Perhaps I wasn't clear. In the same sentence one group of people are 
identified in a formal, politically correct manner - "African-Americans," 
while the second group of people are identified in an informal, politically 
incorrect manner - "white folks." The sentence has nothing to do with 
"identification issues" as you suggest, but does have a lot to do with how 
one group can be held to one standard, while the other group is not held to 
the same standard? However, your question is valid. "Is it too much to ask?" 
Too much to ask for the standard to be applied equally? In the context of 
"African-Americans" and "white folks," reverse the roles of the two groups 
in the sentence. The same sentence could be written, but would the people 
reading it find it acceptable?

Tom
Eastern Shore & More Forum
http://www.easternshoremore.com/forum/
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 10:31 PM
Subject: identifying terminology


> It is my opinion that a people, a group of people, should be allowed to 
> decide how it is that they wish to be described or referred to. American 
> blacks have had to deal with all sorts of "identification" issues, I 
> think.
> Up from slaves but down from Jim Crow. Then there are the issues that 
> arose from intermarrying....are they part this or part that or part 
> anything or fully this or fully that?
> By God, if it gives these dear people a stronger sense of who they are to 
> be called African Americans rather than whatever else they've been called, 
> then I say, give it to them. Is it too much to ask?
> DFM

>> <snip>
>>> A lot of African-Americans are as interested in their "heritage" as are 
>>> white folks.
>> <snip>
>>> Anne Pemberton
>>
>> I'm not offended by it, but I'm somewhat taken back by the use of 
>> "African-Americans" vs. "white folks." Is there a double-standard at work 
>> here? If the identifying terminology were reversed how would the sentence 
>> read?
>>
>> Tom
>> Eastern Shore & More Forum
>> http://www.easternshoremore.com/forum/ 

To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html