Skin colour terminology

[MisterM2402]

Got a couple of questions about skin colour, how to describe it and why it's described as such.

Black and white skin - why are they called this? I am classed as white yet my skin is more of a pink/peachy colour. A native African's skin is classed as black when really it's (generally) more of a dark brown. Why have the terms white and black come about? Is it to do with ease of description or some other, more scientific reason?

Other than black and white, I don't know of any other terminology for skin colour. What are the technical/recognised names for the skin colour of people from: East Asia (e.g. China, Japan); Hispanic countries (e.g. Spain, Mexico, Dominican Republic); Native North and South American descent (e.g. Najavo, Mayan); Central Asia (e.g. India, Pakistan); The Middle East (e.g. Saudi Arabia, Israel); Inuit/"Eskimo" descent; Aboriginal Australian descent? I *think* I've covered all the major areas there but, knowing me, a few others are probably missing. Are there even terms to describe these different skin tones?

This just always something I've wondered, and The Escapist has quite an intelligent, learned user-base, so I thought it might be a good place to get some answers

Danke

 

[-Drifter-]

Actually, the Escapist user base isn't that diverse. Just look up a "what's your ethnicity thread" and you'll see.

 

[MisterM2402]

Actually, the Escapist user base isn't that diverse. Just look up a "what's your ethnicity thread" and you'll see.

Ah...
Edited

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

It's almost definitely due to ease of use. When I talk about my ethnicity I don't wan't to say my skin is a pale peach-like colour with hints of yellow and pink. If I say I'm white, everyone knows what I mean roughly, same goes for black. Really generalization is just easier and anything more just seems hyper-sensitive about racial discrimination or offence.

 

[Zaik]

Actually, the Escapist user base isn't that diverse. Just look up a "what's your ethnicity thread" and you'll see.

I dunno, my "Ask a White Male" thread a few weeks back got a good number of questions. It might be more diverse than an internet poll would suggest.

 

[Tulks]

Actually, the Escapist user base isn't that diverse. Just look up a "what's your ethnicity thread" and you'll see.

Also, there are days I doubt that we have an intelligent, learned user-base.

 

[-Drifter-]

I dunno, my "Ask a White Male" threat a few weeks back got a good number of questions. It might be more diverse than an internet poll would suggest.

Perhaps, perhaps not. Though I have to wonder: What kind of questions does one bring to an "Ask a White Male" poll?

 

[Zaik]

I dunno, my "Ask a White Male" threat a few weeks back got a good number of questions. It might be more diverse than an internet poll would suggest.

Perhaps, perhaps not. Though I have to wonder: What kind of questions does one bring to an "Ask a White Male" poll?

All sorts of stuff.

I got asked stuff like what defines "White", why am I so racist, what is it like for everyone to think I'm racist, how has the recession affected me, why doesn't George Bush care about black people, etc.

 

[-Drifter-]

I dunno, my "Ask a White Male" threat a few weeks back got a good number of questions. It might be more diverse than an internet poll would suggest.

Perhaps, perhaps not. Though I have to wonder: What kind of questions does one bring to an "Ask a White Male" poll?

All sorts of stuff.

I got asked stuff like what defines "White", why am I so racist, what is it like for everyone to think I'm racist, how has the recession affected me, why doesn't George Bush care about black people, etc.

And you're basing your assumption on this?

 

[LongAndShort]

Well, you know, there's:
People of Caucasian appearance
People of African appearance
People of Middle Eastern appearance
People of Asian appearance
People of South East Asian appearance
People of Aboriginal appearance
People of Native American appearance
People of Inuit appearance
People of Indian Subcontinental appearance

Just say "people of..." and the region they come from, and you're politically correct, sound sarcastic and long-winded.

 

[Zaik]

I dunno, my "Ask a White Male" threat a few weeks back got a good number of questions. It might be more diverse than an internet poll would suggest.

Perhaps, perhaps not. Though I have to wonder: What kind of questions does one bring to an "Ask a White Male" poll?

All sorts of stuff.

I got asked stuff like what defines "White", why am I so racist, what is it like for everyone to think I'm racist, how has the recession affected me, why doesn't George Bush care about black people, etc.

And you're basing your assumption on this?

Of course. I always base my assssumptions on stuff I've exaggerated, because it generally results in a high speed internet argument over what amounts to nothing.

I mean, we need more of those, right?

 

[-Drifter-]

I dunno, my "Ask a White Male" threat a few weeks back got a good number of questions. It might be more diverse than an internet poll would suggest.

Perhaps, perhaps not. Though I have to wonder: What kind of questions does one bring to an "Ask a White Male" poll?

All sorts of stuff.

I got asked stuff like what defines "White", why am I so racist, what is it like for everyone to think I'm racist, how has the recession affected me, why doesn't George Bush care about black people, etc.

And you're basing your assumption on this?

Of course. I always base my assssumptions on stuff I've exaggerated, because it generally results in a high speed internet argument over what amounts to nothing.

I mean, we need more of those, right?

Absolutely, there's a dangerous shortage of those, you know?

 

[Freechoice]

I prefer using the pudding scale of skin color identification. Seriously, there is no skin color that cannot be classified using a flavor of pudding.

 

[Erana]

I prefer using the pudding scale of skin color identification. Seriously, there is no skin color that cannot be classified using a flavor of pudding.

What is tapioca, then?

 

[MisterM2402]

I prefer using the pudding scale of skin color identification. Seriously, there is no skin color that cannot be classified using a flavor of pudding.

Care to elaborate? How many different shades of pudding *are* there? XD

I'm from the UK, but I *think* I know what the US refer to as "pudding"....

 

[Freechoice]

I prefer using the pudding scale of skin color identification. Seriously, there is no skin color that cannot be classified using a flavor of pudding.

What is tapioca, then?

An albino, although what I said was that a pudding can be matched to a skin, not the other way around.

I prefer using the pudding scale of skin color identification. Seriously, there is no skin color that cannot be classified using a flavor of pudding.

Care to elaborate? How many different shades of pudding *are* there? XD

I'm from the UK, but I *think* I know what the US refer to as "pudding"....

"In the United States, pudding characteristically denotes a sweet milk-based dessert similar in consistency to egg-based custards, though it may also refer to other types such as bread and rice pudding."

-Wikipedia

You have very dark Africans which are dark chocolate (racistly obvious)
Latin Americans and some Pacific Asians range from milk chocolate to varying degrees of creme brulee
White people are difficult to classify as white means a lot of things. Aforementioned albinoids are tapioca, regular tones range from Moin Moin to cheese pudding to blancmange.

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

It's just an easy short-hand description. It's not perfectly accurate, but most people understand what you mean when you say black, white, or brown.