Whenever the opportunity arises, and it's usually a "black" who uses the "r" word, you know RACIST!!!!!!! I respond by defining the word ethnic vis a vis race!
I explain, that to the best of my ability I don't believe that my ancestors came from the Causcas region. I then explain that mitochondrial DNA studies of Eskimos, Japanese, Australian aborigines, Native Americans and Europeans and all the major ethnicies have determined that we all share a common great grandmother 10,000 generations ago (200,000yrs/20yrs). She lived in Ethiopia so "WE'RE ALL OF AFRICAN DESCENT!
I then point out that skin color is an environmental adaptation. I use Charlize Theron, who was born in South Africa, as an example of ethnicity.
One night she was guest hosting on SNL and announced that she had just received her American Citizenship! She then brought the house down by announcing "I guess that makes me an African American!" The kids "get it"!
