what do you think?

[MaggzB]

i don't understand why african americans have been refered to as people of color[black] isnt black the absence of all color and white the presence of all color? in which case wouldn't white people be those of color?


[what do you think?]

[bitesize]

I've been trying to find a link for the past ten minutes for soemthing I've read a few times, but I can't seem to get one up. Anyway, it said something about how even though black people were called 'coloured', white people go red when they're embarrassed, blue when they're cold, green when they're sick, and pale when they're frightened. Surely they are the coloured ones..??

[Bibliophile]

This is all I have to say.

Coloured

When I was born, I was black.
When I grew up, I was black.
When I get hot, I am black.
When I get cold, I am black.
When I am sick, I am black.
When I die, I am black.

When you were born, You were pink.
When you grew up, You were white.
When you get hot, You go red.
When you get cold, You go blue.
When you are sick, You go purple.
When you die, You go green.

AND YET YOU HAVE THE CHEEK TO CALL ME COLOURED!!!

(link.)

[Tara.]

I'd assume white people came up with the term to put down black people. No real reason behind it other than to be mean.

[mocochocolatte]

Technically it shouldn't be black but brown

[MaggzB]

i like the poem! and idk it popped into my head while trying to fall asleep last night haha

[losing touch.]

it's just the way it is. not something that bothers me.

[MaggzB]

doesnt really bother me either just didnt make much sense to me

[facade]

I feel weird calling an African American black D;
Because they're African American I guess?
If it's any other race I can say it...?

[Justin Bieber]

I've never really thought about this. I guess that's just 'the way it is.' I bet there are other things like this out there. Oh well.

[eunoia]

Originally Posted by facade

I feel weird calling an African American black D;
Because they're African American I guess?
If it's any other race I can say it...?

But not all black people are American or, for that matter, African. I mostly call people by skin color, if I actually ever have to do so. Black, brown, white, what have you, an American is just an American in my book; I don't call myself Italian American, I am just American. My grandfather, however, Italian American. He was born in Italy, although he lived much of his life in America. I reckon he'd laugh at someone that said they were Italian American just because their great-grandma was off the boat. If you're born in America, have always lived in America, and have never been a citizen elsewhere, you're just plain American, heritage aside. (Sorry for the rant )

Anyways, back to the topic at hand. "People of color" is a rather broad term and includes most everyone that is non-white. Calling people black and white, however, is a misnomer. Black people do not actually have black skin and white people do not have white skin, hence both groups would be considered to have a "color". Since "colored" is a historically derogatory epithet, though, it isn't a leap to assume white people would not have wanted to associate themselves with such a word.

[PSY]

Originally Posted by facade

I feel weird calling an African American black D;
Because they're African American I guess?
If it's any other race I can say it...?

Ah, but what if they aren't American? xD I actually lost points on a history quiz once, because I panicked and referred to black Haitians as "African-American" in order to avoid offending anyone. I suppose, if you want to describe someone, and you don't want to use color ("black"), you can simply use nationality instead ("American" or "Haitian").

[MaggzB]

everyone makes tons of sense

[Soliloquy]

Originally Posted by Rie

This is all I have to say.

Coloured

When I was born, I was black.
When I grew up, I was black.
When I get hot, I am black.
When I get cold, I am black.
When I am sick, I am black.
When I die, I am black.

When you were born, You were pink.
When you grew up, You were white.
When you get hot, You go red.
When you get cold, You go blue.
When you are sick, You go purple.
When you die, You go green.

AND YET YOU HAVE THE CHEEK TO CALL ME COLOURED!!!

(link.)

A fascinating argument that I admit, I've never considered before.

Although personally, I don't refer to anyone as a "person of color." Everybody is equal in my eyes; we're all human.