How would i say this in a nonracist way?

Question

One of the high points of our trip was seeing the Canadian Eskimos in their traditional garb.

was thinking just taking out Canadain.

Answer 1

I see absolutely nothing racist in your sentence.

Answer 2

These days it's hard to know what sounds racist to who and what doesn't. I think a large part of how what you say is perceived depends on the situation in which you're saying it. Without knowing the situation in which you want to say what you want to say, it's hard to be accurate.

Based on my experience in the racially diverse, and generally politically liberal, San Francisco Bay area, I'd say that what you've said doesn't seem very racist - "Canadian" is geographically accurate. A quick check of the Wikipedia on use of the term Eskimo (which is usually pretty sensitive about such things) suggests that Eskimo is a perfectly reasonable term - the only thing I can think that might cause someone concern is that you're generalizing too much about the people you're referring to - the Wikipedia actually points out that there are at least two (or more) kinds of Eskimos: "the Inuit in northern Alaska, Canada and Greenland, and the Yupik of western Alaska and the Russian Far East."

Generally speaking, the more precise and accurate you are in talking about any group of people, the less likely you are to be seen as racist.

Two final points - one term which is pretty safe across the board is to refer to people who have lived in a place for a very long time as "indigenous" - that's pretty safe - lastly, when all else fails, I generally rely on people giving me the benefit of the doubt - and if I actually do say something offensive to someone - I try and acknowledge it and ask for everyone to give everyone else the benefit of the doubt - just the sensitivity you've shown in asking about this suggests to me that it would be silly of anyone to be offended by your general attitude and actions, and that's really the measure by which anyone should be judged. Good luck with whatever you're working on.

Answer 3

One of the high points of our trip was seeing the Eskimos in their traditional garb.

I think that sounds fine. If it is said somewhere else in the story that you were in Canada, then it would be obvious that you were talking about Canadians.

Answer 4

From a Canadian - Inuit is the correct word but calling the Inuit Eskimos is not racist just not politically correct. The Inuit are Canadian citizens and they live in their own territory called Nunavut. So your sentence is just fine and just change the word Eskimo to Inuit.

Answer 5

Inuit=Eskimo

Answer 6

You just did. Taking out Canadian would be incorrect, because Eskimos also live in Alaska. Mentioning a location doesn't mean you are being racist, but good looking out.

Answer 7

During the trip, we saw the native Eskimos in their authentic garb??

Answer 8

Inuit is the appropriate term for the people you are referring to as Eskimos.

Answer 9

one of the high points of our trip to Canada was seeing the Inuit in their traditional garb!

Answer 10

That sentence is not racist. Look up the definition of racism. It reads as follows: "1. belief in the superiority of a particular race; prejudice based on this. 2 antagonism toward other races. " that's from the oxford pocket dictionary and thesaurus. look up antagonist also. Your statement does not reflect racist sentiments.

Answer 11

I think Canadian Eskimos is probably fine.