yourmileagemayvary: blog 
yourmileagemayvary's blog
'you people'
Published Nov. 4, 2009Views: 634
Please, someone, explain to me why the term 'you people' is automatically considered by some to be racially charged.
I was reading the comments in the Tedesco victory article. Obviously, some view bussing as a racial thing, some view it as an economic thing. Personally, I think that it started as an ecomonic thing, but a side effect of bussing kids from 'economically challenged' neighborhoods to more affluent ones and vice-versa ended up that white kids were bussed into 'black' neighborhoods, and again, vice-versa. Doesn't mean that race was the REASON, but a side effect based on the fact that the majority of 'economically challenged' neighborhoods weren't primarly filled with people of the white race.
That being said, I wsa baffled when I saw someone speak out against bussing and get backlash for being 'racist'. He said something along the lines of 'rather than wasting money bussing kids all over the place, why not use money to bring the ramshackled schools up to par'. He then said something along the lines of 'its not our fault you people trash your schools and trash your neighborhoods.' It was at that point that he was termed a racist.
My question is, why? When I read that comment, I took 'you people' to mean the inhabitants of the 'economically challenged' neighborhoods. I didn't take it to mean 'you BLACK people'. I mean, we all know that whites and hispanics live in poor neighborhoods as well.
I guess I'm just confused. If I was standing in front of a crowd of whites, blacks, and hispanics and said "You people......", would it be determined I meant just the black folks in the crowd?
Ijust don't understand why 'you people' is deemed to have racial undertones. It wasn't just this guy's comment that I've seen this kind of backlash on. I've seen it in countless blogs too, where someone will say 'you people' and undoubtedly, someone else comes back with 'What do you mean, YOU people???'. Well, to me, a non-racist, it means just that....YOU. PEOPLE. The ones in front of me that I am addressing.
So, can someone please explain? This isn't a race-baiting blog, and disrespectful comments will be deleted as soon as I see them. I'm honestly looking for clarification, because I've never understood why this phrase is so negatively received by some, and it seems that when someone uses this phrase, even if they were 110% benign and non-racist with their intention, there doesn't seem to be much recourse after someone points out the phrase as racist.
Filed under: Personal
close![[no avatar]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v1/images/golo/noavatar.gif){kind=avatar}
Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.
Those people who take offence at being referred to as "you people" must live for issues to offence at. Sing it as Natalie Merchant did with her, "Give them what they want" and just start saying "you'se peoples" to make them wonder if you're being serious or facetious.
GOLO member since September 1, 2007
November 4, 2009 5:18 p.m.
GOLO member since December 29, 2008
November 4, 2009 3:37 p.m.
Please explain what you mean......how are people corralled? And what freedoms do you "sacrifice" to go to Public schools?
GOLO member since March 27, 2009
November 4, 2009 3:09 p.m.
November 4, 2009 3:08 p.m.
GOLO member since November 5, 2008
November 4, 2009 3:08 p.m.
I've never heard, "You people" in a positive way.
GOLO member since October 9, 2007
November 4, 2009 2:41 p.m.
Enjoy your day!
November 4, 2009 2:25 p.m.
A lesson I've been learning as I age so gracefully. LOL!
GOLO member since August 21, 2009
November 4, 2009 2:17 p.m.
GOLO member since November 28, 2008
November 4, 2009 2:16 p.m.
GOLO member since December 29, 2008
November 4, 2009 2:11 p.m.
Please log in to add comment.