"What is your ethnic background?"
 

Anybody else hate this fucking question? I just fielded a phone survey (for GreatClips of all places) and when we got to the second to last question I think I completely mystified the poor gal (who was a minority as evidenced by her speech) when I kept answering "American". "But what ethnicity: caucasion, African American, Asian American, Native American, other?" "American." "African American?" "No, just American." "But what is your ethnic background?" "Just American." "Uh, ookay (checks the 'other' box undoubtedly)."

There is nothing wrong with recognizing and even being proud of one's heritage, but why must we continually segregate ourselves from ourselves? Why is skin color so damned important? I thought we were all equall regardless of ethnicity? So why does everyone want to make such a big deal about it? If you live in America and are a citizen of our lovely country, you are an American first and foremost. I refuse to participate in this nonsensical division, I answer American.

I'm proud of being from Caucasia

It might be difficult to understand why anyone who has been stripped of their culture at every turn would want to salvage a bit of that heritage, but first ask yourself if you can identify. If you cannot, then perhaps you should defer to those who can.

Segregation does not include the appreciation of one another's differences.

Unlike those wanting to ban dihydrogen monoxide, I feel that the question should be stricken from all forms. When people ask, I reply "human."

Caucasian is not an ethnicity.

Someone fall off the over-sensitive bus today?
African American / Black

I was born here. Native American.

We're not as equal as some would lead you to believe.

You could have answered "European American"




or Cracker.
:)

I just phrased it the way she did. I have no problem saying black.

English,Irish,Welsh,German,Dutch,Dannish,some American Indian, probably German too.....

'Mutt' like most that have been here multiple generations.

I think the second line was wutamess indicating his ethnicity, not remarking on your post.

This reminds me of a misconception I had as a child. When someone mentioned that they were going to a Honky Tonk, I thought that was a place that only white people went.

Carry on..... :)

Let's see, stripped of culture: Native American - check, Jew - check. Probably some others I am unaware of, but I don't go around saying I am a Jewish-Indian American. fuck that. If people can't be proud of being an American, why live here? And this is a serious question looking for a serious answer, not just an inflamatory remark.

That's what I'll do next time, instead of answering the question at all I'll just argue with them over that technicality.

I have a hispanic last name, and my father's side immigrated (more than 100 years ago) from Mexico, so depending on what the form is for, I will often check the hispanic box. I'm as white as white can be, but what is the standard? Do you have to be a full blooded... whatever? Your parents? Just one grandparent? Is it supposed to be that you just choose the major portion of your lineage? Is it only supposed to be your appearance? What box should Tiger Woods check?

There are no standards so I just assume it's the major portion of your ancestry no matter how distant. I don't have a clue about any of my other predecesors. Besides, if there is some advantage that this kind of ridiculously narrow and impossible to answer properly question provides, count me in.

Oh. In that case the answe to the question would be: not just today. I have always hated this, I just felt like starting a thread about it today.

There was nothing inflammatory about my commentary. I merely responded with heart-felt sentiments.

You're entitled to identify yourself as you see fit.
Given that truth, why can't everyone else?

Honestly, how is identifying the differences of others divisive?

WASP

My mom told me once that when I was little (4 or 5), I asked some random black fellow at the grocery store if he was Michael Jackson.

My hometown is pretty vanilla.

I don't see why this would anger you.

A business is trying to understand their customers. They are tying to improve their business - they are practicing capitalism. That is something you can support, isn't it?

My background;

4 grandparents

PGF - full Celtic/English
PGM - 1/2 English, 1/2 German
MGF - 1/2 German, 1/2 Choctaw
PGM - full Choctaw

So, I'm 3/8 English, 3/8 Choctaw, 1/4 German, or on other words, a pasty white boy.

