I would also like to know why Asian people born in America don't insist on being called Asian American.
I've always figured it's because African-American refers to a specific group of people, that is to say, those descended from slaves from Africa--whereas Africans are people from Africa more recently. With Asians there is no need for such distinction
Asians in America are from Asia pretty recently, too
plenty of families are only third-gen or second-gen
for instance my cousins were born in Texas even though their parents grew up in Asia, and they certainly don't insist that they be called Asian Americans
like, I see what you're saying, in that African Americans refer ONLY to those who descended from slaves in Africa, but it just strikes me as a blanket term for everyone who's black in the US
even people who weren't born in Africa but happen to be black and American are called African American... a friend of a friend is one such individual, and when he fills in those forms people always tell him he checked the wrong box
actually viv I wasn't saying that there aren't any recent Asians--just that there isn't really any reason for a distinguishing term between recent immigrants and people who trace their linegage back eight generations
and pretty much everyone who's black in the U.S. is descended from African slaves. Not everyone, but a huge percentage (especialy when you consider that the Carribean black people are descended from sugar plantation slaves)
and pretty much everyone who's black in the U.S. is descended from African slaves. Not everyone, but a huge percentage (especialy when you consider that the Carribean black people are descended from sugar plantation slaves)
But that doesn't mean we can use African-American as a blanket term when "black" covers people who are not African descendants or American citizens even better
and pretty much everyone who's black in the U.S. is descended from African slaves. Not everyone, but a huge percentage (especialy when you consider that the Carribean black people are descended from sugar plantation slaves)
But that doesn't mean we can use African-American as a blanket term when "black" covers people who are not African descendants or American citizens even better
I completely agree
the lineage of politically correct terms from black folks is pretty crazy
it seems like each one is a backlash against the term before it
"Negro" is too friendly and subservient, so "black" comes into vogue. "Black" gets associated with the violent civil rights protests, so the friendlier "African-American" is used, in the style of "German-American" or "Itallian-American". But now it's more important to be inclusive, so "black" is used again, which is ok because it's been so long since the 60s and 70s.
I would also like to know why Asian people born in America don't insist on being called Asian American.
I've always figured it's because African-American refers to a specific group of people, that is to say, those descended from slaves from Africa--whereas Africans are people from Africa more recently. With Asians there is no need for such distinction
Asians in America are from Asia pretty recently, too
plenty of families are only third-gen or second-gen
for instance my cousins were born in Texas even though their parents grew up in Asia, and they certainly don't insist that they be called Asian Americans
like, I see what you're saying, in that African Americans refer ONLY to those who descended from slaves in Africa, but it just strikes me as a blanket term for everyone who's black in the US
even people who weren't born in Africa but happen to be black and American are called African American... a friend of a friend is one such individual, and when he fills in those forms people always tell him he checked the wrong box
actually viv I wasn't saying that there aren't any recent Asians--just that there isn't really any reason for a distinguishing term between recent immigrants and people who trace their linegage back eight generations
and pretty much everyone who's black in the U.S. is descended from African slaves. Not everyone, but a huge percentage (especialy when you consider that the Carribean black people are descended from sugar plantation slaves)
so how far back do you go before you say that that line of descent doesn't count anymore?
how recent does it have to be? how far back do you have to go? (to be African instead of African-American, or vice versa)
because okay I would imagine that the Caribbean blacks in the US are more distantly descended from their African slave ancestors than ones who were shipped right from Africa
if even one of your ancestors was a slave, does that make you African American in the strictest definition of the term?
I dunno if I'm making what I'm asking very clear, but you're saying that there's no point in making a distinction between recent immigrants over those who've been here for ages when it comes to Asians, and yet it IS necessary to make that distinction when it comes to blacks?
why?
