4 ms·

I've seen 'white' Roman Catholics from southern Italy that are far more swarthy than many Muslims from Iran or Lebanon. And I'd be hard pressed to visually dis

I've seen 'white' Roman Catholics from southern Italy that are far more swarthy than many Muslims from Iran or Lebanon. And I'd be hard pressed to visually distinguish an orthodox Greek from a muslim Turk... So yes, it's very much a socially constructed matter. Incidentally I believe Arabs, Persians, Turks, etc are often classified as caucasian (particularly on the US census I believe?) So these cultural definitions aren't even consistent within specific societal context. I've even seen some racists online say that Italians aren't white, because they aren't nordic.

badconvincer 6y ago
They’re not. Arabs, Iranians etc. show up as Asian in the US though you’re free to pick whatever you want.
- bigbubba 6y ago
  I suppose this is meant to be changed. I can't say I paid attention to what the 2020 census actually said, but on this matter Wikipedia says: > White American, European American, or Middle Eastern American: those having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. Following consultations with Middle East and North Africa (MENA) organizations, the Census Bureau announced in 2014 that it would establish a new MENA ethnic category for populations from the Middle East, North Africa and the Arab world.[18] However, this did not occur on the 2020 Census.
- raverbashing 6y ago
  Ah yes the "Asian" monicker, the most generic and "racist" (in its own way) ethnical description in the English language You're adding South Asians, SE Asians, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Mongols, etc all under the same umbrella
  - bigbubba 6y ago
    Seems to me that describing people based on their continent of origin, rather than their apparent 'race', is distinctly not racist. Though there is something to be said for the arbitrary nature in which Eurasia is split into 'two continents'.
    - CMCDragonkai 6y ago
      Afro Eurasia is one single landmass. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Eurasia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Eurasia

badconvincer 6y ago

They’re not. Arabs, Iranians etc. show up as Asian in the US though you’re free to pick whatever you want.

bigbubba 6y ago
I suppose this is meant to be changed. I can't say I paid attention to what the 2020 census actually said, but on this matter Wikipedia says: > White American, European American, or Middle Eastern American: those having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. Following consultations with Middle East and North Africa (MENA) organizations, the Census Bureau announced in 2014 that it would establish a new MENA ethnic category for populations from the Middle East, North Africa and the Arab world.[18] However, this did not occur on the 2020 Census.
raverbashing 6y ago
Ah yes the "Asian" monicker, the most generic and "racist" (in its own way) ethnical description in the English language You're adding South Asians, SE Asians, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Mongols, etc all under the same umbrella
- bigbubba 6y ago
  Seems to me that describing people based on their continent of origin, rather than their apparent 'race', is distinctly not racist. Though there is something to be said for the arbitrary nature in which Eurasia is split into 'two continents'.
  - CMCDragonkai 6y ago
    Afro Eurasia is one single landmass. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Eurasia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Eurasia