African American vs Black vs African American
 

Hello Members and fellow SF's, I believe that this topic has never been discussed before, so I apologize in advanced if it has already been brought up. My sister's and I were talking the other day about race and nationality and where we as black people in America fit in. As I thought about the different terms we use to identify ourselves I began to wonder are they really representative of us as a people. What do we gain by using the term African American and why does it seem that using the term black is all of a sudden taboo? I have extremely strong feelings about this subject and I just wanted to know how other people felt as well.

I have been in several discussions about this topic also. What I feel and, prefer is BLACK. I have been catching flack from some of my friends. Not that I dislike African-American, but I prefer black. To me that sounds stronger, if that makes sense. I know I will probably get some back lash on this, but hey this is me!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

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Peace
KL

It's interesting that you brought this up. Just the other day I was with a couple friends, one black, the other of pacific islander descent, and somehow this topic was brought up in our conversation. For some reason or another, my PI friend stated that he hadn't known that "colored" was a
non-"PC" term until attending our university and having someone confront him when he used this word. He then continued to express his confusion because he did not understand what the problem was with using the word "colored". Initially I thought of how ignorance seems to pervade even the most seemingly "ethnically aware" populations. Then on the other hand I was a little confused myself. Why should categorical labels such as this be definers of our identities as black people? I've honestly personally never given it too much extensive thought. I've just pretty much always went with the flow. I was a negro yesterday, Black today, and I'll be African-American tomorrow. I know some people that get more offended if someone refers to them as Black instead of African-American than if they would if they were called the N word. Has anyone done any research on this? I'd be interested to know a little more about this and how it relates to the psychology of Blacks and how we have historically used these terms to somehow reflect our consciousness of being people of African descent.

I personally prefer to be called African American. That way, I pay homage to my African ancestry as well as to those ancestors who were brought to America to build this country. I don't like to use the term "black" because it sounds kind of archaic, like "negro". Then, I have a problem with simply using "American" because American is not a race, it is a nationality. Being the melting pot, excuse me, salad bowl that it is, I feel that it is necessary for "Americans" to recognize their original ancestry by placing that name, in this case, "African" in front of "American". Lastly, in writing, I often use "Africans in America".

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I'm not conceited, just convinced.

"What I feel and, prefer is BLACK. I have been catching flack from some of my friends. Not that I dislike African-American, but I prefer black. To me that sounds stronger, if that makes sense. I know I will probably get some back lash on this, but hey this is me!!"

kiml122, I absolutely agree! I guess because my family has that "Fight the power" and "Black Panther" mentality. I don't know. To me the term African-American means people who recently migrated from Africa.
Can anyone inform me of what the differences are? What do they mean? I think this is a very good and interesting topic for black people.

I personally prefer African-American because it is a complete representation of who I am. I am an American decendant of the African diaspora. I am not saying that I do not refer to myself as black but to me the term African American brings a greater sence of pride along with it.

PS. Mizzkes, did you get the salad bowl reference from Johnetta Cole. I heard her speak and she used that term and it totally revoulutionized my thinking.

I agree!! I prefer Black, but I understand that African-American is more "PC". I would prefer people not be PC, just keep it real, and not be disrespectful, but whatever. I don't take offense if I'm called African-American, though. I just prefer Black. I am interested in whether or not anyone has done research on this, too.

I fill out forms as Black or African American (depending on the form). I really don't pay attention to the terms at all, I am not offended by either. But I do agree with Ideal08 in that I would prefer people to be real with me and not Politically Correct! And I am not sure who would be calling me either black or African American anyway, If someone is saying LadyAKA is black, I must not be in their presence, so why do I care what they call me. I could tell them I prefer one or the other and they would just get it wrong anyway. I just prefer people to approach me and call me by my rightful name.

