Why do white people refer to others as "people of color"???

I simply do not understand this term "people of color" used by white people to describe other races. I mean why on Earth is "white" not a color? Or is white supposed to be "normal"? Because that is exactly what is implied. This term really needs to die in its current use. All humans are people of color.

Who cares? It's not particularly offensive or anything.

this can't really be an issue?

White isn't actually a color btw... but people aren't actually white either. I've never used the term personally but I don't see why anyone would be offended by it.

We don't. That was something from the 1950's that people of non-white ethnic backgrounds hang onto because of their victim complexes.

Anyone who says "colour" is essentially racist, since we are all different shades of brown.

I've never heard anybody use that term.

I have never liked the term and don't use it. I feel uncomfortable any time anyone uses it even if I know they mean no harm.

I don't know... Some people get offended when they're called black. Some get offended when they're called African-American. This should really stop mattering to people.

@JustPlainLucas: "I don't know... Some people get offended when they're called black. Some get offended when they're called African-American. This should really stop mattering to people."

I never been to Africa =(

Do you want to hear something fun?

At the U of M - if a crime is commited on campus and the perp if white, a description will be given that the perp is white. If the perp is of "different" color skin than white, they just say a "male" or "female" person of interest is being sought.

I think the whole world is fucking stupid. Everyone immediately hates white skinned people and if a white skinned person harms someone else - fucking riots break out. However, should someone that's not white skinned harm a white skinnned person, no one riots and it's not reported as a racial issue.

I only time I hear people say that are in movies or from old people.

Never heard a White Person use that term. I've heard Black People use it when they need to add Latinos and Asians into the argument. As in...this issue effects all people of color.

This will end well lol

Yeah, it just sounds stupid. Everyone's skin is a color, essentially making the term useless, and it's just a different way of saying "colored people" even though that term is considered offensive. Although "colored people" does sound worse. The phrases, "blacks, Hispanics, and Asians" and "ethnic minorities" both sound better than "people of color".

And by the 2040s, everyone will be a minority, making race as a topic pretty meaningless. I really hope we're not as race-focused by the middle of the century anymore.

The "white" and "black" labels don't make much sense either, since most of the people who identify themselves as "white" or "black" aren't literally white or black.

Because colour is a beautiful thing. =]

Good point. We did away with "yellow" and "red" as racial designations, yet somehow we kept "black" and "white" above water. In reality, we are all just varying shades of brown.

This is kinda random, but I hate how textbooks always refer to minorities as "Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic/Latino (Americans)" but refer to European Americans as just "white people", as if we fell from the sky or lack heritage. It would be better if we were all just Americans, but that's still wishful thinking in the early 21st century.

Never hear anyone say that. Did you time travel back to the past?

Erm, only weirdos say that

I have a similar issue. It's like they're saying that you're an American, but not fully - you got some 'other' in you.

The 'insert ethnicity here' American terms just need to be done away it, unless people are going to start calling white people European Americans. Fair is fair.

People do say "people of color" these days. It has replaced "colored people" even though they mean the exact same thing.

Pretty much. I just prefer "black, white, Hispanic, and Asian", but if we're gonna start calling everyone by "insert race/ethnicity here-Americans", then at least extend that to white people too. Hopefully race just becomes less of an issue in the future and we all just call each other Americans. Still...wishful thinking at best.

Me neither. Nor am I actually "black". Doesn't piss me off but it does bother me a tad bit...

People just try to find anything to be offended by these days. It's one hell of a first world problem.

@tocool340: Me neither. "Nor am I actually "black". Doesn't piss me off but it does bother me a tad bit..."

You light-skinned?

Somebody will hate someone no matter what... deal with it.

Well from my history class, I gathered that it was White Americans that began calling themselves White. They called Black/African Americans something much more offensive.

To retaliate, African Americans began calling themselves Black, to basically be the opposite of the White people who were treating them so badly.

That's what I learned, anyway. It may be wrong but it was what I was taught, and makes sense, really.

What backward part of the world do you live in?

Plenty of African Americans use the term, if you watched the news you might catch it. Heard it plenty of times on MSNBC (not that many people watch that network). So don't act like it is an illusion.

I only hear sjw types use that term.

You've never heard people use the term "people of color" before? It has replaced "colored people" since apparently that term is offensive. And I don't hear the term "people of color" often myself, but I have heard it. I live in Minnesota BTW, which is definitely not a backwards part of the world. :)

I think that's true, but it's 2015 now. Either we give fair racial labels to everyone, including whites, or we ditch them altogether. Since ditching them is an unrealistic goal right now given the state of race relations in this country, I say we give fair racial labels to everyone, not just minorities. Although I'll just keep saying, "blacks, whites, Hispanics, and Asians". :P

Yeah no. I'm not going to bother considering this an issue.

Lol why would anyone find one offensive and not the other? :P They are literally the exact same thing. The syntax is the all that changes haha

I know. That's why I think the term is fucking retarded. Is it so hard to say, "blacks, Hispanics, and Asians" or "ethnic minorities" instead? Some people just have political correctness shoved too far up their asses.

@gamerguru100: The problem is... I don't think it's any actual attempt to be politically correct. I see it more as a pat on their own backs because they think they're being awesome by pushing this type wording.

(and I'm the guy who always pushes for political correctness but hey, that term was just too stupid)

The irony is "people of color" is currently the only acceptable term by the ultra-PC activists that you find on Tumblr or Twitter.

I've never heard somebody use the phrase. I've seen it in movies, and read it in some books, but I can't recall any white person I know that has used it.

it is in this over hyper sensitive society we live in..and it sux..

I use "people of color," and "those blessed with copious amounts of melanin."

I always come across the term on well respected internet sites.

http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/05/05/how-someone-spent-pennies-to-troll-women-people-of-color-via-promoted-tweets/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tausha-cowan/where-are-the-people-of-c_b_7113876.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/janet-murguia/young-people-of-color-are_b_7193036.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Person_of_color

I'm white, I don't refer to darker people as people of color.

oh so you are in the racist camp where you cant say anything at all without it being racist?..i see.. IF people of color refer to us whites as "whites" then we refer to people of color as people of color why? Because if we are white then they must be of color. No other options..I'll never get why people call the racist card so quickly over the last 10 years..its becoming quite annoying.

But if you are all americans, how am I supposed to be a racist then? Won't anyone think of us racists? :P

I'll guarantee you 100% that it's not onlywhite people using phrasing like 'people of color' to describe non-white folks. And under some circumstances, Hispanic people are also considered white...

"People should only be offended by things I deem worthy to be offended by!"