How does one describe somebody who is bi-racial?How to describe skin colour, if “white” is not the point...
Dropdown com clique
Is "history" a male-biased word ("his+story")?
'The literal of type int is out of range' con número enteros pequeños (2 dígitos)
Should I take out a loan for a friend to invest on my behalf?
What was the Kree's motivation in Captain Marvel?
Definition of Statistic
Does "Until when" sound natural for native speakers?
In the quantum hamiltonian, why does kinetic energy turn into an operator while potential doesn't?
Error during using callback start_page_number in lualatex
How to write ı (i without dot) character in pgf-pie
Makefile strange variable substitution
Why does the negative sign arise in this thermodynamic relation?
NASA's RS-25 Engines shut down time
Reversed Sudoku
Are all players supposed to be able to see each others' character sheets?
Plausibility of Mushroom Buildings
Is it necessary to separate DC power cables and data cables?
PTIJ: Should I kill my computer after installing software?
Do items de-spawn in Diablo?
Shifting between bemols (flats) and diesis (sharps)in the key signature
Difference on montgomery curve equation between EFD and RFC7748
How did Alan Turing break the enigma code using the hint given by the lady in the bar?
Good for you! in Russian
How can I get players to stop ignoring or overlooking the plot hooks I'm giving them?
How does one describe somebody who is bi-racial?
How to describe skin colour, if “white” is not the point of reference?How do I express some one as a black person?What's with all the hate on adjectives and adverbs?How can I learn the name of a colour to use in a description?How to describe a diverse set of characters without falling into purple prose or exoticism?First person POV “mom:” vs. “mother”How to refer to clothes without modern words ? (e.g: t-shirt)How to describe a scene from imagination?How to describe a female character's figure without comedy?Describing body language?How do i properly name a fictional species and describe it?How to describe skin colour, if “white” is not the point of reference?
And this question to ask how do you describe somebody who is black and got many great answers. Describing mixed races in this way would be too broad. How do I express some one as a black person?
Similar to how do you call someone black question then how do you describe somebody of two or more races?
Word like mixed and biracial do not depict that person unique features.
Some books that have the main characters on the cover so you have an idea of what the characters look like but some books do not.
dialogue description book scriptwriting
|
show 2 more comments
And this question to ask how do you describe somebody who is black and got many great answers. Describing mixed races in this way would be too broad. How do I express some one as a black person?
Similar to how do you call someone black question then how do you describe somebody of two or more races?
Word like mixed and biracial do not depict that person unique features.
Some books that have the main characters on the cover so you have an idea of what the characters look like but some books do not.
dialogue description book scriptwriting
Related: writing.stackexchange.com/q/42125/14704
– Galastel
7 hours ago
2
This question's not clear. Are you looking for the words biracial/biethnic? Something more specific? Or a phrase?
– Laurel
6 hours ago
2
Are you sure that most books have their main character on the cover? Looking over my collection of mostly fantasy books I can find lots of weird symbols and dragons but only very few human-like characters. My mystery and thriller books also rarely show their main characters. Therefore I want to ask what genre you are interested in. It might make a difference whether you are talking about the "southern hill dwarves living under the burning sun" or "Josh, the guy from the other side of the street".
– Secespitus
6 hours ago
@Secespitus not to mention how often the image on the cover directly contradicts the description of the character within the text...
– Galastel
5 hours ago
@Laurel those words do not depict the persons features. Especially if they have unique qualities that can only begotten from a unique mix.
– Muze
5 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
And this question to ask how do you describe somebody who is black and got many great answers. Describing mixed races in this way would be too broad. How do I express some one as a black person?
Similar to how do you call someone black question then how do you describe somebody of two or more races?
Word like mixed and biracial do not depict that person unique features.
Some books that have the main characters on the cover so you have an idea of what the characters look like but some books do not.
dialogue description book scriptwriting
And this question to ask how do you describe somebody who is black and got many great answers. Describing mixed races in this way would be too broad. How do I express some one as a black person?
Similar to how do you call someone black question then how do you describe somebody of two or more races?
Word like mixed and biracial do not depict that person unique features.
Some books that have the main characters on the cover so you have an idea of what the characters look like but some books do not.
dialogue description book scriptwriting
dialogue description book scriptwriting
edited 5 hours ago
Galastel
35.2k6103188
35.2k6103188
asked 7 hours ago
MuzeMuze
1144
1144
Related: writing.stackexchange.com/q/42125/14704
– Galastel
7 hours ago
2
This question's not clear. Are you looking for the words biracial/biethnic? Something more specific? Or a phrase?
