its common and ok to call europeans "white" and africans "black" but when is the last time youve heard "black, white, yellow", not 'black white, asian'?
207219
Actually, a few friends of mine who are Asian *do* call themselves 'yellow,' but only as a joke, because of how everyone else gets categorized by colour.\n\nThe problem with the term 'Asian,' in turn, is that it's not usually used (at least in my experience) for people from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc., even though these countries are obviously part of Asia; almost all Indians & Sri Lankans I know either call themselves *that* -- i.e. categorize themselves by specific nationality -- or, if they want to be broader, call themselves 'brown.' (For that matter, 'Asian' is usually not used for someone from Afghanistan or Iran either, for example; it's really only used for Chinese, Japanese, Koreans... etc. At least in my experience -- does anyone have a different experience of this?)\n\nBut the fact that 'yellow' isn't accurate can't be the whole story, then, since (at least as it's in fact used, i.e. too narrowly) 'Asian' isn't strictly accurate either, and 'black' and 'white' aren't particularly accurate either, since both can include a huge variety of skin tones. 'Blacks' can be super-dark, super-light, and everywhere in between; 'whites' can be rosy and pink, super-pale, or very olivey (my skin colour, for example -- I'm Caucasian, and would definitely be categorized as such -- is almost exactly the same colour as that of a friend of mine who's Chinese, and if I'm a bit tanned, it's almost the same colour as a friend from Peru, who's very racially mixed and definitely doesn't look 'white'). \n\nSo I guess what I'm saying is that it all seems highly arbitrary, all of this colour-categorizing. I'd agree with your question, then, in a way, but I'd reverse it: rather than asking why we don't call Asians 'yellow,' I'd ask why we *do* call others 'black' or 'white' or 'brown.' What's the point?
546634
No, Just happen to be that europeans were christians and white people decided to used their racism to segregate from blacks. Pretty sad stuff...
57148
I am white and I would never use that word. Among our friends, I can't think of anyone who uses that word so please do not classify all whites in the same category, okay? Oh to answer your question. NO, it is not OKAY!
612937
It's a personal choice.  If you don't want to be called African-American, then tell them so.  I myself am Black and I also use the term African-American.  I may be wrong, but I don't think the politicians came up with this term.  I believe we started using this term as a way to honor our ancestors.  Check on wikipedia.com for the origin of the term African American.
416627
i have realized this, just like if we had white history month we would be racist, or white entertainment television. it's obviously a double standard. i also think it's funny that a lof of back people call themselves african americans when they were born and raised here, have never been to africa and neither have their parents. i dont walk around saying i am german american. there are sooo many double standards it's un-real.
561663
Two Africans were kidnapped and brought to America as slaves, a man and a woman. The woman gets pregnant by the man. Would her baby not still be be African? Black people are African in race. We are American if we are born in America. The same goes for white people. You are not American just because you are white. You just happened to be born here. You may be Dutch, British, German or whatever. The only people of American ancestory is the Native American. What I want to know is why white people worry so much about what black people call themselves.
584038
From my own experiences, when we use it it has more of a friendly meaning. When others use it, most of the time it's used in a derogatory way.\n\nIMO I don't think anyone should use it, black or otherwise.
601870
Probably pretty immensely, and I must say, you have a good point. I don't understand why people are so touchy about their race. My grandfather was an Estonian (Teeny country on the Baltic) who immigrated to the US, and I don't get uptight when someone jokes about my heritage. But, if a person's grandfather was an African immigrant or Mexican immigrant, they'd be immensely offended if someone made jokes about their family's nation of origin. I don't think the minority argument stands, because even though I'm white, Estonians are certainly more of a minority than Mexicans or Africans.
427762
I have no problem with the term "black."  Besides, "African American", in my opinion, is not an appropriate term that can be used to describe the cultural ethnic group of which I am a member.  Whereas I can safely conclude that I am an individual of African descent living within the U.S., I cannot label myself in that manner simply because I am not an African of pure blood.
534853
THANK YOU!!!!!  I am soooooooo sick of this double standard with the black race-- if you watch the Wire, that's all they call eachother is nigger.  So WHY is it okay for them to use it to eachother but it is a major faux pas if any other race uses the word?  You dont see Jewish people calling eachother kikes, or Polish- polaks, Germans -krauts, Chinese-chinks, Puerto Ricans-spics, etc, etc.  This is a multiracial, multicultural world and if YOUR RACE ENJOYS calling eachother a nigger, and use it so proficiently, then you are opening pandoras box to allow everyone else to use it, whether it is acceptable to you or not- by the way, I dont particularly care to be called a "cracker" but at least I dont go around calling other white people this.
181151
asia is multi racial. singapore for example is home to malay, chinese and indi. i doubt if asia will be "globally-multi racial" in the future.
527119
It's a slang word where I am from and in it's context does not mean anything close to what the white people meant when they said it.  But on the contrary I do not use that word and I don't take offense if a black or white person says it.  Come in we are in the year 2006 slavery days are over people need to lighten up and stop using philosophy on every little thing.
409549
anglo comes from the term anglo saxon, referring to ppl who came from england/uk. i don't know about hispanic ppl using it, but we  native ppl use it as a way not to say "whites,"  "white people" or any use of the term "white," to describe "white" ppl. the word caucasian came so much later than the word anglo, so i think  anglo is used more often. i use the term "non-ndn ppl" more often than anglo...i'd rather not describe ppl according to their "color," sometimes though it's hard not too. when i'm with family, we just talk in our native language, and that cuts it all out.
383612
I've seen whites call each other the c-word, but I don't call white people that word. That's up to them. Yep, whites reserve the right to use that word and all though by definition it cannot be used derogatorily towards a white person, I will continue NOT to use it towards white people. It's just out of respect and common decency to just let it be.\n\nI wish white people will look at the n-word in the same light as I do, because if we start nitpicking we're going to start getting into freedom of speech issues. \n\nBlacks and other subcultures of the United States (i.e., Italians, Latinos, Irish, Polish) also reserve the right to use their respective racial epithets within their respective groups. \n\nNow if everyone agrees to accept this and not use racial epithets against other groups of people we will all be able to move on with our lives peaceably.\n\nI have a sub-question and I hope you can answer it:\nWhy are whites offended by blacks using the n-word amongst themselves? \n(A) Is it a "I don't want to hear it used in public"-thing? \nOr\n(B) Is it a "I feel that if they can use it amongst each other, I should be able to use it towards them, too"-thing?\n\nIf it's B, tough noogies, no one black person in their right mind is going to co-sign that BS.\n\nGood day!
481603
nope. you're right, not everyone is born in Africa. so just say black. great question!
240761
I don't think it necessarily is, however, I do think that the word used above (starts with N) should not be used by anyone.  Black or white, it is still a racial term.  Sy what you will, the simple fact that it's groundings are where they, says it is not a word that should be used anywhere, by anyone.
668170
no one should say it, it's derogatory, but we get more when a white person says it than a black person because of the history behind the word. it was used to humiliate and honestly it still does. I don't use it and I get pissed when anyone calls me that.