Whose People? We, the people?

It's a small thought, but one I keep having.

I keep seeing news pictures and hearing the news, and I keep hearing the phrase, "These people," and, "Those people."

And of course a lot of "those people" I see on my television screen are African-American people.

These people. Those people. These people who ... what? Why don't you say it?

Or better still, why not say simply, people. As in, people need help. Or, "Our people." Or, "The people."

Say it enough times, it starts to sound odd. It's an odd word, is people. But, these people. We all know who these people are, don't we?