– Laurel
6 hours ago
2
Are you sure that most books have their main character on the cover? Looking over my collection of mostly fantasy books I can find lots of weird symbols and dragons but only very few human-like characters. My mystery and thriller books also rarely show their main characters. Therefore I want to ask what genre you are interested in. It might make a difference whether you are talking about the "southern hill dwarves living under the burning sun" or "Josh, the guy from the other side of the street".
– Secespitus
6 hours ago
@Secespitus not to mention how often the image on the cover directly contradicts the description of the character within the text...
– Galastel
5 hours ago
@Laurel those words do not depict the persons features. Especially if they have unique qualities that can only begotten from a unique mix.
– Muze
5 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
Related: writing.stackexchange.com/q/42125/14704
– Galastel
7 hours ago
2
This question's not clear. Are you looking for the words biracial/biethnic? Something more specific? Or a phrase?
– Laurel
6 hours ago
2
Are you sure that most books have their main character on the cover? Looking over my collection of mostly fantasy books I can find lots of weird symbols and dragons but only very few human-like characters. My mystery and thriller books also rarely show their main characters. Therefore I want to ask what genre you are interested in. It might make a difference whether you are talking about the "southern hill dwarves living under the burning sun" or "Josh, the guy from the other side of the street".
– Secespitus
6 hours ago
@Secespitus not to mention how often the image on the cover directly contradicts the description of the character within the text...
– Galastel
5 hours ago
@Laurel those words do not depict the persons features. Especially if they have unique qualities that can only begotten from a unique mix.
– Muze
5 hours ago
Related: writing.stackexchange.com/q/42125/14704
– Galastel
7 hours ago
Related: writing.stackexchange.com/q/42125/14704
– Galastel
7 hours ago
2
2
This question's not clear. Are you looking for the words biracial/biethnic? Something more specific? Or a phrase?
– Laurel
6 hours ago
This question's not clear. Are you looking for the words biracial/biethnic? Something more specific? Or a phrase?
– Laurel
6 hours ago
2
2
Are you sure that most books have their main character on the cover? Looking over my collection of mostly fantasy books I can find lots of weird symbols and dragons but only very few human-like characters. My mystery and thriller books also rarely show their main characters. Therefore I want to ask what genre you are interested in. It might make a difference whether you are talking about the "southern hill dwarves living under the burning sun" or "Josh, the guy from the other side of the street".
– Secespitus
6 hours ago
Are you sure that most books have their main character on the cover? Looking over my collection of mostly fantasy books I can find lots of weird symbols and dragons but only very few human-like characters. My mystery and thriller books also rarely show their main characters. Therefore I want to ask what genre you are interested in. It might make a difference whether you are talking about the "southern hill dwarves living under the burning sun" or "Josh, the guy from the other side of the street".
– Secespitus
6 hours ago
@Secespitus not to mention how often the image on the cover directly contradicts the description of the character within the text...
– Galastel
5 hours ago
@Secespitus not to mention how often the image on the cover directly contradicts the description of the character within the text...
– Galastel
5 hours ago
@Laurel those words do not depict the persons features. Especially if they have unique qualities that can only begotten from a unique mix.
– Muze
5 hours ago
@Laurel those words do not depict the persons features. Especially if they have unique qualities that can only begotten from a unique mix.
– Muze
5 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
Where I live, belonging to two-three ethnic groups is the norm. Children in school boast about being a quarter Iraqi, a quarter Moroccan, a quarter Polac and a quarter old Jerusalemi.
How does one describe people when that's the situation? One forgets ethnicities (since by this point, they affect the kitchen more than anything), and describes what people actually look like. One mentions hair colour, and whether it's curly or straight. Skin colour: it can be pale, sunburnt, tanned, all kinds of brown. See also my question How to describe skin colour, if “white” is not the point of reference? There are facial features: eyes, lips, nose, cheeks. There's body shape - slim, curvy, whatever. There's the clothes. It's not about hanging "race" tags on a person (whatever "race" means anyway) - it's about describing the individual in front of you, and what that specific individual looks like.
