I am so frustrated that you cringed when a small child referred to another child as the brown boy. I think that is beautiful. The red haired girl. The tall man. The Asian boy. The white lady. Why does that have to be racist? I think its unfortunate to be too uncomfortable to even say the word black in front of a black person. Racism is about intent. Children are beautiful and honest. My young daughter mentioned a kid she really liked and been hanging out with at school. I asked which one she was when we were at her school. She said "the brown girl". It was a descriptor. She didn't feel the need to say, the third girl from the left with the blue coat next to the swings. I thought her freedom to talk about color without guilt or judgment was honest and real. In this context it was the most logical way to differentiate visually a person in a group. Intent. Racism is about thinking your race is superior. Its a sick belief. Hitler.
When someone points out that something you say "might be offensive" I think you have a responsibility to look at it and make a change if there could be sensitivity....but lets not go too far. Many blacks don't want to be called African American. Its almost taboo to even say black anymore which is stupid. If someone is clearly being a jerk call them out. Otherwise I think we should all lighten up a bit. Real racist people don't feel guilt about what they do. People who try really hard not to be perceived racist do feel that guilt.... and I think it leads to more problems when political correctness takes over and clouds the truth. They try so hard that it gets into changing the names of colors so as not to offend even one person anywhere anytime. Good luck. That will never happen, ironically because people who share the same race DO NOT all think the same way, DO NOT all believe the same things and have a unified outlook on everything. (There really are no secret meetings....really!) Diversity is deeper than color.
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I am so frustrated that you cringed when a small child referred to another child as the brown boy. I think that is beautiful. The red haired girl. The tall man. The Asian boy. The white lady. Why does that have to be racist? I think its unfortunate to be too uncomfortable to even say the word black in front of a black person. Racism is about intent. Children are beautiful and honest. My young daughter mentioned a kid she really liked and been hanging out with at school. I asked which one she was when we were at her school. She said "the brown girl". It was a descriptor. She didn't feel the need to say, the third girl from the left with the blue coat next to the swings. I thought her freedom to talk about color without guilt or judgment was honest and real. In this context it was the most logical way to differentiate visually a person in a group. Intent. Racism is about thinking your race is superior. Its a sick belief. Hitler.
July 3, 2010 - 10:08amWhen someone points out that something you say "might be offensive" I think you have a responsibility to look at it and make a change if there could be sensitivity....but lets not go too far. Many blacks don't want to be called African American. Its almost taboo to even say black anymore which is stupid. If someone is clearly being a jerk call them out. Otherwise I think we should all lighten up a bit. Real racist people don't feel guilt about what they do. People who try really hard not to be perceived racist do feel that guilt.... and I think it leads to more problems when political correctness takes over and clouds the truth. They try so hard that it gets into changing the names of colors so as not to offend even one person anywhere anytime. Good luck. That will never happen, ironically because people who share the same race DO NOT all think the same way, DO NOT all believe the same things and have a unified outlook on everything. (There really are no secret meetings....really!) Diversity is deeper than color.
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