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Current PC words to describe different races
Mara:
I've never met anyone from Mexico who considered it derogatory to be called Mexican! (Although of course people who WEREN'T from Mexico would be offended if they were assumed to be Mexican just because they looked Hispanic or spoke Spanish.)
That reminds me of a relative-in-law who very gingerly and hesitantly referred to me as "from a Jewish background." She seemed to think that calling a Jewish person "Jewish" might be offensive. Which naturally made me wonder why she considered "Jewish" an insult!
Anyway, I agree about naming specific nationalities, but would also add that many Americans come from mixed backgrounds. If someone has a father who's half Cuban, half Colombian, and a mother who's Puerto Rican, they may just call themselves Latino or Latina.
literaticat:
--- Quote from: Mara on April 11, 2012, 08:09 PM ---I've never met anyone from Mexico who considered it derogatory to be called Mexican! (Although of course people who WEREN'T from Mexico would be offended if they were assumed to be Mexican just because they looked Hispanic or spoke Spanish.)
That reminds me of a relative-in-law who very gingerly and hesitantly referred to me as "from a Jewish background." She seemed to think that calling a Jewish person "Jewish" might be offensive. Which naturally made me wonder why she considered "Jewish" an insult!
--- End quote ---
Well, I could see if she doesn't know if you are a practicing Jew or what... like, I have an Irish last name, and my background on all sides is extremely Catholic, and I went to Catholic school and Catholic college... but in fact, I am not actually Irish OR Catholic, and I would think it was odd if somebody said "oh that Jennifer, she's Irish-Catholic" when I don't identify as either of those things. I mean I wouldn't be OFFENDED, I'd just think the person didn't know me very well. AT ALL. :bunnyrun
Obviously Jewishness is not just a religion but also a cultural identity, and one doesn't have to be a practicing Jew to be Jewish... but, yanno. People just don't want to say something wrong and step on anyone's toes, I guess.
As for the Mexi-spa-tino thing: In Los Angeles, where I grew up mostly, Mexican and first-generation people were called Mexican, Dominican people Dominican, etc. Second-generation would be Mexican-American, etc. Unknown origin latin-american people were Latin-American, Latin or Latino/Latina. My friends would get super irritated with "Hispanic." However, when I moved to NY, a coworker got super irritated at me for saying "Latino" and insisted on "Hispanic", saying Latin-American or anything like that was offensive. But I personally think Hispanic sounds like "Oriental" -- just terrible. I'm not going to warm up to that word. So. *shrug* I try to stick with the country of origin if possible.
Same with Asian countries of origin - specificity is both more accurate, and more polite, when possible. (IMO)
olmue:
Regional differences (hispanic vs. latino)--yes. I've noticed that, too. I want to say I heard an NPR group discussion once about black vs. African American, and it was really a regional divide. Um...do double check this, but from what I remember, the people on the show who were from Philadelphia considered themselves black. The "Old Country" was Mississippi. The Southerners on the show were African-American, and the "Old Country" was the Rice Coast of Africa. Both groups were rather adamant about what the correct words were to use. It was a fascinating show!
amberturner:
In Memphis, you generally hear black, white, Asian, and Hispanic. African-American seems to be a passing trend.
scribblegirl:
I think being country specific adds something....instead of hispanic or latino celebrate the heritage as "Puerto Rican" or "Guatamalan"...instead of Asian use "Laotian" (or whatever applies)...it would round the character.
My background is Black Irish, and we are very proud of our roots. My husband's family is German. My mother-in-law loves to have long conversation with out dachshund in German. (btw: he seems to understand her...what a dog!)
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