Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
Wed Aug 24, 2016, 11:24 PM Aug 2016

The term "people of color" is now racist, apparently.

http://everydayfeminism.com/2016/08/poc-not-best-choice-of-words/


Large-scale movements try to encompass all of our struggles under one umbrella movement to create unity and community. And while that’s all well and good, it can become harmful when we allow for these ideals to seep into how we approach systematic and institutional issues like racism.

...

By using “people of color” instead of specific community names, we contribute to erasure by insinuating that all ethnic groups are interchangeable – which we know is not true.

...

Often, when we only bring ourselves to label all non-white communities as people of color, we’re contributing to a culture of erasure and long-standing violence.
14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The term "people of color" is now racist, apparently. (Original Post) NuclearDem Aug 2016 OP
Good grief! HERVEPA Aug 2016 #1
There are some issues exclusive or predominant in some groups Gman Aug 2016 #2
It never ends in psuedo-progressivism. romanic Aug 2016 #3
I have used it a few times recently but felt uncomfortable about it. Iris Aug 2016 #6
I have always thought that it sounds archaic PersonNumber503602 Aug 2016 #12
I'm an old white guy and I feel the same way. trof Aug 2016 #14
Wow. yeoman6987 Aug 2016 #4
Ah, Everyday "Feminism" ButterflyBlood Aug 2016 #5
Could you say more about this? Iris Aug 2016 #7
Not much to say, its just full of nutty fringe views ButterflyBlood Aug 2016 #10
Well, that's just an opinion... MrScorpio Aug 2016 #8
That blog is known for being rather nutty. Odin2005 Aug 2016 #9
I have always found the term somewhat odd. Throd Aug 2016 #11
WEE-WOO-WEE-WOO! ATTENTION! THIS IS THE WORD POLICE! PUT YOUR DISCUSSION ON THE GROUND! backscatter712 Aug 2016 #13

Gman

(24,780 posts)
2. There are some issues exclusive or predominant in some groups
Wed Aug 24, 2016, 11:44 PM
Aug 2016

Such as obesity and diabetes in the Mexican-American subset of Hispanics and those issues need to be addressed specifically. But there are common issues for all POC.

romanic

(2,841 posts)
3. It never ends in psuedo-progressivism.
Wed Aug 24, 2016, 11:51 PM
Aug 2016

But honestly, as one of "color "myself I was never comfortable with the labels "person of color" or "man of color" myself. I just felt like it was too close to saying "colored" as they said in the old days. Just call me black or biracial person instead.

Iris

(15,632 posts)
6. I have used it a few times recently but felt uncomfortable about it.
Thu Aug 25, 2016, 02:23 AM
Aug 2016

It felt old-fasioned to me and I think what you said is why I just couldn't pin it down in my own mind.

PersonNumber503602

(1,134 posts)
12. I have always thought that it sounds archaic
Thu Aug 25, 2016, 07:23 PM
Aug 2016

It has the same feeling as the word negro does. Just very old sounding.

trof

(54,255 posts)
14. I'm an old white guy and I feel the same way.
Thu Aug 25, 2016, 08:02 PM
Aug 2016

Thank you.
'Person of color' always sounded stilted to me.
I'm certainly no tRumpet, but I think PC has gotten a little out of hand in the last few years.
I have some friends who are Poarch Creek Indians.
(They have casinos here in Alabama.)

I asked one lady if they preferred 'Native American'?
Nope.
"We're Indians. That's what the U.S. government calls us. That's how our treaties are signed. That's who we are."

ButterflyBlood

(12,644 posts)
5. Ah, Everyday "Feminism"
Thu Aug 25, 2016, 12:31 AM
Aug 2016

People should quit taking that site seriously. It's just a Tumblr blog with better design.

Iris

(15,632 posts)
7. Could you say more about this?
Thu Aug 25, 2016, 02:30 AM
Aug 2016

I'm asking because I don't think something should be discounted just because of its packaging. There are voices there that have not typically been heard with older forms of media but I've become uncomfortable with the tone and the way they present things as absolutes for whole groups of people.

ButterflyBlood

(12,644 posts)
10. Not much to say, its just full of nutty fringe views
Thu Aug 25, 2016, 07:12 PM
Aug 2016

The first thing I read on it was throwing a fit about whites wearing dreadlocks and cornrows: http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/07/white-people-black-hairstyles/

MrScorpio

(73,626 posts)
8. Well, that's just an opinion...
Thu Aug 25, 2016, 02:41 AM
Aug 2016

It's not going to stop POCs from using it in referring to non-whites collectively.

Throd

(7,208 posts)
11. I have always found the term somewhat odd.
Thu Aug 25, 2016, 07:18 PM
Aug 2016

It establishes white as the default color. I'm not saying it is purposely racist or sinister, it just has always sounded weird to me.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The term "people of color...