The Term African American

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

I am "white"

Which explains why you are forcing this topic.

No offense to the white GCers who can take how people self-identify and let it be, but topics such as this are often perpetuated by whites. It is similar to some whites who want to probe blacks on the use of the N word. This isn't an in depth discussion of race dynamics and race interactions that generate and perpetuate these categories. It's a surface-level probing that gets extremely annoying when people have essentially told you that blacks are not monolithic and opinions will vary.

Americans of near or distant African descent understand why "black" and "African American" and "black not Hispanic" and "Hispanic not black" are relevant for Census, research, record keeping and other purposes where categories of humans are necessary. But as for cultural and ethnic identities that include but transcend race, people know what they identify with and as.

For instance, an olive complexioned Greek-American has cultural and ethnic identities. For race identity, he or she is classified as "white" but can PERSONALLY prefer to be called something else. That doesn't mean that their personal preference will be acknowledged by everyone or that it socially overshadows the general category of "white" that is used to simplify matters. The people who responded to this thread acknowledge the categories and were sharing their opinions of them. However, they aren't unaware of the social reality of these categories.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

No offense to the white GCers who can take how people self-identify and let it be, but topics such as this are often perpetuated by whites...It's a surface-level probing that gets extremely annoying when people have essentially told you that blacks are not monolithic and opinions will vary.

You've pinpointed my issue with LOVE in this thread.

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Which explains why you are forcing this topic.

No offense to the white GCers who can take how people self-identify and let it be, but topics such as this are often perpetuated by whites. It is similar to some whites who want to probe blacks on the use of the N word. This isn't an in depth discussion of race dynamics and race interactions that generate and perpetuate these categories. It's a surface-level probing that gets extremely annoying when people have essentially told you that blacks are not monolithic and opinions will vary.

Americans of near or distant African descent understand why "black" and "African American" and "black not Hispanic" and "Hispanic not black" are relevant for Census, research, record keeping and other purposes where categories of humans are necessary. But as for cultural and ethnic identities that include but transcend race, people know what they identify with and as.

For instance, an olive complexioned Greek-American has cultural and ethnic identities. For race identity, he or she is classified as "white" but can PERSONALLY prefer to be called something else. That doesn't mean that their personal preference will be acknowledged by everyone or that it socially overshadows the general category of "white" that is used to simplify matters. The people who responded to this thread acknowledge the categories and were sharing their opinions of them. However, they aren't unaware of the social reality of these categories.

Ok, maybe I am not making myself clear, but I am beginning to think I shouldn't blame myself at this point.

As I have said...repeatedly...if no one wants to discuss it THAT IS FINE. I cannot have a discussion with myself. But I AM NOT obligated to NOT discuss with anyone who cares to because some people think it's stupid. NO ONE IS FORCING ANYTHING. If no one is interested no one will discuss. What a simple solution!

Now we are getting into another interesting discussion...the fact that my posts have (obviously to myself) not been read thoroughly, but skimmed and assumptions made because I said I was "white". Nowhere in my posts have I made the assumption that "all black people think the same" and have pointedly discussed the fact that "all black people" DO NOT think the same...hence the interest in the topic. All "white people" do not think the same either, by the way.

Maybe some are overly sensitive or defensive and on message boards I expect that, but the posts I write are to individual posters and not to an entire ethnic group, and that is the entire point of them. No one person here can speak for all people of a similar ethnic group, and I never have assumed that they could. Now, if anyone wants to respond to what has actually been written, and not to a skimmed over and pre-conceived notion filled version of what is there in black and white, fine. Otherwise, advice duly noted, though it doesn't exactly apply. Should I one day decide to place all people of one particular ethnic group into a category I will take your sage words into account when speaking with the selected spokesperson. But until that day...leave be.

[rhoyaltempest]

The bottom line is that people are free to identify themselves however they wish based on whatever rationale that makes sense to them. And by the way, being however many years removed does not automatically make you less African, Irish, or whatever.

Overall, people are who they identify themselves to be and who are we to tell anyone how they should view themselves? Why is Obama African American? Because he says he is. Period. The end.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

Ok, maybe I am not making myself clear, but I am beginning to think I shouldn't blame myself at this point.

As I have said...repeatedly...if no one wants to discuss it THAT IS FINE. I cannot have a discussion with myself. But I AM NOT obligated to NOT discuss with anyone who cares to because some people think it's stupid. NO ONE IS FORCING ANYTHING. If no one is interested no one will discuss. What a simple solution!

Now we are getting into another interesting discussion...the fact that my posts have (obviously to myself) not been read thoroughly, but skimmed and assumptions made because I said I was "white". Nowhere in my posts have I made the assumption that "all black people think the same" and have pointedly discussed the fact that "all black people" DO NOT think the same...hence the interest in the topic. All "white people" do not think the same either, by the way.

