'Negro' used on US Census Forms

Gimgak said:
theezy said:
I bet the only people responding to this that are griping about how little of a deal / non offensive it is are white people. 😛
Considering this forum's member base is largely based in the UK where most people are white that would be true.

If people find this offensive I don't know what to say. Most wouldn't care if white people were labeled as "crackers", of course that doesn't compare since cracker is a racial slur and Negro isn't.

Don't want to go off topic but I'd say there were more Americans then Brits active on FP. 😛
 
The Hat Tipper said:
It just means Black in Spanish :shrug:
Exactly! What if there was a dark-skinned person that was Hispanic and could only read Spanish?!?! 😛
 
Sbfc said:
Don't want to go off topic but I'd say there were more Americans then Brits active on FP. 😛
While this isn't completely accurate, Alexa shows that 30% of FPs visitors are from England (followed by 20% from India), while only 15% are from the states. Again not entirely accurate but that seems about right.
 
"Negro" is often used by teachers at my school when discussing black history.

The real problem is having a race category on the US Census to begin with. THAT is what sickens me.
 
Negro is just a word. I can't see how it hurts peoples feelings, or any word for that matter. Meh, maybe I'm just emotionless.
 
Taco Wiz said:
The real problem is having a race category on the US Census to begin with. THAT is what sickens me.
It sickens me too that the government should know the demographics of each town in each state. Pure evil :shake:
 
Gimgak said:
Sbfc said:
Don't want to go off topic but I'd say there were more Americans then Brits active on FP. 😛
While this isn't completely accurate, Alexa shows that 30% of FPs visitors are from England (followed by 20% from India), while only 15% are from the states. Again not entirely accurate but that seems about right.
What the heck? Twenty percent from India?! 😵 I can only think of maybe one or two members from India whom I've seen. o_o
 
Snobothehobo said:
What the heck? Twenty percent from India?! 😵 I can only think of maybe one or two members from India whom I've seen. o_o


I can think of 4-7ish.
 
A talk show host I was listening to the other day suggested that people put "American" as your race in the "other" field. 😛
 
Taco Wiz said:
The real problem is having a race category on the US Census to begin with. THAT is what sickens me.
LMAO people these days :rofl:
 
Cosmic said:
A talk show host I was listening to the other day suggested that people put "American" as your race in the "other" field. 😛
Hannity? I could see him saying that.
 
Kirisute Gomen said:
Cosmic said:
A talk show host I was listening to the other day suggested that people put "American" as your race in the "other" field. 😛
Hannity? I could see him saying that.
It was Boortz, though he would probably agree with it. I've heard the idea float around several shows I listen to.
 
Personally, I don't think the word should be added on the Census. It just stirs up un-needed trouble for the public.
 
Twisted Fairytale said:
Personally, I don't think the word should be added on the Census. It just stirs up un-needed trouble for the public.
What's the alternative? African american maybe?
 
Gimgak said:
Sbfc said:
Don't want to go off topic but I'd say there were more Americans then Brits active on FP. 😛
While this isn't completely accurate, Alexa shows that 30% of FPs visitors are from England (followed by 20% from India), while only 15% are from the states. Again not entirely accurate but that seems about right.
That's visitors, and those who have the Alexa toolbar. Its very inaccurate. I would assume there are more Americans then any other country, followed by UK, then I would probably say India or Australia.


Anyway, I wouldn't say Negro is an offensive term by itself. If you derogatorily describe a Negro then that is offensive. I mean, I would prefer to be called a Negro, then a Black (which thus describes my skin color). The word, Negro, itself doesn't describe the person, whereas Black does.
 
Cosmic said:
Twisted Fairytale said:
Personally, I don't think the word should be added on the Census. It just stirs up un-needed trouble for the public.
What's the alternative? African american maybe?

They had that in the option. It said "Black, African American, or Negro" as one option. So they could just take Negro out.
 
Twisted Fairytale said:
Cosmic said:
Twisted Fairytale said:
Personally, I don't think the word should be added on the Census. It just stirs up un-needed trouble for the public.
What's the alternative? African american maybe?

They had that in the option. It said "Black, African American, or Negro" as one option. So they could just take Negro out.

They might have included it because some think Black is offensive but Negro isn't and others think Negro is offensive, but Black isn't.
 
I don't know one black person who finds it an offensive word... it was actually considered less offensive than "Colored Person" in the 50's and 60's.
There are still plenty of things with "negro" or "colored person" in their name. NAACP, The Negro League in sports, national council of negro women, and it means "black" in Spanish. I don't see how offensive it is at all, it's not like the form says "Hey, you there, Negro, fill out this form boy " Really, get a grip 😛
 
theezy said:
Sbfc said:
Get over it, the word ''Negro'' is not offensive.
To you.
Its not to me either.. But still they could have used a different word like "African American" or some other politically correct term.

Thank you. I agree completely.

I don't find the term offensive but that is not to say that others don't. Still, I don't hear "Negro" being used too often out side of titles.. and even still, I think that the fact that they were used in those titles has to do with the period in time in which those organizations were formed. That being said, I don't think starting an organization with the term "Negro" or "Colored People" in it would go over too well in today's society.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - founded in 1909
Negro League Baseball - founded in 1920
National Council of Negro Women - founded in 1935
United Negro College Fund - founded in 1944

These were times in which Blacks were referred to as Negroes, Coloreds, Coons, Niggers etc..

Granted, the last two terms are derogatory, and offensive, but so were the other terms with respect to segregation, discrimination and other abuse they suffered. Not to mention, the term "Nigger" is a slang derivative of the word "Negro," and as such, both terms were used in a derogatory manner by both racist Whites, and racist people in general. I think that if it weren't for these negative connotations, that are still associated with this word, then we would not be having this discussion. Although, it really is beyond me why Black youth today think it is cool to be calling each other Niggers, but then turn around and play the race card when someone of another race says it. But, I won't go there, as that is another subject entirely.

Negro is still considered to be offensive for this reason, and it wasn't used as much when the terms "Black" and "African American" became popular, and were considered to be more acceptable. The negative connotations that Blacks feel are associated with this term, is very similar to the negative negative connotations associated with Swastika symbol. Before Hitler chose the Swastika to be the symbol of his Nazi Party, the Swastika was used in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, and Buddhism and it was used throughout the world as a luck and peace symbol. There weren't any negative associations with its' use until Hitler decided to use it as a Nazi symbol. Today, despite its' origin and usage in Indian religions, and throughout the world as a luck symbol, the Swastika will always be considered as a hate symbol, and it is still being used as a hate symbol.

People will always remember the Swastika symbol for the negativity associated with it, much like Blacks will always remember the negativity associated with the term "Negro."

If the term 'Negro' isn't on other official documents then why is it on the Census? I always see Black or African American, and the shorthand abbreviation "B/AA."

So, why the sudden change?

If that is the case, I wonder if they are going to put "Caucasian" in place of "White," "Indian" instead of Native American" and "Hispanic" instead of "Latino" all are equally as offensive to their respective groups as "Negro" to Blacks. I mean, why should Blacks be the only ones with a new name? That doesn't seem fair to the other groups. If you are going to change one, then why not change them all?

As someone who is a combination of all of the aforementioned groups, I must say, feel shortchanged.
 
Kirisute Gomen said:
Taco Wiz said:
The real problem is having a race category on the US Census to begin with. THAT is what sickens me.
It sickens me too that the government should know the demographics of each town in each state. Pure evil :shake:
Don't you get sarcastic with ME. They're placing people into categories based on skin color. Doesn't that seem a bit...RACIST?
 
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