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

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Subject: Re: "The blacks"

Author:
Astrid

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Date Posted: 10:06:58 09/25/02 Wed
In reply to: Raisinmom 's message, "Re: "The blacks"" on 07:09:04 09/25/02 Wed

>I think the problem is that the word "black" is a
>general descriptive word that could apply to anything
>from a teapot to a tile, while "Chinese," for example,
>could only refer to the people or civilization of
>China. "The Chinese" could only mean the people of
>China, but "the blacks" could, in the proper context,
>mean the black napkins next to the good silverware or
>the pens on the counter.

Just to be argumentative:

"Which coins are you looking at?"

"The Chinese--how much are you selling them for?"

"What's your favourite food?"

"Italian, and I also love Thai!"

I honestly think the two words are interchangeable. Black, Chinese, female--all could refer to non-humans.

It isn't inherently dehumanising IMO. When used in a completely respectful way (as opposed to being used to generalise) it's completely equitable language IMO.

Now if black people as a culture choose to be referred to as AA and reject "black" totally for the reasons you have given, I am on board with that. But saying that someone is being offensive when she is most clearly NOT is over the top PCness and is only going to hurt any legitimate beef a person has.

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Re: "The blacks"	Raisinmom	10:21:20 09/25/02 Wed
Re: "The blacks" -- Astrid, 11:43:53 09/25/02 Wed Re: "The blacks" -- Astrid, 11:48:37 09/25/02 Wed Re: "The blacks" -- Raisinmom, 14:08:59 09/25/02 Wed Re: "The blacks" -- Astrid, 16:44:41 09/25/02 Wed Re: "The blacks" -- Raisinmom, 18:41:13 09/25/02 Wed Re: "The blacks" -- Astrid, 11:34:41 09/26/02 Thu Re: "The blacks" -- Raisinmom, 12:41:03 09/26/02 Thu