Seriously, why do we do this?

Question

Hello pple,

Me have a question: Whenever I fill out a form (either on campus or at a job), I am asked my race, which is fine -- except that the options are always WHITE, BLACK, HISPANIC, NATIVE AMERICAN, etc, etc.

As we try to deal with the ssue of race (i.e. discrimination due to skin COLOR), why, for goodness sake, do we keep referring to prople as white and black? White and black are colors!!! So why do we refer to people by color in our every day speech?

Why can't we say Caucasian and African American -- JUST like we say Hispanic?? Why say Hispanic, Black and White?

Please help me man, help me --- and please don't tell me that we do so because it is easier (although that may be true) cause I'd say it is easier to get lotsa money robbing a bank than working but yet most of us choose to work instead (....and do so after several gruesome years syudying hard in school).

Some say that some caucasians don't like the word -- so then let's find another one or somethin'!

Answer 1

=I think they ask that question like they do on census forms has to do with funding and grants or some sort of financial aide. More and more forms are using the words

Answer 2

Why "Caucasian" and "African American". I've never been near the Caucasus, which is a mountain range in Russia.

Why African American? Do you assume every black in the world is American? What about one visiting from Europe? Do you have a separate category for them: African American, African European, African African?

See what I mean? If we all stopped worrying about silly colour differences, yo wouldn't need the question anyway.

Another thought, is every Zimbabwean an African African under your scheme? Or do the white ones become an African Caucasian African?

Answer 3

Er, most people use the terms Caucasian and African American in everyday speech, well nearly everyone I know.

It's the people who want to cause trouble that start using other terms and a very select few which are uneducated on racism (older generations stuck in old ways or younger and too young to understand racism)

Answer 4

well, what if i weren't African American? should i just put myself under other? also, I'm just fine with being called black. to be honest i hate when people say African American, like they're doing us a favor or something. so i just say leave it the way it is. but, that is my opinion. great question by the way.

Answer 5

Well why is it fine to ask the question at all? If you are applying for a job etc it is no ones business what race anyone is (or gender for that matter). I don't think they should be allowed to ask that question at all, it just leads to prejudicial selection of candidates for a job.

Answer 6

What a whinnier.