Yay for multiculturalism and yay for a laugh!
Many of us are as confused as everyone else. We’re a large group bound together by only one factor — we’re not white. So different things matter in different degrees to all of us, it’s near impossible to speak as one.
I don’t even like the term people of colour. The first time I heard it I thought of the Smurfs because they’re blue.
Hello fellow wog!
I think the article is highlighting an interesting social issue: that ultimately there actually is no “universal culturally appropriate way” to refer to anybody. You actually have to talk to the people sitting across from you and feel out what they prefer and are comfortable with.
Anecdotally, the mob I used to hang out with were happy to be called black, and they called me white, which I was happy with, and that was the end of it. At the same time, I wouldn’t dare call random people black just because my friends were ok with it. So it’s a bit unfair to be bemused by people being cautious, since I think intuitively we all understand the rocky terrain in this area.
It almost feels like it boils down to a respectfulness thing. Like it’s fine as long as nobody feels like they’re being made fun of or spoken to disrespectfully, which can be hard if you’re not familiar with each other.
It can also be generational. I know some women in their 60s who call themselves ‘chicks.’ That was the slang when they were young and they still like it. Younger women might not agree.