Discuss . . .

We had a speaker today who expressed something I've been thinking for years - I don't like the expression "people of color", I find it racist, and here's why.

I've been a musician most of my life, although you wouldn't know it lately but I digress. In music you have many pieces labeled as variations on a theme. You have the original theme, then composers will write their own interpretation of the original. But the original is always the THEME, the others are just VARIATIONS.

That's what I think about when I hear "people of color". Sounds like PEOPLE - meaning white folks, then PEOPLE OF COLOR - who are merely variations on the original theme. As though they are an alternative to the original "standard" idea. As though white people are O Holy Night, and everyone else is just some crazy interpretation of it by Mariah Carey.

White = the standard, Not White = alternatives to being white.

White = right, Not White = wrong, but we'll tolerate your craziness

Also, I'm "white" but I'm by no means colorless.