add a comment |
Usually, I can't tell if a person is bi-racial or multi-racial just by appearance. Also, some people may not see themselves multi-ethnic. The Hui people in China, for example, may be genetically similar to the Han people in China, but ethnicity is not based on genetics. It is based on culture and way of life. What makes the Hui people different from the Han people is that they use Arabic as a liturgical language and behave like Muslims. Being Han and being Hui is mutually exclusive. Also, as far as the Chinese government is concerned, a Chinese national is either one ethnicity or the other, and can't be both at the same time. This video is about "ethnic Russians" in China. From a Western POV, they would be considered bi-racial. From a Chinese POV, they would be considered mono-racial/mono-ethnic. They are classified as 俄罗斯民族 (Russian ethnic group), and because they are part of 中华民族 (Han people + all recognized ethnic minorities), they are considered "Chinese". Another example is this girl (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if-n2AdVpUI). The video uploader adds the title: "Native Chinese white girl(native white race in China)", contrary to the evidence. First of all, the news reporter and the girl never mention that she is "white". She speaks her own ethnic language, and that she is an ethnic minority in China, specifically Tatar. She does mention that when she moves to Chongqing to study, she receives attention from the other students and locals, because her outer appearance looks like a foreigner. The Tatar people have varied appearances. A Westerner would probably look at the appearance and, if one person "looks Caucasian" and the other person "looks Asian", then the child would be bi-racial. However, I don't think that works for the Tatar people, because the child would still be regarded as mono-racial: Tatar. The parents' physical appearances make no difference. Then, there is this girl (https://www.youtube.com/user/DrVanharanta). She considers herself "half Finnish and half Hongkonese". I think, if you live in the West or have a very Western mindset because of one European parent, then you are more likely to identify yourself based on physical appearance. So, in the West, people do identify themselves as "bi-racial" or "multi-racial", and part of that self-identification has to do with physical appearance. Basically, China is "multi-ethnic" as a nation, but individually, every single "Chinese" person is mono-ethnic/mono-racial regardless of physical appearance, unless the Chinese person marries a foreigner. I remember in a YouTube video, a guy identifies himself as half-Chinese and half-Japanese, seeing himself as mixed-race. That would make sense, because Japanese people are not Chinese, hence foreigner. Westerners, on the other hand, would probably see him as "monoracially Asian".
So, no, I can't tell if a person is bi-racial or multi-racial just by appearance.
However, I will say this. Writing fiction is about the narrator's POV, not about political correctness. The only time when political correctness matters is when your audience is the social justice warrior type of person. A SJW reader is the type of reader that wants to see people of different races and sexualities mentioned explicitly. In their minds, they think they are being "inclusive", even though they are just assuming a Western viewpoint. Some people just don't see themselves as "bi-racial"; some people do see themselves as "bi-racial". In terms of sexuality and gender, Westerners will emphasize one's personal feelings and individualism. How one identifies oneself on the gender spectrum is more important than how society sees the person. A person may in fact identify as male, simply because society (relatives and friends) identifies him as male, and he looks like one on the outside.
If you know someone who is bi-racial or bi-sexual, then you can just write about your own personal experience with that person. The narrator is you. The bi-racial or bi-sexual person may be a friend or some kind of acquaintance. There you go, that's how you describe a bi-racial/bi-sexual person.
add a comment |
I know one couple - delightful folks with lovely kids; he is an American from Kentucky who was a chemical physicist. He sold cars in my town and I asked him why the career change. He told me he met the love of his life and chose to sell cars rather than travel. His in-laws ran the best Korean restaurant in the area - absolutely fabulous. Not that it is important, but he is black and she is of Korean descent. Their kids are energetic beautiful kids.
I took a friend to talk to him about a car - learned how racist this guy is when he turned to me later and said “Why didn’t you tell me he was dark?”. Didn’t matter - he was the best person to talk to about buying a vehicle - period.
Unless it is important to the plot, don’t mention it. You could have a later scene where someone envies your character’s tan. A fiancee of my brother’s had that comment made to her occasionally. She wasn’t biracial (just very light)both of her parents were black. They were a delight and so was her brother, but this girl was a bullet my brother dodged. Her idea of his contribution to decision making in their family was whether to have jam or marmalade on their toast in the morning. We hated her, but not for the colour of her skin - for her character.
Make race a minor consideration. It is a story you are telling - not propaganda. Just write and let the characters speak for themselves. Readers can imagine them as they wish if you leave latitude.
add a comment |
Personally, speaking as a person with a diverse heritage, I think "biracial," "multiracial" and "multi-ethnic" are all reasonable, non-offensive descriptors. "Indeterminate ethnicity" is a acceptable visual descriptor for someone whose ethnicity can't be readily determined.
1
Yes but it does not describe the features of the person ethnic groups.
– Muze
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "166"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fwriting.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f43337%2fhow-does-one-describe-somebody-who-is-bi-racial%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Where I live, belonging to two-three ethnic groups is the norm. Children in school boast about being a quarter Iraqi, a quarter Moroccan, a quarter Polac and a quarter old Jerusalemi.
