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It’s funny how people take things on the Internet.
Yesterday I wrote a post condemning political correctness and I was immediately accosted by random accusations about my motivations behind the article. […]
Original post: Maggie and The Client
Personally I refuse to use the term “African American” because it’s so completely inaccurate.
Most of the black people you encounter in America have been there for generations, so calling them “African” makes as much sense as calling a white person “European.” And, there’s white people from Africa too. South Africa, Kenya, and many other African nations have white populations.
A black person you meet might be truly African, and not “american” at all. Or, they might be from Brittain, or Australia, or Brazil, or just about anywhere else. If, for example, you see a black person who is actually from somewhere else, like let’s say Brazil, and you call him an “african american” you look like an ass.
Like most forms of political correctness, it makes no sense and just confuses the issue.
I never use the term african american (unless somehow part of a joke on calling someone that) both because it’s too long and, like Fasta said, it’s often inaccurate.
Also, please write down the story about Philip, it sounds interesting.
I believe you cannot claim dual citizenship unless you actually ARE a citizen of both. And, do you have to have a description for your friend? Since when do we introduce our friends as, “this is Phillip, a brown skinned man, with whom I share residence with”. Couldn’t describing him as a warm, kind and generous soul be more esoteric? I suppose you were trying to describe his physical prescence in full color, not black and white. Which I admire. And Maggie’s dillemma was boldly displayed. She felt dirtied/soiled for the accusation. And, rightly so, she engaged in a battle to cleanse her anger placed there by the client. I would have done the same. Okay, V, do tell us about your friend Phillip. D
You know what pisses me off to no end…the fact that every American that’s not white has to have some descriptor fixed to the front of their race or ethnicity…African Americans, Asian Americans, Indian Americans… How come there’s no such thing as an Italian American or a British American? Why is it that the “settlers” came here and started calling themselves themselves Americans, yet handed everyone else a prefix. Why has it become such that every other name for a person’s ethnicity can so easily be considered derogatory except these pre-determined descriptors?
agreed.
who the hell put africa in the forefront of black people all over the world?
jamica, haiti, dominican, middle east..
all have people’s with dark skin. as well as light. that’s the whole world domination effect that started long before people even thought of settling in the americas..
black people aren’t black and the only whites are albinos.
but the collective term for people with dark skin is black. the collective term of pinkish people is white. the collective term of people from east asia is oriental or asian. south asains usually get stuck with indian - even though there are many more country possibilities than india. latino/a would describe someone with a spanish accent.
i’m from canada, so we don’t call our natives indian (it would confuse them with all the our other south asains) and we don’t call our inuits eskimos, but what ever..
call me a bicycle for all i care. it’s not the word, it’s the intent and message behind it that’s important.
while i understand that words have power - and can really do harm, if someone is genuine in attempting to communicate, then it’s that that most people notice and respect…
and if you wanted to get REALLY technical - since the birth place of man came from africa, then really aren’t we all african-fill-in-the-blank?
:)
and another thing:
see!!
i said a couple of feedbacks ago that V can come off in a way that makes her seem as she’s attempting to disclaim herself because of all the backlash and the critics.
V if you read this:
don’t bother. just do as you did before you cared.
you’re a wonderful writer, and tell things as you see them. i don’t always agree - but it’s super refreshing to see you say what you say, regardless of how others will take it.
i can understand making sure that you’re saying what you’re trying to say… but please don’t let something like political correctness stand in the way of telling a story.
I worked with many………………….uh “Black” people some years ago, and the ones who were brown or very light brown themselves did not like the term Black!! They said, “I’m NOT black, I’m brown” but they were in the dilemma of what to call themselves because they weren’t the trend setters who set these names up in the first place!! My one friend actually said “colored” was a much better description than Black ever was, in her personal opinion, but of course the trend setters banned that one a long time ago!
I wish I could have commented before you posted again…
but oh well.
Black is perfectly acceptable. There was no caucus of black leaders that met, issuing a decree that we had a new moniker.
Black is fine. Doesn’t matter. I only wish it were appropriate to call asians yellow, native americans reds, etc.
***************
And V? You are a little racist. We all are. Just a hair, at the very least. Just the way it is. You have to recognize what bits of your personal ideas/values are flawed, and make a conscious effort to overcome them.
People that take advantage of being different are racist people too. They discriminate themselves for profit from honest people. That is more wrong than being a “traditional” racist.
this is certainly (for me) the most powerful thing you’ve written. it really nails down the pratfalls of PC culture which of course is well intentioned but can - and is - used to wound and silence others as oppose to enlighten.
Your frustration is understandable, especially given that experience. I don’t know how long ago that story took place, but nowadays it’s perfectly fine to call a black person black. I think there was a point in time when “African American” was preferred, but for some reason things have cooled down today and I think that black people actually prefer being called black instead of “African American,” although I’m not black, so perhaps I’m not the best person to ask.