(I realize you're mainly offering up your understanding of the subject but this is something I am genuinely curious about)
so if i was born in china but my parents weren't i'd be a pariah?
the mainland Chinese don't care where you come from
they care what you look like
every black dude is called "fei ren" or "African"
every white person is called a "bai gui" or "white devil" (alternatively, "da bi zi" or "big nose")
DISCLAIMER: TERMS VARY FROM REGION TO REGION
if you don't look Chinese, you are considered a "lao wai" or "outsider" and they don't give a fuck where you were born, it could've been down the street from them and your family could've been there for ages
so if i was born in china but my parents weren't i'd be a pariah?
the mainland Chinese don't care where you come from
they care what you look like
every black dude is called "fei ren" or "African"
every white person is called a "bai gui" or "white devil" (alternatively, "da bi zi" or "big nose")
DISCLAIMER: TERMS VARY FROM REGION TO REGION
if you don't look Chinese, you are considered a "lao wai" or "outsider" and they don't give a fuck where you were born, it could've been down the street from them and your family could've been there for ages
i would beat some chinese ass if he called me big nose.
so if i was born in china but my parents weren't i'd be a pariah?
the mainland Chinese don't care where you come from
they care what you look like
every black dude is called "fei ren" or "African"
every white person is called a "bai gui" or "white devil" (alternatively, "da bi zi" or "big nose")
DISCLAIMER: TERMS VARY FROM REGION TO REGION
if you don't look Chinese, you are considered a "lao wai" or "outsider" and they don't give a fuck where you were born, it could've been down the street from them and your family could've been there for ages
makes me feel better about being such a shitty tipper at the chinese down my street.
but i mean seriously, they overcharge on everything because they know im so lazy ill never eat anywhere else.
The_Scarab on
0
VivixenneRemember your training, and we'll get through this just fine.Registered Userregular
edited May 2009
fun fact
if you mispronounce "da bi zi" you could easily be saying "big vagina" instead of "big nose"
i mean i'm a forward thinker man i like women of every conceivable race, color and creed.
Mister Longbaugh on
0
VivixenneRemember your training, and we'll get through this just fine.Registered Userregular
edited May 2009
Chinese form nicknames on appearance alone
like if there's a fat kid in a group of friends, his nickname is GUARANTEED to be either "fatty" or "big <dude's name>" and the dude will be okay with it
it's not that they're racist or appearance-based or anything like that to be MEAN
it's that they don't even KNOW they're being racist or appearance-based or anything like that because in China, you're born as you are, and you may as well own up to it instead of worrying about what you can't change or shouldn't be ashamed of
my grandma is from the old country and still uses slurs to refer to all races because "that's how they did it back home"
yeah the slang terms Cantonese people use to talk about everyone else are actually pretty insulting and everyone uses them when speaking Cantonese
nowadays they're used more as just "the terms they've always used" so there's nothing vicious behind their use, it's just the word they grew up associating with them
but you know, those terms' origins are not so nice
that said, I watched Clerks 2 the other night and I didn't even know that half the terms that were said in that one segment of the movie were racial slurs
he lists a bunch and I'm all "what, I have never heard those before what do those even MEAN"
and during the scene I have no idea why everyone's so offended and Blake has to lean over to me and go "yeah that's a racial slur against blacks"
and I'm just like what is there a handbook people have that lists this shit
Posts
actually viv I wasn't saying that there aren't any recent Asians--just that there isn't really any reason for a distinguishing term between recent immigrants and people who trace their linegage back eight generations
and pretty much everyone who's black in the U.S. is descended from African slaves. Not everyone, but a huge percentage (especialy when you consider that the Carribean black people are descended from sugar plantation slaves)
But that doesn't mean we can use African-American as a blanket term when "black" covers people who are not African descendants or American citizens even better
and i don't talk to white people so i don't call them anything
I completely agree
the lineage of politically correct terms from black folks is pretty crazy
it seems like each one is a backlash against the term before it
"Negro" is too friendly and subservient, so "black" comes into vogue. "Black" gets associated with the violent civil rights protests, so the friendlier "African-American" is used, in the style of "German-American" or "Itallian-American". But now it's more important to be inclusive, so "black" is used again, which is ok because it's been so long since the 60s and 70s.
pretty wild stuff
how recent does it have to be? how far back do you have to go? (to be African instead of African-American, or vice versa)
because okay I would imagine that the Caribbean blacks in the US are more distantly descended from their African slave ancestors than ones who were shipped right from Africa
if even one of your ancestors was a slave, does that make you African American in the strictest definition of the term?
