Racism?

[Braunwyn]

In any event, Lee was a great American and we believe his life is far more worth celebrating that Martin Luther King's.

Why?

 

[DelindaJane]

Sometimes oppressed minorities take words that were used to put them down and turn them into terms of endearment. For example, many gay and transgendered refer to themselves as "queer" but if I said "Shut up you queer!" that would still be homophobic.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. Used as stated in my earlier post, it's used as more of the equivalent of a white person calling another white person "trailer park trash" (a put down meaning low class/ignorant), than the example of "endearment" that you gave. My point in asking was, if it's considered offensive when people other than black people use it, why use it at all?

Absolutely, but I would like to note that white Africans are not ancestrally rooted in Africa; Most of them are of Dutch origin if I'm not mistaken.

Whether or not, that's true I don't know. But, I'd like to point out that most American's are not ancestrally rooted in America. So by that reasoning, the term "American" wouldn't rightly apply to most of the people who use it either.

It would have been correct to list her as South African American. Africa is a continent, not a country. If they were going by heritage, it's likely they were drawing on specific nations. No?

No.

The reason, as I understand it, that blacks born in the US of African heritage use the term African American, rather than their specific nations like Irish American or Italian American, is because they do not know which nations they come from due to slavery. With this in mind, it would not be correct to call her African American. Thanks to RDNS for pointing that out a long time ago in some other thread.

Interesting opinion. Thank you for it.

I am not familiar with the RDNS you refer to, not that it's probably essential to having this discussion. But, I think I'll stick with my original position on this point.

But, I want to put this out there. As with many words and phrases, social usage changes the meaning, and the original definition gets lost. The term "black" is now considered unpopular or politically incorrect. And just as the term "colored" was phased out over time by the term "black, so "African American" is now taking the place of the term "black".

Personally, I find it all confusing. I'd rather skip the social terminology and group classifications, and just describe a person as the lady that plays the piano at our church, or the guy who coaches the little league team. It seems that these days people are so easily offended. I'd rather not even go there.

 

[Braunwyn]

No.

Really. So, they were introducing people as Euro-American, African-American, Asian American? What awards were these again? I want to look this up.

Interesting opinion. Thank you for it.

I am not familiar with the RDNS you refer to, not that it's probably essential to having this discussion. But, I will have to stick with my original position on this point.

RDNS is a member here. RealDealNeverStop. Any way, I've been trying to grasp your original position.

But, I want to put this out there. As with many words and phrases, social usage changes the meaning, and the original definition gets lost. The term "black" is now considered unpopular or politically incorrect. And just as the term "colored" was phased out over time by the term "black, so "African American" is now taking the place of the term "black".

Personally, I find it all confusing. I'd rather skip the social terminology and group classifications, and just describe a person as the lady that plays the piano at our church, or the guy who coaches the little league team. It seems that these days people are so easily offended. I'd rather avoid the whole issue.

I agree. But, one way to avoid the issue is to be respectful and mindful (as much as you are capable). Of course, we don't always know what will offend someone, but when we figure it out, we proceed accordingly (if the person is an adult, kids tend to speak the way they speak). I think it also depends on a person's experiences and level of worldliness. For example, I work with people from all over the globe and it has taken me some time to learn their ways and interact appropriately. Prior, I just didn't know any better. It hasn't always been easy. When I want to refer to the friend I mentioned earlier, I usually say black when describing him because I can't remember his country of origin and that might not be the right thing. So, I hope for patience from who is ever on the receiving end of my dialog.

 

[Nooj]

In any event, Lee was a great American and we believe his life is far more worth celebrating that Martin Luther King's.

Why?

 

[Bankai_2]

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. Used as stated in my earlier post, it's used as more of the equivalent of a white person calling another white person "trailer park trash" (a put down meaning low class/ignorant), than the example of "endearment" that you gave. My point in asking was, if it's considered offensive when people other than black people use it, why use it at all?

Words can have multiple meanings, it's pretty simple.

 

[Bro_Sam]

Why?

Because he was a great man who fought for his country. He did not want to fight against the United States, but reluctantly chose to do so because the government was grossly abusing its authority to punish those who did not share it's political ideas and was disregarding the states' rights under the 10th Amendment. He felt that by fighting for Virginia and for the Confederacy, he was fighting for the ideals our republic was founded upon. He was also a brilliant military strategist, theologian, and humanitarian.

 

[Redguard]

I took a class in Canada talking about culture in the classroom. A man wrote an article about when he came to Canada from the Jamaica at 18. He later met and married a Canadian woman. Their 7 year old daughter was in her class where the teacher was asking where the students were from. Some said Montreal. Some said that they have always lived in Toronto. Some said Vancouver. The girl, when asked, said, "here in Toronto." The teacher said, "Yes, but where are you from originally?" She said, "Canada." The teacher continued, "well, where are your parents from?" She said, "my father is from Jamaica, and my mother is from Quebec", to which the teacher replied, "Hey, everyone! We have someone from a West Indie family!"

The girl came home, asking her father why she wasn't acknowledged as Canadian, especially since that is where she was born.

Why do you think?
Because she wasn't white.
White people are Canadian. Non White people are Jamaican-Canadian, until they call themselves that, and then they are asked why they insist on using the hyphen, as if it is allowed for others to use it, but not the person themselves.

That story might as well have been about me or my daughter.

I've gone through that scenario dozens of times. And I watched as my daughter went through it just two days ago.

I'm still reading through the remainder of posts, but I just wanted to take a minute to respond to this one.

The terms "Canadian" or "All-American" (as opposed to just "American") or "Girl Next Door" all come with a pre-defined image of who it is that represents that label. And I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but to me these have always been images of Caucasians.

For that reason, whenever I'm in the U.S. and people start hearing me speak with my "funny accent" and ask where I'm from, I get a confused look when I say I'm Canadian.

One of my favourite jokes is to gather around the water cooler at work while my Caucasian co-workers start discussing their weekend plans (which often involve going to the cottage).

Jim: So, what are you all doing this weekend?
Bob: Well, I'm taking the wife and kids and heading up to the cottage!
Mike: Yeah me too! Gonna load the boat onto the hitch and head on up to the cottage. Probably get a few rounds of golf in!
Tom: We were up at my cottage last weekend, so we'll probably be driving north to the wife's cottage! How 'bout you, Redguard?
Redguard: Yeah, I was thinking about spending a few days over at the cottage also. Summer's coming and I need to get the dock extended out into the lake.
Jim, Bob, Mike, Tom:
Redguard: Whut?
Jim, Bob, Mike, Tom: YOU have a cottage??!?

Gives me a good laugh every single time. What's funnier is when they don't say anything and just sorta smile... confused... but you can see the gears churning in their brains trying to figure out an appropriate way to inquire about my cottage without sounding offensive. (I don't have a cottage, btw)