White people: Difference between revisions

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	'''''Whites''''' is a broad term used to describe people of ethnic European, Middle Eastern and North African descent, especially those with fair ]. The term '']'' is sometimes used with much the same meaning in the ] although people elsewhere would more likely understand the use of the word ''Caucasian'' to refer to people from the ]. It is often used in contrast with other ] color terms, such as ] or, rarely, ] or ]. These terms were in more common usage in the beginning of the 20th century as ethno-historians attempted to trace humanity's history through ], a process that has been largely ~~discredited~~ with the advent of DNA analysis. At the turn of the 20th century, scholars typically ~~divided~~ thought of whites as being Indo-European and divided whites into two categories: ] and ]. Although ~~the most~~ prevalent term in casual conversation, the term ''white'' is increasingly rare in academic and formal discussions of racial demographics, however it is still often used in discussions of racial attitudes, particularly in the humanities, and in fields such as ], ] and ].		'''''Whites''''' is a broad term used to describe people of ethnic European, Middle Eastern and North African descent, especially those with fair ]. The term '']'' is sometimes used with much the same meaning in the ] although people elsewhere would more likely understand the use of the word ''Caucasian'' to refer to people from the ]. It is often used in contrast with other ] color terms, such as ] or, rarely, ] or ]. These terms were in more common usage in the beginning of the 20th century as ethno-historians attempted to trace humanity's history through ], a process that has been largely neglected with the advent of DNA analysis. At the turn of the 20th century, scholars typically thought of whites as being Indo-European and divided whites into two categories: ] and ]. Although a prevalent term in casual conversation, the term ''white'' is increasingly rare in academic and formal discussions of racial demographics, however it is still often used in discussions of racial attitudes, particularly in the humanities, and in fields such as ], ] and ].

	The scope of the term ''white'' has changed over time, and varies from place to place. For example, in the ] and ], ] ]s and ] were often considered separate from the white race for many years~~, but have generally been considered "white" since ]~~. Similarly, in ], ] and ], light-skinned people of mixed (]n and ]an) descent are considered "white"; in the United States or Canada, those same people would be considered "black". Some Americans view all ], ] and ] as non-white, even though these groups are believed to be close genetically to Mediterranean Europeans. In this case, being considered "non-white" is tied more to ] and ] factors, such as membership in ], than genotype or phenotype. However, it could also be argued that much of North Africa's and Arabia's population is black or "]" due both to the trans-Saharan African slave trade during the Middle Ages and afterwards, as well as to more recent immigration from sub-Saharan Africa; the population of ] is estimated to be nearly one-fifth black. It is undeniable that many people in North Africa and Arabia, such as alleged ]-French terrorist ], have enough sub-Saharan African ancestry to be considered "black" in the United States.		The scope of the term ''white'' has changed over time, and varies from place to place. For example, in the ] and ], ] ]s and ] were often considered separate from the white race for many years. Similarly, in ], ] and ], light-skinned people of mixed (]n and ]an) descent are considered "white" but in the United States or Canada, those same people would be considered "black".

	~~Additionally, the~~ popular definition of ''white'' in the ] often excludes all ] and ] peoples, ~~sometimes~~ ~~including~~ peoples of European Spanish descent. The Latin American countries that it can be said are of primarily European descent are ], ], ] and ]. (Other countries such as Peru are of almost exclusively Amerindian descent and others, such as ] and ] have significant South Asian populations.) In the United States ~~decenial~~ census, Latin American is not seen as a racial category ~~and the~~ term 'more than one race' is used ~~instead~~. However, the census also takes note of whether or not one is ~~hispanic~~. Relatively few Hispanics in the U.S. are of primarily Spanish descent; the majority of U.S. Hispanics are ] (mixed Spanish and ] ancestry). The overwhelming majority of Americans are in fact racialy mixed as ] or ] admixtures, both as individuals and as a population, despite their self-proclaimed ascriptions to devisive political and social racial and ethnic types. Whites living in the United States and Canada will typically have one or several Native American ancestors.		The popular definition of ''white'' in the ] often excludes all ] and ] peoples but includes peoples of European Spanish descent. The Latin American countries that it can be said are of primarily European descent are ], ], ] and ]. (Other countries such as Peru are of almost exclusively Amerindian descent and others, such as ] and ] have significant South Asian populations.) In the United States decennial census, Latin American is not seen as a racial category. The term 'more than one race' was used for the first time in 2000. However, the census also takes note of whether or not one is Hispanic. Relatively few Hispanics in the U.S. are of primarily Spanish descent; the majority of U.S. Hispanics are ] (mixed Spanish and ] ancestry).

