Quote:
Originally Posted by Munchkin03
Or, it could just be that since most people have no connection to Africa, they don't want to connect themselves verbally to a place they've never been, have no connection to linguistically or culturally, or never intend to go.
I'd rather see the term "African-American" used for someone whose parents or grandparents emigrated here from Africa, and have a linguistic/cultural/ethnic connection to the continent, and not just a bunch of Black Americans.
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While I am not exactly disagreeing with you, you have people who are (insert your nationality here) Americans who have parents and grandparents that also have never been to their place of origin but just as easily claim it and can also as easily trace it.
So while your point is very valid, it's one of many reasons why some Blacks disagree with being called Af. Am..
(BTW good point to bring up because I have met a few who have stated that!)
As far as your preference as to why people should address themselves as Af. Am. I disagree.
Again the difference is tangible not just in geographic or cultural terms but also the mental effects that it's had on people who have already been assimilated here for over 4 centuries which continue. So, it's only fair to let people be able to identify with what they know or believe to know because so much of our history and lineage have been lost.
There have even been suggestions that pretty soon most peoples will drop the __________ - American and just be "Americans" because we all will be so thoroughly mixed.