Hey ladies,

I have been giving a bit of thought to this topic for a few days now, and I just wanted to offer my opinion (it's newly formulated, so if it's a little sketchy... and long, bear with me). I started thinking about this the other day because of another incident that happened at work, and I think that I can tie the two together. I work with this young lady (who happens to be white), she's a couple of years younger than me, but since she's started working there, she has completely bonded with me, and she's very nice. One reason why I like her is because she's completely cool, and "multi-cultural", but she's not one of those type of people who are just "trying to be black", that's just who she is, and on top of that her name is Keysha...(maybe it's just me, but I have never met a white girl named kisha, then she spells it kinda funky, LOL). So I always say, "there's my favorite little white girl", and she always laughs about it.

THe other day, one of the other girls who works with me kinda got offended, she was like well, you shouldn't say that because what if she decided to say there's my "favorite little black girl", you wouldn't like that too much. I never thought about it like that, but I guess that would be kind of awkward, if not for me, for maybe someone who may have overheard like a co-worker or patient. THen she went on to say that we, as black/african-american/afro-americans, we have it too good, because we can say things that other races may not be able to say in a public setting. Just like we may be able to say the "n" word and SOME of us wouldn't get offended, white folks have no option of whether or not to say the word. Have you ever watched ComicView on BET, how they pick on white people in the audience, and the joke about how white people always fall in horror movies, or how white people can't dance, what if you were watching Improv, and they were making Black-people jokes, we'd demand that the show be terminated!

I know this isn't exactly tied in with the original post, but these are some of my thoughts on it. I don't really have a preference between the terms "Black", or "African-american", but it also depends on who the speaker is, and their context in saying it.

I know my great-grandmother( she's 81), still uses the term "colored", and no one would think anything of it because she doesn't mean any harm...but a few months ago, this gentleman came into my workplace, and in speaking he asked me was I saved, and I said yes. So he then asked me "Well, I don't suppose you have a church home, do you?" I said, "Yes, as a matter of fact I do" And he goes, well I am the Pastor of 'such and such', and we have a great number of coloreds in attendance in our congregation, we have career programs, and single-parent ministries, and ...." so he goes on to say that I should come visit his church sometimes...I said no, thank you, as I said before, I have a church home, I attend...where Senator ___ ____ is pastor" Which just happens to be one of the largest churches in the city, (black, caucasian or otherwise). And then I guess he got offended, and was like "well you don't have to start name dropping!"
That comment in itself showed me that his intentions weren't well-meaning, and I didn't appreciate his ASS-uming that I, 1) didn't have a church home, or that I, 2) didn't have a clue in what I was gonna do with the rest of my life (I have a good job now, although I am in school), 3) that I may be a single parent (although there is nothing wrong with it, why ASS-ume!) , and 4) that if I did have a church home, it was probably some hole-in-the-wall store front church (not that there's anything wrong with a storefront church, but why ASS-ume)

So I guess this is where I mean, it depends on who the speaker is, if it were my grandmother or another older person, or someone who didn't mean it in a condescending fashion, then I wouldnt take it to heart. But some people's tone and meaning give words a whole new (or archaic) meaning that IS to me, patronizing and out of date.

Anyway, I have taken up more that enough space in this topic, but hope ya'll get my point. Thanks for listening...well reading!

I really don't have a preference. I usually use black because it's shorter. I use African-American if I'm talking to white strangers.

We have to remember that all black people are not Afrian-Americans...

Hello SisterFriends in Greekdom. I hope you don't mind but I would like to express why I prefer the term Black to African-American.

The term Black (with a capital B) connects me to all those of African descent throughout the Diaspora. Africans in America are facing the same basic problems and challenges as Africans in South Africa, Brazil, England and South Africa so we should express our connection. I also see the term as encompassing those who are of (recently) mixed racial background who wish to identify with the struggle.

I also see the strength in turning a negative connotation (ie black is dirty, unclean, melancholy, etc.) into a positive and stressing it with capitalization. We as a people have a talent for taking a negative or less than ideal situation and turning it into a positive. I am sure we all can think of examples of that! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/cool.gif

Has anyone found any aforementioned research on this topic?