How does one describe people when that's the situation? One forgets ethnicities (since by this point, they affect the kitchen more than anything), and describes what people actually look like. One mentions hair colour, and whether it's curly or straight. Skin colour: it can be pale, sunburnt, tanned, all kinds of brown. See also my question How to describe skin colour, if “white” is not the point of reference? There are facial features: eyes, lips, nose, cheeks. There's body shape - slim, curvy, whatever. There's the clothes. It's not about hanging "race" tags on a person (whatever "race" means anyway) - it's about describing the individual in front of you, and what that specific individual looks like.
add a comment |
Where I live, belonging to two-three ethnic groups is the norm. Children in school boast about being a quarter Iraqi, a quarter Moroccan, a quarter Polac and a quarter old Jerusalemi.
How does one describe people when that's the situation? One forgets ethnicities (since by this point, they affect the kitchen more than anything), and describes what people actually look like. One mentions hair colour, and whether it's curly or straight. Skin colour: it can be pale, sunburnt, tanned, all kinds of brown. See also my question How to describe skin colour, if “white” is not the point of reference? There are facial features: eyes, lips, nose, cheeks. There's body shape - slim, curvy, whatever. There's the clothes. It's not about hanging "race" tags on a person (whatever "race" means anyway) - it's about describing the individual in front of you, and what that specific individual looks like.
add a comment |
Where I live, belonging to two-three ethnic groups is the norm. Children in school boast about being a quarter Iraqi, a quarter Moroccan, a quarter Polac and a quarter old Jerusalemi.
How does one describe people when that's the situation? One forgets ethnicities (since by this point, they affect the kitchen more than anything), and describes what people actually look like. One mentions hair colour, and whether it's curly or straight. Skin colour: it can be pale, sunburnt, tanned, all kinds of brown. See also my question How to describe skin colour, if “white” is not the point of reference? There are facial features: eyes, lips, nose, cheeks. There's body shape - slim, curvy, whatever. There's the clothes. It's not about hanging "race" tags on a person (whatever "race" means anyway) - it's about describing the individual in front of you, and what that specific individual looks like.
Where I live, belonging to two-three ethnic groups is the norm. Children in school boast about being a quarter Iraqi, a quarter Moroccan, a quarter Polac and a quarter old Jerusalemi.
How does one describe people when that's the situation? One forgets ethnicities (since by this point, they affect the kitchen more than anything), and describes what people actually look like. One mentions hair colour, and whether it's curly or straight. Skin colour: it can be pale, sunburnt, tanned, all kinds of brown. See also my question How to describe skin colour, if “white” is not the point of reference? There are facial features: eyes, lips, nose, cheeks. There's body shape - slim, curvy, whatever. There's the clothes. It's not about hanging "race" tags on a person (whatever "race" means anyway) - it's about describing the individual in front of you, and what that specific individual looks like.
answered 6 hours ago
GalastelGalastel
35.2k6103188
35.2k6103188
add a comment |
add a comment |
Usually, I can't tell if a person is bi-racial or multi-racial just by appearance. Also, some people may not see themselves multi-ethnic. The Hui people in China, for example, may be genetically similar to the Han people in China, but ethnicity is not based on genetics. It is based on culture and way of life. What makes the Hui people different from the Han people is that they use Arabic as a liturgical language and behave like Muslims. Being Han and being Hui is mutually exclusive. Also, as far as the Chinese government is concerned, a Chinese national is either one ethnicity or the other, and can't be both at the same time. This video is about "ethnic Russians" in China. From a Western POV, they would be considered bi-racial. From a Chinese POV, they would be considered mono-racial/mono-ethnic. They are classified as 俄罗斯民族 (Russian ethnic group), and because they are part of 中华民族 (Han people + all recognized ethnic minorities), they are considered "Chinese". Another example is this girl (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if-n2AdVpUI). The video uploader adds the title: "Native Chinese white girl(native white race in China)", contrary to the evidence. First of all, the news reporter and the girl never mention that she is "white". She speaks her own ethnic language, and that she is an ethnic minority in China, specifically Tatar. She does mention that when she moves to Chongqing to study, she receives attention from the other students and locals, because her outer appearance looks like a foreigner. The Tatar people have varied appearances. A Westerner would probably look at the appearance and, if one person "looks Caucasian" and the other person "looks Asian", then the child would be bi-racial. However, I don't think that works for the Tatar people, because the child would still be regarded as mono-racial: Tatar. The parents' physical appearances make no difference. Then, there is this girl (https://www.youtube.com/user/DrVanharanta). She considers herself "half Finnish and half Hongkonese". I think, if you live in the West or have a very Western mindset because of one European parent, then you are more likely to identify yourself based on physical appearance. So, in the West, people do identify themselves as "bi-racial" or "multi-racial", and part of that self-identification has to do with physical appearance. Basically, China is "multi-ethnic" as a nation, but individually, every single "Chinese" person is mono-ethnic/mono-racial regardless of physical appearance, unless the Chinese person marries a foreigner. I remember in a YouTube video, a guy identifies himself as half-Chinese and half-Japanese, seeing himself as mixed-race. That would make sense, because Japanese people are not Chinese, hence foreigner. Westerners, on the other hand, would probably see him as "monoracially Asian".
