Posted on Nov 2, 2014
MSG Darren Gaddy
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This is in the new AR 600-20, Page 55 dtd 22 October 2014, under Equal Opportunity Policy: (c) Black or African American. A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as "Haitian" or "Negro" can be used in addition to "Black” or “African American”. We'll I don't believe I've ever met any black Soldiers who refer to themselves as Negro. So this new regulation allows me to refer to myself as Negro, so what's stopping every and anyone else from referring to me as Negro. This is only a couple of syllables from the other N word. What group is referring to themselves as Negro at this point in time? Why, would this ever even be included in the regulation? It think it's problematic and will only incite additional racial issues in the Army. I personally find it to be offensive! This is my opinion, what is your opinion.
Posted in these groups: Armycommandpolicy AR 600-20
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 40
SGT Nobody
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What is the right term? There is someone who is offended by everyone on that list. Where is the line drawn. I'm surprised there isn't a DA Pam that lists thing I can be offended over and things I can't.

Whatever the next word is will eventually be derogatory. I work with people with intellectual disabilities which used to be Special Needs which used to be Mental Retardations which used to to Invalids and so on.

Whatever term is used there will always be a group that will discriminate. It's the world we live in.

And furthermore if you are offended by "Negro" I challenge you to count how many times you call something or someone "retarded" in a day. Even though "retarded" is still used as A medical diagnosis. The use of this outside of that is "offensive". This is a crutch word just like the "N" word I hear so much at work.
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SGT Nobody
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Touchy subject for me to reply to. But most of the brown people (as most kids under 12 refer to African Americans) I work with do on a regular basis refer to themselves and other brown people by the notorious "N" word. Maybe it's just around me because they know I dated a brown girl for a while but still very common nontheless.
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SFC Cryptologic Network Warfare Specialist
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MSG Darren Gaddy I know that this is off topic. I wonder how they would categorize Russian. As far as I know, Russia is not part of the Middle East or Europe. If China is part of the Far East, I would say that Russia is also part of the Far East.

The underlying problem is more of the cultural state of mind. Can anybody really classify a person's race without a genetic or DNA testing? People would be surprised of the result of such testing.

I would highly encourage people to watch The Human Family Tree and question the validity of the very definition of race itself.


http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/human-family-tree/
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Sgt Rich Mooney
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I'll go one step further than you have in your questioning of any words we use to describe differences in appearance; Why do we call it a "Race" when it's just a description of a different physical appearance? The only RACE I belive exists is the HUMAN RACE and until our cultures buy into that concept, the differences of physical appearance will always be used to separate and divide all people (and ideology but don't get me started there..).
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SSG (ret) William Martin
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Did someone get lazy and copy and paste from an AR created in 1953?
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1SG Vet Technician
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CPL Jay Strickland
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My guess is they copied and pasted the same words from the 1960's when that was considered the nice term. Much like most of our NCOers.
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SSG Jennifer Liepis
SSG Jennifer Liepis
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So... Social laziness I guess. After spending so much time digging around in history books, such as the histories of anthropology and geography... Well, I know where the word comes from. It has "less than human origins" and really should be dropped from our vocabulary. It just stuns me to see it creep back in to "acceptable".
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
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NCOs? I was an NCO during that period. Am I misunderstanding you or something?
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SGT Patrick McCullough
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I love how vernacular Etymology is always portrayed as a slur especially around election times. I know plenty of people who wouldn't blink an eye and use the term on the reg. Latin Nigrum root of Negro. Negro, Negra=black. Eat some Turkey and STFU. Nothing better then righteous indignation based on ignorance.
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SFC Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Operations Specialist
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I just read about this, and this is ridiculous. While I understand the whole "we need to be progressive," or "if it makes you uncomfortable, don't say it," what about that one guy that pushes it?

That needs to be changed.
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SGT Richard H.
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SFC Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Operations Specialist
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That is good to hear.
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SSG Human Resources Specialist
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DA PAM 600–26 Department of the Army Affirmative Action Plan dated 1990, and yes it hasn't been updated, you will the see the racial and ethnic designation categories (REDCAT), they are still used today.

Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), a Swedish botanist and physician, established the origin of the color scheme of races. He color coded the species red, white, yellow, and black, respectively, and assigned each a set of physical, personality, cultural, and social traits.

Same code can be found in NGB PAM 25-10 SIDPERS Data Element dictionary. The CDC has an extensive code list.
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