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MCCOYRED

Dynamic
Salient
Temperate

Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

McCoyred,

Different people who call themselves "Black" do not consider themselves "African-Americans." For example, some people from India consider themselves Black and when they say so, they receive strange looks. Most use the term "Brown" to distinguish themselves from us, although some have black skin. Also, many Haitians, people from various West Indian countries, and Jamaica don't consider themselves to be "African-American." Yes, they are Black, but not African-American. African-American is more of a cultural term that relates to people of African descent who live in the US as a result of the African diaspora. Jamaicans are Jamaican-Americans. This doesn't make them any less "Black." What about Black Latinos? They are not "African-American" either, but Latinos and social labels are another topic altoghether.

Only in the US are we so obsessed with labeling ourselves. You're Black, you're White, you're Asian, you're Indian (but not from India), you're Hispanic and non-white, etc. In South America, especially counties like Brazil people identify themselves as "white." But this doesn't mean the same to them as it would to us. I read an artcile in which a Black journalist from the US went to Brazil and only associated with the darker skinned (or what we would conisder "Black" Brazilians) his hosts (white looking) were offended because he brought his American way of labeling people with him.

One of my mom's best friends is from South America. She looks white, she married a Black American. She endured a lot of racism which she did not understand. She could not comprehend how we behave this way when in her home country people were "one." Her mother came to visit the US and I was surprised that her skin was darker than mine, she would be consider "Black" in this country. Just something to think about. This is all based on people's perceptions...colored, Black, Negro, African-American, what's next?

[This message has been edited by Talaxe (edited December 19, 2000).]

Exactly! Why limit yourself to being identified as an African in America? We, as a group, need to think globally and internationally. I see Black as a term that crosses political and territorial boundaries.

Even though African-American is now the PC term for 'us', I feel it is moving toward the negative connotations that Negro now engenders. Ever notice that as soon as 'white' folks notice that someone 'Black' has an accent, hence is not from the US (African-American) their perceptions change?

Yes, in many foreign countries, their classification is different than ours. In many Arab countries, most dark-skinned people are considered 'white' by virtue of their heritage as Arabs. I am not including these people in my definition of Black because they do not identify with our struggle.

BTW, don't let your mom's friend pull the wool over your eyes regarding race relations in South America. They have the same patterns of poverty, hopelessness and racial discrimination as the US. It may be different in form but the substance is stil the same (they were colonized and enslaved, too!).


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MCCOYRED

Dynamic
Salient
Temperate

Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

I agree this can be a touchy issue for some people. I have picked up a lot of slack because I refer to myself as West Indian. I was born and raised in the islands. According to the American society once your skin is a certain color you are considered African American(black). I agree with Talaxe when she stated that not all blacks are African American. I come from a family of very diverse backgrounds and it seems to me that people are always trying to put us into categories. We are all human so, why should it really matter?

The Term Black vs. African American all goes to how do you perceive things. If you feel the term is offensive because of the negative connotations that come with being called Black then you have a problem with it. If you have a problem with African American it is because you have a problem with being classified as either African or American. There in lies the problem with that discussion. How are you defining race? What are its characteristics to you? This discussion can become quite confusing because are Latino's and Italians black, white or other.(Remember Italians have some African descent in them though not a strong as Latinos) does your race only limit to the country you are in(i.e. the Brazilians even though many are very "dark-skinned" consider themselves whites). Once one defines these issues then a better understanding of how and why people define themselves the way the do. The Problem with people of African Descent in America is that they suffer from what W.E.B. Dubois classified as "The double veil of consciousness" We at times find us trying to be another kind of person and yet fitting in to what we have defined as comfortable parameters(i.e. being black trying to fit in a "white" society). These problems will continue to haunt us until then.
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Peace and Blessings
The SPhinxpoet

I think that identity is important. Whether you prefer to call yourself African-American or Black doesn't matter so much as your understanding of your history. It's critical that the conversation not move so much into a discussion of labels, but action.

What does being Black or African-American compel you to do? I think that's really most important. You must understand that you have been placed here as part of a larger reason and purpose. Generations past have prayed for you to be a man/woman of excellence and power. Your ancestors wanted you to have access...to resources, etc. And now that you are able to garner them and keep them, what are you doing? How to do you pay homage to those before you? What are you doing?

