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Yes, this is a common point of confusion when talking to Europeans about racial issues in the US (as I found out myself recently). Race in our contexts refers t
by BowBun 5mo ago
Yes, this is a common point of confusion when talking to Europeans about racial issues in the US (as I found out myself recently). Race in our contexts refers to your background/birthplace/heritage. On our government forms: "What race are you?" "White, black, hispanic, etc."
This is fundamentally different by intent than in Europe (using french here) where we refer to 'la race humaine' which is the _species_.
The nuance is critical during debates. While I was discussing racial differences to some Swiss folks, they thought I was talking Nazi propaganda! We are all part of the human species, the human species has many races. We are all equal!
- Ylpertnodi 5mo agoMost Europeans are NOT confused by this. Sheesh.
- BowBun 5mo agoI am European, I have had this discussion with Europeans back home from various countries. This is a common point of confusion. Do you have something to add?
- nothrabannosir 5mo ago[dead]
- toasty228 5mo agoTry asking anyone in Europe what race they are, especially in an administrative context lmao
- PearlRiver 5mo agoThe government asking race questions on official forms would be rather unthinkable! We don't mention the war.
- krior 5mo ago> background/birthplace/heritage Are those slashes AND or OR?
- rf15 5mo ago> they thought I was talking Nazi propaganda! well, I mean, listen, if it's part of the census, that's... still government-level racial discrimination. It might not be a duck, but this thing has a certain duck-shaped silhuette.