"Person of Color," "Brown," or "White"? Or Something Else?

[Debater Slayer]

Given that the terms "person of color" and "brown" seem to me vague outside specific contexts (e.g., the context of racial politics in the US), I'm interested to know which, if any, of the following people would fall under either of those classifications if they lived in the US.

I realize that there are significant differences among Western countries (and most countries in general) regarding racial classifications, so I'm narrowing down my question to the US for the purposes of this thread.

The pictures are spoilered so that they don't fill up the page.

This is Yasmine Sabri, an Egyptian actress:

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This is Wael Kfoury, a Lebanese singer:

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This is Luna Bishara, a Palestinian actress:

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This is Motasem Al Nahar, a Syrian actor:

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In addition to the above question, how would you, whether you're from the US or not, classify any or all of the above people if you had to check a box or fill a field on an official or medical form?

Please note that I'm only asking how you would classify any or all of the above people if you had to do so. I realize that many people don't think of people in terms of such classifications or care to classify skin tones at all, and that is my perspective too. However, I'm interested in exploring prevalent views regarding how the classification is most likely to be done in cases where it does occur.

 

[Rival]

First 3 Mediterranean and last one Semitic.

 

[Debater Slayer]

First 3 Mediterranean and last one Semitic.

Why wouldn't the first three be Semitic or the last one be Mediterranean? Also, why wouldn't all four be a combination of the two?

 

[SalixIncendium]

I prefer to classify people by color of blood rather than color of skin.

For the record, my granddaughter likely more "brown" or a "person of color" than any of those pictured in the OP. They would probably appear "white" when contrasted with her.

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[Rival]

Why wouldn't the first three be Semitic or the last one be Mediterranean? Also, why wouldn't all four be a combination of the two?

Excuse me, I meant the first is Mediterranean and the last three are Semitic.

The first is classified as being on the Sea (the Med) and the others of ME Semitic origin. As far as I am aware, this is the historic view before ideas of race nonsense came into play. The idea of race is meaningless to me, so idea of geography, language, culture etc. mean more. Historically Egyptians have never been considered Semites but Meds, and the others have been considered Semitic, whether through speech, culture, religion etc.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

In addition to the above question, how would you, whether you're from the US or not, classify any or all of the above people if you had to check a box or fill a field on an official or medical form?

If not by country, then Middle Eastern.

 

[Eddi]

The second and third one look more not white to me

 

[JustGeorge]

I can't think of why I'd need or want to classify them, unless they broke in and robbed me of my ice cream, and I needed to make a police report.

The police would ask "black or white?" and I'd say Latino. Because that would be my first guess of these physical appearances based on my location. Except the last guy. I'd probably say "white". I'd be wrong, of course, which is why I prefer not to guess in the vast majority of situations.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I prefer to classify people by color of blood rather than color of skin.

Same. I'm asking because I'm curious how they would most likely be classified along the typical racial categories in the US, though.

If you were to classify the people mentioned in the OP by color of blood, how would you classify them given no information to go on except those pictures?

For the record, my granddaughter likely more "brown" or a "person of color" than any of those pictured in the OP.

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View attachment 92265

I agree. This is part of why I find "person of color," "brown," etc., to be imprecise and incomplete classifications in many cases.

 

[SalixIncendium]

If you were to classify the people mentioned in the OP by color of blood, how would you classify them given no information to go on except those pictures?

I probably wouldn't unless I'm given a compelling reason to do so.

Even then, I would probably point out physical traits such as height, hair length and color, eye color, build, skin tone, etc.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Excuse me, I meant the first is Mediterranean and the last three are Semitic.

The first is classified as being on the Sea (the Med) and the others of ME Semitic origin. As far as I am aware, this is the historic view before ideas of race nonsense came into play. The idea of race is meaningless to me, so idea of geography, language, culture etc. mean more. Historically Egyptians have never been considered Semites but Meds, and the others have been considered Semitic, whether through speech, culture, religion etc.

What about Egyptians with Levantine DNA in their ancestry? Many Egyptians' DNA composition contains considerable percentages of it, as far as I know.

 

[Debater Slayer]

The second and third one look more not white to me

What would you say they look like?

 

[Rival]

What about Egyptians with Levantine DNA in their ancestry? Many Egyptians' DNA composition contains considerable percentages of it, as far as I know.

Because I'm not sure that such matters, It would be equivalent to saying my black friend isn't British, she's Jamaican. No-one I know really accepts that these days. If you are asking for historical ethnicity, yes, they would or could be Semitic etc. but going back even 100+ years becomes incredibly problematic; going back 1000+ etc. to define ethnicity, a modern concept, is borderline absurd imo. The classifications ancient people used when put into modern terms are very hard to distinguish and I wouldn't really try.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I can't think of why I'd need or want to classify them, unless they broke in and robbed me of my ice cream, and I needed to make a police report.

The police would ask "black or white?" and I'd say Latino. Because that would be my first guess of these physical appearances based on my location. Except the last guy. I'd probably say "white". I'd be wrong, of course, which is why I prefer not to guess in the vast majority of situations.

I agree about preferring not to guess or classify people based on appearance alone. Such classifications can pigeonhole people and be so deceptive, in my opinion.

 

[Eddi]

What would you say they look like?

I'm not sure

They could conceivably be any number of things

 

[The Hammer]

The men look mostly "white" imo. The two ladies look a little more ethnic, but not black or Hispanic. I wouldn't hesitate to call any of them white in the US.

Edit: taking another look Luna looks Hispanic to me.
Hispanic actress:

 

[Debater Slayer]

I probably wouldn't unless I'm given a compelling reason to do so.

Even then, I would probably point out physical traits such as height, hair length and color, eye color, build, skin tone, etc.

Based on your T-shirt color, I would classify you as Hawaiian. I don't think anyone could dispute this impeccable method of determining ethnicity.

 

[PureX]

Fortunately, skin tone and ethnic features are becoming less and less of a factor in human inter-relations as the modern era affords us all the ability to move around and encounter people from other places, races, and cultures. If not in person, then certainly via global interactive media. The progress has been slow, but I think it has been steady, and is continuing. I am a senior that has lived from the late 1950s to the present, and have witnessed a huge change happening over these many decades, and even within my own perceptions.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Based on your T-shirt color, I would classify you as Hawaiian. I don't think anyone could dispute this impeccable method of determining ethnicity.

Why are we determining ethnicity based on appearance again?

Also, what does the color of my Speedos tell you to classify me as?

 

[Debater Slayer]

Why are we determining ethnicity based on appearance again?

I'm not; just based on T-shirt color, a more robust metric!

Also, what does the color of my Speedos tell you to classify me as?

That specific shade of blue would be a Smurf.