I had an interesting conversation with a black co-worker once. She said she hated being called "African-American". She's not African and doesn't know a thing about Africa. She's just American and her race is black. I agreed with her. I elaborated that if she's an African-American, then I should be called a European-American. Come on. I'm white. It's not racist, arrogant, or politically incorrect to say so - it's simply a fact.
"Black" and "white" are obviously generalized colors of our skins. Which brings us to the Asian-Americans. To be consistent, should we call them yellow? I think I'd lose an appendage for saying that. But, why should it be any different? Maybe Native Americans should be called red.
But wait, it gets weirder. What about Indian-Americans (from India)? Some of them are darker than the black folk of America. Should we have a blacker-than-black color for them? Or should we just call their race Indian? Can a country claim a whole race? Does that mean that Belgians are a race to themselves? The Japanese consider themselves a separate race. In fact most of the eastern countries recognize their racial individualities. But for some reason, we like to classify them into a broader category called "Asian", which includes China, Japan, Thailand, Korea, Mongolia, and dozens more. But Indians live in Asia too. So do good ol' white Russians.
Technically, I'm one quarter Portuguese. My dad clearly has darker skin, but no one who ever met me would call me Portuguese. I'm about as white as white people get. Somewhere down my family tree I have German, French, Irish, and others. So, if I'm 1/4 Portuguese and 3/4 European potpourri, then what exactly am I? Wait, Portugal is a European country, too. I'm a trans-ethnic European mutt. Can my race be simply "American" like the Indians? But of course if I adopt that, it would mean that all African-Americans, European-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Native American-Americans are really a single race.
What a bizarre thing the perception of race is. How about we just call ourselves humans.
Hank
Monday, June 8, 2009
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1 comments:
I feel like just saying "ditto" and I am sure I wouldn't get away with that. Why would you let me?
I will leave you with a graphic though. I am sitting here at 5:21 am having just eaten breakfast while reading your blog and I would say I am pink. I am too white to be white, so I would be pink. All the sensitive parts are pink....knuckles, elbows, etc.
Have a great day.
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