Refer Term People Native American White Eslpod Change

Languages change over time, and some terms that were "once" (in the past) "acceptable" (okay to use) are no longer acceptable. This is especially true for terms used to refer to "minority groups" (people with a race that is less than 50% of the larger population).

For example, in the past it was acceptable to refer to blacks or African Americans as "colored" people, but this term isn't heard very often anymore, and most people consider it to be rude. Similarly, in the past people referred to anyone with Asian "heritage" (background) as an "oriental," but this isn't acceptable now, either. It is better to refer to the specific race or country of origin, or just to say "Asian American."

In the past, Native Americans were often called "redskins." This term is generally considered inappropriate, but there is a major exception - the "Washington Redskins" are an American Football Team. For years, some people have tried to make the team change its name and "mascot" (an animal or figure representing a team) because they think it is inappropriate. Other people argue that although the word "redskin" was used in a "defamatory" (hurtful and rude) way in the past, the team now uses the name as a way to honor Native Americans.

Some terms refer not only to someone's race, but also their beliefs and sense of "identity" (how one identifies or categorizes oneself). For example, an "apple" is a rude term sometimes used to describe a Native American who has been "assimilated into" (become part of) "white" culture, because an apple is "red" (an inappropriate reference to Native Americans' skin color) on the outside and "white" on the inside. A "banana" is a rude term sometimes used to describe an Asian American who is "yellow" on the outside and "white" on the inside.