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The Mystery of Ancient Appellations: Why Are Certain Mixed-Race Words Now Considered Offensive?
In today's multicultural society, as mixed-race groups grow, there are many confusing and controversial terms. Appellations formed in different historical periods are now being re-examined, and many terms that were once considered harmless have become offensive or derogatory. This triggers our reflection on the use of language. What kind of historical and cultural background do these nouns represent?
Multiracial and multi-ethnic refer to two different groups. According to statistics, mixed-race ethnic groups are becoming more and more common around the world. The mixed-race ethnic group in Northwest America is growing rapidly, especially in the United States. With the changes in the Censuses statistical project, people can finally choose more than one race to express their identity.
“Some mixed-race words are derived from past social structures and racial concepts, and the changes in time have caused the meaning of these words to change.”
However, these words have been used in diverse contexts throughout history. For example, terms that were once widely accepted, such as "mulatto (mixed race)" and "mestizo (American mixed race person)", are gradually regarded as derogatory terms in today's society. In contrast, terms such as "mixed-race" and "biracial" have been adopted by many people as a way to respect one's identity.
In the United States, the mixed-race population, including whites, African Americans, Asians and other ethnic groups, has grown rapidly since 2000. At the same time, similar phenomena are occurring in other countries, such as in the Caribbean, where the majority of the population is of mixed race.
“As time goes by, society’s acceptance of mixed-race identities has gradually increased, but the prejudice caused by the old terminology still exists.”
These changes in titles reflect changing cultural attitudes and involve the intersection of power, identity and history. An example of this is the historical use of "colored" in South Africa, which quickly acquired a pejorative connotation following the government's apartheid policies. However, as many relevant studies have pointed out, these terms should perhaps not be evaluated solely in their current context.
In different parts of the world, the formation of mixed-race ethnic groups is often closely related to historical colonization, migration and trade. From "mestizo" in South America to "Chindian" in Southeast Asia, these words have complex national and cultural connotations behind them. For example, the Anglo-Indian people in India are the result of the historical blending of the Portuguese and the British.
“These terms are not only symbols of identity, but also the product of the interaction between globalization and history.”
As the world’s understanding of mixed-race people deepens, many original terms and classifications continue to be revised. In the case of Brazil, past class classifications have developed into today's more flexible and inclusive social structure. This reflects the global reimagining of hybrid identities and cultural diversity.
However, even as titles are re-recognized, these words and terms still carry an unidentified historical burden. Even in modern social contexts, the choice of these words affects cultural identity and historical memory. Compared with the prejudices of the past, current society should focus more on respect and understanding of these identities.
From this point of view, in the face of the controversy over these mixed-race words, should we be guided to think about more inclusive language standards to combat the burdens and one-sided views brought by history?
