The person who told me I used it offensively didnt really explain why to me. I've avoided saying the word for years straight now. I still don't know how to say the word ethnic appropriately.
I can't help but think I might have said it with a colonial perspective
Btw, why is it perfectly fine here?
Not trying to jump on you here but I think associating ethnicity only with minorities is a Western/American brainworm that reinforces "whiteness" as the default, and to an extent "superior". I feel like it connects to viewing minorities as "exotic"/other-ing them. I know you're not saying it this way and if anybody else has thoughts about this I'd love to hear them.