Just logically speaking though, ‘black’ should be perfectly fine. After all, nobody calls white people “European American,” that would be inconvenient and ridiculous. And if people start giving you shit over it, call them on their stupidity. There is nothing wrong with calling a black person black, to say otherwise would be ridiculous, nervous, and dare I say it racist.
Oh, just to add, I look forward to reading your story on Phillip if you choose to write it.
I don’t understand the sudden attack of sensitivity. First off, cosigned about the overly PC situation we face today, but it seems like you have had no problem speaking it as you saw it in your other posts, why let something stupid like political correctness stop you now, because of one incident?
V, I’d like you to continue your story exactly how you saw it and are currently seeing it. Of course, I’ve known much about it for some time,
but I’ve never really heard the truth from your perspective. Please go on.
I guess when I talk about helping people… I’m really talking about helping you. I don’t know if there is anything I could possibly do for you anymore, but I want you to know, IF THERE IS, you have to know I will do it. I love my families (yes that is a plural) too. I’m slowly starting to feel alive again thanks to you. I’ve wallowed in the past for long enough. If I’m allowed nothing else in my life time, (mes), I want to hear, or at least read, your true self shining as it always has on me. Love me or hate me, I just want you to be as happy as you can possibly be. I never meant to hurt you… but I must say this past decade has confused the hell out of me (literally) and allowed me to become at least somewhat centered. You can call me jack if you want, or you can refer to me as bro… or you can refer to me as self correcting mechanism, for that is my ultimate goal… to correct myself… whatever that means. I guess I just want to know you and yours… and I’d like to know how much of you’re ‘frustration’ is due to my actions. I’d like to know if I can ‘fix’ anything that is ‘broken’ in you due to my slightly unorthodox methods of communication and just trying to keep in touch. I could really use some resolution.
V - powerful story that got right to the heart of the debate. Well done.
I agree with the general sentiment here that the word used is far less important than the meaning behind it, and that the real problem is the people that choose to use such an easily exploitable push-button to create drama or advantage or just to go off on a righteous rant.
Truth is we use and need descriptors, and skin color or ethnic grouping is a relevant one in a large number of circumstances. There is no reason to mention a persons skin color when it is not pertinent to the story, but often it is. Maybe because of an important racial component to the discussion, or maybe just because it simply defines that person in a more accurate way for the listener/reader to grasp. The same way you might throw in any other character trait, article of clothing, or geo-political descriptive to help the others grasp the person being described. “D was one of these types of white guys you know who live in Berkeley and wear those extra heavy black rim glasses, and write letters to the editor”…maybe i didn’t need “white” in there, but maybe i did - it helps one see the guy. Same goes for black or whatever. Use it if your intention is good, and don’t let anyone back you down for it.
Oh and V, remember why you didn’t put comments on your blog? Don’t let this almost official comments place (or any other) start making you feel like you need to defend anything you say or respond to criticism. Just keep writing, your way, your subjects.
@14
Emerild, the only thing you are really always talking about is you, you, you.
Its good and all that you think you are getting better, but do you have to do it in public? Save your personal development woo-woo self-affirmation for your reiki sessions.
We come here to talk about the substance of VA posts.
“who the hell put africa in the forefront of black people all over the world?”
Probably ninety-percent of blacks did come from africa via slavery shipping and what not, but I agree with you that its a dumb term. ( http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=your_stupid_ideas )
To be honest I don’t see any fuss about being called black at all, sure it may bring up bad memories for black people, and if it does there is not problem in asking to be called something else. But, if someone pulls the race card on me I’d have to pull the race card on them, I mean I’m not ‘White’! That’s a derogatory term right? I’m ‘caucasion’ right? Just trying to pull that off with a straight face is hard.
“President Theodore Roosevelt insisted to an Irish Catholic audience in 1915 that ,
“There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all. …”
I agree with a poster yesterday … if I can be called “white” then they can be called “black”. It is not a derogatory word at all … it is a descriptive word, it is a color not an insult. It would be as if bankers all of a sudden wanted to be called Financial-Americans or doctors wanted to be called Medical-Americans.
I say … get over it and learn to act like an adult.
@15, Well stated. Excellent points
I can understand the trauma of V’s boss’ being called racist when she was not.
Both of my husbands were black. Not African-American or anything else. They were BLACK. That’s how they referred to themselves and that’s how I referred to them.
A few years ago a black man stopped me on the street and asked me for money. I told him no - I do not give money to people on the street.
He called me a white asshole racist - and shouted “You won’t give me money because I’m a nigger!”
I’m not a violent person, but before I knew what I was doing I had that man pinned against the nearest wall and screamed into his face: “Both of my dead husbands were black - one was a dancer and the other was a CPA. You’re just a fucking junkie with shit in your pants and on your hands. And you are a fucking nigger!”
I then kneed him in the balls and fled. I was shaking an hour later and extremely pissed off at a) being called a racist and b) having been violent.
