The term Indian was applied to native Americans by the European explorers and was never intended to be a derogatory remark. The term was used because said European explorers thought they made it to India, hence the geographic term West Indies. The term Nigger was an Anglicization of Negro which is Spanish for black, Negro being the collective discriptive. While currently perceived in politically correct areas of the US as a derogatory term, it is still used by some as a collective descriptive. Albeit falling out of general use. Derogatory terms for native Americans are redskins, savages etc, and have never been in general use, only limited use for a limited time in some parts of the US. So you are talking apples and oranges, and while I know a few, mainly AIM types, who don not like the term Indian, but most don't really care. Besides the term is used by the federal government and the tribes in all their legal Treaties, et al. So our opinion on wikipedia is really a non sequetor. Thomas Whitehead--209.213.220.227 (talk) 15:37, 13 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]
You would have had a better comparison with Indian and African or Negro. Otherwise you would have to use Redskin with Nigger. The word Negro was used to refer to a person of Black ancestry prior to the shift in the lexicon of American and worldwide classification of race and ethnicity in the late 1960s. The appellation was accepted as a normal and was used by those of Black African descent as well as those of non-African black descent during the eras prior to the Civil Rights movement. Application of the term "Indian" originated with Christopher Columbus, who thought that he had arrived in the East Indies, while seeking Asia. This has served to imagine a kind of racial or cultural unity for the aboriginal peoples of the Americas. Once created, the unified "Indian" was codified in law, religion, and politics. The unitary idea of "Indians" was not originally shared by indigenous peoples, but many over the last two centuries have embraced the identity. See article : Indigenous peoples of the Americas.--Degen Earthfast (talk) 16:36, 13 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]
