Why is it necessary to label people?

Question

examples:

African American
Mexican American

I don't look at any person differently... just as a person, skin color is kinda non existant until these labels are forced down my throat... so, instead of referring to someone by name.. suddenly, even non racist people are in a way forced to be racist by singling people out by reference to African Americans... why can't we just be 'people'?

To Job..... who is enslaved? I think that summarizes as the 'working class' person when you get right down to it..

Answer 1

that's just it--it's not [necessary]--*sigh* what r u going to do?
in my opinion it's f***king pathetic

Answer 2

If I asked you what people were enslaved in America for three hundred years, would you respond by saying, "people?" If you responded by saying, "people," I would ask you to be more specific.

I see nothing wrong with making distinctions. However, I think it becomes a problem when we believe that a race is superior or inferior because of those distinctions (i.e., skin color, hair texture, etc.) Although we are categorized into different races, at the end of the day, we are of the same species because we can reproduce with one another.

*Blacks were enslaved in this country for over 300 years. Can you refute that? Slavery in America was based on race. Furthermore, if I asked you, "What group of people died because they weren't immune to European diseases?" Native Americans. And, if I asked you, "What group of people were slaughtered during the holocaust? Jews.

There is nothing wrong with being specific; it doesn't make you a racist. A racist believes that someone is inferior or superior based on their differences. Would you say that a purple dog is superior to a yellow, red, brown, or white dog? Why, if you did, sane people would label you insane.

Answer 3

Suppose you come out of your house in the morning and see that everybody looks exactly like you. The speak like you do. The bahave like you do....etc. How fo you feel? Will you feel to be someone different from others? Will you have an identity? No. That is why there should be DIVERSITY. Unfortunately, we see DIFFERENCE rather than the DIVERSITY. And that is why all the trouble occurs. We would feel LOST if there were no diversity. Let me quote from a recent, best-selling book:

The following thought experiment is enough to help perceive the need for diversity. If, one morning, I go out of my house and, to my great surprise, see that all the people that I confront are exactly like me in appearance, names addresses and other elements of their identities unchanged, then how am I likely to feel? Although the beginning of the drama is sure to be fun, its denouement is not likely to be very enjoyable. That is because all of us will have the fierce feeling of identity crisis and so will engage in a destructive brawl. Perhaps some of us will be so furious as to attempt to kill others claiming, "If you are me, then who am I? Who is the real father of my children and the legal husband of my wife?" If the speaker were a female person, then also the contention would sound much like the same.

Now, what if I saw that all other people ─ if, however, the word 'other' makes sense any more ─ had the same name as mine, with the names of their parents also same, then would not the situation be worse? Then, I feel sure, there could be no knowledge because of the absence of diversity. On the contrary, only the feeling would be active─ the animalistic emotions that unify all on a plane devoid of ethics and beauty.

In light of the above thought experiment, which I call the lost analysis ─ a consideration of the last possible situation ─ we see that there should be unity on the plane of knowledge and hence on the plane of love and justice, but not on the plane of the body, because, in that case one would never be able to differentiate between one's wife and the wives of others. Certainly it is not human to consider others' wives as one's own. Those who do so should first brood on why the mind does not feel convenient to consider others' brothers and sisters and parents as one's own brothers and sisters and parents and their children as one's own children. Feeling tends to unify everything either by destroying individuality or by crippling judgment and ethics. Only the unity that acknowledges diversity and difference is the right unity. And the right unity is not to be established except on the plane of knowledge. We must not forget that the last possible situation is unity ─ since there is no escape from it: either it will be established in the wrong way or in the right way. And if we are too late to get established in the right unity, we are sure to get lost. Therefore, I would like to expound the LOST concept:

LOST =
Lost (in the)
Outward
Similarity
Threat

If we do not want to be lost in nothingness, we must acknowledge all diversity and individuality.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781581124842&itm=4

Answer 4

Labels are necessary to help people, as ignorant as we are, to better understand. But labels such as those are meant only to insult and "put them in their place". Still, some people get an odd sense of pride from being labelled (as if they can used it to their advantage).

Answer 5

it's used to describe ppl in our minds.

when i see someone, politically you can't notice their skin color, but in reality it's what make them them.

ie. i see a friend whos black, in my mind hes a black guy, who enjoys video games, and has 11 fingers.

whats bad is when ppl judge on traits that can't be controlled, and dont correspond to a certain behavior.

Answer 6

most people are just stupid! why add the extra we know who they are ! people who say african american just think people will think there smart! when there just making a fool of there self...................

Answer 7

Who knows...its a sick sad world we live in...we are indeed our own worst enemies.