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IcewindDude (Offline)
JF Regular
 
Posts: 91
Join Date: Aug 2009
Race descriptions in English - 09-02-2009, 06:35 PM

This has been bothering me for a while... I want something that is mostly "politically correct" to describe certain races of certain characteristics.

We've all come to accept that "whites" refer to those of European descent who have lighter skin, rounder eyes, and so on... Blacks are from African descent and generally have darker skin, more pronounced lips and noses, etc. These are also what are used in police reports and such.

However, what do we call the people of Asian descent that have the light-dark yellowish skin, almond shaped eyes, and relatively flat faces. This includes the majority of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc. I hesitate to think that the term is "Asian" since there are many native Asians that certainly do not fit the stereotypical "Asian".

This is similar to the even more encompassing "Latino". This term can describe literally any race who calls most of South-Central America, Spain, and some other countries "home". This includes those of European, African, and Asian descent. Although the stereotypical "Latin" people are those of the darker skinned native South-Central descent (like Mexicans).

Would appreciate feedback.