4 ms·

> 53 year old african american man How is his "race" (as you guys call it) relevant?

by infruset 12y ago

platinum1 12y ago
http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/acs-24.pdf http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/acs-24.pdf See pages 16-19
- infruset 12y ago
  Ok, but it is not relevant in this context. This guy is president of the United States, speaking of unlikely events..
ozh 12y ago
Seriously, this. I couldn't read further after tripping up on that bit.
- isitmeor 12y ago
  why ? are you an old afro american ? I thought they don't read.. hacker news. /s
dawidw 12y ago
> "race" (as you guys call it) Do you know better term to describe "it"?
- infruset 12y ago
  In my language, the equivalent of "race" is a word no one would ever use because it implies (in my language, I'm not saying that's what it sounds like in English, I'll leave that to native speakers) there are different "subraces" in the human race. It seems to me that the use of this word facilitates the formation of ideas like "mixed-race couple" or "people of other races" which are not as easy to express in my language. It creates a (further) mental separation between groups of people by giving an official way of categorizing them which would be harder if there were no generic word for it. I'm not saying making the word disappear would make the problem of racism disappear, but I really think the frequent use of this word increases psychological walls between communities. Finally, there is no scientific basis for saying Obama is of the "African American" race because he is as "Caucasian" as he is the former, which shows that what it really conveys is more than harmless classification for statistical purposes.
  - dawidw 12y ago
    You didn't answer my question. Let me ask it another way. Let's say that you're really fond of Asian women (my God! is it still legal in politically correct world?). How would you express such fact without referring to race?
    - infruset 12y ago
      I would say, women of an Asian type (in my language). However, in my mind this is a blurry distinction referring to appearance as opposed to an administrative category. And yes, it is legal, I don't think I ever denied your freedom of expression.
eloff 12y ago
The same way his age is relevant. Fewer African Americans code, so he has to overcome not just his age, busy schedule, and probable fear of computers, but societal stereotypes as well. It makes it even more of an accomplishment. The same way it would if he had learned ballet instead (this time for gender, rather than racial stereotypes.)
- dwild 12y ago
  Is it really a stereotype? I see plenty of African American and I was never surprised of it.

> 53 year old african american man How is his "race" (as you guys call it) relevant?

platinum1 12y ago

http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/acs-24.pdf http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/acs-24.pdf See pages 16-19

infruset 12y ago
Ok, but it is not relevant in this context. This guy is president of the United States, speaking of unlikely events..

ozh 12y ago

Seriously, this. I couldn't read further after tripping up on that bit.

isitmeor 12y ago
why ? are you an old afro american ? I thought they don't read.. hacker news. /s

dawidw 12y ago

> "race" (as you guys call it) Do you know better term to describe "it"?

infruset 12y ago
In my language, the equivalent of "race" is a word no one would ever use because it implies (in my language, I'm not saying that's what it sounds like in English, I'll leave that to native speakers) there are different "subraces" in the human race. It seems to me that the use of this word facilitates the formation of ideas like "mixed-race couple" or "people of other races" which are not as easy to express in my language. It creates a (further) mental separation between groups of people by giving an official way of categorizing them which would be harder if there were no generic word for it. I'm not saying making the word disappear would make the problem of racism disappear, but I really think the frequent use of this word increases psychological walls between communities. Finally, there is no scientific basis for saying Obama is of the "African American" race because he is as "Caucasian" as he is the former, which shows that what it really conveys is more than harmless classification for statistical purposes.
- dawidw 12y ago
  You didn't answer my question. Let me ask it another way. Let's say that you're really fond of Asian women (my God! is it still legal in politically correct world?). How would you express such fact without referring to race?
  - infruset 12y ago
    I would say, women of an Asian type (in my language). However, in my mind this is a blurry distinction referring to appearance as opposed to an administrative category. And yes, it is legal, I don't think I ever denied your freedom of expression.

eloff 12y ago

The same way his age is relevant. Fewer African Americans code, so he has to overcome not just his age, busy schedule, and probable fear of computers, but societal stereotypes as well. It makes it even more of an accomplishment. The same way it would if he had learned ballet instead (this time for gender, rather than racial stereotypes.)

dwild 12y ago
Is it really a stereotype? I see plenty of African American and I was never surprised of it.