So I'm often asked, "What race are you?" and I stare at them and say "uh....human?" THen the person says "....no! I mean...you're asian...what kind of asian are you?" "...uh..I wasn't aware there was more than one type of asian..."
Okay. This is really about what is politically correct about ETHNICITIES, I just thought the story would add to an effect, but it's okay if it was lame. Please stop asking what race people are. Because they're all humans. Well...my first point is..I hate that when I'm taking a standardized test...it asks what my ethnicity is....uh...does it matter? Will this change my score? I hate that I have to answer that. It only adds to the steroetypes of how intelligent one ethnicity is compared to others. WHen statistics come out, they add on to the fact that asians have to act smarter and black people have a right not to be as smart as they can be. It's freaking stupid. It's just an excuse for the BLack people who are slackers to say that their ethnicity isn't as intelligent. But that's for another day.
What really bugs me, is that it everything is asked with an AMerican after it. WHy can't I just be an American? I was born in America. Sure. I'm Chinese...but that doesn't mean I'm not American. But when it comes to the white answer, it just says caucasian...why can't they be European American because (Even thought I don't know much about history) I'm sure that white people didn't start out in America.
But what I especially hate is when people give me dirty looks when I call a black person..black. That's like saying I can't call a white person white. If you are a black person reading this, and you would rather me call you an African American, then you best as hell tell me what country you're from in Africa. It may sound racist, but I don't think there's a point in calling black people "African American". Seriously, how many black people here are first generations from Africa...or even second generations..OR THIRD?!!? I say this because I saw this in a magazine somewhere when this black girl wanted to be called African American. It doesn't demean you. If you're going to call me Chinese, then tell me what country you're from so I can be correct in what I call you.
It's so politically incorrect to have American behind every other ethnicity except white people and to call a black person African American. In reality, we all basically started out on Pangaea, so why the heck do I need an ethnicity. Just because I'm slightly lighter or darker or because my eyes are smaller doesn't mean I'm not the freaking same ethnicity as you.
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Oh gosh I see this at school all the time. What I hate is when people call each other mean names (I get called a whop all the time... Im sure you can fill in the blanks) but if I was to go up to a mexican person and call them a beaner, someone would punch me in the face for being racist even though they were just calling each other that. If it offends you, dont call yourself it, duh.
You're totally right. Except...
"when I'm taking a standardized test...it asks what my ethnicity is....uh...does it matter?"
Standardized tests ask about ethnicity so that they can measure inequalities in the educational system and cultural biases on the tests to make them more fair, and to measure the success of efforts to repair the socio-economic inequalities caused by slavery and institutionalized racism in the past.
I also agree with ALMOST everything except that I haven't really seen efforts to repair the inequalities...perhaps its just me, but if the government sees that the black people aren't doing as well as the white people, then do only the black people get special atttention to improve their education to measure up to the white people?
-jessCUHZ
Politically Correct terms for people are kind of dumb, but for a while they were necessary to sort of stop the less pleasant things that minority people were being called.
But I agree: we're all Americans. Not (demographic)-Americans, just Americans. Politically correct speech has become divisive.
(if you can't see the fnords they won't eat you)
If you want to know my take on it, read the only blog post I've written so far, lol (I'm a newb).
Oh my i have some of those stories, and most of them are the silly questions. Like "What is my name in Japanese?" "... The same as it is right now..." or "Do you speak Asian?" (I kidd you not). But it doesn't get anymore annoying, (i admit it is amusing too sometimes) to get the occasional "So you're Vietnamese, right?" "No, I'm not. I'm Japanese." "Really!? Are you sure?" "Yeah...?" (I was pretty sure, right?)
Maybe you would disagree, but I would -- hands down, no questions asked-- rather someone just ask me what "kind of Asian" i am rather than try and guess themselves, because my eyes "aren't slanted very much." My Asian origins should not take away my individualism and my upbringing in American culture. We are Asian yes, but we are people of no less humanity in us than any other with American citizenship. We are Americans.
if you want, read my last post. I think we might be on the same page. good thoughts, keep up the work & we can make this world a better place. (sounds cheesy, its true, right? =] )
i personaly do like to know peoples ethnicities because i think its beautiful to have all these different backgrounds united in one country. i myself don't mind being called black though sometimes it makes me feel weird since i am no where near the color black, and i don't think white peope should be called white because they are more on the yellow or orange side most of the time (no offense) and most black people are either brown or caramel colored, oh and why are black and white people the only ones with color descriptions? after them the rest are called by whatever country or continent they are from....weired right. (by the way i am from Cameroon, Africa and i am very proud of where i'm from)
Love GOD!Love Yourself! and Love Others!
I hate when standardized tests ask what race I am. I know they say it makes no difference if you decline to answer, but I am paranoid that it does, so I answer. And it really shouldn't make a difference. The SAT for example, is taken by a bunch of kids who are all basically the same age, and have the same general goal. That should be enough for people.
The reason “black” is considered offensive by many African Americans is not hard to see. The word black itself is usually used to describe something undesirable. Black Friday, black balled, black list, blackmail…there are many terms. If you look up the word in the dictionary, the word black has many different negative connotations attached to it. Personally, I agree with everyone simply being American, that’s what this nation is all about, unity. I don’t think there’s a color that accurately describes anybody, and I don’t think that should be our focal point when it comes to “boxing” a group of people in a certain category. Everyone is too concerned about coming off politically correct anyway.
~ I trust my soul, my only goal is just to be! ~
RENT
Perpetual foreigner syndrome. It happens mostly with Asians. For some reason, people can't think Asian descent and American... we always look like foreigners. Blah.
that is actually 100% inaccurate. Pangea was formed billions of years ago and was that way for a several hundred million years. Homo sapiens have only been in existence for approximately 100 thousand years, so the continents were almost exactly the same as they are now. Other than that, I really liked your blog, even though I can't use it as a credible source for an essay I'm writing, but it does give me a nice insight into what im currently researching.