See, I think that our ancestors didn't place a huge focus on language and labels. They just wanted to be included. So, I think it's time to take this a step further than asking of our respective TITLE preferences, but what are you doing with the blessings you've been given? Now that you are called a MAN or WOMAN and recognized for your abilities...what are you doing?

Let's be mindful that it's not about your title, its not about your present circumstance...but what you are doing to obtain all that is for you that matters. So, what are you doing?

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I will bless the Lord at ALL times His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalms 34:1, KJV)



[This message has been edited by nikki25 (edited December 19, 2000).]

Personally, I do not like the term African-American. I supposed if I have to be labeled as anything I prefer Black. Black American if it suits some. African American to me would be someone that came from Africa an were made into an American citizen. Although I will never deny my root connection to Africa, the fact remains that I am not really "Afican" I mean all nationalities can trace their roots out of America because everyone(with the exception of the Indians) migrated to this country. I was born here I do not know anyone from Afica nor have I been.So what constitutes me as "African". I mean I know many moons ago my ancestors were from there but, I was not. I mean since my mom is originally from the South, am I really southern although I have always lived up North? I agree with Ania (by the way pretty name) on what a African-American person is.

Talaxe,

Well said. I can back you up on a few of the differences which you made reference to. One of my cousins married a woman from a South American country and she is "white" by American standards. However, she refers to herself as black.

I remember when some people got upset when Tiger Woods would not refer to himself as an African-American because he did not wish to deny his mother's heritage (she is from Thailand). That still does not change the fact that American society views him as a black man based on the color of his skin.
I use both Black and African-American interchangeably although I prefer Black because I know my heritage consists of more. My grandfather (dad's father) is Filipino.

Man is identified by the land from which his forefathers come from. If this is true, anyone living in the Americas with a drop of black blood in their vains is of African origin. If they themselves were born here, the most accurate way to classify them is "African-American". When you ask someone you went to school with whose name is Napoli, Rizzi,or Barzini what their nationality is, they wont say American white; they'll say I'm Italian(and most times leave off the American). By doing so, they show pride in the origin of their family. Most persons that weren't born in America do so. I admit to the fact that most "black" people were born stateside(here in America), but our families did not originate here; and THERE IS NO LAND CALLED BLACK. Therefore, we should classify ourselves as African-American. I think it's f@#$% up that every other kind of people here demand respect for the origin of their family-and make issue of it-but we don't. We want to run from being of African decent anyway we can-our hairstyles, our vernacular and intonation, and any other way we can. Only our music and clothes now tie us together; and we even subjudge ourselves! We can try to run from it all we want; but to the people that really matter here, we're still a bunch of n gas. So why not take pride in ourselves!!!!

Yes, when you ask them, but no one has ever had to ask me if I have African roots! I'm already pre-classified as having African ancestory because of the color of my skin.
There are various nationalities within European society to choose from (Italian, German, French, Welch, Scottish, etc.) I'm not trying to be rude or funny, but I can't tell which nationality white people fall into unless I ask or they tell me. They check the box that says "WHITE" just like we check the box that says "BLACK".

Your (and others') reasons are precisely why I believe we should identify ourselves as Black and not African-American:

1) many Black people in this country are not American;
2) most Black people in this country are multi-racial or multi-ethnic;
3) we should identify with others in the Diaspora around the world who share our African ancestry and hence our struggles.

Also as a previous poster indicated, there are a number of groups around the world who 'look Black' (ie Hindu Indians, Arabs,etc) but do not identify with our struggles. These people are not included in my definition!

So you see, the same reasons why you insist we should call ourselves African-American are precisely why I feel we should not.

BTW, the name 'Africa' is a European appellation that we can reject for a number of reasons. I'm doing some additional research to back up some thoughts I have on that subject so I'll get back to that subject later.



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MCCOYRED

Dynamic
Salient
Temperate

Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

I can't wait to see your proof of your statement about Africa being a european appellation.

AKA2D and Mccoyred,
I agree with you.

Original Ape,
The last form I filled out, I recall checking "Black" and that was last week. No one is running from our heritage. Who decided it was politically correct to refer to us an African-American anyway? No one asked me my opinion.

