Should we REMOVE the word RACE from the English Language?

Question

It doesn't matter, whether you are white, black, hispanic or oriental, we are all derived from a common ancestor. Instead, why don't we use the word community to distinguish us. It's less emotionally charged. Humanity must realise that we shouldn't label different groups of people as if they are aliens!!!

The only reason why we look different on the outside is because of the environmental changes we experienced when we left Africa. Can't people grasp that SIMPLE concept!!

Answer 1

leave just ignore and let it go

Answer 2

It's obvious when you say 'race', you mean race as a distinct population of humans distinguished in some way from other humans. Racial discrimination is rampant, and whether we like it or not, it's going to stay.

There are two different people in this problem, the ignorant and the cultured. The ignorant normally would be racist since by nature, humans normally fear what they do not understand. Ignorant people do not understand why blacks excel in sports, why Jews excel in business, why Japs excel in technology, (though I am not limiting them to what I stated) etc. etc. etc. The typical ignoramus would make sarcastic remarks, become unfair and even harm the other person. A cultured person would freely accept other peoples excellence. They would understand that the other person is the same as he is, capable of great things.

Now, being cultured/learned/sophisticated doesn't mean you're not racist (since a lot of people in high society are still racists). It's something more than being able to go to college, having a PHD, etc. It's understanding and accepting the point that we're all the same. Simple as it is, some people still can't get the point.

My advise, let's keep the word 'race' and only use it in a positive way.

Answer 3

Umm...I'm not sure where you're getting your ancestral history, but I wasn't aware that everyone is really from Africa...In any case, I agree that it is naive to think that the simple removal of a word from the English dictionary will solve any problems. More good could be done with education than removal of a simple word. All a word is after all, is just a configuration of sounds meant to represent a noun, verb, or adjective so other people will understand what you are referring to. Besides, there is nothing inherently wrong with the word 'race', but rather it's the negative connotation that is used by people of racial ignorance and bigotry. In light of that, I again say: Education is the key.

Answer 4

We are all human beings...that's the bottom line...but to use a different word to just make it sound "nicer" isn't going to change the FACT that we are, no matter what word you want to use in place of the word race, from different groups. Changing the word "race" to "community" is just semantics. If someone gets emotionally charged ( as you stated) by the word race, they had better try to raise their sensitivity level up a little bit. There will always be words out there that offend someone...we cannot make this a sensitivity free world...

Answer 5

Then how will we run races? JK

You can't just make a word disappear from the dictionary and expect major social change. The word already exists in the vocabulary of millions of Americans. Its like saying "don't use bad words..." But how many times a day do you hear people swearing up a storm?

Regardless, if you take away the word 'race' another word will pop up to replace it. Using Race as a descriptor is not necesarily a bad thing either. Its something that makes us physically unique...but it has no bearing on your value or intelligence. Community to me seems worse...its overly PC...

Answer 6

Edit firstly the word race can be used in different context so removing it would not really help. If it was removed the word would still be used by our generation even if it was removed. We still use the word Spastic when we shouldn't really be using it.

We have to educate our young to be better people to get around these kind of issues removing a word can not remove a problem. In Compleat darkness we are all the same don't let your eyes decieve you.

Answer 7

Simple answer - no. We all have unique attributes, traits, languages etc. As an analogy a car would still be a car whether it was actually called an 'auto' , 'automobile' , 'road vehicle' End of the day a car is a car is a car. I'm part of the 'human race' but I'm Caucasian. Some people are African etc. Deal with it - your unique, embrace that.

Answer 8

Hey, I understand what you are saying, but, then again, how come the Black people keep comming up with mor BS like " Africian American..
One Black person for ever 2 white people on T.V. Comericales.

Why not just drop the word Black and just say that that they Are Americans.

In most of the Centeral American Countries, you can not use the word Black, White, Pink etc to say what you are..
If you live in Costa Rica, YOU ARE COSTA RICIAN.
Why do the Blacks want to keep saying that they are something else ??? Is it too dificult just to say " I am an American " ?

If a Black person came up to me and said that, I would bend over backwards to help him or her...

Answer 9

i am a white racist, i make no apologies, but i do not proseltyse or attempt to propagate my politics or preach my philosophy. to me, one thing more disturbing than my racism is racism based on agression, fear, ignorance, and / or the tribal status-quo. equally disturbing is agression, opression, transgression, tyranny or dual rules of law favoring one group over another unfairly based on where or what an individual's profile or label is. and possibly most disturbing of all is the duplicitous racist who pretends not to be.

i state this because some may not understand how i can be a racist because i may not fit into one's pre-conceived stereotype as a "blind racist". i herein clarify i am not an inclusionist or integrationist. i dont want to misrepresent myself or confuse because i feel the following about the "n" word.

i believe a lot of people paid a very dear price to elevate our society above and beyond the casual and accepted every day use of the "n" word and the deep stigma attached to it. as someone before me pointed out on the "n" word topic before it was closed, it is a disparaging moniker culled from the illiterate, ignorant and often poor class of another era; mostly white but some black and mixed; sharecroppers and laborers who were refugees borne of the war between the states; the south's doomed isolationist neo -colonial oppressive policies; and the north's subsequent raping of the south as the spoils of war. it is used between blacks to desensitize it's impact; to diminish its power - but it is the one word in our history that quite possibly like no other is the most tragic to endure, the very deepest to bear, and remains a mockery of the sorrow, rage and injustice attached to its use. it should finally fade, once and for all, with the passage of time, into history, where it has always belonged. like a guest that has overstayed his visit; "n" is no longer welcome and has no place in this era. in an ideal world, the same could be said about racism which is more an affliction than a philosophy. this i know first-hand.

Answer 10

No I am proud to be of a certain race.I didn't leave Africa and neither did my ancestors and no amount of you saying it will make it so.I think what needs to happen is the HUMAN race needs to stop stereo-typing one another and get along.there are good and bad points to everyone. As far as people grasping ideas,sometimes you have to plant a seed .What are you doing to help?

Answer 11

Do you really think that removing a word will change anything? Thats naive. People are different, people need to start celebrating that, instead of trying to pretend that we're all the same. That is the key to less discrimination.