	~~This usage is sometimes criticized by those who argue that it de-] various groups.~~ During the era of ] in the ], facilities were commonly divided into separate sections for "White" and "]" people. These terms were defined by law, with people of northern and western European being labeled "White" and ]s labeled as "Colored". The categorization of people of other ethnicities and mixed ancestries varied from state to state and in different municipalities.		During the era of ] in the ], facilities were commonly divided into separate sections for "White" and "]" people. These terms were defined by law, with people of northern and western European being labeled "White" and ]s labeled as "Colored". The categorization of people of other ethnicities and mixed ancestries varied from state to state and in different municipalities.

	Countries with a majority of white Europeans include all the nations of ], as well as countries colonized by them in the ]-] such as the ], ], ], ], ], ], ],], the Asiatic territories of ], ] and ]. In these nations, the relatively small indigenous populations were overwhelmed by white colonists from one or more European "]". Areas colonized by the Portuguese and Spanish lacked the racial stigmas that predominated in colonies established by the English, French and Dutch.		Countries with a majority of white Europeans include all the nations of ], as well as countries colonized by them in the ]-] such as the ], ], ], ], ], ], ],], the Asiatic territories of ], ] and ]. In these nations, the relatively small indigenous populations were overwhelmed by white colonists from one or more European "]". Areas colonized by the Portuguese and Spanish lacked the racial stigmas that predominated in colonies established by the English, French and Dutch.

Revision as of 18:58, 4 April 2005

Whites is a broad term used to describe people of ethnic European, Middle Eastern and North African descent, especially those with fair skin. The term Caucasian is sometimes used with much the same meaning in the USA although people elsewhere would more likely understand the use of the word Caucasian to refer to people from the Caucasus. It is often used in contrast with other racial color terms, such as black or, rarely, yellow or brown. These terms were in more common usage in the beginning of the 20th century as ethno-historians attempted to trace humanity's history through linguistics, a process that has been largely neglected with the advent of DNA analysis. At the turn of the 20th century, scholars typically thought of whites as being Indo-European and divided whites into two categories: semites and aryans. Although a prevalent term in casual conversation, the term white is increasingly rare in academic and formal discussions of racial demographics, however it is still often used in discussions of racial attitudes, particularly in the humanities, and in fields such as Black studies, Critical race theory and Whiteness studies.

The scope of the term white has changed over time, and varies from place to place. For example, in the USA and Canada, Ashkenazi Jews and Slavs were often considered separate from the white race for many years. Similarly, in Haiti, Cuba and Brazil, light-skinned people of mixed (African and European) descent are considered "white" but in the United States or Canada, those same people would be considered "black".

The popular definition of white in the United States often excludes all Hispanic and Latino peoples but includes peoples of European Spanish descent. The Latin American countries that it can be said are of primarily European descent are Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica and Uruguay. (Other countries such as Peru are of almost exclusively Amerindian descent and others, such as Guyana and Surinam have significant South Asian populations.) In the United States decennial census, Latin American is not seen as a racial category. The term 'more than one race' was used for the first time in 2000. However, the census also takes note of whether or not one is Hispanic. Relatively few Hispanics in the U.S. are of primarily Spanish descent; the majority of U.S. Hispanics are mestizo (mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry).

During the era of Jim Crow Laws in the US South, facilities were commonly divided into separate sections for "White" and "Colored" people. These terms were defined by law, with people of northern and western European being labeled "White" and African-Americans labeled as "Colored". The categorization of people of other ethnicities and mixed ancestries varied from state to state and in different municipalities.

Countries with a majority of white Europeans include all the nations of Europe, as well as countries colonized by them in the 15th century-19th century such as the United States, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Cuba,Nicaragua, the Asiatic territories of Russia, Australia and New Zealand. In these nations, the relatively small indigenous populations were overwhelmed by white colonists from one or more European "mother countries". Areas colonized by the Portuguese and Spanish lacked the racial stigmas that predominated in colonies established by the English, French and Dutch.

Significant minorities of whites live in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, New Caledonia, and in the various Latin American and Caribbean countries. Many of these nations have experienced considerable political conflict between the white minority (descended from settlers from the former colonial power) and a non-European majority, heightening the sense of white racial identity.

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White people: Difference between revisions

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