# Can a person's race be included in a statement without the statement being "racist"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-persons-race-be-included-in-a-statement-without-the-statement-being-racist/786659>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [May 15, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-persons-race-be-included-in-a-statement-without-the-statement-being-racist/786659 "2017-05-15T16:14:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Warm\_blood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Warm\_blood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Warm_blood)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-persons-race-be-included-in-a-statement-without-the-statement-being-racist/786659/61 "2017-06-16T04:37:04Z")

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> [@DSYoungEsq](#):
>
> And I think that the most recent past-President of the United States, Barack Obama, exemplifies this. He isn’t the descendant of American slaves, but rather the son of a Kenyan economist who was temporarily in the US. It’s correct to refer to him as having African-American heritage, but to call him “black” and thus lump him in with all those in this country who are the descendants of our former slaves is a bit silly; he shares very little with those people. But because of his skin color and hair (among other things), he gets labeled as no different, and potentially treated no differently.
> 
> So I’m not sure how you could NOT be “racist” if you accept that “race” has any validity at all.

You have it backwards. “African-American” is the term specifically used to describe black Americans who are descendants of slaves. “Black” is the more generic term to describe anyone with African ancestry.

And as for the rest of your post, it sounds cute but from my experience those who want to pretend that race doesn’t exist usually claim so only because it gives them an excuse to not acknowledge racism as it exists.

I’m not accusing you of being racist, just telling you that your perspective (assuming it is genuine) won’t sound so noble to some ears.

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