I came across this strange list of 'racial identifiers' while having to fill out an online application:
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Hispanic or Latino
Native Hawaiin or other Pacific Islander
White
Here are my thoughts on it:
American Indian:
They did not come from India. North America is not India. I think 500 years is plenty long enough to be confused. Call them Native Americans or First Nation Peoples of America, or better yet, find out what tribe they are from.
Asian:
One of two accurate identifiers on this list. But be careful how you use it, if we are going with continent-wide identifiers people from India and Russians have to fit into the category too.
Black or African American:
Have you ever heard of Egyptians? They're not what we call 'black'. This is just spouting off cultural thinking without thought or love. Also, I know lots of people who have immigrated from various parts of Africa. Would they want to be called African-Americans? NO! Not the way the term is used in the U.S.; it implies having been raised here and is associated with the history of slavery. Call them Africans.
Hispanic or Latino:
What does that even MEAN? I met a man with a shirt that said: Not Hispanic. Not Latino. MEXICAN. Who does that term apply to? Do they use it themselves? Recent genetic studies show that most south and central American peoples are largely Native American with some European mixed in due to the slaughter of native men and rape of native women. I think they should be asked what they want to be called.
Native Hawaiin or other Pacific Islander:
Not bad also, but if you remembered them, why did you forget:
Central Eurasian peoples:
You know, from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, etc.? They are a broad swath of the human genetic picture.
Lastly:
White:
Many Asians are pale too. Call them Europeans. If you are from there, get over it; and you're probably part neanderthal.
Soon, though, all this will be irrelevant, as Bahá'u'lláh said, "that differences of race be annulled."
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ReplyDeleteThe human genetic painting was originally one of almost complete uniformity: the only determinant of what people were like was how far away they lived and the relative climates the areas where they live. Only later did differences due to habits of living and societal groups, in which people were more likely to interbreed, created stronger genetic identities. Studies show that the differences created by these social phenomena are small at most, and now all genetic diversity is being completely reorganized by the work of globalization and intermarriages and coming together in a more perfect union that expresses all of the genetic variations that have been developed in a more single, unified expression. Imagine the differences between you and your brother as having more Malaysian or South American characteristics show up. It will be beautiful and glorious!
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