2007-12-11 18:19:17 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
You could say you prefer to be called "Caucasian" or "European American," but the other person would probably just call you a pretentious white f***** then.
2007-12-11 18:22:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, are you white? If so then no, there's probably not a better word. By the same token, I don't find "black" to be an offensive word. In fact, I find it incredibly stupid to call every black person an "African American" when, in fact, many blacks are neither of African descent nor Americans.
For example, many South Americans are as black as any Africans you can find.
By the same token, I have a number of African friends who are as white as I am. An Egyptian coptic friend is white. A Rhodesian friend is white.
Etc., etc. To me, the words "black" and "white" are not inherently racist in any way. They're merely descriptive.
2007-12-12 02:24:33 · answer #2 · answered by Ancora Imparo 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It seems like there's really racism against all of the races.... I don't feel like my being called the white girl is racist. At some point it becomes very difficult to figure out what exactly TO call people without offending them. Perhaps the word you're looking for is Caucasian or Anglo-Saxon.
2007-12-12 02:23:08 · answer #3 · answered by celadriel2215 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
this is a hard question to answer because I'm not entirely sure of the question. The fact of the matter is that unfortunately whether ANY of us like it or not we are all defined by what race others categorize us as. There is no genetic definition of race, just a social definition that started years ago. Although none of us is responsible for this definition, we are responsible to end it.
Years ago I felt victimized by being categorized as "white." I am a survivor of child abuse and when the authorities came and interviewed my family, instead of taking me away they decided that "child abuse didn't happen in families like mine." Ie: white middle class families. I felt anger for a long time over this and was offended because I suffered more abuse. Had I been taken away from my parents I wouldn't have had the same economic success that I enjoy today.
However, because I was a white middle class person I was sent to private schools and expected to go to an "upper class college." I was also taught how to properly behave in a white world.
My education and ability to be "white" has lead me to succeed in life.
What I'm trying to say is that when you are defined as white you are given certain privileges that people of color are not given. It has its pitfalls, we white folks suffer from racism as well (obviously not to the same extent as people of color) but we are afforded greater privilege than our brothers and sisters of color.
yes, it is offensive to be defined by a race: no one really likes it but because power is associated with race you must fully examine what privileges are being afforded to you based on your race. Since those of us who are defined as "white" get more privileges, we can not complain about being victims of racism. Instead, we are victims of prejudice- a term which denotes a victim of stereotype.
Our brothers and sisters of color are stripped of their political and social power based upon the color of their skin- "white" people are not. Thus they are victims of racism while we are victims of prejudice.
Aint this world grand?
2007-12-12 02:47:23 · answer #4 · answered by Sage B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not racism to simply call someone "white." It's simply stating a fact. If someone isn't calling you white in a judgemental way, it's not racism. Racism isn't simply noticing someone's race. It's judging people based on that race. If all someone says is,"You're white," that's fine. But, if they say, "You're white and, therefore, racially inferior," that's racism.
2007-12-12 02:28:38 · answer #5 · answered by Maid Mesmera 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Ya, I feel the same way. White? What the hell does that mean? Aren't we all just different shades of the same color? Most would call me "white"; but what I really am is Germanic/Celtic/Latin. Or if you prefer, I am "Indo-European".
If "Eastern Asians" aren't "Oriental" any more, well than I ain't "White". I am ethnic too! And I have culture, languages, cuisines, and traditions.
Can't we just all consider each other cousins?
2007-12-12 02:29:23 · answer #6 · answered by stupidity_of_pride 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If someone said it in a condescending way, that would be considered a stereotype or insult. If the sentence was used in a context such as "All Nazi's are white" or "So what's up you stupid white boy?" that would very much so be considered racist as well as stereotypical.
2007-12-12 02:26:50 · answer #7 · answered by Agent319.007 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There isn't. Caucasian? Nah, that refers simply to the Caucus region near Yugoslavia. Unless they have a good eye and can tell if you're Scandanavian, British, Italian, German, Spanish, etc, you're gonna be considered white.
I mean do you go to up someone and say they're from Kenya or do you say they're black?
2007-12-12 02:23:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
European-American.
2007-12-12 02:27:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Aren't you white?
It doesn't offend me at all, I take it as a form of endearment. When I'm with my hispanic friends, I am lovingly called "the white girl".
Why does it bother you so much, it is just a description.
2007-12-12 02:29:13 · answer #10 · answered by PrettySeaShell 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