More on Political Correctness

In response to this discussion of political correctness, blogger/novelist Steve Vachss writes:

Hi Craig, You make excellent points. There are, however, a few different kinds of PC language. Some are insulting putdowns simply intended to intimidate someone who has erred in not using the popular form at a given time. I wrote a blog about a year ago on the names used to identify various groups. If changing them offends the group, then I wouldn’t use a new form. However, to be accurate, one example of PC gone awry is the group of terms used for “African Americans.” I believe people in this group are “Americans.” They should receive the same respect and rights of all Americans. In fact they are NOT African. I dated a Caucasian woman from Johannesburg, who is now also an American. She can accurately be called an African American. Vice President Kamala Harris calls herself an African American. She has a right to call herself anything she desires. However, her mother was from India, and her father was from Jamaica. Much of her childhood was spent in Canada. I see many other examples of people using PC terms as intimidators. Some examples are “People of Color,” “Black People,” “Mexican Americans” (who are either Mexicans or Americans.) And why must we refer to people by their sexual orientation or bathroom choice?

A final thought: Science has established that ALL humans descended from Northeastern Africa. Since they migrated for thousands of years to points throughout the European and Asian continents, most developed DNA changes according to the necessities of the land and weather. Natural selection meant that they reproduced with their indigenous groups. This suggests that race is only a concept with little or no reality.

I don’t see why black people living in the Western Hemisphere who are descendants of slaves taken from Africa, whether they now live in the U.S. or Jamaica or anywhere else, cannot properly call themselves “African Americans.”  They want this moniker because they are proud of and want to maintain their heritage.  If it’s something of value to them, why would anyone begrudge it to them?

Your closing point about the science is true, but sadly, it’s besides the point.  What we refer to as “race” is a huge deal in human civilization, and there is nothing that modern anthropology can do to change that.

Always great to correspond with you.