On Tue, Oct 22, 2019 at 8:51 AM Udo Grabowski (IMK) <udo.grabow...@kit.edu> wrote:
> Hi, > > since both CoCs of openzfs and illumos share the same term, I crosspost: > Although the illumos and OpenZFS communities overlap somewhat in membership and ideology, I'd like to keep the discussion focused on proposing changes to the OpenZFS CoC. I've removed the illumos lists from my reply. > > ".... participation regardless of race, ...." > > "Race" is a term that itself already stems from at least some form of > racism. There are no "races" in the homo sapiens sapiens subspecies, to > which all living humans belong. Especially as a German, I'm always > bewildered > to see this term circulating in the american culture, even in official > forms, > where I always enter "homo sapiens sapiens" when asked for "race". I'm > wondering why nobody stumbled about that term already. > > Even the english Wikipedia flags that term as at least questionable, the > german page clearly states it is obsolete. So please eradicate that term > from > the CoC as well as from your communication in general. You may use > 'appearance' > instead if you really need that. > Thank you for bringing this perspective to our attention. I was previously unaware of the connotation of the word "race" in German language/culture, but I've read up a bit on this today. I came across this United States-centric definition of "race" (from Britannica, via Oprah and Jennifer DeVere Brody, Stanford University's director of the Center for Comparative Studies in Race & Ethnicity): Race <https://www.oprahmag.com/life/a28787295/race-vs-ethnicity-difference/>: The idea that the human species is divided into distinct groups on the basis of inherited physical and behavioral differences. Genetic studies in the late 20th century refuted the existence of biogenetically distinct races, and scholars now argue that “races” are cultural interventions reflecting specific attitudes and beliefs that were imposed on different populations in the wake of western European conquests beginning in the 15th century. I agree with this description, and I see how the term "race" could be used to perpetuate racism. In the code of conduct, we say: Some individuals face more systemic challenges to their participation than others, and we strive to create a space that encourages participation regardless of ... race In my experience in the United States, the term "race" is commonly used in this context without causing offense. In the culture I'm most familiar with, to say "there is no such thing as race" is often to implicitly deny the existence of racism - if there is no race than there can be no racism. To substitute "appearance" for "race" is (in my experience) to make light of the challenge of racism in the United States today. But I know that isn't at all what you're saying. I can’t think of a great way to address both issues in the CoC. We’ll continue to spend time considering the best thing to do in this case. Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention, it has been a great learning experience for me. --matt ------------------------------------------ openzfs: openzfs-developer Permalink: https://openzfs.topicbox.com/groups/developer/T91ab128e3e20cf25-M96f502db4c66aa85bcf9ebca Delivery options: https://openzfs.topicbox.com/groups/developer/subscription
