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This one is excusable. I admit. https://pagesix.com/2018/09/18/new-york-times-mixes-up-angela-bassett-and-omarosa/?_ga=2.48872544.793019630.1537337682-524379007.1537337682

[Kim Jong-Un's Pajama Pants]

The offensive title notwithstanding there is a truth to that.  Not just for the negro but any group that one is not a member of.  Distinguishing between members of any out group in general is usually harder if they don't have striking differences.  Their out-group features tend to drown out their individuality.

[GeeMail]

Bitmask you know I intended no offense against Negroid, being one myself. I wonder between Bassett and Omarosa who is supposed to be offended by the mistake.

[Kim Jong-Un's Pajama Pants]

Bitmask you know I intended no offense against Negroid, being one myself. I wonder between Bassett and Omarosa who is supposed to be offended by the mistake.

Noted. 

However my point is that a person shouldn't feel like they are crazy if they have trouble telling apart Chinese individuals.  It's normal.  In that same vein, neither of these women should really take offense, though that is debatable in a diverse environment where you are exposed to all types.

[Dear Mami]

Different groups of East Asians, Somalis, South Sudanese, those are understandable (if you have trouble telling them apart). But negro people and Whites? I doubt that very much. White people don't all look the same and neither do Black people. Black people are in fact the most genetically diverse "group" on the planet, so much that it's kinda ridiculous to call them a group. Literally the only feature we have in common is darker skin shade than most other primates and to a MUCH lesser extent, 'nywele ngumu'. Beyond that, there's little to this notion of black people looking the same. I've always thought, same for White people. Those people do not look the same unless you have really bad eyesight. I've only thought so for some groups like those I've mentioned but never across races.

[Kim Jong-Un's Pajama Pants]

Different groups of East Asians, Somalis, South Sudanese, those are understandable (if you have trouble telling them apart). But negro people and Whites? I doubt that very much. White people don't all look the same and neither do Black people. Black people are in fact the most genetically diverse "group" on the planet, so much that it's kinda ridiculous to call them a group. Literally the only feature we have in common is darker skin shade than most other primates and to a MUCH lesser extent, 'nywele ngumu'. Beyond that, there's little to this notion of black people looking the same. I've always thought, same for White people. Those people do not look the same unless you have really bad eyesight. I've only thought so for some groups like those I've mentioned but never across races.

I think the understanding is more along the lines that Africa harbors greater genetic diversity than the rest of the world being the origin of mankind.  What's not clear is where this diversity specifically is.  Is it nicely tucked away in black people, maybe bushmen, or pygmies or does it affect to all inhabitants of Africa?

But also to someone unfamiliar with Africans, they all look the "same".  Exposed people can distinguish between groups.  But most bazungus can't tell an East African Bantu from a West African(to be honest there is a healthy overlap there).  "Extreme" cases like South Sudanese, Somalis etc, those stand out even to outsiders.  It comes down to exposure I think.

[MOON Ki]

But also to someone unfamiliar with Africans, they all look the "same".  Exposed people can distinguish between groups.  But most bazungus can't tell an East African Bantu from a West African(to be honest there is a healthy overlap there).  "Extreme" cases like South Sudanese, Somalis etc, those stand out even to outsiders.  It comes down to exposure I think.

Even to those very familiar with Africans, such as Africans themselves, I think the ability to tell differences are limited.    For example, you and I, on the streets of Nairobi, could probably differentiate   people as being from different tribes based solely on appearance, but I suspect that, say, to a West African a bunch of them would look no different.

[Dear Mami]

But also to someone unfamiliar with Africans, they all look the "same".  Exposed people can distinguish between groups.  But most bazungus can't tell an East African Bantu from a West African(to be honest there is a healthy overlap there).  "Extreme" cases like South Sudanese, Somalis etc, those stand out even to outsiders.  It comes down to exposure I think.

Even to those very familiar with Africans, such as Africans themselves, I think the ability to tell differences are limited.    For example, you and I, on the streets of Nairobi, could probably differentiate   people as being from different tribes based solely on appearance, but I suspect that, say, to a West African a bunch of them would look no different.

Surely not to the extent of being unable to tell two individuals apart. We just don't look that much alike. Some East Asian groups do though.