I recall the incident with shame and with pride. Shame at having assaulted a junkie and pride because my husbands would have been very proud of me.
Sometimes life just sucks.
@16 me, me, me… that’s ridiculous I’m talking about hearing what V has to say and how I can help her… just because I used the word (I) so much in the post doesn’t really mean it’s all about me. Nice try at making me look like the antagonist here. Anyway I don’t care what you come here to talk aobut. I come here to talk to V. You can talk in circles about racism and politics and whatever the hell you want to. I’m addressing the person not the substance of her posts. If this site was set up by a third party, then to contact them may not be contacting V… you see what I’m getting at here. Just because you may think it’s all about me… doesn’t make it so.
If you can read #14 again and really tell me it’s all about me… well I guess that makes me self-centered, but I thinks it’s about two people… V and me. Just because I’d prefer to hear about V and the subject of her character… and maybe even where I fit into it, if at all doesn’t make me, me, me all about me, me, me… ok you?
@ Va ginal
does this make any sense to you?
I don’t have a blog because I really
only want to communicate with a few
people… V being one of them. I could
really use less of the rag on Emerild
hour. You don’t have to read my posts.
Just skip over ‘em. It’s pretty simple.
I’m just trying to make progress in
a situation. You want me to go to
reiki???
So, VA ginal you see an Emerild post just skip to the next one…
If all this me, me me shit brings you down.
methinks race relations are what they are…
same with politics and religion.
Anytime anyone posts anything its ‘personal development woo-woo self-affirmation for their reiki sessions.’
No offense intended.
Now that that’s out of the way. I like to address people regardless of race, creed, nationality, lifestyle choice e.t.c… however they personally prefer to be addressed. I don’t mean to belittle anyone at anytime (that includes you VA ginal). But, if someones gonna take a shot at me… I will respond in kind. It’s called self-defense.
V, since I’m the apologizerer… I didn’t mean to hurt any of your fans’ feelings. I’ll put it simply. We’d like to hear more about what you have to say. See now it’s about we, we, we. If this is the only way we can communicate let’s make the best of it… from today forward.
@Emerilid
Do you actually know V in real life or something because if not you kind of sound like a stalker
Whatever… I can only go on intuition. I’m sure as hell not stalking anyone. You kind of sound like an accuser. Let’s just say there is a
possibility I have met V before. There is also a possibility I have not.
I’m not stalking V. V, if I’ve never met you… then just ignore me.
I guarantee that you are safe from my ’stalking’… SO, now we’re
changing the subject to stalking. Let’s then define stalking.
According to Webster’s third new international dictionary the very first
defintion of ’stalk’ is “to walk stealthily.”
If that is what you meant my stalk jen, than yes I do walk stealthily.
As far as other definitions are concerned… no I am not nor have I ever been pursuing prey… to maim, kill or injure anyone or anything in any way.
Most of the defintions of stalk involve some sort of ‘walking’
Yes I do enjoy walking
therefore I am a stalker
does that satisfy you jen?
Have a nice day ; )
I’m pretty sure I’m not a
Wow I didn’t consciously write that last line
‘I’m pretty sure I’m not a…’
I am positively sure I am a walker.
At some point the line between ‘who is the stalker’ and who is the ’stalked’
becomes quite blurred. Maybe even flipped like a coin… or like magnetic pole shifts. These things happen from time to time. I enjoy walking stealthily on nature trails… like in my favorite county parks and what not.
I stalk/walk around trails, particularly in the spring and summer. Any other thoughts on walking??? or walking stealthily?
Howdy…got bad news for ya: You’re a better writer than you think. You totally nailed it. If anyone cares (obviously they shouldn’t), I’m a black guy. I prefer ‘greg’, but I don’t care much if you call me something else. And when folks are in obvious distress over what word to use, I can’t decide to shake ‘em or hug ‘em. Like you said, we’d all be better off if we could forget about PC.
@Emerild:
stalked, stalk·ing, stalks
v. intr.
To walk with a stiff, haughty, or angry gait: stalked off in a huff.
To move threateningly or menacingly.
To track prey or quarry.
v. tr.
To pursue by tracking stealthily.
To follow or observe (a person) persistently, especially out of obsession or derangement.
To go through (an area) in pursuit of prey or quarry.
glad we cleared that up
As my (black) grandmother always put it:
“I was born in America, to American parents, I’ve never been to Africa, I have no desire to go to Africa. I am therefore not ‘African-American’.”
Until the day she died, she was Black.
Then I guess I’m stalking a blog.
There’s a different name for that though isn’t there?
@31
Your Grandmother was a wise woman.
Sheez. Some people… one person cant put all he has to say in one comment at a time. 2 - 3 is what he usually needs… :(
Anyway, I just wanted to say hom much I understood how hurt you could get when someone tells you hate someone you actually love - a lot.
On This Day In History…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…