My friend thinks the word Oriental to call an Asian person is racist. I really don't think its racist but just "outdated". This has been bugging me for about a week, I asked my asian friend and all she said was "what the hell is oriental?" Does anyone else think it's racist?

...no.

It hasn't been considered racist at any previous time during my life. It simply means, originating from the Orient. Anyway, it's nothing to get too excited about, because whatever is the accepted term today will not be the accepted term tomorrow. I've seen the "good" and "bad" terms for various ethnic groups change and even reverse during my lifetime. It's what you mean by it that's the most important.

It's not racist; it's just a word that people don't commonly use, like you said.

If Oriental is racist, then I guess you'll have to consider Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Europeon racist too. It simply just relates what section of the world you're from, not a specific groupf of people or a single nation.

ive used it a few times and i dont think that it's racists.

No . . . I wouldn't say that is racist. It's like another word for asian. Maybe it could be considered a slang word?

I don't think it's racist.

Originally posted by vintagetvgirl
I don't think it's racist.

ditto!;)

Originally posted by Original Prankster
If Oriental is racist, then I guess you'll have to consider Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Europeon racist too. It simply just relates what section of the world you're from, not a specific groupf of people or a single nation.

Exactly. I personally don't think of the word as being racist, either.

I know of a few Asian folks who call themselves "Oriental" (they don't care either way), but of course, everyone is different in what they're comfortable with.

I don't think it's racist.

Originally posted by Midnight LaCE


My friend thinks the word Oriental to call an Asian person is racist. I really don't think its racist but just "outdated". This has been bugging me for about a week, I asked my asian friend and all she said was "what the hell is oriental?" Does anyone else think it's racist?

This political correctness craze now has some people thinking "Oriental" is racist. Now that is funny. Midnight LaCE, did you ask your friend why he thinks that? I'm curious to know why. (It's also suprising your Asian friend had never heard of it either. You've got some interesting friends. ;)) I hope you'll tell your friend all the feedback you've gotten from here. I specificially like what BrandonS and Original Prankster had to say. Great points :wave:

I never thought it was racist.

It's not racist, it's just antiquated and old-fashioned. Not "PC" enough for some people. How come people whose origins are from Europe aren't called "Occidental"?:confused:

This stuff can be touchy sometimes. I still refer to African Americans as "blacks" Is this wrong? There is no malicious, racist intent to that. I'm sure that most black people refer to white people as "Whites" don't they? Please, if referring to African Americans as "blacks" is offensive I would surely like to know! The last thing I want to be is offensive! I hate that!:(


By the way, my dad's generation(born in the 20's) still refer to Af. Americans as "colored". I hear that term all the time! I don't like that term either!:mad:

I've used it like.....twice before

I dont know, I've never used "oriental" do describe an asian person....

I don't think it is racist. I've used that term before. People need to lighten up. It's getting to the point that no matter what you say someone will end up taking offense to it.