United Nations removes survey asking staff if they are 'yellow'

[Jonathan Fairfield]

United Nations removes survey asking staff if they are 'yellow'

By Michelle Nichols

 

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United Nations has been accused by some of its staff of racism after it issued a survey that included a question asking how they identify themselves, and offered 'yellow' among the possible responses.

 

The 'U.N. Survey on Racism' was sent to thousands of staff on Wednesday. An email accompanying the survey said it was being carried out as part of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' "campaign to eradicate racism and promote dignity."

 

But the first question, on how staff identify themselves, itself reflected an historic Western racist view of Asians by listing 'yellow' as an option, several U.N. staffers told Reuters. Other categories offered were black, brown, white, mixed/multi-racial and any other.

 

"The first question is insane, deeply offensive and hard to fathom how in an organization as diverse as the United Nations this question was approved for release in a system-wide survey," said one U.N. staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity.

United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the survey would be "taken off-line and revised appropriately taking into account the legitimate concerns" that had been expressed.

 

"We acknowledge the need to formulate these categories with greater sensitivity and will take immediate steps to rectify this," Dujarric said.

 

Erica Foldy, an associate professor at the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University, said the use of the term was not acceptable.

 

"The term 'yellow' to refer to people of Asian descent is a slur. It should not be used, period. At the same time, it is useful to remember that language related to race is complex and always in flux," she said.

 

"Recently Brown, which had been considered something of a slur (though perhaps never as problematic as yellow) has come into broad use. But I don't see that happening with 'yellow'," Foldy said.

 

Organizations and companies have been under increasing pressure to address racism in the wake of global protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a Black American who died in May after a white police officer knelt on his neck.

 

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Mary Milliken, Rosalba O'Brien and Richard Pullin)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-20

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Tug]

<deleted> that’s deeply offensive who wrote it?Stephin Miller?lol I’m really surprised that got through 

 

 

[Dap]

7 hours ago, Tug said:

<deleted> that’s deeply offensive who wrote it?Stephin Miller?lol I’m really surprised that got through 

 

 

I can't say unbelievable as we passed that phase too long ago but I can reiterate, "unacceptable"!

[Scot123]

You just have to look at the unqualified marxist who is running the WHO. The most racist people I have come across in my life have been Black (I learnt that when my African gf got on to me for saying coloured) and I must sadly put Thais quite high on the racist chart while my native Brits are some of the least racist people I've come across.

[Motoko]

The Yellow Race was a staple of physical anthropology, before political correctness, and the question is no more or less appropriate, than asking a Nigerian if they are Black, as though they were American. ("Other categories offered were black, brown, white, mixed/multi-racial and any other.")

[DrTuner]

What? I mean don't the people with terminal liver disease deserve to have their own category? Racists!

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.