Obviously, everyone has an opinion and to each his own. I will continue to use black or African-American whenever I want and if I choose to do so because it is my choice.

exactly, why does it matter? well because certain people still want to be discriminatory, they do not want to see people as people, because it gives them no leverage to hate. simply put some people are just evil, http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif. and i'm sick of everybody who has a drop of black blood being throw into a category that they do not necessarily desire to be in (ie. Tiger Woods) forget Tiger Woods let him get in where he fits in, when the day is done people will see him how they want to see him regardless of how he sees his self, which i am sure he is already learning. if you are mixed then you are mixed, "say it loud" if you are half this and half that "say it loud" why deny any part of who you are because someone else who is very shallow and ignorant wants to define you for their own hateful purposes. WE need to stop letting others define who we are as a people, because this forced categorizing just breeds division among blacks and those who have some black in them but do not wish to be identified as such. why should they, it certainly is not to their benefit to be black in this country, so if they don't want to be identified as black we should let them have that choice. as for me i am black, both my parents are black, both my grandparents are black, that's good enough for me, also no one in my family is from Africa or has ever been to Africa. but if someone refers to me as African American i don't get upset because some of my ancestors were definitely from that great continent, so its all good http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by PositivelyAKA (edited December 20, 2000).]

Sorry sorors, sisterfriends and fellow "board" participants, this message is a long one, so just skip it if you don't care.

Some of you have asked if there is research in the terminology. Well, here it is...

The book entitled "Melinin, the chemisty of this compound" . You will find it in a Afrocentric bookstore. The book is paperback and is yellow.

A must read is WEB DuBois, "Souls of Black Folk". Research the philosophical arguments between him and Booker T. Washington... Also Carter G. Woodson's "The Mis-Education of the Negro". Research the history of Marcus Garvey and the Back to Africa movement in the 1920's.

Get any book from author John Henrik Clarke. He is called the father of an African Centered perspective. Ivan Van Sertima, another author who as researched the Afrikan heritage of the ancient queens in Afrika. He has written several books. The book entitled "The Isis Papers" by Dr. (my Alzheimer's is kickin' in... totally slips my mind).

The book entitled, "Black Women in White America"

Dr. Martin Luther King's "Why we can't wait".

Kwame Ture of the Black Panthers has written several books on this subject.

Nkrumah, 1st president of an Afrikan nation that won their freedom from europee-on colonization, he has written a book. I think he was from Nigeria, but I could be wrong. And I apologize if I have offended any Ghanians if he's truly from there... However he is from the "sub-continent" of Afrika...

Many of you HAVE to do your research, asap. Ask yourselves how you got to be called---anything. Really, you could be called slave... Really, we are all lucky for folks to call us anything... What does the word "Afrika" mean? What language is word "Afrika" in? Once you will find those definitions, you will determine how you feel your need to identify yourselves... We can barely answer the question "Who am I"!!!

I'm in the field to examine the science of race... And genetically, there is no such thing. We are all gradiations of each other with a polymorphic genetic code. It's like we're all roses and we all have thorns, but we come in different colors and we smell. Some of us are small roses, some of us are big ones. Nevertheless, we are all roses...

To read about the science of "race" or rather the evolution of Homo sapiens sapiens , read in the journal called "Science" under the mitochondial "Eve" from 1987-1990. There have been several scientific articles devoted to this subject and all the biologists cannot find any major differences, such as extra limbs or no hooves, in all humans on the planet... The written science of "Race" is just a bunch of BS made up by some assholic 18th century Sociologists after Darwin proposed his ideas of evolution...

Also, if you choose seek an Afrikan centered perspective, many of your epistemologies (meaning why you think the way you do--there are "forces" that have predicted and already expect your thought processes), then an absolute MUST READ is Dr. Marimba Ani's book entitled "Yurugu". That book... That book will blow your mind... 20 years of her life has been devoted to the science as to why we negroes (and most of us (the "n" word)/negroes/black/Black/afro-americans/African Americans or whatever) are the way we are. She has created definitions to explain why we think certain way and how we got into this BS about race from jump... As my college kids say, it's like "whoa"...