So, no, I can't tell if a person is bi-racial or multi-racial just by appearance.
However, I will say this. Writing fiction is about the narrator's POV, not about political correctness. The only time when political correctness matters is when your audience is the social justice warrior type of person. A SJW reader is the type of reader that wants to see people of different races and sexualities mentioned explicitly. In their minds, they think they are being "inclusive", even though they are just assuming a Western viewpoint. Some people just don't see themselves as "bi-racial"; some people do see themselves as "bi-racial". In terms of sexuality and gender, Westerners will emphasize one's personal feelings and individualism. How one identifies oneself on the gender spectrum is more important than how society sees the person. A person may in fact identify as male, simply because society (relatives and friends) identifies him as male, and he looks like one on the outside.
If you know someone who is bi-racial or bi-sexual, then you can just write about your own personal experience with that person. The narrator is you. The bi-racial or bi-sexual person may be a friend or some kind of acquaintance. There you go, that's how you describe a bi-racial/bi-sexual person.
add a comment |
Usually, I can't tell if a person is bi-racial or multi-racial just by appearance. Also, some people may not see themselves multi-ethnic. The Hui people in China, for example, may be genetically similar to the Han people in China, but ethnicity is not based on genetics. It is based on culture and way of life. What makes the Hui people different from the Han people is that they use Arabic as a liturgical language and behave like Muslims. Being Han and being Hui is mutually exclusive. Also, as far as the Chinese government is concerned, a Chinese national is either one ethnicity or the other, and can't be both at the same time. This video is about "ethnic Russians" in China. From a Western POV, they would be considered bi-racial. From a Chinese POV, they would be considered mono-racial/mono-ethnic. They are classified as 俄罗斯民族 (Russian ethnic group), and because they are part of 中华民族 (Han people + all recognized ethnic minorities), they are considered "Chinese". Another example is this girl (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if-n2AdVpUI). The video uploader adds the title: "Native Chinese white girl(native white race in China)", contrary to the evidence. First of all, the news reporter and the girl never mention that she is "white". She speaks her own ethnic language, and that she is an ethnic minority in China, specifically Tatar. She does mention that when she moves to Chongqing to study, she receives attention from the other students and locals, because her outer appearance looks like a foreigner. The Tatar people have varied appearances. A Westerner would probably look at the appearance and, if one person "looks Caucasian" and the other person "looks Asian", then the child would be bi-racial. However, I don't think that works for the Tatar people, because the child would still be regarded as mono-racial: Tatar. The parents' physical appearances make no difference. Then, there is this girl (https://www.youtube.com/user/DrVanharanta). She considers herself "half Finnish and half Hongkonese". I think, if you live in the West or have a very Western mindset because of one European parent, then you are more likely to identify yourself based on physical appearance. So, in the West, people do identify themselves as "bi-racial" or "multi-racial", and part of that self-identification has to do with physical appearance. Basically, China is "multi-ethnic" as a nation, but individually, every single "Chinese" person is mono-ethnic/mono-racial regardless of physical appearance, unless the Chinese person marries a foreigner. I remember in a YouTube video, a guy identifies himself as half-Chinese and half-Japanese, seeing himself as mixed-race. That would make sense, because Japanese people are not Chinese, hence foreigner. Westerners, on the other hand, would probably see him as "monoracially Asian".
So, no, I can't tell if a person is bi-racial or multi-racial just by appearance.
However, I will say this. Writing fiction is about the narrator's POV, not about political correctness. The only time when political correctness matters is when your audience is the social justice warrior type of person. A SJW reader is the type of reader that wants to see people of different races and sexualities mentioned explicitly. In their minds, they think they are being "inclusive", even though they are just assuming a Western viewpoint. Some people just don't see themselves as "bi-racial"; some people do see themselves as "bi-racial". In terms of sexuality and gender, Westerners will emphasize one's personal feelings and individualism. How one identifies oneself on the gender spectrum is more important than how society sees the person. A person may in fact identify as male, simply because society (relatives and friends) identifies him as male, and he looks like one on the outside.
