why are ethnic people labelled minorities?

Question

we take up nearly 70% if not more of the global world

Answer 1

The U.S. labelled them that. The Europeans (white man) came here and stole the land as thier own. So they call everyone not "white" a minority. Other countries don't think of it like the U.S. does.

Answer 2

The label has been used and taken up by ethnic groups within majority white westernised countries. The classification has enabled better protection for the different ethnic groups certainly within employment law and ensured that now those that are deemed "black minority ethnic" (BME) can compete at the same level. Unfortunately, although most of us white people are not racists, there are many who are - and used their positions in the workplace to hinder the access and development of many capable people due to their colour. I take your point that from a world perspective you may make up the global majority, but certainly from a statistical point of view the representation of BME people has increased within senior positions within the workplace and society in the UK. So although the term may not cover your perspective and is not perfect, it has contributed to a more positive recognition that can only increase over time as people are made more aware.

Answer 3

Because the people who invented the term are white, and in that country white people form the majority of the population. The opposite of major is minor.
So the white people invented the term minority to describe the percentage or proportion of the population who are not of the same ethnic group. Ethnic minority.
They don't mean as a percentage of the worlds population. Although there are still loads of white people that when you tell them we only form about a quarter to a third of the worlds population (well really, how do you measure that?) , they get all panicky and defensive and think you're lying.

Answer 4

This is only in the US and they aren't counting the global population. We as Americans are very selfish in that way!
BUT If the US census bureau (sp???), the way that people are currently labeled - is accurate, pretty soon hispanics will be the majority and whites will be a portion of the minority. Not that it's a bad thing, but it's kinda different when you think about it. People who are non-white (as in culture and not skin color - I apologize if you're offended) are counted in separate groups, well because culturally we are in separate groups. I don't think the individuals who set up the system of couting and labeling certain groups of people "minorities" ever thought they'd be a part of the group. Ha! They are probably rolling over in their graves right now!

Answer 5

Because the whole purpose of ethnic people is to be separated, right? So you can't lump them all together and make them into a majority, or they would become mixed and wouldn't be ethnic anymore. They are called minorities because they are made of unique, individual and most of the time small groups. Majority doesn't always rule.

Answer 6

In Britain, the term 'ethnic minorities' is pretty common, because... well... there are more caucasian people, simply put. I'm sure in countries where the majority of people are hispanic, latino, asian, chinese etc etc caucasians are labelled as minorities - it doesn't matter either way, it's not supposed to be offensive.

Answer 7

what??????? a minority simply means not the majority. in this case ethnic minorities simply means that you are not the ethnicity of the majority. As in the majority are white british so the minority is anything else. It is not prejudice or negatice labbeling its just a definition. so chill.

Answer 8

Because when the phrase was coined there were more Caucasian people then other ethnic groups in the US. It has remained because we are used to saying it to describe hispanic, black, etc.

Answer 9

I think it depends where you live! Why would you call yourself 'ethnic' anyway? It's a label, just like 'minority'.

Answer 10

in the USA, all together, you make up a large portion of the population, but each individual race is only a small percent compared to the Caucasian race