As for what I call myself... I am human. I choose my ethnic heritage to be of Afrikan descent which ties me to a physical land. It's soil that oneday I may walk on and experience the MAAFA that so long ago decimated the existence my anscestors. I choose my ethnicity to be "in American" (spelled amerikkklan) because I deserve it and my anscestors worked this land just like everybody else. I refuse to be defined by others. In fact I want to be indescribable (sp.). Because once I reach that point, I have transcended to my inherited ancestorial "spirit" genes that makes me reach my divinity...

I use the term "Black" myself, however I don't mind if African-American is used. Now let me start with this, if we call ourselves African-American then what does someone like Charlize Theiron (the white actress from "The Legend of Bagger Vance") who is from South Africa and now an American citizen call herself. Is she not African-American? Also, I don't know about you, but like my father, I'm proud to be an American, not that I am denying that I probably have African ancestry as well, but I know for a fact that my "Black" ancestors are the reason why this country is what it is today. Our ancestors helped build this country literally. Not only through physical means but also through all of their willingness and courage to fight for what they believe, their great inventions and other contributions. Now I don't care whether white people or anyone else want to ignore that or give us our just due because they don't define who I am. God, history, family and I define who I am.

[This message has been edited by DST Love (edited December 20, 2000).]

...Like I said earlier, JUST CALL ME BY MY NAME... http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

**LOL at Soror AKA2D**

Don't get me wrong; I respect people's right to define themselves. No matter what you call yourself, there is a basis for identity. You have Alphas, Deltas,Kappas, Ques, Sigs, Zetas, Bloods, Crips, European-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native-Americans, African-Americans, Latin-Americans; in any event, there is a basis for identity. You choose the basis and hope to receive the identity that comes with it. Think about it.

I'm sorry you misunderstood my intent.

You are valid in the assumption of what Charlize Theron can call herself. She would probably prefer to be of Afrikaaner descent because her anscestors traveled from Denmark (and elsewhere) to populate the land in South Africa. Currently, the Afrikaaners are fighting for their rights as farmers to farm "their" forefather's land... These arguments stem from the post Apartheid regime and the ANC. Either way, the region is rather unstable and may go into conflict at any point much like that of upper sub-Saharan countries, i.e. Rwanda, Sierre Leone, Liberia.

As far as the point of personal preferences, I agree with my soror AKA912D--I have a name my parents endowed to me, I would like others to use it, thank you...

And my point is we all need to get away from the concept of race. I know it has been centuries that we have used our color to define our culture(s) and our reference point(s) in the universe. However, IMHO, we need to move away from that concept now. Practically a whole religion based on a small a gene product, tyrosinase, that is more abundant in darker complexion skin cells which produces higher levels of (eu)melinin. That concept is old, not 21st century thinking, it's soooo last millennia.

If you understand the nature of White Supremacy, you understand how we folk of a darker hue have been deconstructed and subjugated. I knew what I said would make some people disgruntled, it's a hard concept to learn to let go our enslaved selves. It's easier to deny our true sovereignty and claim a cultural asili use to oppress us so that we can easily move thru "mainstream" society. However, it's a high cost to do that--I have to do it everyday and it's practically drive me nucking futs! But what's happening is that we have lived under europee-on ideology for so long, such as who is the best president to lead this country--think immediately, who come into your mind? Ask yourself does your immediate thinking follow your Afrikan centered anscestors thoughts? How come we can't think of the immediate from our Afrikan heritage? Some of do, most of us don't... We have been brainwashed and bamboozled... How do we break outta of it? Think about it. Black Afrikan annihilation did not start with the American Revolution... Nor did it start with the first darker hued person to be sold to a much more lighter hued person... It started when Aristole philosophically segregated the spirit from the body. Most Afrikan cultures are incapable of doing that. Why do you think we are always talking about the church??? Why do you think Ilyana Vanzant's so popular, now? Could it be the transmission of our cultural asili from our Afrikan anscestors? We can never forget where we come from. Why is that? Most white men I discuss this concept with tell me they never think of themselves as anything other than American, even if their anscestors came during the massive white europee-on migration in the 1900s. But I tell you, these folks suffer from classism, too. Such as an elitist caucasian vs. one that comes from a trailer park... Now truly ask yourself this question, who has the harder life, a man of Afrikan descent who has numerous degrees but still gets beat down by the cops or a man of europeeon descent that grew up in a trailer park?

