h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Right, I have history coursework. It is about the American Civil War, and I am trying to prove that it was the conflict between majority rule and minority rights that caused the war. But of course, the issue of slavery must be mentioned. Now this is where my problem is: how exactly do I refer to black people? Right, ok I may have just solved my own problem with that preceding sentence, but is that ok by today's academic standards? Do I go for the word- consuming 'African- Americans'? Do I go for that word that seems to be favoured by Malcolm X, 'Negroes'? Any other suggestions? I desperately do not want to contain a racist word or dubious term in my essay, so what do I do?

Ask your history course work teacher, lecturer for advice?

I'm well aware that what follows is of no help at all...
Something is only racist if it is *intended* as such, not if it is taken as such. Since your essay is supposedly objective, and since you are clearly not racist, it shouldn't matter if you call them African-Americans, blacks, coloured people, whatever, as long as you stay away from words that are only used to be provocative, like "n****r" or "c**n".

I can see your problem there RK, as in this modern world of "Political Correctness" you really have to think before even speaking, in case what you say is taken the wrong way

Its just a sad fact of this modern times, which the very history you are studying is responsible for??
Now theres an irony for you Eh!
Smudger.

hi Roadkill,

Normally when writing about history I believe it is acceptable to use the venacular that was in use at the time you are writing about. So in this case 'negro' should be fine.

Why not check with either Heathen Sceptic or Jez? Also Montana Redhead. They should be able to give you the information you need.

az

Many thanks for all advice. It is tricky, making sure that discourse on any subject, let alone historically er, embarassing ones, don't offend anyone.

<<>>

How true.

OK, if you want to really impress them with your "PC"ness, what about

"persons of enhanced melanin"?

God, it's so silly isn't it? i doubt very much if any of us on here (the threads i use at least) are racist; far from it, but i do get a bit tired of the ever increasing attempts to categorise humans. I am (as far as i know...which is another issue; what about abandoned bas****s?) half English, half Irish, possibly quarter Indian

What possible category do i fit into? Do i WANT or need a category? am I going to get pi***d off if someone calls me "Rosbif" "Paddy" "W*g" etc? NO! I will just treat it with either contempt or good humour, depending on the context and the person.

I sympathise Roadkill, but i have no answers; play it safe is the best advice i can give. Get the degree & later write a dissertation on the subject maybe? Or, even better, a best-selling book!


zdt

Ridiculous or not, I think I'd rather pass my history than make a political statement by refusing to write my coursework.

Yes. Do it, with gritted teeth if necessary, scream later. Play the bloody system for now, gain strength through it & THEN fight if if you still wish to do so.

Teeth gritted. Conclusion written. Coursework being sent to the examiners tomorrow. I wash my hands of it. I never wish to see it again.

Geberal rule of thumb is to put it in quotation marks from my experiance.

I love the soound of coursework as it drops to the bottom of the hand in box.

Ah, I see that quote marks are a powerful weapon indeed...

Means you get the right terms in but move any blame for using it away from yourself.

ahhhh 'damn' clever

Oh yes. In situations such as this there are three ways of doing things:
a) the right way
b) the wrong way
c) the weasel way

The right way is the correct term. The wrong term is an offensive term. The weasel way is that which is mentioned above.

It is delicious.

I've got a module called 'Communicating Science' which is all about how to, well, communicate science to the general public. It's great fun.

Genuinely?

What bit? The communicating science part or the enjoyment part? (Though the answer to both is yes. )

Are the exams painful to do?

There is no exam, not for cummunicating science anyway, it's all coursework.

Though somehow I've ended up having an article on wind power to write. Just finishing it off though, should be able to hand it in tomorrow