Ok. Some people when talking about somebody and they have a different skin color they'd say that black guy, that mexican ect, blah blah....well I don't say that. I say that guy, that girl, regardless what their skin color is, or their culture. So if I need to say what race they are in important situations(you know what I'm talking about) what are some correct terms to use without offending anyone? Like I said I don't like making notice of their skin color or culture like some people do when they talk about them. Make sense? Correct me please.
2006-09-20 18:04:27 · 16 answers · asked by Rachel M 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Learn the people's names or describe their clothing or another feature first. You are culturally programed to 'jump' to skin colour as an identifier.
2006-09-20 18:07:40 · answer #1 · answered by wandering_canuck 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is necessary to give a person's race there should be no question or discomfort, simply state whatever category they fall in to. Being politically correct, or just using good manners would result the same. ie. Caucasian, Native American, African American, Hispanic (and that covers alot, from Mexico, Central&South America to Spain), etc. There's nothing difficult about it and no one should feel offended of discriminated against.
2006-09-21 01:23:42 · answer #2 · answered by Nancy L L 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as you don't use the negative words in this society it should always be politically correct. If you see two spanish americans, latinos, chicanos, african americans, japanease.........etc, you can point them out by where they are standing, clothind, hairstyle and so on. Just as you would with to caucasion. Two different races would be the guy with spanish origin, or the african american. Anything should be okay except the "n" word, or the "W.. B..." These are very ugly descriptions for anyone, I don't want to be called a cracker! God don't make junk and he made us all.
2006-09-21 01:23:30 · answer #3 · answered by Liome 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Say there are two women in red dresses, and one's white and one's black. I'll say "the black woman in the red dress."
Though I do try to avoid skin color just because some people get *so* offended. I wish we could just use color as a way to describe people, you know?
2006-09-21 01:10:20 · answer #4 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You never have to acknowledge race. A person can always be reffered to without bringing up skin color. Examples: "See the black man by the window?" can be said, "See the gentleman by the window?". Another: "That little Chinese lady is too short to see." can be said, "This lady is having a problem seeing."
Do I make sense? A person is a person, just like me and you, and deserves all the respect we would expect - ALWAYS! OK?
2006-09-21 01:19:47 · answer #5 · answered by MaqAtak 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tough question since there are so many ethnicities- but there are plenty of safe terms unless you hit a truly over-sensitive person.
African-American is almost never going to offend anyone whereas black is out of fashion for some.
Hispanic is a safe term whereas Latino is tossed around but has some other issues (someone from Spain probably doesn't call themselves Latino necessarily).
Asian- almost never a problem when referring to Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, etc. But for people from India it seems not to fit as well.
So you have plenty of safe, non-offensive options. I can't cover every group.
2006-09-21 01:13:50 · answer #6 · answered by QandAGuy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing wrong with identifying people by skin color or race. You have to know when not to use it though. if you sitting in a friendly circle and asking questions and say, ask the black guy, thats tacky.
2006-09-21 01:14:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends, if all the guys on a team or something are wearing a uniform and one happens to be black, then it makes sense to use that as an identifier. Same goes for a guy with long hair or red hair or whatever.
2006-09-21 01:07:34 · answer #8 · answered by Ed M 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
African American and Latin American are some of the "correct" terms that were taught once at Politically Correct seminar I had to attend at work. I would agree though that you can use what they're wearing as an identifying feature.
2006-09-21 01:12:04 · answer #9 · answered by janinenc2002 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say we are instinctually programmed to use race as an identifier, and we do so despite the best efforts of society to program us otherwise. There is nothing wrong with race. It is not evil. Why are otherwise sensible people totally freaked out on skin color?
2006-09-21 01:12:03 · answer #10 · answered by Paladin 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