http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/confused.gif

AIGHT, SOROR...I HOPE YOUR FINGERS WERE TIRED OF ALL THAT TYPING AND YOU SIMPLY NEEDED A BREAK... http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

BUT, I still WUB YOU! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

Dear Sista,

Are you at all familiar with the phrase Pan-African? The slave trade placed us in every corner of the earth; but it took us FROM AFRICA. Since it was the place of origin for all dark people, we should therefore acknowledge it in our way of identifying ourselves.

As I said earlier, I respect each person's way of defining themselves.

I'm still waiting on your proof.

In attempts to be "Politically Correct", most places of employment and govt agencies now label the boxes "African-American"; and thank God they do so. Most of us don't know why we should call ourselves such. Being members of Greek-Lettered organizations(and thus leaders of our people), we especially should demonstrate pride in the origin of our people, and how we classify ourselves.

I started a thread addressing this issue some time ago on the Alpha line. I acknowledged the fact that most "black" people here are really bi-racial or multi-racial. My father was 1/4 Seminole, and my mother is African-American. I am proud of BOTH heritages. I refuse, unlike so many other people in this country, to deny my African ancestry and just simply claim to be Seminole; doing so would leave me half-defined. I am proud of both, but will acknowledge the one most people see when they see me;and that is the African-American part of me. Like Peter Tosh said: No matter where you come from; just as long as you're a black man, YOU'RE AN AFRICAN!!!

In the END, does it really matter?
We ALL are of some descent. I am sure that most of us are not 100% Black, African American, Colored, Negro, or whatever!
Why make a BIG deal over it? As long as you know who you are and are comfortable with YOU! Dayum what someone else thinks or calls us! Just call me by my name...

BTW, I check the OTHER box. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

Sista monet,(I wish I could put one of those legends here).
I just read this for the first time, and I like what you've said.

My brotha, I was able to review some info last night.

In the book entitled "The Destruction of Black Civilization" by Chancellor Williams he does refer (as many sources do) to an even older name for the Continent that is Bilad as Sudan an Arabic phrase meaning Land of the Blacks. So that disputes your claim that there is no land called Black.

Older names of the Continent are Alkebulan, Hikuptah ("Mansion of the Soul of Ptah"), Aigyptos (Greek for "Burnt Faces"), Ta-Meri, Ta-Seti, etc. With the exception of the Greek name from which we derive the name Egypt, all of the above are what the Blacks on the Continent called themselves.

I am still doing research on the name 'Africa' and will let you know when I find what I am seeking.




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MCCOYRED

Dynamic
Salient
Temperate

Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

I stand corrected. Thank you for the enlightenment.

You are correct in US taking no pride in our genetic heritage... Ironically, it takes pride in us just by the black vernacular we often use around each other... Come to find out when "summa" us use triple negatives---"I ain't never heard nuthin' like dat..."---it follows the West Afrikan concept of no association to an object or idea whatsoever... Some nations (tribes) believe spiritually, that if they are associated with something seen as taboo or negative, the ennuciate, emphatically that they have nothing to do with that situation in their language. The idea only got transferred over as the slaves learned english. It's very, very uncanny... Then let's not talk about the derivations of english---like, yeah, right is derived from the Neanderthal... Okay...

You are wrong here sista. What about whites from Africa? What would you call Kerry's wife?

Just settle with being called black. It ain't nothin wrong with that.

Damn... some ignorant blowhard needs to do a little historical or linguistic research - unless of course that would call in to question the happy little world you concieved for yourself :rolleyes:

English is derieved from the Indo-European language group, with the founding root languages being Latin (and subsequent romance languages), Germanic roots (from the invasion of the British Isles), and the Celtic group... as for being derived for Neanderthal is that the shit they "teach" you in the NOI or the New Black Panthers? Hmmm... perhaps a more believable lie could be made - it would only take a little more research...