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[owlatrice]

I have also observed this at the institution where I did my graduate work.  Undergrads, grads, post-docs, and faculty who were black were often referred to as minority (e.g. "it is great we finally got a minority faculty member", "this is an excellent minority student", etc.).  I found it extremely offensive, and often made comments to others about how I thought it was inappropriate to include this in the description of the person.  If they are an excellent student, then you should just say that.  Don't add any extra unnecessary stuff. 
As an aside, I think people should avoid using non-relevant information when discussion someone professionally.  Just because you think someone has achieved in spite of a "perceived" obstacle.  I had a good deaf friend in college.  Lots of people referred to his hearing impairment when talking about his academic accomplishments.  In graduate school there was a high achieving undergrad, and it was constantly pointed out she was a single mother. 
Back to the OP, the problem with going the HR route, is that it could inflame a situation that is not yet inflamed.  It seems that most people in your department like you, so there is no need to take that kind of protective action.  I think you could privately let people know (after they refer to you as the minority fellow) that you feel it undermines your future.  You don't want to be known as a great minority you want to be known as a great researcher/scholar.  Tell them that referring to you as the minority fellow creates the incorrect impression that you were somehow given a break to get the position and/or are being evaluated by different standards. 

[larryc]

I really don't think they mean any harm.  I honestly think they just don't know any better.  I really don't want to go to HR or amke a big issue, mostly I am wondering how to gently help the campus realize that this just isn't the way to refer to someone. 

So tell them, just as you told us. Do not go to HR, just bring it up at with the chair or at the next department meeting. "Thank you all for making me feel so welcome, yadda yadda yadda. But if I could make one little request . . ."

They have generously chosen you as their postdoc--now give them a hand.

[oldadjunct]

owlatrice, yes you are absolutely right.  But here is my point, back in 1976 I was in grad school out in the very white countryside and we had African-American and Hispanic grad students and faculty.  I am a white guy, but I find it bizarre that this stuff is still coming up.  I just do.  I have long come to terms with the fact that my people are stupid, but even so.

OP has said this is innocent but dumb.  Based on that first hand assessment, yes HR (my original suggestion) is the wrong route to take.  Definitely go the politic route, but really be very, very clear.  This nonsense, it drains us all.

On preview:  Larry is right also, HR is the wrong route to go.  My original comment was based on your first post.

[dissertatingdiva]

Again, thank you all for all of your suggestions.  Your assumptions are correct, everyone is very nice and treats me with respect but the title does somehow undermine my seriousness as a researcher scholar and I feel like it is some sort of qualifier.  I think that I will start by telling faculty in my department and then maybe they can help to spread the word or I can than spread the word beyond my department.

As for whether I recommend such a fellowship program, my experience (except for the title) has been great.  I will not say the name of the program or campus as I prefer to remain anonymous but I have been able to get experience teaching and have been able to do some research and writing.

BTW, I too am shocked that in this day and age people wouldn't know better but I guess that's why there is a need for such a program because no one would ever know that this is wrong.  This discussion has made me realize that I need to speak up especially if I am to be more than the minority on campus.

thank you all!

[macaroon]

It sounds to me like the reason they keep calling you the "minority postdoc" is in reference to your funding status, not to you personally.  Your fellowship needs a cool anagram, more than anyone needs education. 

[scampster]

It sounds to me like the reason they keep calling you the "minority postdoc" is in reference to your funding status, not to you personally.  Your fellowship needs a cool anagram, more than anyone needs education. 

Anagram or acronym? My anagrammatic skills are not up to snuff enough to propose a good alternative, but there is probably some potential :-)

[moonstone]

just curious, because I sometimes wonder whether I am a "minority" - how is "minority" defined these days? what are the criteria?

[scampster]

just curious, because I sometimes wonder whether I am a "minority" - how is "minority" defined these days? what are the criteria?

The postdoc eligibility requirements are usually stated. For example, I believe the National Science Foundation does not include Asian-Americans as a minority group for science fellowships, since they are not underrepresented.

[imaniohaji]

There is a deep sea of chaotic emotions despair, fear, and depression a human being may experience after successfully jumping all the demeaning academic hoops, particularly those ancient hurdles created specifically to keep women and people of color in their place, only to be denied tenable reward be it security, career fulfillment, grant, recommendation, fellowship, salary increase, research funds, publication, reimbursement for travel and hotel expenses, or the coveted tenure. 

Only if I set aside about a year cataloging insults, material loss, disappointments, financial woes, rejections, institutional denials, hurt, betrayals, bad luck, housing issues, transportation issues, loss of friends and family members, unhelpful meetings with administrators and professors, my own see-saw self-confidence, repeated vehicular accidents, and basic dreams deferred might I successfully chronicle the tip of the ice berg that is the sad state of my career in academe.  If anybody has a reason to “go academic” or “go committee” it is certainly me a struggling black woman academic committed to Africana feminist studies.  Yet it never occurred to me to pick up a gun and “go academic” shooting everybody on campus who gets in my way that day.  Why?  Black women are certainly as capable as anyone else of paroxysms of rage.

[femaestro]

WHAT!!!??

 If anybody has a reason tacadecommittee “go committee” it is certainly me a struggling black woman academic committed to Africana feminist studies.  Yet it never occurred to me to pick up a gun and “go academic” shooting everybody on campus who gets in my way that day.  Why?  Black women are certainly as capable as anyone else of paroxysms of rage.


[/quote]

All academics go through this!!!! There are Asian-white-male-female-whatever academics, of all studies who experience these same career woes.  And to go a little further: Americans in general are feeling the crunch of being dissatisfied, and un-happy in their occupations.  Please! A black academic does not have more cause for "going academic" as you put it, imaniohaji.  No one has a "pass" to harm co-workers, and as a secondary casualty, their families. 

Life sucks for most of us.  Implying that anyone has more or less cause to become a raging lunatic is uninformed and distructive. 

[post_functional]

MINORITY POSTDOC = DO IT INTO MY CROPS.

Always helpful advice for agrarians who need to tinkle.

[post_functional]

It sounds to me like the reason they keep calling you the "minority postdoc" is in reference to your funding status, not to you personally.  Your fellowship needs a cool anagram, more than anyone needs education. 

Anagram or acronym? My anagrammatic skills are not up to snuff enough to propose a good alternative, but there is probably some potential :-)

Maybe I should have specified that my previous post was a response to this, as to seem less the non-sequitur.

[voxprincipalis]

It sounds to me like the reason they keep calling you the "minority postdoc" is in reference to your funding status, not to you personally.  Your fellowship needs a cool anagram, more than anyone needs education. 

Anagram or acronym? My anagrammatic skills are not up to snuff enough to propose a good alternative, but there is probably some potential :-)

Maybe I should have specified that my previous post was a response to this, as to seem less the non-sequitur.

Oh, I rather like it just as it is. Yellowtractor would approve.

VP

[post_functional]

I miss that crazy piece of farm equipment.

[kron3007]

The tiny number of minority postdocs suggests that the problem starts at the beginning of the pipeline. Still, very little is being done to plug the leaks near the end, where careers are meant to blossom.

This must be school/field specific because where I am the majority of postdocs are minorities.