Why aren't black people called brown people?

[Tsuyu]

Why aren't black people called brown people?

Bear with me. This isn't meant to incite a big race wars or nothing, this is just something that has been eating away at my soul lately; why are black people not called brown people, since they aren't actually black?

I can only assume it is because when the white settlers arrived in Africa they saw that the natives skin colour was very much in contrast with their own, and since black is pretty much the very opposite of white I suppose they went with that.

Oh yeah, white people aren't actually white neither, come to think about it. Well, I am but that's because I'm Scandinavian and I hate the sun...

WHY ARE WE ALL LIVING WITH THESE LIES?! :'(

 

[cheezMcNASTY]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

^ your guess is very close to the truth. at least from what i've heard.
it is very weird indeed.

 

[Cain]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

Well you should ask the spanish, as the names black people had around that time, Negroes, Niger are latin and spanish.

Also heres a amusing poem.

When I am born, I am black.
When I die, I am black.
When I am hot, I am black.
When I am cold, I am black.
When I am sick, I am black.

When you are born, you are pink.
When you die, you are grey.
When you are hot, you are red.
When you are cold, you are White.
When you are sick, you are Green.

And you call me coloured?

 

[Gikoku]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

Because the Hispanics are called "Brown People".

During the 60s, the Mexicans were doing "Brown Pride" and African-Americans were doing "Black Power", the Mexicans are generally brown/tan and African-Americans are generally darker than Hispanics (often closer to black). Eventually they were generally recognized as black people after the African-Americans fought to be called Black instead of Negro, Colored, African-American, and The N Word. It's just a political, cultural, ethnic etc. classification of a race even though it's not technical.

In short, it is just a metaphor on race based on human skin color. That's all.

Consequently, people who are mixed often get tossed around in the categories.

 

[Tsuyu]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

But surely it dates further back than the 60's?

 

[Gikoku]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

But surely it dates further back than the 60's?

Yes, but it was not widely used before the 60s. Before then, the term "Negro" and "Coloured" were used, and of course, the special "N Word". Other than those, most black people in America would simply refer to themselves as African.

 

[Skotekal]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

I dunno, there are black people though. Like those guys who are so freakin' dark its unbelievable man. Sometimes they are so dark, they look blue...

And I've never known to say Hispanics are brown... Just middle eastern people.

 

[Arseface]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

Have you ever seen a (for want of a better term) pure west African? Black is pretty justified. Interbreeding has pretty much meant that black people aren't really black, in western countries anyway.

 

[Gikoku]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

I dunno, there are black people though. Like those guys who are so freakin' dark its unbelievable man. Sometimes they are so dark, they look blue...

And I've never known to say Hispanics are brown... Just middle eastern people.

Yeah, there are definitely black people who are truly black, and white people who are actually pale enough to be called white. :lol:

But surely it dates further back than the 60's?

Yes, but it was not widely used before the 60s. Before then, the term "Negro" and "Coloured" were used, and of course, the special "N Word". Other than those, most black people in America would simply refer to themselves as African.

To add, Tsuyu...

The term has been recorded to date back as far as the early 1800s when used to describe African people. Starting with the Black Churches which was organized by blacks who were freed slaves in various states of America, but the term was originally coined by Black people themselves, not by Whites. However, it didn't really pick up until the 60s rolled around.

 

[HobbeBrain]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

Amen to this, I have often pondered this topic myself. I think it's because Asians are classed as brown, but I'm not sure

 

[Arseface]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

I thought that the asians colour of subjugation was yellow?

 

[Skotekal]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

^So did I...

 

[HobbeBrain]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

That's just the chinese and japanese, isn't it?

 

[Skotekal]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

Well, Filipinos or a darker colour, and most Vietnamese I see are darker, but I usually still acknowledge Asians as yellow. :lol:

 

[HobbeBrain]

Re: Why are black people not called brown people?

At my school there are two kids who are both Asian, however one is certainly yellow and the other is brown.

 

[Daemon300]

Re: Why aren't black people called brown people?

I don't like this thread... It seems so... Colorful.

 

[HobbeBrain]

Re: Why aren't black people called brown people?

You mean racist?

I'll balance it out.

WHITE PEOPLE ARE MADE OF MASHED POTATO!!

And it aint racist cuz I'm white.

 

[Arseface]

Re: Why aren't black people called brown people?

"Hehe, everybody's a racist. 'Cept me of course, coz I'm black."

 

[Daemon300]

Re: Why aren't black people called brown people?

In the words of a wise, annoyed turian from Mass Effect 2:

"You humans are all racist!"

 

[Zjuggernaut]

Re: Why aren't black people called brown people?

I had this conversation with my sister a few weeks back. We didn't know the answer.

And from reading this, now we do. ^_^