Am I being unreasonable for wanting to tell you about being Caucasian?

[DelphineMarineaux]

Inspired by another thread I just responded to, I thought I would start this one.

So, do you think I'm being unreasonable for wanting to tell you about what it means to be Caucasian?

The reason I want to tell you about it is because when most people hear the term 'Caucasian' their thoughts most often go to a dark place. White supremacy. Racism. But reality is, Caucasians are not "white". "White" being someone of, say, Germanic, Scandinavian or Anglo-Saxon heritage. For those that might know this, there is a rather large region in Central Asia called the Caucasus. It consists of countries like Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also lots of regions in what we know as Russia. People that originate from the Caucasus - such as myself - we are called Caucasians. The reason why I want to tell people about the Caucasus and Caucasian people is because I feel like our name is being misused so much, and almost always in negative contexts. I shouldn't have to be worried about offending someone by telling them I'm Caucasian. Just because, in their mind, a Caucasian must be a white supremacist.

I really hope that even one person might read this thread might think twice about their reaction next time they meet someone that tells them they are Caucasian. Because some of us genuinely are Caucasians, and very proud of our ancient heritage, our culture and our history. We do not want to be associated with racism, superiority of any kind, or anything else that's negative and so far away from us / who we are.

Thank you for reading...

You're not at all unreasonable to tell us about being Caucasian. Like others I also have never understood why the word is used to describe Northern Europeans. I've visited the Russian Caucasus, long ago when I was at university. I went to the mineral spa towns/cities Kislovodsk and Pyatigorsk, and to Teberda in the foothills of the Caucasus mountains, with a brief day trip to Dombai. I loved it and have some great memories of my visit, and would love to visit other areas of the Caucasus, particularly Georgia and Armenia.

I am so glad you have posted this as it has irritated me for years. I am not from the Caucasus and genuinely have no idea how it became a term (and agree often negative) for billions of people thousands of miles away from the culture and heritage of the region.

Interesting OP, thank you

Gosh, you're all so sweet and kind, thank you for your positive feedback. I was worried nobody would be interested at all, or even insist on believing Caucasian and racism / white supremacy go hand in hand. Thank you, everyone!

I'm also so glad that so many of you are curious enough about this topic to look for more information about it...mission accomplished, totally =)

I used to work with a lady from Jamaica (senior Midwife Manager) who used to quite reasonably EXPLODE about the ethnic description "Carribean" The Caribs are a minority race who now live in Dominica. The reason that they are a minority is that so many were kiiled by white interlopers.

Very interesting I had no idea

I know quite a few people from the Caucasus and I've never heard any of them call themselves Caucasian.

They say I'm Georgian, Armenian, Chechen, etc.

Caucasian is not very specific, why wouldn't you just say where you're from? Especially because the word does have a twisted meaning here.

This is interesting. I'd only ever heard it be used as a synonym for 'white'.

Just to add, I didn't think it was a term that was wrapped up in white supremacy.

@godmum56

I used to work with a lady from Jamaica (senior Midwife Manager) who used to quite reasonably EXPLODE about the ethnic description "Carribean" The Caribs are a minority race who now live in Dominica. The reason that they are a minority is that so many were kiiled by white interlopers.

Thanks for sharing, I did not know about this.

I literally thought it was police speak for "white" - no more connected with supremacy than white.

@dreamingbohemian

I know quite a few people from the Caucasus and I've never heard any of them call themselves Caucasian.

They say I'm Georgian, Armenian, Chechen, etc.

Caucasian is not very specific, why wouldn't you just say where you're from? Especially because the word does have a twisted meaning here.

Very good question! For some of us, it's not easy to say where we're from, because we're not from one place! Also, telling someone you're Cherkessian (for instance) is often more confusing to people than telling them you're from Caucasus. At least some people have vaguely heard of Caucasus, much less people have heard of Cherkessia.

Interesting OP. I always thought Caucasian was just another word for white. I’ve never associated it with white supremacy.

I mostly associate it with sunburn

I would exist to be called Caucasian, but given I know something about my family tree, a mix of celtic and nordic might be better. Though only known back a few centuries.

I see what you mean but then I would just say I'm from the Caucasus (instead of I'm Caucasian)

You would be Cherkessian from the Caucasus (instead of Caucasian)

It's a small change but it makes a huge difference, especially in the US. I would not advise going to the US and saying you're Caucasian.

*expect not exist
Bloody spellcheck tonight

I first heard it in a very simplistic kids' textbook as a synonym for white. Another here who has never heard it used in any kind of white supremacy context.

I'm never really sure about the lines drawn around groups of people anyway. The 2010 US census ended up trialing a box for white, black and Latino/Hispanic with "check all that apply", and the option Hispanic people ticked varied (many living in the US near the Mexican border ticked white as a "strategy"). But you will never hear cops in the US describe someone who looks like they may be from Mexico as white, or an Afro-Latin American person as anything but black.

I understand your point, caucasian is often used as a catch all term for white as opposed to where some people come from.

@dreamingbohemian

I see what you mean but then I would just say I'm from the Caucasus (instead of I'm Caucasian)

You would be Cherkessian from the Caucasus (instead of Caucasian)

It's a small change but it makes a huge difference, especially in the US. I would not advise going to the US and saying you're Caucasian.

Thanks for the tip. I'm not a native English speaker and in the country I live in it's very common to say what one's ethnicity is rather than where one is from. But I'll definitely keep your suggestion in mind for when I travel to the US and if people there ask me what I am =D I'll just say I'm from Caucasus instead of saying I'm Caucasian. But I still think it's sad that I should have to 'hide' or not speak of being Caucasian...

All I can say that those that associate Caucasianess with pale skin, blue eyes and blonde hair are in the wrong.

I recently watched something that claimed ancient Greeks recognised three races, White, Black and Yellow, where by "Yellow" they meant nordic European types with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Also, the first European explorers to go to the Far East considered Chinese and Japanese people to be "white", the word "yellow" to describe them was a historically recent racist invention. (I tend to agree with those explorers, most of the Chinese people I've met, and I've had reason to meet a few, are as pale or paler than many white Europeans.)

So I guess I agree that "white" is not that well-defined.

I'm a bit puzzled by this thread. I've never heard of Caucasian being used in relation to white supremacy (Aryan, yes). In fact I've only heard it used in American film and TV as a synonym for "white". Which might be inaccurate but doesn't come with the baggage the OP is suggesting.

Like others on this thread I've always wondered why Americans use the name of one region for all white people, most of whole won't be from that region. 🤷‍♀️

I thought caucasian meant white/pale skinned european descent so interesting thread thanks! I've learnt something.

I echo what Dreaming says. You are right to say that the term Causcasian is frequently misused in N America. But I jave never once heard someone call themselves a Caucasian. It would be like saying Balkanite or Alpine, people normally use their nationality

@RandomLondoner

All I can say that those that associate Caucasianess with pale skin, blue eyes and blonde hair are in the wrong.

I recently watched something that claimed ancient Greeks recognised three races, White, Black and Yellow, where by "Yellow" they meant nordic European types with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Also, the first European explorers to go to the Far East considered Chinese and Japanese people to be "white", the word "yellow" to describe them was a historically recent racist invention. (I tend to agree with those explorers, most of the Chinese people I've met, and I've had reason to meet a few, are as pale or paler than many white Europeans.)

So I guess I agree that "white" is not that well-defined.

Thanks a lot for sharing, I had no idea about this. But glad to hear the term "white" is as undefined to me as it is to other. Even those from the past =)