[KenyanPlato]

Whites over 50 know very little othe4 races..my cow9rker was surprised my friend newborn baby's picture was white...He thought black babies are born dark

[GeeMail]

But also to someone unfamiliar with Africans, they all look the "same".  Exposed people can distinguish between groups.  But most bazungus can't tell an East African Bantu from a West African(to be honest there is a healthy overlap there).  "Extreme" cases like South Sudanese, Somalis etc, those stand out even to outsiders.  It comes down to exposure I think.

Even to those very familiar with Africans, such as Africans themselves, I think the ability to tell differences are limited.    For example, you and I, on the streets of Nairobi, could probably differentiate   people as being from different tribes based solely on appearance, but I suspect that, say, to a West African a bunch of them would look no different.

Surely not to the extent of being unable to tell two individuals apart. We just don't look that much alike. Some East Asian groups do though.

Kadame, personally I have a problem telling the two women apart in the particular picture that NYT used from AFP. Their dress in those two pictures is very much alike, not to mention their facial features. Angela Bassett did not fuss about it. I guess Omarosa felt flattered to be confused with such an angel.

[Kim Jong-Un's Pajama Pants]

But also to someone unfamiliar with Africans, they all look the "same".  Exposed people can distinguish between groups.  But most bazungus can't tell an East African Bantu from a West African(to be honest there is a healthy overlap there).  "Extreme" cases like South Sudanese, Somalis etc, those stand out even to outsiders.  It comes down to exposure I think.

Even to those very familiar with Africans, such as Africans themselves, I think the ability to tell differences are limited.    For example, you and I, on the streets of Nairobi, could probably differentiate   people as being from different tribes based solely on appearance, but I suspect that, say, to a West African a bunch of them would look no different.

Yep.  It's down to exposure.  If you are really familiar, you can tell groups apart.  If you are unfamiliar, even individuals who are not strikingly different will confuse you.

[Dear Mami]

But also to someone unfamiliar with Africans, they all look the "same".  Exposed people can distinguish between groups.  But most bazungus can't tell an East African Bantu from a West African(to be honest there is a healthy overlap there).  "Extreme" cases like South Sudanese, Somalis etc, those stand out even to outsiders.  It comes down to exposure I think.

Even to those very familiar with Africans, such as Africans themselves, I think the ability to tell differences are limited.    For example, you and I, on the streets of Nairobi, could probably differentiate   people as being from different tribes based solely on appearance, but I suspect that, say, to a West African a bunch of them would look no different.

Surely not to the extent of being unable to tell two individuals apart. We just don't look that much alike. Some East Asian groups do though.

Kadame, personally I have a problem telling the two women apart in the particular picture that NYT used from AFP. Their dress in those two pictures is very much alike, not to mention their facial features. Angela Bassett did not fuss about it. I guess Omarosa felt flattered to be confused with such an angel.

They are so different. Bassett is so well known as is Amarosa now. I agree in the photo if you're not careful you can mix them up. It's only this story that made me think they have similar cheekbones and mouths, I'd never have noticed it otherwise. I've known Bassett from childhood and Amarosa a few years now, it baffles me they could be mistaken for each other. Oh well.

My main point though is, I hear people make this claim a lot, even at home about White people and I've always thought it strange since I've never noticed this striking similarity among White folk or Black folk in general beyond skin colour. Groups of Black folk? Sure. But not "Black folk" as a whole. Here in Europe I've recently been able to tell "Mediterannean people" with that "Jew" nose, thick dark hair and similar features. The rest of the Whites besides Super light Scandinavians still seem just "White" to me. I can tell from accents where they're from, but not physical features. And they never seem easily interchangeable to me, as individuals, in the way people from home imply.

Maybe it's because I'm African and grew up watching TV 247 and so got familiar with those two groups. I think many East Asians groups look similar in the way people imply Black folks and White folks do, though. Perhaps that's just reflective of my lack of East Asian TV for years and years + not living among them.

My sister has been living in the US for well over a decade and she laughs and tells me how different the Japanese are from the Chinese where she is. She can also tell an African American from an African without them saying anything! In Nairobi she identified one at the National Park a good ways off from behind, just the way he was carrying himself and sure enough. He opened his mouth and that American accent came flying out! She also identifies Nigerians from other West Africans. Don't know how she does it! It baffles me.

[Omollo]

What is the big deal? The white editors were looking for someone with very white teeth. Angela has them.