Thursday, March 13, 2008

Black is Black

Today's interesting conversation about race, with two women at work. Both happen to be black women. All three of us are (shameful confession ahead!) America's Next Top Model junkies, and we were talking about who was our favorite winner of all time. I threw out "I looved Danielle," and both of them looked puzzled and said, "I don't remember her."

"She was the African-American girl with the gap in her teeth."

Pause.

"You know, you're allowed to say 'black.' You don't have to be all politically correct..."

I was a little flustered, and responded, "I know what you mean. It doesn't bother me at all when people call me 'oriental.'"

Their vehement response:

"OH NOOOO, I couldn't ever say that! Who says that anymore? That's just WRONG!"

1 comment:

Don said...

What's wrong with "oriental"? Seriously. I heard vaguely that was a no-no. Why t.f. would it be a no-no? Obviously not to you, but I mean at all? I don't get it. It's kind of a dumb ornamental word and Asian is easier on the ear, true. But I wouldn't care if anyone accidentally called me occidental. Why would I? People and their strange political twists on words confuse me. I mean it's so random.