Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
a strange recent trend, some CDF posters have attempted to relabel races. i dont get it. .
the opinion of some of african descent here, is that those of the mideastern origin are part of some "white" tribe of people and that the enormous cultural, linguistic and physical distinctions among mideastern people and europeans are merely superficial. btw im 100% oriental. what does it accomplish to lump all non black people into one single group labeled "white"?
First off, I know the term Arab is controversial in itself, and I've come across a number of Lebanese, Syrians, and Egyptians who don't consider themselves Arabs but rather descendents of Phoenicians and such. However, going by US Census definition, we'll include them as Arabs.
My question is why doesn't American society accept Arabs to be part of the White race? Is it because they're tanned? And if so, why do Italians and Greeks classify as White but Arabs do not? Either way, 2/3 of the Arabs in this country are Lebanese and Syrian, they're fully assimilated, Christians, and some are blonde/blue eyed. John Sununu (Bush Sr.'s Chief of Staff), Tony Shalhoub (aka Monk), Doug Flutie, Michael E. Debakey are of Lebanese descent and they could all pass for any American of any European ancestry.
My father tells me this has increased since 9/11. Pre-9/11, many considered Arabs, in particular Lebanese and Syrians, to be White. Then after it, some people in the country just wanted to single us out, as "Arab Americans."
Thoughts?
Because race is a socially constructed reality, not a biological one. And, as with all socially constructed realities, categories of race shift over time as society changes.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Italians were considered a separate "race" by many US nativists. That changed after WWII, when the long post-war boom brought Italian-Americans into the US economic mainstream.
Right now, racial politics in the US casts Arabs as Muslims, and Muslims as the enemy. In the US, enemies are almost never white. They are always considered black or brown.
indeed it is, and we need to stop with the race thing period. we need to start talking about the "human race", and stop separating people based on skin color. that was stupid when it started, and it is stupid now. unfortunately too many continue to look first at skin color rather than character.
First off, I know the term Arab is controversial in itself, and I've come across a number of Lebanese, Syrians, and Egyptians who don't consider themselves Arabs but rather descendents of Phoenicians and such. However, going by US Census definition, we'll include them as Arabs.
My question is why doesn't American society accept Arabs to be part of the White race? Is it because they're tanned? And if so, why do Italians and Greeks classify as White but Arabs do not? Either way, 2/3 of the Arabs in this country are Lebanese and Syrian, they're fully assimilated, Christians, and some are blonde/blue eyed. John Sununu (Bush Sr.'s Chief of Staff), Tony Shalhoub (aka Monk), Doug Flutie, Michael E. Debakey are of Lebanese descent and they could all pass for any American of any European ancestry.
My father tells me this has increased since 9/11. Pre-9/11, many considered Arabs, in particular Lebanese and Syrians, to be White. Then after it, some people in the country just wanted to single us out, as "Arab Americans."
Thoughts?
Semites(Arabs included) are one of several branches of the Caucasian race, but are not white.
Not all caucasians are white. Caucasians run the gamut from very fair to olive.
First of all, there is no such thing as "the white race", it's all a social construct. Secondly, Arabs are not full-blooded white, they've mixed over many years, with other people, and I never understood why they'd be called white anyway.
I think the rule is they have to stop fighting each other before they can become white. At least thats what they told the Irish before they could be white.
The same reasons why Mexicans aren't considered white.
Why does it really matter?
There are lots of races. They are what they are. It's not a matter of acceptance. It's a matter of the definition of the race in question.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
There are lots of races. They are what they are. It's not a matter of acceptance. It's a matter of the definition of the race in question.
