Are You Done Yet? Are You Done Calling Me a Person of Color?
We know what you’re really trying to say.
“People of color. People of color. People of color.”
Ugh.
I’m taking a medical sociology class right now. The main book we’re reading for the course is called “Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans From Colonial Times to The Present.”
Let me say that again — BLACK AMERICANS.
Every time we discuss the book, my professor won’t stop saying “people of color” when we’re clearly talking about Black Americans. She’s not the only person to do this though.
Tons of white people do this.
I guess they’re trying to sound more formal in their language. “Person of color” sounds sexier than “colored person.”
Maybe addressing someone as “Black” isn’t a “nice” thing to do. Either way, it’s annoying.
Here’s why calling me (a Black woman) a “person of color” is fucking annoying:
- People of color aren’t a monolith. You can’t lump the experiences of Asians, Hispanics, Black Americans, etc, all into one group. It’s a cop-out. We don’t have the same experiences nor the same culture.
- It’s a formal way of being racist. People of color? Colored people? What’s the difference? They’re both idiotic attempts for white people to distinguish themselves from the pack. It gives a lot of “I’m white and everyone else is below me” energy.
- Black people don’t have the best relationships with other races. Why? Because most of them are racist as hell and wouldn’t piss on us if we were on fire. I’m not fighting for all of those people. I’m fighting for Black people.
- It shows that you associate Black with negativity. Every time a Black person does something groundbreaking like being the first person to win an Emmy, everyone always calls them a person of color. But when people have problems with Black people, they call us Black.
That’s why I hate being called a person of color.
Please don’t lump me in with other minorities. Call me a Black American. Simple.
The sooner we can acknowledge other races specifically, the sooner we can eradicate racism.
So for the millionth time, don’t call me a person of color.
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