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Discussion: Why Are Americans So Obsessed With Race?
Member Since: 5/1/2007
Posts: 15,659
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Why Are Americans So Obsessed With Race?
This steaming from the fact that in the Raven thread people were saying Nicole Richie was black, and then someone stated she was half caucasian, 1/4 black, 1/4 mexican...
At least here in my country we don't use this racial categories. I don't know if i'm half something or a quarter whatever, we're simply a mixture of people and we don't really pay much attention to that. We don't ask a person what their race is because we simply have no races; if someone is called black it's because their skin color is dark but nothing more.
I've always wondered why people from the US know what proportion of race they have in them! A friend of mine met an American and one of the first things he asked was what was her racial background.
It's just weird.
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Member Since: 6/16/2010
Posts: 19,686
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I also think they confuse race and nationality or heritage a lot.
German, Irish, Spanish, Chinese... none of them are races.
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Member Since: 8/6/2010
Posts: 7,090
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I don't care about race.. especially when I date people. But that's just me.. I guess everyone has their preferences.
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Member Since: 6/16/2010
Posts: 19,686
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Quote:
Originally posted by Naaji GaGa
I don't care about race.. especially when I date people. But that's just me.. I guess everyone has their preferences.
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I honestly never even notice race, it's not something I think about. I don't categorize people by their race. Some people are obsessed by it. I will never understand.
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Member Since: 3/2/2008
Posts: 14,823
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I'm American, and I could care less, but yes, racial profiling is still a major issue in America. Realize, though, that it has only been about 60 years since segregation was made illegal. And slaves were freed only 150 years ago. I know that seems like a long time, but it's a whole lot shorter than most countries. As the years go on, though, each generation gets more and more tolerant of things, race included.
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Member Since: 11/7/2010
Posts: 5,164
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I sometimes wonder why, but i guess it's because we then find out what our ancestry is, I guess. I think it's cool to know about where your ancestors were from I could honestly care less about it though, because it usually just leads to racism, & I go against almost any form of prejudice.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 5/2/2010
Posts: 6,088
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Nicole Richie is black???!! Why does everyone wanna look like Michael Jackson??
Anyways, that's because according to Americans, race defines the person you are on the inside? ^^
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Member Since: 5/28/2010
Posts: 29,225
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I think it has to do with the constant diversity in America. And the American history.....and I think it also has something to do with the media. The media puts several stereotypes on different races and backgrounds...some people in America believe these stereotypes. So race matters because people will try to some you up as a person based off your race and those stereotypes.
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Member Since: 12/3/2010
Posts: 19,759
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Well I know in my case I grew up with people dictating what I could and could not be so I couldn't be oblivous to the fact. My mother is African American and my father is African American and Puerto Rican and he grew up mostly in Puerto Rico. People would tell me, "You can't be Puerto Rican, you're too dark and you don't speak Spanish." or " You're a liar, shut the f*ck up, if you're black you're black." Even my mother's family tried to define me as what they wanted, so I usually don't tell anyone unless they ask me why my last name is Herrera. It doesn't bother me much now that I'm older cause know there are ignorant people no matter where I go, but it does hurt I guess. When it comes to other people I honestly don't notice or care how they define themselves, but I know what I like to be seen as I suppose.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 8/4/2009
Posts: 21,911
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because they are TOO SUPERFICIAL
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Member Since: 1/10/2007
Posts: 7,924
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I know what you mean
also it's weird that they called people like JLo or Jessica alba "Latin" when they born in USA
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Member Since: 5/28/2010
Posts: 29,225
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Quote:
Originally posted by Taste of Honey
Well I know in my case I grew up with people dictating what I could and could not be so I couldn't be oblivous to the fact. My mother is African American and my father is African American and Puerto Rican and he grew up mostly in Puerto Rico. People would tell me, "You can't be Puerto Rican, you're too dark and you don't speak Spanish." or " You're a liar, shut the f*ck up, if you're black you're black." Even my mother's family tried to define me as what they wanted, so I usually don't tell anyone unless they ask me why my last name is Herrera. It doesn't bother me much now that I'm older cause know there are ignorant people no matter where I go, but it does hurt I guess. When it comes to other people I honestly don't notice or care how they define themselves, but I know what I like to be seen as I suppose.
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I understand. I'm African American...and a little bit Cherokee. I am not the stereotypical black guy. I suck at Basketball, rarely cursing, don't care for rap, and I don't use Ebonics. People are constantly saying "why do you act white" etc... its like you have to act a certain way because you are a certain way. And when people always say "why do you act white" I just go off. I get fed up with stupidity of that nature. So I understand what you go through. You have some puterto rican in you. Embrace it and **** those who try to label you down to one race.
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Member Since: 11/20/2010
Posts: 29,258
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I'm living in Germany, but I'm from Portugal and there are a lot of racists here.
You also notice a lot of German people being nice to you but thinking you're something worse just because you're from somewhere else. It's the thing I hate most here.
I know this has nothing to do with America though.
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Member Since: 11/7/2010
Posts: 5,164
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Quote:
Originally posted by Porygon2z
because they are TOO SUPERFICIAL
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No, not at all. Many are very prejudiced towards people, & it's because of what the media feeds America.
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Member Since: 11/26/2010
Posts: 945
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It has a lot to do with the history of America, and it's often the same way in some parts of Puerto Rico, Cuba, and ESPECIALLY the Dominican Republic. Racism isn't a big issue where I live, but I can say for a fact there a lot of stereotypes. It's not a huge issue, it's just the few ignorant people overshadow the majority of the Americans who could care absolutely less about race.
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Member Since: 6/16/2010
Posts: 19,686
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I also find the term 'African American' a little silly, I get it completely for Americans but I've seen American people call British people African American because they are black, when they aren't American. That phrase to me just seems to be a way to not say the colour of their skin, the colour of someones skin is not an insult or a bad thing at all.
As I said before, I think a lot of people don't fully understand what is and isn't classified as race.
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Member Since: 6/16/2010
Posts: 19,686
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Quote:
Originally posted by S&M
It has a lot to do with the history of America, and it's often the same way in some parts of Puerto Rico, Cuba, and ESPECIALLY the Dominican Republic. Racism isn't a big issue where I live, but I can say for a fact there a lot of stereotypes. It's not a huge issue, it's just the few ignorant people overshadow the majority of the Americans who could care absolutely less about race.
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There are stereotypes everywhere for every race, colour, nationality, gender, sexuality. It is a sad fact of life. Even with those stereotypes very few countries have such a public and uninhibited interest towards race. I don't think this is about racial ignorance either but rather about why Americans seem to be so interested in race when it is nearly always irrelevant.
People here would consider it rude if you asked someone all about their race within minutes of meeting them. If someone has an unusual accent it is perfectly acceptable to ask them if they moved here recently and where from or something to that effect but it is just rude to ask someone for their racial background.
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Member Since: 11/11/2010
Posts: 11,240
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America has issues with race. it had been beaten into our minds that people are separated by race look how we do the census. We need to resolved the problems we have some people here are still not over Slavery and Segregation. It's too much of a sensitive issue to be brought up. Our wounds as a nation has not healed but I pray they will over time
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Member Since: 5/28/2010
Posts: 29,225
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bea.
I also find the term 'African American' a little silly, I get it completely for Americans but I've seen American people call British people African American because they are black, when they aren't American. That phrase to me just seems to be a way to not say the colour of their skin, the colour of someones skin is not an insult or a bad thing at all.
As I said before, I think a lot of people don't fully understand what is and isn't classified as race.
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African American isn't a silly term because it defines our background. And for the people that called black British people "African American" misused it.
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Member Since: 11/7/2010
Posts: 5,164
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Quote:
Originally posted by princedonte
America has issues with race. it had been beaten into our minds that people are separated by race look how we do the census. We need to resolved the problems we have some people here are still not over Slavery and Segregation. It's too much of a sensitive issue to be brought up. Our wounds as a nation has not healed but I pray they will over time
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