Racial terminology

[Droopy]

I'm a little confused on what is and what is not acceptable regarding racial terminology. Growing up my folks taught me to refer to people of African descent as "black." I've always used that term and I've only run into a problem with it one time. It came from a white professor when I was in college. I was writing an essay about the great political poet Langston Hughes and I referred to African-Americans as black people in my essay. The professor told me that I should use the term "African-American" to refer to those who are from African descent. I've never had anyone tell me that it was not okay to use the term "black" until then even when I was in grade school and went to a predominantly African-American school. I've also never had a problem with someone referring to me as white. I like that better than Caucasian which sounds like the name of some cheap car that GM made up.

My second area of confusion comes from people of mixed descent. I had a friend when I was growing up who had a black dad and a white mom. I never really thought of him in racial terms. I just thought he was a good guy and I was glad that he was my friend. One day I went somewhere with him (I forget the circumstances, I think he was filling out an application) and someone asked him what racial category that he fit into. He said bi-racial. I'd never heard that term before and I don't think that I've heard it since. Later when I was in college I had another white professor tell me that the term "mulatto" was not to be used when describing someone of mixed descent. I've heard here at DU people refer to some white guy's black daughter. I've also heard that in the press when describing such situations. Does having one black parent make you an African-American? Or is there some other term used to describe people of mixed descent?

I'll be happy when we don't have to use such terms.

[KingFlorez]

1. Terms can be interchangable

I don't mind black or African-American, to me it's the same thing and I don't see too many people get upset. Black is probably better to use though, as there are persons of black decent from the Caribbean, Africa and Europe, whereas African-American only covers those who live here.

Second, mixed race people are usually called black, it's just the way society views them. If you are born in America, you are an American and if you have a black parent then your are most of the time considered black, regardless of you other parent.

[Droopy]

2. Thanks KingFlorez

Now I can go teach my professor a lesson. ;)

[rogue emissary]

3. Hold on a second before you give him the business.

:)

I agree that both terms are interchangeable, but your professor could just be talking about using slang in a paper you wrote for him. I've had white professor correct papers were I used white to refer to Caucasians.

The term African American is usually considered grammatically correct term in business and scientific communities. that doesn't mean every black person wants to be called African American. If you continue the logic of black and white. Would you refer to Asians as yellow, or Native Americans as reds?

[Droopy]

4. Good point

I never thought of the terms "black" and "white" as being slang, but I guess that is the case. I don't know how Asians like being referred to as "yellow." I've heard that term used to describe them before in books (I think even in a religious song), but they may find that offensive. I know that many Native Americans think of the terms "red" or "redskin" to describe them as derogatory ala the Washington Redskins controversy.

[Droopy]

5. Here is the religious song I was referring to:

"Jesus loves the little children,
all the children in the world.
Red and yellow, black and white
they are precious in his sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world."

That was a popular one in my Sunday school class back in the late 70s to early 80s. It may still be, but I stopped going to church when I was 16 so I can't say.

[Book Lover]

6. I am currently in a discussion with one of my authors about this exact

issue and was just coming here to post this question. I will quote his email to me:

One of the reviewers on my book complains about my use of the terms black and white. Intellectually, he’s right—nobody is really black or white, and we thankfully don’t use red, yellow, or brown to refer to Indians, Asians, or Mexicans anymore. I’m really sympathetic to this critique, and my professional work reflects that. The problem is what alternates to use. For black people we have the useful term African Americans, although Afro-Americans is perhaps better because there are white African Americans (from South Africa for example) and also large immigrant groups who do not share the same history of discrimination that Afro-Americans have or, as in the case of say, Moroccans, the same skin tones. But the push for the use Afro-American hasn’t really captured anyone’s imagination, and at least African American isn’t so terrible as black. For white people, however, we’ve got nothing but Euro-Americans, which I personally like, but which is less often found in the literature. I hope to use it in the book (perhaps leading the revolution), although I look to you two for advice. Any thoughts on this terminology?

