Ethnicity v. Race
 

While perusing the thread "Educators Shed Light on Northern Slavery", I was led to a link of the definition of Mulatto by Wikipedia. At the bottom of that page they listed famous "mulatto" people including Halle Berry, Shemar Moore and Bob Marley. What I found interesting is that they listed their ethnic make up, not their racial make up [Alesha Dixon, (1/2 Jamaican - 1/2 English) British Singer/Dancer].

Now I've gotten into a number of discussions with people about this very thing. Jamaican does not automatically mean black, one of Bob Marley's baby momma's was a white Jamaican. Some folks get annoyed or upset when I say that I'm not African American. They see this as me denouncing my race or something to that effect. I am doing no such thing, I am a very very proud black woman. However for me, African American is an ethnicity with its own culture, while it is a very rich and vibrant culture, it is not the culture that I was raised in. I am West Indian, 100%. We eat different foods, enjoy different music and speak differently. While we share similarities due to the institution of slavery, we also possess a number of differences that makes our specific cultures unique (and no less great). I wanted to see other people's thoughts on this.

^^^ I agree with you totally. By the same token there are Black Hispanics, White Hispanics, Black Africans, White Africans, etc.

That is why I refer to myself as Black rather than African American. Why? I cannot assume that my ancestors came from Africa just because of the color of my skin. My maternal grandmother was born in 1897 (and lived to 102.) She could not trace neither her parents nor grandparents to slavery much less Africa. In fact her grandmother was 100 precent Irish. And considering the number of white complexions in my ancestry (dang some were even paler that White folx-lol) I just don't know. But I am proud to call myself Black.

We also know that my paternal grandmother was half Native (and looked more Native that Black.) But we could not trace her father's side nor her grandparents side. So again, we don't know if the family origins are Africa.

Now my paternal grandfather was a dark complected man, but again he could have been West Indian for all we know, because he died when my father was 2 years ago and we never knew his family.

Now I know I will get some flack from African purists that believe that all races and ethnicities began in Africa (the notion of antiquity.) But that is okay. I am always open to learning new things. ;)

Earlier conversation regarding ethnicity and race:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...&threadid=4089