Interestingly, my Choctaw side bore the surname Kelley. But that's because, we have learned, that my Choctaw MGGF was wounded in WWI and suffered amnesia. He took the surname of his Irish nurse, married her, divorced her and had my PGF with his German 2nd wife.

like me too, almost easier to list the ethnic backgound I'm not.....


not african / black. Not asian. Not, uhmm..... well that's about it. Oh one more, no slovic/russian heritage.

I did not mean to suggest that you responded with inflammatory comments, I was trying to avoid any confusion about my own words, seeing as how it could be taken as the old "love it or leave it" remark that tends to send reasonable discusions spiraling down the drain.


How is it divisive? Gee, I don't know, we have minorities who say they want equality, who say skin color makes no difference, yet they insist on proclaiming themselves as being different from everyone else when they refuse to just simply say American. Do you want to be thought of as equals, or do you want to be thought of as different. Someone constantly reminding everyone that they are "different" is not going to speed along the equal rights movement by any means.

I need some landscaping done. Can you swing by and give me a fair estimate?

Do people born in America that move to another country say they are "American-British" or "American-Australian" or whatever?

For the record, I'm black. Totally black.

ROFL

I am by no means suggesting that they don't have the right to ask the question if they think it will help. I just don't care for it, and will answer one way and one way only, because to me it makes no difference.

I don't know, but you better take that to the black caucus, and let them deliberate on it until next Feb.

I'm more of a Hornet...:)

I'm an equal opportunity asshole.

My reply to that question is always " the right one". A lot of telemarketers just hang up after that.

You certainly have the right to decline to answer a voluntary poll question.

But, if you have chosen to participate, please be kind to the pollster. She didn't make up the questions and hasn't thought about their polictical and social implications. ....and Rain Man will thank you.

Marketing demographics based on customer address/phone# would likely work well.

Not ethnic background.

Understood.

In my experience minorities have never been interested in obscuring their differences entirely. They simply don't want to be judged by them.

Again, I think you're asking an awful lot of ANY group of people who have been stripped of their culture when you suggest they abandon what's left of their heritage to embrace Americana in all its glory (which in many ways has contributed to what they lack culturally).

The labeling itself doesn't determine equality, but many conditions in American society do. And until those issues have been addressed people will continue to preserve their own culture in whatever ways they deem appropriate and necessary.

And with all due respect, neither is pretending that there aren't still obstacles that threaten the very equality of which you speak.

I was extremely polite throught the course of the entire episode. Never rude, never raised my voice, never called names, never tried to play games with her head (until the end, but that was not intended as a head game).

I don't know who you think you are or what you think you know, but you seem to be pretty smart for a black guy.

Heh, you mean like finding out how certain ethnic backgrounds vote, earn a living, get a haircut, ect?

I never said said it should be abandoned, quite the opposite actually. I just do not see the need to constantly remind everyone, especially when all too often it is rather evident.

Never said it did.

Where the fuck did I say that people should pretend there are not obstacles? I said set the tone, promote one way of thinking versus another.

Those claiming to be carcasian should be ashamed of yourselves.

Well done, then, my man.

I am curious why this sparks such a strong emotion.. you did say you hated they question, which is much stronger than merely being annoyed.

I assume you had no problem with identifying your age, gender, and income range.

Do you think your answers don't count as much if you are identified as white?

Being the only white male in an all-black high school gave me a different perspective on things.

The funniest thing I ever heard was when a teammate told a skeptic why I was a starting TE on the football team: "Good hands."

Other than flying The Jack on Saint Patrick's Day to irritate the Irish, I really don't put much stock in my being born and raised in England. After all, I had nothing to do with it. It's important to know one's history, but some take it a bit too far. There are those in the world who would kill to be "American."

That should be enough.

What part of Africa are you from?

Sorry guys, there might be many ethnic groups but if you are an American, born and raised you are an American.

I don't tend to work well with people not of my race.

The good part about that statement is that there is only one race here, the human race. Other differences are petty and beneath us all.

No big deal. I read what you stated, had an intial laugh, then thought, well, that is a legitimate question actually. I mean, if you don't claim american first. Well, you should know quite a bit about the country you claim is your blood. Right?

