[Lions-l] correct political paradox

[Richard Bull]

The question does not address the "biology" of mixed "race" people very well.  It is intended more as a sociological definition or "Who / whom do you identify yourself with?   As America continues to move forward, we can hope that this nosey question is no longer  any part of the government's business. 

Richard Bull
1959

----- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: lions-l at baker.hs.org
Sent: 6/11/2007 11:51:08 PM 
Subject: Re: [Lions-l] correct political paradox


Hello George,

As the word race has a number of meanings,  it was perfectly legitimate for the young lady to identify herself in either one of several different categories (African, African American, Anglo, Kenyan (if she came from Kenya), White, etc.).  Check the meaning of race in the dictionary.  If you are filling in a blank on a questionnaire, without knowing what alternatives you are to choose from, you cannot be faulted for writing in something that might be unexpected.  Race does not necessarily identify the color of one's skin.  It might indicate your national origin (American), the continent of your ancestors (Asian, European), the geographic origin of your ancestors (Eskimos), etc.  People preparing questionnaires should be aware of the different meanings of the word race and not ask such open-ended questions.  Nevertheless, I suspect the young lady was perhaps making a political statement indicating that her sympathies lie with black people whose origins were in Africa.  And she should have known that the questionnaire was probably just trying to identify the color of her skin.

Hope you don't think this is just nit-picking.

Willis Trawick '56
Sutherland Springs, Tx.






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