Are You Race Blind?

Question

Here is a topic which has concerned me for a while and I would like to get some, in depth, across the board views on it.

In America different races are prefixed and grouped by their country of orgin e.g. African-American, Irish-American etc, etc.

Now in Britain, this is true to a point, except when describing people of African origin, we are just a color ... "Black"!

Now am I the only person who is uncomfortable with this grouping? It's as though I'm being stripped of a nationality. It says very little, to an uneducated person, about my beginnings and thus robs me of a history, how ever tattered it may be.

Even job application forms highlight my colour, but an Asian get's enough respect to be broken down into different groups of Asians. A European gets called a European, but I am "Black", "Black" this or "Black" that. This highlight of skin colour is what causes problems because it seperates a person from the masses, in a country where they are a minority, in an instance.

Answer 1

Were you born in the Uk? If so, you are BRITISH!! Why separate yourself by using colour??

Isnt this why we have so many problems in this country? Because people want to be called something that separates them from other people?

I think it is time that people (not you) out there realised that we are all humans, we all have our differences and the only time we need to highlight any differences regarding race, is when we come from different countries (for obvious reasons).

Lets just hope we all realise this before it gets out of hand.

WE ARE ALL BRITISH NO MATTER WHAT OUR COLOUR.

Oh and why do they need to ask about colour on a form?? What difference can this make what colour you are? Surely the only reason is that they feel they need to include people of a certain colour as to not seem discriminating. THIS is a problem in itself as it shows that we cannot take people for who they are, we feel that colour has a part to play. Utter rubbish!!!

The day we all realise that no matter what your colour, you are a human being and equal, is the day we can all sigh with relief that we have finally realised what idiots we have been for using colour to put people into groups.

Oh and if we have to separate us into where we origionated from on forms, I need a sub-catagory which says Scottish-white.!!!!! My grand-parents were scottish.

Now if that looks ridiculous, surely it is ridiculous to put any nationality down if you werent born there!!!

Answer 2

It's a good point you've raised, but I have filled in forms which have a number of 'black' national options as well as 'white' national options. I can see the point of a form asking what nationality someone is, but skin colour shouldn't be part of it. They should ask country of origin and no more, if they are going to ask at all. Why do they want to know?
We have always been a mongrel breed, there is no such thing as a 'true Brit'. Our flag is a symbol of unity (despite what some misguided fools may say) and if someone is British, then the are British and that's that.
It's about time diversity was celebrated instead of segregated.

Answer 3

Blame the "political correctness" lobby for this, my friend. When I was young it was politically correct to refer to black people as "negroes" and this term was used in the media like the BBC and there was no problem. Then all of a sudden a lot of nonentities got it into their skulls that it was somehow insulting to call people "negro" and the politically correct terminology inserted the word "black" instead which the media were all ordered to adhere to or else they would be up in Court.

Now in recent years some other nonentities have decided that "black" is somehow insulting,. so the politically correct term to use now is "Afro-Caribbean" What sillier term will they think up next year? Tell me?

Does it actually make any difference whatsoever what you call anybody. People should be judged by their personality and character and value to society, and whether they are good workmates or otherwise. Whether they are nice or nasty, or whether they are good or bad is in no way related to the colour of their skin nor their country of origin. All this political correctness just makes people feel racial prejudice exists where it does not exist, and serves nobody's best interests, except the BNP.

Answer 4

personally i m not race blind, i live in a country where there is many groups of people, gt yellow, brown, black, white, mainly this four color. And the most important thing is that we can all work together without any conflicts.

I see no reason y people in some other places distinguished themselves as either black or white.

Answer 5

When my boyfriend and I applied to the universitiy (we went to different ones) and were filling in the application forms, there were a number of black races to chose from!

It is a good thing that you pointed out there's a problem with job applications and races - hopefully this will raise awareness and then something will get done!

Answer 6

I don't think there is much difference between "black" or African-American, Africa is a continent not a country, African does not say much about the actual origin. Could be Sudan, Senegal etc.. Really your citizenship should only matter, not the pigmentation of your skin or lack of it.

Answer 7

Whether black or white, If they had to name each country of a persons origin on a job application form, it would take too long to read it, never mind fill it in.

Answer 8

I think that you have a point but most normal people know all about the struggles of equality and the horrors of slavery and 'Black' isn't a bad thing - its represents a very strong, highly intelligent race of people - bit like 'Jew'. But if it isn't acceptable to you personally, you should give yourself a grouping and use it wherever you can and spread your good idea.

Answer 9

ought to activities communities be chosen in accordance to race and sex also. through no longer giving the a lot less in a position gamers the threat to play on the pro communities you're denying them the threat to make 1000's of thousands. (Oops that would want a number of those poor racists and sexists) Pre college, public college, junior colleges, and colleges are available in for anybody who needs to bypass. Graduate colleges grow to be more beneficial troublesome and the most ideal colleges ought to in trouble-free terms take those who score the optimal rankings. Why ought to a student who worked his @ss off to get to the right be punished because he's not a minority? i do not care if the student is eco-friendly. If he's the most qualified he ought to get the slot. when we are talking about medical doctors i understand I for one want the most ideal medical doctors engaged on me. i do not want some medical professional that grow to be put in only to fill a minority slot. perhaps he had an uncle who grow to be a political candidate.

Answer 10

to be honest I have never thought about it like this, my husband's skin is black he was born here and considers himself british and ticks the 'black-british' box on forms and things.

To be fair though, I am classed as 'white' on the very same forms and I tick the 'white-british' box. It's the same for both the skin colours isn't it? my husband describes himself as black and is proud to do so, just as I am proud to call myself white, because thats what I am! it's racist whites that sometimes make me feel ashamed of my colour.