|
hulahu
|
 |
« on: August 29, 2006, 09:00:59 PM » |
|
At my new university, the term "person of color" is used frequently. Can someone please clue me into this term--what racial and ethnic groups does it encompass? Does it include everyone who is not Caucasian/White? Does it include persons of Asian descent?
What is the reason this term might be preferred over other desginations (African American, Black, Mexican, Cuban) which appear to be more specific?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
anonforthis
Junior member
Posts: 83
|
|
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2006, 10:23:59 PM » |
|
person of color is the PC term for non-white
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
adhoc
|
|
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2006, 05:26:10 PM » |
|
What is the reason this term might be preferred over other desginations (African American, Black, Mexican, Cuban) which appear to be more specific? You've answered your own question here. It is used beacuse it is more general. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
grasshopper
|
|
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2006, 09:07:30 AM » |
|
person of color is the PC term for non-white
Sure... In a "if you're not white, you're all the same anyway" kind of way. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
adhoc
|
|
« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2006, 08:07:24 PM » |
|
Sure... In a "if you're not white, you're all the same anyway" kind of way. Disclaimer 1: grasshopper, just a few moments ago I responded to one of your postings on another thread. The fact that that the next thing I'm doing is responding to another of your postings is just a coincidence. I am not stalking you. Disclaimer 2: I am White. So I hope, at least, that I can make the following comment without it being construed as racist in any way. My comment: It is has always struck me as humorous that the thing that Whites seem most proud of in the summer is how deeply they can tan -- the darker the better. |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: September 01, 2006, 08:08:02 PM by adhoc »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
spork
|
|
« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2006, 06:02:53 AM » |
|
Does anyone remember the days when the Crayola 64 box had a crayon color called "Flesh"? It was kind of a pinky-peachy color.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
a.k.a. gum-chewing monkey in a Tufts University jacket
"Please do not force people who are exhausted to take medication for hallucinations." -- Memo from the Chair, Department of White Privilege Studies, Fiork University
|
|
|
|
grasshopper
|
|
« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2006, 08:20:03 AM » |
|
Sure... In a "if you're not white, you're all the same anyway" kind of way. Disclaimer 1: grasshopper, just a few moments ago I responded to one of your postings on another thread. The fact that that the next thing I'm doing is responding to another of your postings is just a coincidence. I am not stalking you. Disclaimer 2: I am White. So I hope, at least, that I can make the following comment without it being construed as racist in any way. My comment: It is has always struck me as humorous that the thing that Whites seem most proud of in the summer is how deeply they can tan -- the darker the better. Stalk away. I'm safely sequestered behind my computer screen. Your comment about humourosity made me think of a website that offers a superb satire on inherent racism. You might like it: http://www.blackpeopleloveus.com/index.htmlDoes anyone remember the days when the Crayola 64 box had a crayon color called "Flesh"? It was kind of a pinky-peachy color.
Yes, but the white 'flesh' colour wasn't nearly as pretty as "Indian Red." sigh |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
larryc
Hu hatin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 18,285
Eschew the hu.
|
|
« Reply #7 on: September 02, 2006, 10:13:15 AM » |
|
Historical nitpick: I have seen the term "person of color" often used in 19th century America, where it meant either black or mulatto, but not anything else, such as American Indian.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
fiona
|
|
« Reply #8 on: September 02, 2006, 08:57:44 PM » |
|
Like many terms having to do with "race," "people of color" has had its ups and downs.
"People of color" was used in 19th-century New Orleans, for instance, to designate people who were of mixed ancestry: the gens de couleur libres (free people of color) were a separate caste before the Civil War. Often they were the offspring of white masters and slaves who were mulattoes, quadroons, or octoroons (although such offspring could pass for white, and probably did).
The term now seems to be used to indicate a solidarity among people who are not white.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
The Fiona or perhaps La Fiona
Professor of Thread Killing, Fiork University
The Right Reverend Fiona, PhD, Bishop of the Fora
|
|
|
|
smart_e_pantz
|
|
« Reply #9 on: September 04, 2006, 06:59:18 PM » |
|
The term now seems to be used to indicate a solidarity among people who are not white.
Contemporary usage is not attempt at solidarity. "People of Color" is now used because, given the emerging demographic make-up of the U.S., using minority is expected to be obsolete as soon as the "minority" population combined eclipses that of people who are considered white. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. " Barack Obama (November 4, 2008)
|
|
|
thehype
New member
Posts: 1
|
|
« Reply #10 on: September 13, 2006, 08:21:16 PM » |
|
I know I'm very late-coming to this discussion, but I just finished checking out the website you link to, grasshopper, and have to say that I haven't laughed so much in a very long time.
Thanks much for the tip.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
adjunk
|
|
« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2006, 09:34:26 PM » |
|
Can someone explain to me why "person of color" is pc, but "colored person" is not?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
helpful
|
|
« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2006, 10:23:18 PM » |
|
colored person would seem to imply that someone else has colored them. ie.s that the colored is an action by someone or something else.
a dub poet of my aquaintance calls us "white" people, "people of no color"!
Japanese in South Africa were called "honorary whites" under apartheid. Thus, "white" is a term of power, or of status, and not a 'racial' category. (And everyone knows that 'race' is not a biological phenomenon, but socially constructed...ie, I know West Indians who grew up there and never were aware of being "black". Only when they came to North America did they become "black".
And then there are the Irish, who were "black" in the British Isles, but became "white" when they migrated to America.
Another little thing about "person of color" is that with marriages between different so-called minorities, to call someone Puerto Rican, African American or whatever becomes problematic as someone might have mixed parentage. Witness Tiger Woods calling himself a "Calebasian" even though he looks "black"! (And Vijay Singh isn't called 'black", even though he is 'darker" than Tiger. ....Vijay is called Fijian!)
So this is not a simple issue....
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
prytania3
|
|
« Reply #13 on: September 23, 2006, 10:55:47 PM » |
|
to call someone Puerto Rican, African American or whatever becomes problematic as someone might have mixed parentage. Puerto Rican is not a race. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
|
|
|
|
smart_e_pantz
|
|
« Reply #14 on: September 24, 2006, 11:16:28 AM » |
|
to call someone Puerto Rican, African American or whatever becomes problematic as someone might have mixed parentage. Puerto Rican is not a race. Yep... Puerto Rican is an ethnicity. You can have black Puerto Ricans and white Puerto Ricans. |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: September 24, 2006, 11:16:48 AM by smarty_pants »
|
Logged
|
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. " Barack Obama (November 4, 2008)
|
|
|
|
