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.
Peace and Blessings
The SPhinxpoet