Heh, no, not exactly. It comes down to what I have been discussing with Mic: all of the talk, all of the protests, marches, legislation, ect. that has transpired in this country about race and equality and we are still segregating not just each other, but ourselves.

I am not a white-American, I am not a Jewish-ScotsIrish-German-Native American-American. I am an American, and while I am no where close to being ashamed of my ancestry, that is all I want to be and be known as. I am able to find contentment with in that. It boggles my mind why others cannot.

You should see his arm, dude. I'll bet he could chuck a spear through an elephant.

The black part.

As usual, someone says in two sentences what I fumble around with and attempt to say in paragraphs. I really need to work on that.

Great post, Donger.

I have a feeling you people do not take me seriously at all. This is an outrage.

I do.
You're starting to piss me off.
ROFL

I have the sudden urge to play basketball.

When they ask me about my "race" or "ethnic background" on a form or in a survey...the answer is always the same. Homo Sapien.

(Yes, I know technically that's species...but it makes my point just fine).

This board tolerates racism. Please delete my account.

You're queer?

LMAO

That's not true. I got banned for being racist one time.

What is your ethnicity?

Chin ese?

When I get done with a long day of colonizing France, then raping and pillaging the Scottish and Irish coasts, I like to row my big ass home in a dragonship and listen to Dimmu Borgir, Eilert Pilarm and ABBA.

Someday, I may include Bjork and Sigur Ros.

What are you Takk-ing about?

Say hi to the Wendol for me. ;)

Well hader.....
I think we, as a country, have improved dramtically over the past 40 years in regards to race....but we are still way, way short of being a race indifferent society.

I see your point. Identifying race is a double edged phenomena....in a way segregating us while trying to inform us.

Sicilian - American....but my mom was a blonde blue-eyed Dutch girl.
All full blooded Sicilian on my Dad's side, aunts and uncles and still have family in the old country. One village all has my last name. They are very, very dark people.

Anglo Saxon American

Gotta mustache?

No I don't. I'm not that dark either. My brother got the olive skin....a lighter version.

Is that a joke or a typo? If it's a joke I don't get it.

Thats wrong ROFL

My grandparents were mexicans who migrated to America, my father was born in america, I was born in america. My grandparents on my mothers side were born in Germany, my mother was born in america. So I'm a mexi-germ I guess. White power, holmes. ;)

It's a crack on your Chin, dude. Notice I capitalized "Chin" in your case, because when it's the size of a small country it is a proper noun.

Can I get a fair estimate on my lawn and extermination of my Jewish neighbors?

Heck yeah, and I can get you a great deal on some hubcaps too homie, kosher ones.

Put a bar of soap in your mouth young man and think about what you just said.

As someone who asks this question a lot on surveys, I think it's asked too often, just by force of habit. If a client wants it and it's not obvious why, I'll ask them a couple of questions:

1. Do you have any reason to believe that there's a noticeable difference?

2. If there is a difference, is it going to make a difference in your ad campaign/ program/ policy/ whatever else is being tested?

The answer to Question 1 isn't necessarily a question killer, but if they answer no to Question 2, we don't ask it.

I will say, though, that there are measurable differences in opinions and behaviors by race/ethnicity, and sometimes it's useful to know that. Why? Because a lot of minority populations have specific media preferences that differ from that of the majority population, and it might pay for you to buy some media to target them if they're well below the average.

I think the key is to view it as one more demographic variable to help understand the audience, just like recording age or gender or income. The key, though, is thinking through the two questions above before including it out of habit.

All joking aside I'd put money on your birth certificate being issues in the good old U.S. of A. which makes you an American.

The longer people try to keep a difference between the "ethnic races" the longer we have to endure bigotry and other assorted problems.

Treat everyone as a friend until they prove not to be, then steer clear.

Just my MO.

Logic sucks.

Not really, racism sucks and so do those that practice it.