[M.T.]

Hi. I wanted to respond to the question about why people use the phrase 'people of color.' [PARAGRAPH] I use the phrase, as a white person, to distinguish between people who receive the same privileges I do due to a common skin color or ethnic heritage and those who do not. [PARAGRAPH] I agree with you that white people don't really have white skin. The word 'white' has become a signifier, a metaphor, for something that I, and others like me, have. Despite the diversity between white people, we share privileges like: being able to go in any store without others suspecting that we won't be able to pay or that we'll steal; being in organizations where we don't have to fear that our skin color or ethnic heritage will be a barrier to our success, etc. [PARAGRAPH] On the other hand, a group of people do not share these privileges. I call them 'people of color' because they have either a different skin color and/or ethnic origin. While people of color have skin tones lighter than my own, again, it's not the exact hue that is at issue. Instead, it's the racial / ethnic origin that determines how people are treated. [PARAGRAPH] I don't use some of the suggestions that you offered, such as 'people with darker skin' or 'people from [whatever] country' because (1) the skin isn't always darker (2) the people aren't always from the same country (3) it's confusing to try to identify the origin and skin color of each person I'm talking about in a conversation (it would take too long!) (4) the important thing is that there are things that people of color share that I do not and that things I share with white folks that people of color do not. [PARAGRAPH] BTW - I don't think that white people have no culture or heritage. I think it often seems that way because we're all here together and it's hard to see when we're all together. When I go to a non-white community in DC or to a different country, they I become *very* aware of my culture and heritage. It's really interesting!

User Detail :  

Name : M.T., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 27, City : Washington, State : DC Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[M.T.]

I think that Jews in high places receive attention when they are in those places. It's rare that I read, 'John Smith, a lawyer who is Protestant.' However, articles on Jewish folk seem to go out of their way to acknowledge their religion. Also, I think that there are an awful lot of Jews who don't get attention or who aren't successful. Yet, stories about working class Jews (actually, working class people in general) don't seem to get as much play as stories about the wealthy.

User Detail :  

Name : M.T., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 27, City : Washington, State : DC Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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