Why has the term "Caucasian" remained in use, while equivalent terms, such as those used for Asian people, African people, and Australian Aborigines have fallen out of use in polite society?
I came across this video, but it's about as accurate as you'd expect an (ex) music video station to be about history.
Meaning of "Caucasian" describes what the term "Caucasian" means, but not why it's still used, Why do websites have Caucasian as a race? seems to be more of a complaint than a question, and Is it offensive or unusual to use "Mongolian" in the sense of race? was asking whether using "Mongolian" is appropriate, but doesn't contrast it with "Caucasian" still being used.
Best Answer
Group identifiers generally gain a pejorative connotation when the group they are attached to has a low or negative social status, particularly in relationship to the group that uses the identifier.
In other words, the word takes on the prevailing attitudes of the people who use it, regardless of dictionary definition. That's why older words seem so much more offensive --they carry the stench of outmoded attitudes.
The terms "Negro" and "Mongol" were used by Europeans to refer to other cultures, during a more xenophobic time, so the use of them now brings up memories of old stereotypes. Since the term "Caucasian" was applied to members of the in-group, and never used pejoratively, it never gained a pejorative connotation.