones
PoMoSexuals
Brights
etc.
Labels are getting ridiculous. When a label becomes offensive it perhaps shows us our insecurities. Being called a black guy becomes offensive when it conjours up unfair stereotypes. So we change black to African-American as if it will erase unfair stereotypes. As soon as that label becomes tainted by some bad stereotypes, we'll have to find a new label, as if that will get rid of racism.
For better or worse I brain functions on stereotypes. It is how we organize our thoughts, how we assess situations, and survive on an instinctual level. Pretending that we can acheive some level where we will no longer judge someone on past experiences with like individuals, does the cause no good. We will always do it. We will always inherently pre-judge. What we won't always do is condemn based on our prejudices. We can use stereotypes to make guesses about people, but what we need to move to is the idea that "yes these are only guesses". Racism comes from thinking these "guesses" are "facts". Playing the label game is an attempt to stay ahead of the racism game, when in reality its nipping at your heels all the time. Its running from a shadow. Instead of changing a label from black to African-American, just keep proving that black is something positive and the negative stereotypes will eventually show that they were just "guesses" all along.
Does a label change a human being?
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Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul
I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold.
-Son House, Death Letter Blues
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