People of color, at least how I've always heard that phrase in America, usually refers to everyone not White or Asian. It's not used all that much though, as the terms that break down the race distinction even more are more prevalent. I also have never seen it be used offensively; it seems to be a pretty innocuous term from my experience and used by people both fitting in the group and not.

"Then call white people white, black people black, Indian people Indian, African people African, Asian people Asian ... fill in the blank for every other label "

Except some people wanted to broaden their experience to include lots of different people and not exclude anybody's experience. Minority was a catch-all category that included lots of different groups, but it was unsatisfying in many ways so people tried to replace it.

Denigrating how people self-identify is not 'tolerance'.

Isnt "afroamerican" the most commonly used non-offensive term?

Even if its not entirely correct.

@Vaddix: it's not racist to have those feelings. It's rude and insensitive to vocalize it though, just like it would be rude and insensitive to vocalize any sort of generalizing discomforts you feel towards people of another race. Acting on it by only sexually pursuing people of a certain race or avoiding another race without bothering anyone about it is just taste and is perfectly fine.

@Vaddix: I don't think so. I think I personally have a slight preference for darker people, but that's more like liking a certain eye-colour.

If you don't pretend that eye colour makes for a race and a race is a reason to discriminate people purposefully.

People it's not hard.
You must treat people as people, Otherwise you are being racist.
I like calling people by their names not lables.

African American, Vaddix, and it, just like any term we've created to alleviate racism through "non-offensive" means, has grown to become offensive. See: negro.

I'm behind. Indeed, there's no reason to tell it's about the colour. Just say you're not attracted.

And to answer which dumbass simple - The media

For what it's worth, I don't see a lack of attraction toward people of another race simply because of their race to be racism. Attraction isn't a choice people make, it's just something that happens.

According to polling, both black and American American are considered about the same and are non-offensive. Although, I think it is a bit jarring if people use black as a noun instead of an adjective - meaning - black Americans or black people is preferable to "blacks".

http://www.gallup.com/poll/28816/black-african-american.aspx

Pretending something doesn't exist doesn't make it go away. Fake color-blindness doesn't eliminate race.

@Craig but sometimes you need to describe the people. I dont know, if your friend is asking how the guy youve been dating looks like, you probably will want to specify skin color, etc.

Vaddix, that's only true if you are dating someone of a different race than yourself. I would never have to specify that I'm dating a white girl right now; it's assumed, for some reason. If I were dating a non-white girl, then people would all of a sudden be interested. I assume that same template applies in all races, where it's only an issue if the relationship is interracial.

"In your analogy, I'd say you remove colours by adding layers."

You don't remove colors by adding layers. You remove wavelengths (or spectra to be more precise) by adding layers. Neither spectra nor layers are the same thing as colors so you can say whatever you like, but it's still arbitrary.

If someone parks their car in a parking lot, have they added an occupied parking spot or removed a free one? The answer depends entirely on what you happened to be counting, not on what actually happened.

Having been professionally involved in an optics research group in a project that involved calculations concerning colors I can assure you, the choice of how to add colors is similarly arbitrary.

Saying that black is the absence of color is exactly like saying that the West is to the left. Sure, if you're facing North it is, but you might as well have chosen to face South in which case the West would have been to the right.

The thing is, colors aren't numbers. So in order to add them you can't just use addition as we know it from numbers. You have to define what adding colors means and whatever definition you chose is arbitrary. Although a particular application might make one choice more sensible than another, i.e. if you're building a monitor you would chose a system (such as RGB) where black is the absence of colors, while if you're building a printer you would chose a system (such as CMYK) where white is the absence of color.

For discussing skin color, which like printing is determined by absorption of light, a system where white is the absence of color would make the most sense.

"Pretending something doesn't exist doesn't make it go away. Fake color-blindness doesn't eliminate race"

Colour doesn't equal race. Black isn't a race. That's like saying my dog is from the black-and-white race.

I didn't know it was meant as a substitute to minorities though. I suppose it's an improvement.

And @oscarjd: you're right about that. I already explained myself on that part.

You're an irredeemable moron, steephie22

You're being pedantically technical about what you know is a social construction. Just because something is a social construction doesn't mean it doesn't have meaning. There's the heavy weight of history which makes race a real human category, regardless of the biological or technical validity of the concept. Black as a race has meaning because African diversity and culture was destroyed in the process of the slave trade, yet the people who came over had a common history and heritage by virtue of the slave trade and subsequent experience, and thus black as a racial category has real meaning and validity.

White defensiveness about social categories is beyond maddening.

I believe it is still quite common in a lot of Africa for the word "coloured" to mean mixed race white and black. It used to be common in the UK too, but it's pretty much died out along with "half caste".

"Fake color-blindness doesn't eliminate race. "

Hilarious, because I'm almost certain Putin in the past has argued that there is no such thing as race.

Big surprise that the ass clown takes opposing view points to himself just to have a fight.

And, for the record, "Assclown" is not a racial term, lest any of you should be offended...

Wow, I guess you really have a hard on him.

Krellin, we know you don't read, so I suppose it's pointless to point out that I never said what you claim I said, as per usual. Race is real as a social concept, dubious as a biological one (as it pertains to humans anyway).

The fact that Assclown is not a racial term doesn't make it any less offending you sack of shit (also not racial).

Krellin finds enjoyment in turning real debates and conversations into ad hominem matches. I just wish a select few people could learn to ignore him.

saith the Putin "...blah blah blah...I play all sides of the argument as needed in order to yell at the largest number of people....blah blah blah....I'm always right because I take every side of an argument as is convenient....blah blah blah....I rape small children in my closet, but that's OK I'm a teacher...blah blah blah..."
**********
Oscar the Assclown....I'm glad that you took such offense....hopefully the intended target was equally outraged.

Dance, Monkey! Dance!

Bo....first and foremost, this is not anywhere NEAR a real "debate or conversation". It is yet another shit-flinging contest by a bunch of arrogant morons.

Second...clearly you are not amongst "the select few"....no surprise there, Dance Monkey...

^ My point is now affirmed. Thanks.

Shouldnt stupididty be a reason for perma-ban? I mean, this is a strategy game, one need brain cells. Just sayin.