Re: "The blacks" -- It's Debateable

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Subject: Re: "The blacks"

Author:
Astrid

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Date Posted: 09:54:29 09/25/02 Wed
In reply to: M23 's message, "Re: "The blacks"" on 07:01:25 09/25/02 Wed

>I followed that thread...the only thing that I would
>say is that the term "the blacks" does marginalize.
>It typically is used as a means to separate
>communities, so no, you would not use it if you wanted
>to be the current flavor of pc.

I agree with you in this example"

"It is the blacks who comprise the majority of spots on the high school football team" or "the blacks are known for their love of fried chicken and beer".

Those are dismissive generalisations, and even if you called them the AAs I think it would come across as kind of racist.

The point being made on that other board is that the phrase was used in the context of American blacks. "The blacks fought for their rights."

How is this anything short of accurate and respectful? UNLESS the term "black" as a noun is inherently racist, which the black community itself (LW and perhaps others aside) doesn't think it is. It's confusing for young children (I have had to explain that we don't mean the term literally, anymore than white literally applies to people of european descent), but I don't think there is any judgment in the word itself.

>I do take issue with "ANY" label, particularly if it
>is used to separate communities...perhaps its a result
>of living in a community which has MANY different
>groups represented or perhaps my own petpeeve that my
>kids, even in todays society, are still being asked
>about their ethnic origin...They are Americans, period.

I hear your point, but isn't it also uplifting in some ways to embrace a particular community? I mean, black history month could be seen as divisive and singling out one group, but because of that group's history I think it's an important distinction to make. Black kids growing up haven't in the past had as many role models as white kids (for historical reasons and also because prominent blacks just aren't as recognised as prominent WASPs in our culture).

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Re: "The blacks"	Raisinmom	10:14:28 09/25/02 Wed
Re: "The blacks" -- Alan, 06:47:07 09/29/02 Sun Re: "The blacks" -- Siannach, 20:34:06 10/01/02 Tue