What are the racially correct words to use when refering to the different races please? I don't want to offend

Question

anyone, but I need to know how to refer to persons who are of the differing races,. Not slang words or offensive terms, just the proper way of addressing their variences, please?

Answer 1

Asian, not Oriental
African-American, NEVER the n-word, not black, not colored
Caucasian instead of white
Native American not American Indians
Latin-American or Hispanic NEVER the s-word

Answer 2

Why not just use the obvious? Black,White, Asian,Hispanic, etc... Personally, I am offended when I see "African-American" or anything-American, for that matter. Nobody has every bothered referring to me as "Irish-American" and my family has been here as long as most black families have--since well before the Civil War. I'm white and that's that. Anything else is just PC b.s.

The only people that could be referred to as ______-American are people that have immigrated from another country and are now American citizens. However, that is even a silly label. If you're a citizen, you are an American.

Answer 3

Address people like they are people. In your speech, in no way refer to race. The thought here is if you have to revert to racial characteristics then that has racial overtones.

Most of us do not care if we are address by more benign racial identifiers, but it does raise a question.

i.e. Hey, he's the tall (or short) guy with red shirt and crazy looking hair. You could add a few other descriptors as well, and no matter which race this guy is the identifiers should be good enough without saying (white, black, asian, hispanic, etc.)

Answer 4

For a start, don't use the word "race" for humans. Only animals bred by humans have races. Humans have only one race : "Homo Sapiens". For the rest there are only local adaptations, regional groups, ethnic groups and local cultures. Use the internationally agreed terms like African-American, Han-Chinese, Australian Aboriginal ...

When in doubt, check how the group calls itself. Wikipedia can be good for this.

Answer 5

ummm address them as they are on paper like when you have to sign up for something. Black, White, Asian just the nornal stuff. (i know there are others i just dont feel like going through every race in the world)