Yes, this is a common point of confusion when talking to Europeans about racial issues in the US (as I found out myself recently). Race in our contexts refers to your background/birthplace/heritage. On our government forms: "What race are you?" "White, black, hispanic, etc."

This is fundamentally different by intent than in Europe (using french here) where we refer to 'la race humaine' which is the _species_.

The nuance is critical during debates. While I was discussing racial differences to some Swiss folks, they thought I was talking Nazi propaganda! We are all part of the human species, the human species has many races. We are all equal!

▲

Ylpertnodi 5 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Most Europeans are NOT confused by this. Sheesh.

	▲	BowBun 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I am European, I have had this discussion with Europeans back home from various countries. This is a common point of confusion. Do you have something to add?

▲

krior 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> background/birthplace/heritage

Are those slashes AND or OR?

▲

rf15 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> they thought I was talking Nazi propaganda!

well, I mean, listen, if it's part of the census, that's... still government-level racial discrimination. It might not be a duck, but this thing has a certain duck-shaped silhuette.