I dunno if I'm making what I'm asking very clear, but you're saying that there's no point in making a distinction between recent immigrants over those who've been here for ages when it comes to Asians, and yet it IS necessary to make that distinction when it comes to blacks?
why?
(I realize you're mainly offering up your understanding of the subject but this is something I am genuinely curious about)
big-nose
white devil
foreign devil
outsider
(that's what you'd be called in China)
hm.
Hey
We just call everyone "people"
it's true though
god what a hippy
racism is TRADITION
(I'll tell you what Chinese people are the most racist people you will ever meet, don't listen to their claims to the contrary)
I prefer to call everyone 'You there'.
Though I can't for the life of me remember what this is in reference to. I think its Futurama.
the mainland Chinese don't care where you come from
they care what you look like
every black dude is called "fei ren" or "African"
every white person is called a "bai gui" or "white devil" (alternatively, "da bi zi" or "big nose")
DISCLAIMER: TERMS VARY FROM REGION TO REGION
if you don't look Chinese, you are considered a "lao wai" or "outsider" and they don't give a fuck where you were born, it could've been down the street from them and your family could've been there for ages
Don't go to Chinee.
Come to Seoul and call yourself "Meguk-saram." It's exotic.
"Sandra has a good solid anti-murderer vibe. My skin felt very secure and sufficiently attached to my body when I met her. Also my organs." HAIL SATAN
it's bigger'n mine
Yes
My best friend is Chinese
We are always offensive to gentiles of other races
i would beat some chinese ass if he called me big nose.
makes me feel better about being such a shitty tipper at the chinese down my street.
but i mean seriously, they overcharge on everything because they know im so lazy ill never eat anywhere else.
if you mispronounce "da bi zi" you could easily be saying "big vagina" instead of "big nose"
A nice caramel color.
Secret Satan 2013 Wishlist
No, I think the color should be lighter!
Oh, wait...
There's a WAM joke in here, I can smell it.
Secret Satan 2013 Wishlist
like if there's a fat kid in a group of friends, his nickname is GUARANTEED to be either "fatty" or "big <dude's name>" and the dude will be okay with it
it's not that they're racist or appearance-based or anything like that to be MEAN
it's that they don't even KNOW they're being racist or appearance-based or anything like that because in China, you're born as you are, and you may as well own up to it instead of worrying about what you can't change or shouldn't be ashamed of
that's the culture, anyway
no that's just the vagina
Yes, women are attractive of all race, colors, and combinations.
Secret Satan 2013 Wishlist
some of the things I've heard friends and family say about some other races is straight-up shit that makes you go "woooooooooooooooooooooooow"
like Indians or Japanese?
my dad loves them as individuals, thinks they're smart people
but talking about them as a group of people, as a race?
woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow
An African woman with Irish red hair born in Vietnam who moves to Austria and is a Phelps-following closet lesbian?
"Sandra has a good solid anti-murderer vibe. My skin felt very secure and sufficiently attached to my body when I met her. Also my organs." HAIL SATAN
yeah sure why not.
I'd hit it like a fat chick attacking a carton of Ben and Jerry's icecream after watching some TV movie on Lifetime.
Secret Satan 2013 Wishlist
yeah the slang terms Cantonese people use to talk about everyone else are actually pretty insulting and everyone uses them when speaking Cantonese
nowadays they're used more as just "the terms they've always used" so there's nothing vicious behind their use, it's just the word they grew up associating with them
but you know, those terms' origins are not so nice
that said, I watched Clerks 2 the other night and I didn't even know that half the terms that were said in that one segment of the movie were racial slurs
he lists a bunch and I'm all "what, I have never heard those before what do those even MEAN"
and during the scene I have no idea why everyone's so offended and Blake has to lean over to me and go "yeah that's a racial slur against blacks"
and I'm just like what is there a handbook people have that lists this shit