...the nose on your face

When I was last living in the States, about 4 years ago, we in the US were, whether we liked it or not, becoming immersed in "political correctness".  Here in the Caribbean, things are a little different.

For example, when we were living in Georgia, & say, I wanted to tell another parent something about a black child who the other parent did not know, I would have to beat around the subject like this:

"Did you see what Johnny did yesterday?"
"I don't believe I know Johnny."
"You know, Johnny on the soccer team?"
"No - what's he look like?"
"Well, he has dark curly hair...you know who I mean?"
"Nooo."
"Dark curly hair, brown eyes - he wears that green pair of cleats...you know, Johnny!  With the glasses?  He runs really fast?  That Johnny!"
"Sorry, I still don't know who you mean!"
"Well," lower voice confidentially, while looking furtively around, "He's that black boy!"
"Oh.  Oh!  Okay, Johnny!  That Johnny!"

Because in the States we are not allowed to actually mention someones ethnicity. To state out loud such a bold fact as what color a person is is simply not done.  As if leaving such a fact unnamed will allow people to not SEE it for themselves - kind of like an Adam & Eve thing.  "You mean Johnny is black?  I never would have known had you not told me!"

Here in the Caribbean, the conversation would be more like this:

"Did you see what Johnny did yesterday?"
"I don't believe I know Johnny."
"You know, Johnny on the football team?"
"No - what's he look like?"
"He's that black boy - you know who I mean?"
"Nooo.  Is he light or dark, or really black?"
"Kind of dark, but not really black black."
"Oh, okay, Johnny!"

Because here in the islands, your color is just another fact about you.  It is not praise; it is not an insult.  It is just a fact.  This makes sense to me.  When did mentioning ones color become an insult?

I wonder how it would it be if we couldn't even use gender to describe people - wouldn't want to insult anybody by calling them 'male' or 'female':

"Did you see what Johnny did yesterday?"
"I don't believe I know Johnny/ie."
"You know, Johnny on the soccer team?"
"No - can you describe Johnny/ie to me?"
"Well, I can try.  But you know how difficult that will be. Perhaps we should play The Politically Correct Rhyming Game?"
"Good thinking!  Go on..."
"Johnny has dark, CURLy hair.  Can you think of something that rhymes with CURL?
"GIRL!"
"Shhh!"  Both parents look guiltily around.
"Girl?"
"Yes, 'girl' does rhyme with 'curl'!", said loudly, for the benefit of PC spies.
"So," leaning forward, whispering, "Johnnie is a-"
"No!  Can you think of something opposite?"
"Oh, I get it, Johnny is a-"
"Right!"  Phew, Stage 1 complete.  On to Stage 2.
"So, NOW you know who I mean?"
"Nooo."
"Dark curly hair, brown eyes - wears that green pair of cleats...you know, Johnny! With the glasses? Runs really fast? That Johnny!"
"Sorry, I still don't know who you mean!"
"Well," lower voice confidentially, while looking furtively around, "He's black!"
"Oh. Oh! Okay, Johnny! That Johnny!  Sure, I know that child - wait a minute, it's still okay to say 'child', isn't it?  Isn't that insulting - I mean, we are flat out saying that Johnny is not an adult.  Is that still allowed?"
"Yes, I think that is still acceptable - but you might want to be careful who you say it in front of."
"I will - thanks!  Now, what did you want to tell me about Johnny?"
"Beats me if I can remember..."