If you know someone who is bi-racial or bi-sexual, then you can just write about your own personal experience with that person. The narrator is you. The bi-racial or bi-sexual person may be a friend or some kind of acquaintance. There you go, that's how you describe a bi-racial/bi-sexual person.
add a comment |
Usually, I can't tell if a person is bi-racial or multi-racial just by appearance. Also, some people may not see themselves multi-ethnic. The Hui people in China, for example, may be genetically similar to the Han people in China, but ethnicity is not based on genetics. It is based on culture and way of life. What makes the Hui people different from the Han people is that they use Arabic as a liturgical language and behave like Muslims. Being Han and being Hui is mutually exclusive. Also, as far as the Chinese government is concerned, a Chinese national is either one ethnicity or the other, and can't be both at the same time. This video is about "ethnic Russians" in China. From a Western POV, they would be considered bi-racial. From a Chinese POV, they would be considered mono-racial/mono-ethnic. They are classified as 俄罗斯民族 (Russian ethnic group), and because they are part of 中华民族 (Han people + all recognized ethnic minorities), they are considered "Chinese". Another example is this girl (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if-n2AdVpUI). The video uploader adds the title: "Native Chinese white girl(native white race in China)", contrary to the evidence. First of all, the news reporter and the girl never mention that she is "white". She speaks her own ethnic language, and that she is an ethnic minority in China, specifically Tatar. She does mention that when she moves to Chongqing to study, she receives attention from the other students and locals, because her outer appearance looks like a foreigner. The Tatar people have varied appearances. A Westerner would probably look at the appearance and, if one person "looks Caucasian" and the other person "looks Asian", then the child would be bi-racial. However, I don't think that works for the Tatar people, because the child would still be regarded as mono-racial: Tatar. The parents' physical appearances make no difference. Then, there is this girl (https://www.youtube.com/user/DrVanharanta). She considers herself "half Finnish and half Hongkonese". I think, if you live in the West or have a very Western mindset because of one European parent, then you are more likely to identify yourself based on physical appearance. So, in the West, people do identify themselves as "bi-racial" or "multi-racial", and part of that self-identification has to do with physical appearance. Basically, China is "multi-ethnic" as a nation, but individually, every single "Chinese" person is mono-ethnic/mono-racial regardless of physical appearance, unless the Chinese person marries a foreigner. I remember in a YouTube video, a guy identifies himself as half-Chinese and half-Japanese, seeing himself as mixed-race. That would make sense, because Japanese people are not Chinese, hence foreigner. Westerners, on the other hand, would probably see him as "monoracially Asian".
So, no, I can't tell if a person is bi-racial or multi-racial just by appearance.
However, I will say this. Writing fiction is about the narrator's POV, not about political correctness. The only time when political correctness matters is when your audience is the social justice warrior type of person. A SJW reader is the type of reader that wants to see people of different races and sexualities mentioned explicitly. In their minds, they think they are being "inclusive", even though they are just assuming a Western viewpoint. Some people just don't see themselves as "bi-racial"; some people do see themselves as "bi-racial". In terms of sexuality and gender, Westerners will emphasize one's personal feelings and individualism. How one identifies oneself on the gender spectrum is more important than how society sees the person. A person may in fact identify as male, simply because society (relatives and friends) identifies him as male, and he looks like one on the outside.
If you know someone who is bi-racial or bi-sexual, then you can just write about your own personal experience with that person. The narrator is you. The bi-racial or bi-sexual person may be a friend or some kind of acquaintance. There you go, that's how you describe a bi-racial/bi-sexual person.
Usually, I can't tell if a person is bi-racial or multi-racial just by appearance. Also, some people may not see themselves multi-ethnic. The Hui people in China, for example, may be genetically similar to the Han people in China, but ethnicity is not based on genetics. It is based on culture and way of life. What makes the Hui people different from the Han people is that they use Arabic as a liturgical language and behave like Muslims. Being Han and being Hui is mutually exclusive. Also, as far as the Chinese government is concerned, a Chinese national is either one ethnicity or the other, and can't be both at the same time. This video is about "ethnic Russians" in China. From a Western POV, they would be considered bi-racial. From a Chinese POV, they would be considered mono-racial/mono-ethnic. They are classified as 俄罗斯民族 (Russian ethnic group), and because they are part of 中华民族 (Han people + all recognized ethnic minorities), they are considered "Chinese". Another example is this girl (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if-n2AdVpUI). The video uploader adds the title: "Native Chinese white girl(native white race in China)", contrary to the evidence. First of all, the news reporter and the girl never mention that she is "white". She speaks her own ethnic language, and that she is an ethnic minority in China, specifically Tatar. She does mention that when she moves to Chongqing to study, she receives attention from the other students and locals, because her outer appearance looks like a foreigner. The Tatar people have varied appearances. A Westerner would probably look at the appearance and, if one person "looks Caucasian" and the other person "looks Asian", then the child would be bi-racial. However, I don't think that works for the Tatar people, because the child would still be regarded as mono-racial: Tatar. The parents' physical appearances make no difference. Then, there is this girl (https://www.youtube.com/user/DrVanharanta). She considers herself "half Finnish and half Hongkonese". I think, if you live in the West or have a very Western mindset because of one European parent, then you are more likely to identify yourself based on physical appearance. So, in the West, people do identify themselves as "bi-racial" or "multi-racial", and part of that self-identification has to do with physical appearance. Basically, China is "multi-ethnic" as a nation, but individually, every single "Chinese" person is mono-ethnic/mono-racial regardless of physical appearance, unless the Chinese person marries a foreigner. I remember in a YouTube video, a guy identifies himself as half-Chinese and half-Japanese, seeing himself as mixed-race. That would make sense, because Japanese people are not Chinese, hence foreigner. Westerners, on the other hand, would probably see him as "monoracially Asian".
