Reply to Does it make you uncomfortable when someone describes a persons race when telling a story?

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[quote=Anonymous]So you can only mention race if it's going against a common stereotype?  Where do we get the list of common stereotypes so I can make sure not to do that?

It's odd pretending that you don't notice race.  Like when a black dad asks you "Which kid is yours?" at your kids' sporting event, and then you have to ask the same thing even if there's only one black kid out there, and then he laughs and says "The black kid!"  [/quote]

Lol relax I wasn't suggesting that there are times when people can/can't use race in describing someone, I was just adding my 2 cents as to why we do it.  In some instances race is used to paint a picture for the listener and better characterize the person/situation being described.  In other instances race is used to legitimize a certain impression gathered by the storyteller or to justify a certain sentiment expressed by the storyteller.  Everyone does it and not expecting everyone to suddenly stop for fear of the "PC Police" coming to get them.  It's natural.

Let's use this example...
[i]I was getting out of my car and this strange lady just walks up and starts talking to me.[/i]
Doesn't do much does it.  Bland...empty...gives no insight into either the narrator or the person the narrator is describing save for them being strange - but what is strange exactly?  Now if we add a racial description and say
[i]I was getting out of my car and this strange [b]Hispanic[/b] lady just walks up and starts talking to me.[/i]
That one adjective strange as it may sound adds a lot to the story.  1. It suggests the storyteller isn't Hispanic, otherwise why would they stress that?  2. By suggesting there is a cultural difference that reinforces the rationale that the storyteller found the interaction strange...was she speaking in Spanish for example?  3. Adding race to the description allows the reader to hone in on their own preconceived notions about Hispanics and can subsequently use stereotypes to surmise what may have made the woman seem strange...i.e. its strange that Hispanics do "such and such"...and therefore better relate to the story.
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