Do you find being called "black" offensive?

DwnWthVwls · 03-02-2015, 08:16 PM

Breaking News: Vanilla is black.

The Batlord · 03-02-2015, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulflower

No I think that term is racist and I would advise you not to use it.

My point is just because someone may look "black" does not mean they necessarily are which is why it is not good to go solely off of appearances.

How is it racist? (Not that I have any intention of using it in real life.) There are three main categories: negroid, caucasoid (like my cracker ass), and mongoloid; all of which are further divided into various subcategories. I'm not up on how accurate they're currently considered, but they seem more relevant than more vague terms like black, and especially African American.

You have also avoided my previous question. Why can't a white guy from South Africa or an Arab from Egypt who have moved to the United States call themselves African American? Are you implying that black Africans somehow have a greater claim to the continent than non-black Africans, even those who have lived there their entire lives? Are you claiming that black people from America who have never been to, let alone lived in Africa have a greater claim to call themselves African than a non black person who was born and raised there?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulflower

Zoe Saldana is dominican/spanish but going off of appearances she could pass as African American. So labeling her as "black" based on her skin color is not accurate.

I'm not aware of her ethnic background, but there were black African slaves in North and South America who didn't live in the United States. Is she specifically pure Spanish or does she have black ancestry?

And I don't know much about Spaniards and their diversity of skin color, but Spain was occupied by black Moors for hundreds of years, so it may very well be appropriate for someone of Spanish ancestry living in America to call themselves African American.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Considering that black is also used to describe people native to Australia, I'd say it's not very specific.

I'm using Wikipedia info, but according to that site Australoid is a subdivision of Negroid, so it might not be wrong to call native Australians black as you would a black African.

**Janszoon** · 03-02-2015, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

I'm using Wikipedia info, but according to that site Australoid is a subdivision of Negroid, so it might not be wrong to call native Australians black as you would a black African.

Well, they're descended from people who left Africa long before the people who became Europeans did so I'd say they're less African than the average native European.

Black Francis · 03-02-2015, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

I'm not aware of her ethnic background, but there were black African slaves in North and South America who didn't live in the United States. Is she specifically pure Spanish or does she have black ancestry?

Zoe Saldana looks more Domican than spanish to me.
I see girls that look like her here all the time and she resembles your typical pretty dominican girl.

DwnWthVwls · 03-02-2015, 09:10 PM

Spoiler for Moops - off topic:

~~Soulflower~~ · 03-02-2015, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Francis

Zoe Saldana looks more Domican than spanish to me.
I see girls that look like her here all the time and she resembles your typical pretty dominican girl.

I see black girls around my way that look like her all the time. I've seen black girls darker than her that are mistaken for spanish.

I can see someone mistaking her as African American.

~~Soulflower~~ · 03-02-2015, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

How is it racist? (Not that I have any intention of using it in real life.) There are three main categories: negroid, caucasoid (like my cracker ass), and mongoloid; all of which are further divided into various subcategories. I'm not up on how accurate they're currently considered, but they seem more relevant than more vague terms like black, and especially African American.

I can't believe you don't think calling an African American "negroid" is not racist. I have heard the term used as a racial slur before. It is racist and offensive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

You have also avoided my previous question. Why can't a white guy from South Africa or an Arab from Egypt who have moved to the United States call themselves African American? Are you implying that black Africans somehow have a greater claim to the continent than non-black Africans, even those who have lived there their entire lives? Are you claiming that black people from America who have never been to, let alone lived in Africa have a greater claim to call themselves African than a non black person who was born and raised there?

All I am simply claiming is you can not go strictly off of appearances to label someone's race period. The person does not necessarily have to be African American, they can be of any race or cultural background.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

I'm not aware of her ethnic background, but there were black African slaves in North and South America who didn't live in the United States. Is she specifically pure Spanish or does she have black ancestry?

She is Dominican.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

And I don't know much about Spaniards and their diversity of skin color, but Spain was occupied by black Moors for hundreds of years, so it may very well be appropriate for someone of Spanish ancestry living in America to call themselves African American.

They can and some do identified as that but....your missing my point. My point is Zoe can pass for African American. By first glance she does not look Dominican which is why you can not go off of looks

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

I'm using Wikipedia info, but according to that site Australoid is a subdivision of Negroid, so it might not be wrong to call native Australians black as you would a black African.

Its all western civilization b.s. seriously.

The Batlord · 03-02-2015, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulflower

I can't believe you don't think calling an African American "negroid" is not racist. I have heard the term used as a racial slur before. It is racist and offensive.

Whether or not it's been used as a racial slur is irrelevant. It is/was a scientific term created without the intention of degrading a race.

Quote:

All I am simply claiming is you can not go strictly off of appearances to label someone's race period. The person does not necessarily have to be African American, they can be of any race or cultural background.

And I'm simply saying that you can't use geographic locations to define race. "African American" makes even less sense than you claim "black" does. At least "black" addresses an individual's actual physical attributes. If you want to come up with a more accurate word then fine, but you arguing against the use of the word "black" doesn't justify "African American" any more than creationists arguing against evolution are proving creationism.

Quote:

She is Dominican.

Does she not have ancestors from Africa? If so, and you still say she isn't African American, then (assuming you were born and raised in America) neither are you. You're just an American.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 03-03-2015, 12:17 PM

Rita Ora looks like she has black ancestry but is not black.

http://sobraodeflow.com/wp-content/u...4/Rita-Ora.jpg

http://i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/arti...5/Rita-Ora.jpg

FRED HALE SR. · 03-03-2015, 12:26 PM

I totally had Batlord pegged as a Mongoloid. Zoe Saldana can be anything she wants to be.

03-03-2015, 12:26 PM	#200 (permalink)
FRED HALE SR. Neo-Maxi-Zoom-Dweebie Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: So-Cal Posts: 3,752	I totally had Batlord pegged as a Mongoloid. Zoe Saldana can be anything she wants to be. __________________ " I slashed and burned thru my 15 minutes of fame."

03-03-2015, 12:17 PM	#199 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	Rita Ora looks like she has black ancestry but is not black. http://sobraodeflow.com/wp-content/u...4/Rita-Ora.jpg http://i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/arti...5/Rita-Ora.jpg