So, no, I can't tell if a person is bi-racial or multi-racial just by appearance.
However, I will say this. Writing fiction is about the narrator's POV, not about political correctness. The only time when political correctness matters is when your audience is the social justice warrior type of person. A SJW reader is the type of reader that wants to see people of different races and sexualities mentioned explicitly. In their minds, they think they are being "inclusive", even though they are just assuming a Western viewpoint. Some people just don't see themselves as "bi-racial"; some people do see themselves as "bi-racial". In terms of sexuality and gender, Westerners will emphasize one's personal feelings and individualism. How one identifies oneself on the gender spectrum is more important than how society sees the person. A person may in fact identify as male, simply because society (relatives and friends) identifies him as male, and he looks like one on the outside.
If you know someone who is bi-racial or bi-sexual, then you can just write about your own personal experience with that person. The narrator is you. The bi-racial or bi-sexual person may be a friend or some kind of acquaintance. There you go, that's how you describe a bi-racial/bi-sexual person.
answered 1 hour ago
Double UDouble U
1,691822
1,691822
add a comment |
add a comment |
I know one couple - delightful folks with lovely kids; he is an American from Kentucky who was a chemical physicist. He sold cars in my town and I asked him why the career change. He told me he met the love of his life and chose to sell cars rather than travel. His in-laws ran the best Korean restaurant in the area - absolutely fabulous. Not that it is important, but he is black and she is of Korean descent. Their kids are energetic beautiful kids.
I took a friend to talk to him about a car - learned how racist this guy is when he turned to me later and said “Why didn’t you tell me he was dark?”. Didn’t matter - he was the best person to talk to about buying a vehicle - period.
Unless it is important to the plot, don’t mention it. You could have a later scene where someone envies your character’s tan. A fiancee of my brother’s had that comment made to her occasionally. She wasn’t biracial (just very light)both of her parents were black. They were a delight and so was her brother, but this girl was a bullet my brother dodged. Her idea of his contribution to decision making in their family was whether to have jam or marmalade on their toast in the morning. We hated her, but not for the colour of her skin - for her character.
Make race a minor consideration. It is a story you are telling - not propaganda. Just write and let the characters speak for themselves. Readers can imagine them as they wish if you leave latitude.
add a comment |
I know one couple - delightful folks with lovely kids; he is an American from Kentucky who was a chemical physicist. He sold cars in my town and I asked him why the career change. He told me he met the love of his life and chose to sell cars rather than travel. His in-laws ran the best Korean restaurant in the area - absolutely fabulous. Not that it is important, but he is black and she is of Korean descent. Their kids are energetic beautiful kids.
I took a friend to talk to him about a car - learned how racist this guy is when he turned to me later and said “Why didn’t you tell me he was dark?”. Didn’t matter - he was the best person to talk to about buying a vehicle - period.
Unless it is important to the plot, don’t mention it. You could have a later scene where someone envies your character’s tan. A fiancee of my brother’s had that comment made to her occasionally. She wasn’t biracial (just very light)both of her parents were black. They were a delight and so was her brother, but this girl was a bullet my brother dodged. Her idea of his contribution to decision making in their family was whether to have jam or marmalade on their toast in the morning. We hated her, but not for the colour of her skin - for her character.
Make race a minor consideration. It is a story you are telling - not propaganda. Just write and let the characters speak for themselves. Readers can imagine them as they wish if you leave latitude.
add a comment |
I know one couple - delightful folks with lovely kids; he is an American from Kentucky who was a chemical physicist. He sold cars in my town and I asked him why the career change. He told me he met the love of his life and chose to sell cars rather than travel. His in-laws ran the best Korean restaurant in the area - absolutely fabulous. Not that it is important, but he is black and she is of Korean descent. Their kids are energetic beautiful kids.