Here is DU's chance to effect change in academia. What do I tell the man?

[bliss_eternal]

7. Hi Droopy--

:hi: Welcome to this forum! It's so nice to see someone asking such thoughtful (and respectful questions). I look forward to seeing more from you here!

What to call those with more than one ethnicity? It really depends. Unfortunately, our society still seems to carry the idea that if you have any aspect of black in your blood then one is black. However, those that are of more than one ethnicity are working to change that. Some that are biracial want the ability to be known as such and not just grouped into one race or the other.

I've heard Lenny Kravitz (who is of Jewish and black heritage)state he thinks of himself as a black or African American man, though he is biracial. He stated his mom (Roxie Roker), told him that yes he does have two ethnic heritages that are part of his cultural background. But she also told him that the world and society at large would see him as a black man, so that is what he needed to identify himself as. For him, this resonated and he never had any questions about his identity or who he was.

I've heard that in some hospitals, they won't allow parents to state their child is biracial or multi-ethnic, parents have to pick one thing or the other. There are groups that are working to change this, because they feel it is limiting and it works to continue to box us all in based on race. I personally feel such a thing would be positive for race relations in the grand scheme of things. When we can stop categorizing people based on race, we can stop looking at ethnicity as a label, a means to divide, etc.

The population of biracial and multi-ethnic individuals in our country is growing. As this segment of the population continues to grow it will become harder and harder to typify people as one thing or the other. The world is growing more brown day by day, as more people marry and procreate interracially. This serves as part of the reason for such anger from white supremist groups that get so pissy about racial mixing? They are scared shitless that eventually no one will know what anyone is--then no one will have any foundation for the argument of "superiority based on race."

Not like they have a leg to stand on now, (lol) but people like them need to keep things simple so they can feel better about themselves.

For more information about biracial or multiethnic families here's a link for you:
http://www.mavinfoundation.org/ :hi:

I hope this was helpful!

[jmm]

8. My parents told me the same thing

My dad's black and my mom's white. Both are part Native American but my Dad more so than my mom. They said I should be proud of all parts of my heritage but at the same time I would be foolish to think I could decide to be white (not that I ever wanted to) and they would be negligent to not prepare me for a world that would think I was black.

When my father's ex first tried to register my little sister in school they told her she had to pick one race. She didn't feel right making the decision on her own so she went home and asked my father. He laughed and said to put down she was white so when they were expecting a white girl and saw her walk in the room they would realize how stupid it was to think she could pick one. She then called my grandma and she said to put down that she was American.

In general I think the main reason so many are resistant to picking one is that it feels unnatural. Any problems I or anyone else I've ever talked to have had because of their mixed descent have all been due to external forces. The family you grow up in is normal for you. It's only when other people start questioning it that you have questions. So why should somebody have to pick a label just to make others feel more secure in their world view?

I've always hated the word mulatto because I'm not a little mule. My brother likes to tell people he's a Halfrican-American but I really don't have a preferred term.

[bliss_eternal]

9. LOL--I like your brother's term!

I'm interracially married, and if I had a child I would tell them the same thing (unfortunately). It sucks that society at large needs to "label" people based on race, culture and ethnicity. But I see this changing--slowly but surely.

Think about it, as biracials marry and have kids, things are going to get too complicated in time to have to pick one box or another. I've seen it happening already. There are children that were born biracial that married a biracial spouse of totally different ethnicities--there's no way to typify their children. They don't look more black, white or asian--they are beautiful in their unique physical appearance.

I agree that we shouldn't have to pick a label to satisfy others world views. It's one of the reasons on occasion I've been so vehement in my debunking others negative language in regard to race on these boards. I honestly feel that alleged progressives should know better, but unfortunately they don't. :eyes: I hate to see blanketed statements about any race, ethnicity or culture. Allowing stuff like this to slide only reinforces negative stereotypes and bolsters the esteem of those that need to feel superior to others.

Good to see you and thank you so much for sharing your experience! :hi: