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Discussion: Why Are Americans So Obsessed With Race?
Member Since: 11/26/2010
Posts: 945
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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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I completely agree. Here in America, if you ask someone what they're mixed with, they'll say OH...I'm half Puerto Rican and Dominican. Those are nationalities. Not race. That's what America has an issue with.
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Member Since: 6/16/2010
Posts: 19,686
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Quote:
Originally posted by Đeucés
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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It is constantly misused though, to the point of it being silly. It is fine for actual African Americans but Americans now just assume that all black people are African Americans unless there is extremely obvious signs otherwise. Technically the term African American isn't a race, although many people argue otherwise, it is a convenient way of describing background though, I get that. African American is a political identity and a very politically correct term.
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Member Since: 8/22/2009
Posts: 50,646
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Quote:
Why Are Americans So Obsessed With Race?
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Because of American History.
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Member Since: 6/16/2010
Posts: 19,686
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Quote:
Originally posted by S&M
I completely agree. Here in America, if you ask someone what they're mixed with, they'll say OH...I'm half Puerto Rican and Dominican. Those are nationalities. Not race. That's what America has an issue with.
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It is kind of understandable as those are terms pretty much everyone there uses and you understand what they are saying even if they aren't saying it in the right way.
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Member Since: 4/4/2011
Posts: 1,395
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While they are not the sole perpetrators, I feel the media certainly doesn't help.
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Member Since: 12/29/2010
Posts: 1,035
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I thought about this a lot too. I was an exhange student in the US when I was in high school and I remember being so confused when I had to sign papers and put "caucasian" in them. I've never had to specify my race in any way in Sweden and I just thought it was so weird.
I guess it has something to do with how America is a country of immigrants, and everybody's still so proud of their heritage and confuse it with race sometimes.
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Member Since: 3/21/2010
Posts: 19,112
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I see race and sexuality similar in the sense that as generations go by, more and more people seem to not worry and care about it as much. Like let's say 50 to 60 years ago it was almost like forbidden for a white person to date someone who was black. But now you see alot more couples that are black & white dating. Now as far as sexuality goes 50-60 years ago gay people would be completely treated like crap and people would look down on it just as black & white relationships. For the most part though this generation doesn't really seem to care as much about gayness and there are less homophobes around. But everywhere you go there will ALWAYS be people who hate gays, Multiracial relationships, etc. I'm afraid it will always be like that but over time it will get alot better I'm sure.
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Member Since: 6/16/2010
Posts: 19,686
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mayline
I thought about this a lot too. I was an exhange student in the US when I was in high school and I remember being so confused when I had to sign papers and put "caucasian" in them. I've never had to specify my race in any way in Sweden and I just thought it was so weird.
I guess it has something to do with how America is a country of immigrants, and everybody's still so proud of their heritage and confuse it with race sometimes.
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I think it is fantastic that they are proud of that.
Family history and cultural background are so much more meaningful than race anyway.
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Member Since: 5/28/2010
Posts: 29,225
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bea.
It is constantly misused though, to the point of it being silly. It is fine for actual African Americans but Americans now just assume that all black people are African Americans unless there is extremely obvious signs otherwise. Technically the term African American isn't a race, although many people argue otherwise, it is a convenient way of describing background though, I get that. African American is a political identity and a very politically correct term.
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Then your problem is with the idiots that misuse it. I've personally never heard it being misused. It's not a race, Black is the race. African American is more of a nationality. And African American is a politically correct term for those who don't want to seem offensive.
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Member Since: 12/28/2010
Posts: 26,529
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this as been a major issue in america for years
I myself dont care about race nor am I obsessed with it
I date any race it doesnt bother me
instead of worrying about race we need to stick together in this country to make it a better place
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Member Since: 11/2/2010
Posts: 7,797
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I am American and don't discriminate, but to be fair, when I was in France the people there looked down upon anyone who wasn't fluent in French...so I don't think American's really are the worst of the worst not that that's really a complement, either
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Member Since: 6/16/2010
Posts: 19,686
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Quote:
Originally posted by Đeucés
Then your problem is with the idiots that misuse it. I've personally never heard it being misused. It's not a race, Black is the race. African American is more of a nationality. And African American is a politically correct term for those who don't want to seem offensive.
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That was exactly my point. Perhaps you don't see it being misused because you aren't in those situations, thats why it annoys me, I don't like to see people categorized so generally.
It is a political identity and PC, perfectly acceptable way for any black American to identify themselves, no misuse would mean no problems.
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Member Since: 4/23/2011
Posts: 16,377
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Quote:
Originally posted by victor_lithium
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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Why is it weird? You probably think of Lucy Liu as "Chinese" even though she was born in the US too.
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Member Since: 6/16/2010
Posts: 19,686
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Quote:
Originally posted by Toastyrokr
I am American and don't discriminate, but to be fair, when I was in France the people there looked down upon anyone who wasn't fluent in French...so I don't think American's really are the worst of the worst not that that's really a complement, either
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Really?
I've been to France a lot and never had that issue, the only time I've seen anyone 'looked down on' is when they don't even attempt to speak the language. I personally agree with that though, I think it is incredibly rude to go to a foreign country making no attempt to even bring a book to help with language and just expect people to speak English but if they do make the attempt, even if it is terrible, I've only seen them treated with respect.
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Member Since: 5/28/2010
Posts: 29,225
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bea.
That was exactly my point. Perhaps you don't see it being misused because you aren't in those situations, thats why it annoys me, I don't like to see people categorized so generally.
It is a political identity and PC, perfectly acceptable way for any black American to identify themselves, no misuse would mean no problems.
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This! I don't like it either and I've been categorized generally. In America for almost anything we do we have to put or nationality/race. And I hate that.
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Member Since: 12/29/2010
Posts: 1,035
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I also find it so confusing when I hear Americans talking about president Obama as the first black president and all that, but very rarely mentions how he is technically just as white as he is black? It's silly that his race is even discussed so much.
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Member Since: 6/16/2010
Posts: 19,686
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Quote:
Originally posted by Inverted
Why is it weird? You probably think of Lucy Liu as "Chinese" even though she was born in the US too.
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Chinese is not a race, neither is latin. Proving one of my earlier points.
There are only 4 'pure' races (I hate that word in this context so much but I can't think of another way to say it). And there are many mixed races.
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Member Since: 3/21/2010
Posts: 19,112
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mayline
I also find it so confusing when I hear Americans talking about president Obama as the first black president and all that, but very rarely mentions how he is technically just as white as he is black? It's silly that his race is even discussed so much.
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Bill Clinton was the first black president and Obama will deal.
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Member Since: 5/3/2010
Posts: 26,013
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Sadly racism and segregation will always be an issue, just as homophobia and other things like this will be. We can only hope that as a nation the US might be able to improve and move forward. As much as it sucks it's really kinda a situation where you have to suck it up and deal with it and move past it and be the bigger person.
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Member Since: 5/1/2007
Posts: 15,659
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Quote:
Originally posted by S&M
I completely agree. Here in America, if you ask someone what they're mixed with, they'll say OH...I'm half Puerto Rican and Dominican. Those are nationalities. Not race. That's what America has an issue with.
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Yes, this bothers me too
Quote:
Originally posted by satellites™
Because of American History.
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Please elaborate
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