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Re: CHAT: American Racism [was: Star Wars]

From:Kristian Jensen <kljensen@...>
Date:Tuesday, May 25, 1999, 15:40
Brian Betty wrote:
> >Would that be 'ethnic dirtying'? *irony*Here in the US, I always >have to fill out forms and mark my race as Caucasian, African- >American-not-Latino, Latino, Native American, or Asian-Pacific >Islander. I fall into three of those categories. And there is no >'other' or 'mixed' box.
If I were to categorize myself in this way, I guess I'd fall into two categories. The categorization is hopelessly inadequate. Its also hopelessly old-fashioned. The concept of race has largely been dismissed by anthropologists. There are people in Central Asia for instance that would neither fall in the category of Caucasian or Asian, 'racially' speaking. The same is true in the Indian subcontinent. What about subcontinental immigrants to the US who are Dravidians? What American category would they fall into? What about Filipino negrito immigrants? What about an immigrant who happens to be an Australian aborigine? I hear that Brazil does way better in 'racial' categorization. Something like 20 choices which includes mestizos of different kinds, mulattos of different kinds, etc. etc. The different mixes are all accounted for. If the US intends on remaining old fashioned, perhaps they should follow the Brazilian method. -kristian- 8-)