When describing characters, how do you handle race? Do you, for example, use African-American. Or do you use black (or capitalize it as Black)? If one of your characters is the type who would use the n-word, do you let the character do that? Do you allow characters to use racial slurs? Inter-racial dating (including sex)? When you describe inter-racial relations, do you take greater care in writing than you would if only one race were involved?
Lowercase, Oxford English for a description. "... her caramel skin against the lapus of her sleeve."
Capitalized if in speech where someone is representing the race. "God, Asian engineers design such cute trucks!"
Use the dialogue the character would use. "Bitch, get yo black ass back into that car and drive on back the fuck home."
I use the terms appropriate to the times (e.g. 'colored', negro, black, African-American, etc). I do have my characters use slurs when appropriate to the character (and that's rare, e.g. WWII vet referring to 'Japs').
I've used (besides the above) — 'Oriental', 'Latino', 'Chicano', 'Hispanic', and a few others in context. Again, I try to follow the then-current usage (same as I do in referring to 'the Ukraine' and 'the Crimea' pre-Soviet dissolution).
Latino
Certain wokelish guides in the UK advise using Latinx to avoid upsetting Latinas :-(
No, I don't know how to pronounce it.
AJ
Every Latino I know hates the term "Latinex". It's a manufactured word designed to soothe the nerves of white female gender studies majors.
It's a manufactured word designed to soothe the nerves of white female gender studies majors.
Absolutely the case. None of my 'Chicano' friends here in Chicago (term is basically no longer used) think 'Latinx' is anything other than f-cking stupid Gringos who don't know anything about Hispanic culture.
Of course, the same jackasses who would fly a Confederate battle flag object to my Mexican friends flying a Mexican flag on Cinco de Mayo.
The left AND right have totally lost the plot.
colored
What's the term for being afraid of people who are afraid to use 'colour' in the racial sense?
Coulro phobia :-)
AJ
When describing characters, how do you handle race? Do you, for example, use African-American. Or do you use black (or capitalize it as Black)?
That would be highly dependent on the setting and time frame.
I do not consider African-American a race. It would make no sense to call a Sudanese immigrant to the UK "African-American". I would however use it where appropriate in a story set in the US when that term was in favor.
I've also seen morons try to claim that Cleopatra (queen of Egypt in the first century BC) was African-American. Cleopatra was of Macedonian Greek lineage, not sub-Saharan African. Not to mention that America(as in the United States of) did not exist in the first century BC.
I've also seen morons try to claim that Cleopatra (queen of Egypt in the first century BC) was African-American. Cleopatra was of Macedonian Greek lineage, not sub-Saharan African. Not to mention that America did not exist in the first century BC.
I've encountered that, too, and said much the same thing. Historical revisionism is getting totally out of control. And when you bring facts in, you're called all manner of names. Sigh.
Still fondly recalling my South African (Afrikaaner) friend arguing with the admissions counselor at a certain Midwestern uni that he was 'African-American' and had the passport to prove it. She was beside herself in trying to explain why he wasn't 'African'. His response to EVERY objection, was 'but I am from Africa'. :-)
Still fondly recalling my South African (Afrikaaner) friend arguing with the admissions counselor at a certain Midwestern uni that he was 'African-American' and had the passport to prove it. She was beside herself in trying to explain why he wasn't 'African'. His response to EVERY objection, was 'but I am from Africa'. :-)
Is your friend's name Elon Musk by any chance?
Is your friend's name Elon Musk by any chance?
LOL. I wish, but the event I described was in 1983 in Illinois.
And when you bring facts in, you're called all manner of names. Sigh.
Let me guess: old white man?
When describing characters, how do you handle race?
When I saw the topic on the forum, I thought it was about Alien Races that often occur in science fiction, and/or fantasy stories. There, I tend to use those particular peoples' term for Human Being. As in Deutsch (German), but also Souix, Greek, and Chinese, to mention a few who refer to themselves as Humans, and all else as animals or at least "non-humans"...
Denoting skin color, I use a modified form of the Chicago Style Guide: Black, Asian, Latino, White, Egyptian, Persian, and a few others that don't fit "neatly" into a skin color definition.
Since most of my stories are in a military setting, in modern times there are Official Standards, and often consequences for failing to adhere to those standards. Rarely, if it is a plot point, some characters may use racial slang; sometimes that is derogatory. Negro is still the official US government definition of many people with Black or brown skin tones; I sometimes use that, if a character is being described and that makes sense in context. In some of my stories the skin color of individuals matters when they are deployed to foreign lands, and if they "blend in" or don't.
I have a story set before and during the Second World War, and I occasionally use Colored that was used then. As in the NAACP (National Association of Colored People). It was both a government term, and self-identification. So, I use that in context of the times. Some units of the US Army were so Identified: 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (Colored) or the 41st Regiment of Infantry (Philippine Scouts).
In the WWII story the racial slurs used are "Square Head" (Germans and Scandinavians), Krauts (Germans), Wop (Italian), Mick (Irish, and sometimes Scottish), among others, and after 7 December 1941 Japs.
Negro
I am not certain why people whose knees are growing are darker colored than other people. With the possible exception of Albinos, every person has some color or other, pink for example if they don't spend time in the sun. White is certainly a color, although not many people display that color.
White is certainly a color, although not many people display that color.
A Writers' Group friend says that you can always tell an English man because their legs are so white. ;-)
AJ
or WOMAN!!!
Think of Loretta and write that a hundred times!
She, not being a native Brit, was adamant it applied to English men because they always keep their legs covered up.
AJ
If Englishmen always keep their legs covered up how does Loretta, whoever she is, recognise an English man by his white legs other than when he is playing cricket?
Jack G
If Englishmen always keep their legs covered up how does Loretta, whoever she is, recognise an English man by his white legs other than when he is playing cricket?
I have no idea who Loretta is. @Argon?
The Writers' Group was like fish in a barrel because all the English men present were getting on in age and not the type to sunbathe (which is nuts, considering the epidemic of vitamin D deficiency amongst the elderly).
AJ
I have no idea who Loretta is. @Argon?
Monty Python's The Life of Brian, People's Front of Judaea meeting at Circus. . PFJ member Stan decides to be Loretta and enforces gender equality in AD 33, Roman-occupied Judaea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgp9MPLEAqA
Jeez! I have to explain that to a Brit?? Did you grow up in Wales where the movie was banned? 😂
Jeez! I have to explain that to a Brit??
It's a very long time since I watched the film. I'm afraid I don't remember that scene.
I guess I'd fail a test for Britishness :-(
AJ
I have been watching it every Good Friday for the past 35 years😉
Always look at the bright side of life!
Played by Eric Idle… Loved growing up and watching Monty Python on PBS in the States…
My sister and I could probably recite the whole dialogue for The Holy Grail and the TV show's parrot sketch...
Comedian George Carlin has a skit about why he doesn't like using African American.
Just search YouTube :
George Carlin on African American
Pocono 500, Daytona 500, Indy 500...
Mixing and matching IndyCar and NASCAR. What's next? Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together? Mass hysteria!
Haven't you heard of mixed races? 😁
Can you imagine IndyCars and NASCARs on the same track at the same time? Talk about mayhem!
Can you imagine IndyCars and NASCARs on the same track at the same time? Talk about mayhem!
While they never raced against each other in 2022 and 2023 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway both series raced on the same track in the same week. The week leading up to their actual race both cars where at times sharing the track as they did testing and practice but they did keep the cars running on the track separated.