What is the "politically correct" way to address people of african descent who aren't US residents?

Question

The same for Asian, Arab and Latin American people.

Thanks :-)

The same for Asian, Arab, Latin American, Etc. This is for a newsperson from Mexico who needs to learn how to address groups he won't meet personally (so he cannot ask them) in english, without offending anyone. Sometimes it is a reference to race or geographic origin (not nationality), like white or European.
Thanks. :-)

Answer 1

I'd refer to them by their nationality if possible -- Korean, Japanese, Brazilian, Congolese, whatever.

Of course, if you know the person's name, just call him/her that.

Answer 2

By their names.

Answer 3

Address people by their names.
If you don't know their nationality, you can refer to them as African. Most will call themselves African.
Later, they might tell you they come from Nigeria.
After you get to know them, or if you care enough to ask, they might tell you what languages they speak and if they are Yoruba or Ebo...
Do not under any circumstances refer to them as African-American. If they call themselves that, then correct them.

Everyone has a unique background.
I have a friend who was born in Bombay: his last name is D'Silva because he's Italian. But if you ask, he'll tell you that he's mostly Portuguese. Because he's Indian he labels himself as Asian. He's Canadian and he lives in the US.
I've never heard anybody refer to themselves as Latin American; who wasn't trying to use that as a come on. Don't call anyone that. Use their country of origin. Same with Asians.
As for Arabs: don't even open that can. Saudi Arabians have a monstrous class system, based on who's considered to be the best Muslim. Plus, you might not even remember how to pronounce where they are from, let alone find it on the map. Definitely call them by their name, only. Often, their name indicates what class they are in.

Answer 4

Mister, madam, Zimbabwean, Gabonese, Chinese, Tamil, etc. Maybe you should provide some detail on what you're asking. Outside the US people of African descent from the US are simply known as "American". Interestingly, I think yhey reserve "yankee" for white US citizens.

Answer 5

Ask for their country of origin, and then address them accordingly. Ethiopian, Liberian, etc. Where it gets tricky is with people who prefer being referred to by culture, rather than nationality. Many Iranians prefer 'Persian', for instance. I recommend coming out at the beginning and asking a person how they would like to be addressed.

Answer 6

If you're American (God help you) then you're American whatever your colour. You can't be 'African American' or 'Asian American'. That's just the politically correct brigade (God damn them) trying to put convenient labels on people to avoid calling them 'black' or 'brown' or 'coloured'. You address them the same as anybody else, Mr or Mrs or Miss or Sir or Madam. What's the difference?

Answer 7

Same as Europeans....you say Irish, Italian, French German etc. ...all these people have "white" skin.....the same goes for other nationalities...different people but the same rules apply.

Answer 8

This is the only country obsessed with the PC factor, so don't worry about it. Black people are black. They may not even come from Africa.

Answer 9

How about "Hello?"

Answer 10

terrorists!!!!!!