Weren't black people given a name hundreds of years ago that is still offensive and considered racist?
Slurs are different in kind. Nobody uses “Indian” as a pejorative.
That word used for black people wasn't considered a pejorative for a couple centuries.
Also, yes, some people do use Indian as a pejorative.
Who? Who is going around sneering the term “Indian” at people as a slur or insult? You’d think they’d be using one of the other slurs or stereotypes. It’s probably about as common as racists using “Black” or “Latino” as a pejorative. It’s just a description with no hateful connotation.
As for how groups determine what names they can and can’t go by, a lot of it seems nonsensical to me. “Queer” was acceptable, then not acceptable, now acceptable again. “Retarded” became offensive, to the point that medical journals had to stop using a diagnosis. The NAACP refers to “colored” people, a term that can’t be used. But “person of color” is now a preferred moniker. At what point is it arbitrary? Why not base “offense” on intent, rather than nonsense standards? Call out the actual racists, not the “micro aggressors”.
Intent is definitely a factor, but a person can always
claim lack of intent (no offense intended, but...) and go ahead and be offensive. I think being reasonably thoughtful and informed about what others find offensive is something that matters in society if we value respect and getting along with one another.
One of the more frustrating moments for me is when I am bothered by something and someone says "that shouldn't bother you". It's not that I wouldn't eventually conclude sometimes that I'm making a bigger deal out of something than I ought to -- but that's really my decision and my process. I'd rather someone acknowledge (respect) that I'm bothered and let me work it out.
I think it's a false claim that when a person or group complains about something that they find offensive that this means they are professional complainers or that they are stuck in a victim mindset. It's entirely possible for someone to be offended by things like the branding of "Indian" as a caricature and yet be productive, determined, responsible, contributing member of society. Voicing sensitivity about something does not mean a person or group is stuck or fixated in negativity and a mindset of victimhood.
That said, no doubt there are those who use victimhood to rationalize their own depressive mode of existence. Use it as a way to explain why nothing ever goes their way. In fairness, there are those who do face piles of barriers and obstacles, and though these things may be true victim mindset surely doesn't help.