I took a friend to talk to him about a car - learned how racist this guy is when he turned to me later and said “Why didn’t you tell me he was dark?”. Didn’t matter - he was the best person to talk to about buying a vehicle - period.
Unless it is important to the plot, don’t mention it. You could have a later scene where someone envies your character’s tan. A fiancee of my brother’s had that comment made to her occasionally. She wasn’t biracial (just very light)both of her parents were black. They were a delight and so was her brother, but this girl was a bullet my brother dodged. Her idea of his contribution to decision making in their family was whether to have jam or marmalade on their toast in the morning. We hated her, but not for the colour of her skin - for her character.
Make race a minor consideration. It is a story you are telling - not propaganda. Just write and let the characters speak for themselves. Readers can imagine them as they wish if you leave latitude.
I know one couple - delightful folks with lovely kids; he is an American from Kentucky who was a chemical physicist. He sold cars in my town and I asked him why the career change. He told me he met the love of his life and chose to sell cars rather than travel. His in-laws ran the best Korean restaurant in the area - absolutely fabulous. Not that it is important, but he is black and she is of Korean descent. Their kids are energetic beautiful kids.
I took a friend to talk to him about a car - learned how racist this guy is when he turned to me later and said “Why didn’t you tell me he was dark?”. Didn’t matter - he was the best person to talk to about buying a vehicle - period.
Unless it is important to the plot, don’t mention it. You could have a later scene where someone envies your character’s tan. A fiancee of my brother’s had that comment made to her occasionally. She wasn’t biracial (just very light)both of her parents were black. They were a delight and so was her brother, but this girl was a bullet my brother dodged. Her idea of his contribution to decision making in their family was whether to have jam or marmalade on their toast in the morning. We hated her, but not for the colour of her skin - for her character.
Make race a minor consideration. It is a story you are telling - not propaganda. Just write and let the characters speak for themselves. Readers can imagine them as they wish if you leave latitude.
answered 54 mins ago
RasdashanRasdashan
6,8551043
6,8551043
add a comment |
add a comment |
Personally, speaking as a person with a diverse heritage, I think "biracial," "multiracial" and "multi-ethnic" are all reasonable, non-offensive descriptors. "Indeterminate ethnicity" is a acceptable visual descriptor for someone whose ethnicity can't be readily determined.
1
Yes but it does not describe the features of the person ethnic groups.
– Muze
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Personally, speaking as a person with a diverse heritage, I think "biracial," "multiracial" and "multi-ethnic" are all reasonable, non-offensive descriptors. "Indeterminate ethnicity" is a acceptable visual descriptor for someone whose ethnicity can't be readily determined.
1
Yes but it does not describe the features of the person ethnic groups.
– Muze
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Personally, speaking as a person with a diverse heritage, I think "biracial," "multiracial" and "multi-ethnic" are all reasonable, non-offensive descriptors. "Indeterminate ethnicity" is a acceptable visual descriptor for someone whose ethnicity can't be readily determined.
Personally, speaking as a person with a diverse heritage, I think "biracial," "multiracial" and "multi-ethnic" are all reasonable, non-offensive descriptors. "Indeterminate ethnicity" is a acceptable visual descriptor for someone whose ethnicity can't be readily determined.
answered 5 hours ago
Chris SunamiChris Sunami
31.9k340116
31.9k340116
1
Yes but it does not describe the features of the person ethnic groups.
– Muze
5 hours ago
add a comment |
1
Yes but it does not describe the features of the person ethnic groups.
– Muze
5 hours ago
1
1
Yes but it does not describe the features of the person ethnic groups.
– Muze
5 hours ago
Yes but it does not describe the features of the person ethnic groups.
– Muze
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Writing Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fwriting.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f43337%2fhow-does-one-describe-somebody-who-is-bi-racial%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Related: writing.stackexchange.com/q/42125/14704
– Galastel
7 hours ago
2
This question's not clear. Are you looking for the words biracial/biethnic? Something more specific? Or a phrase?
– Laurel
6 hours ago
2
Are you sure that most books have their main character on the cover? Looking over my collection of mostly fantasy books I can find lots of weird symbols and dragons but only very few human-like characters. My mystery and thriller books also rarely show their main characters. Therefore I want to ask what genre you are interested in. It might make a difference whether you are talking about the "southern hill dwarves living under the burning sun" or "Josh, the guy from the other side of the street".
– Secespitus
6 hours ago
@Secespitus not to mention how often the image on the cover directly contradicts the description of the character within the text...
– Galastel
5 hours ago
@Laurel those words do not depict the persons features. Especially if they have unique qualities that can only begotten from a unique mix.
– Muze
5 hours ago