Date:  Thu, 3 Nov 1994 16:54:59 PST

From:  "CAVEMAN -- San Bernardino, Calif. USA" <cjcoker[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CSUPOMONA.EDU>

Subject: Re: who is african american



Hi, Chuck Coker here. Got the following from Shani N. Walker:



> > I know that biologically speaking, there is no such thing as "race."

> > Is there a another use of the term "race" other than in bigotry (and

> > government)? This is a serious question -- no humor this time.

> >

> > Chuck Coker

> > CJCoker[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CSUPomona.Edu

> >

> > PS: I was accepted into college because of "Native American," I believe.

>

> I don't know exactly what you are asking for, except to say that I am an

> African-American female who does not get offended by being called this,

> because I know who I am, regardless of what people call me. Labels that

> society puts upon people of the minority races are only temporary...I

> don't get too caught up in labels...who knows, the next thing "they"

> may call us are African-Black-Negro Americans...who's to say?

> Question to you: why do applications have a question regarding your

> ethnic background? I know to answer the question is only optional, but

> why is it asked in the first place? Do you have a theory?

>

> Shani N. Walker

> Morehead State University

> Morehead, Kentucky



I don't remember what the original posting was, but I was responding to

someone else's posting in the above. That's why it appears not to make

a whole lot of sense. I think somebody said they got a job or something,

because their skin was the "right color" or something like that. (Do I

use too many words beginning with "some"?)



As far as name-calling, personally, I don't really care what I'm called;

I don't even care if it's polite or not.



About the ethnic background question, you see that more often in

government and government-related industries (schools are gov't, too,

as I am sure we're all painfully aware). I used to own a heavy-truck

repair shop in Orange, California. Because I serviced all the Roadway

Express trucks in Orange County, and Roadway hauled stuff for the feds,

etc., I was indirectly connected to the government. So I had to ask

stupid questions like ethnicity and such, so I could report to the

government that my business was an Equal Opportunity Employer and I

didn't discriminate because of race, sex, religion, ad nauseum. My

personal opinion? Can you fix trucks? Yes? You're hired, even though

you have purple (or whatever color) skin.



When I entered college, at that school there was 0.6% Native American

and Alaskan Eskimo ethnicity. (Alaskan Eskimo? What about the others,

Canada, Greenland, Siberia, etc.? Maybe they're not minorities.) I

looked good on their statistic sheets. But what the (insert favorite

word here), I got into college.



Other people might have other opinions and facts (I'm sure they do).

Maybe some of them will respond.



Comments and Flames Always Welcome,

Chuck Coker

CJCoker[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CSUPomona.Edu



P.S. I do computer work now. Had to get out of the truck-repair business

because there was getting to be too much government stuff; I couldn't

take it anymore. Ask your mechanic next time how come he has to charge

you so much money.



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There have been no dragons in my life, only small spiders and stepping in gum.

I could have coped with the dragons.

                              Anonymous (but wise)

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