Maybe some are overly sensitive or defensive and on message boards I expect that, but the posts I write are to individual posters and not to an entire ethnic group, and that is the entire point of them. No one person here can speak for all people of a similar ethnic group, and I never have assumed that they could. Now, if anyone wants to respond to what has actually been written, and not to a skimmed over and pre-conceived notion filled version of what is there in black and white, fine. Otherwise, advice duly noted, though it doesn't exactly apply. Should I one day decide to place all people of one particular ethnic group into a category I will take your sage words into account when speaking with the selected spokesperson. But until that day...leave be.

I think y'all made her mad.

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I think y'all made her mad.

Very amused, not mad. Why bother to write lengthy responses to a construct instead of a poster and their posts? Is that really worth the time it takes to convince no one?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

As I have said...repeatedly...if no one wants to discuss it THAT IS FINE.

What you don't understand, but we've said it...repeatedly, is that there is a sense of entitlement embedded in your posts. Even saying "THAT IS FINE" implies that you have a choice in the matter but are relinquishing it.

Originally Posted by LΩVE

All "white people" do not think the same either, by the way.

ORLY?!?!?! Perish the thought.

And no one is asking a white person to explain anything or asking whites how they should be labeled and categorized. Hmmm...ever wonder why that rarely happens? That was discussed pages ago, nevermind.

Originally Posted by LΩVE

Should I one day decide to place all people of one particular ethnic group into a category I will take your sage words into account when speaking with the selected spokesperson. But until that day...leave be.

Don't be a smartass. You're the one who is seeking answers, not us. You're like the cocky researcher whose subjects are telling her to take a hike. But you won't take a hike.

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

What you don't understand, but we've said it...repeatedly, is that there is a sense of entitlement embedded in your posts. Even saying "THAT IS FINE" implies that you have a choice in the matter but are relinquishing it.



ORLY?!?!?! Perish the thought.

And no one is asking a white person to explain anything or asking whites how they should be labeled and categorized. Hmmm...ever wonder why that rarely happens? That was discussed pages ago, nevermind.




Don't be a smartass. You're the one who is seeking answers, not us. You're like the cocky researcher whose subjects are telling her to take a hike. But you won't take a hike.

That isn't entitlement, that's common sense. I already had posted a long while back questions. If no one wants to answer them that's their business. I'm not going to go delete them because some people post rude, condescending, and bitchy comments.

I'll just say this...if you READ MY POSTS and then care to respond, fine. In the mean time this is a response to a construct and not to an individual poster. It's jumping on the bandwagon to enjoy a good ole mudslinging. It is repeatedly ASSUMED that I am in some way coming to "all black people" demanding answers as to why "they" call "themselves" ______. I'm asking individual people what the identify with and why.

Don't be a douchebag and no one will be a smartass. You don't get to tell me I can't discuss whatever it is the thread is about. Well...you do...but I in return get to throw "take a hike" right back at you. Speaking of entitlement, what gives you the right to tell me what I cannot discuss? Talk about some entitlement...

PS-Personally I don't consider fellow posters to be "subjects". But whatever gets ya off.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

That isn't entitlement, that's common sense. I already had posted a long while back questions. If no one wants to answer them that's their business. I'm not going to go delete them because some people post rude, condescending, and bitchy comments.

You're not using common sense right now. No one's talking about deleting the questions that you posed.

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You're not using common sense right now. No one's talking about deleting the questions that you posed.

Then what is the problem? Why the many attempts to tell me that (entitlement) I don't have the right to ask them instead of just NOT RESPONDING...if it's that big of a deal why not let it die instead of being a huge tool for funsies?

Maybe I just answered my own question that time.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

if it's that big of a deal why not let it die instead of...i'm an idiot....

So that you will know for your real life interactions that unrelenting probing is silly.

Your questions weren't ignored but you responded with "white isn't offensive to me" and here we are.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

It is repeatedly ASSUMED that I am in some way coming to "all black people" demanding answers as to why "they" call "themselves" ______. I'm asking individual people what the identify with and why.

Wow, you completely missed MY point if you think I assumed that.

Originally Posted by LΩVE

Don't be a douchebag and no one will be a smartass.

Hmmmm...my first post (the one that you tried to be a smartass for) was of a neutral tone because these discussions require a degree of objectivity.

You responded a certain way because you've become paranoid and impatient from explaining yourself to a number of posters. Don't attribute that externally. Attribute it internally and figure out why you're receiving the reception that you're receiving.

Originally Posted by LΩVE

PS-Personally I don't consider fellow posters to be "subjects". But whatever gets ya off.

And I don't consider you a researcher. But it's called an analogy.

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Wow, you completely missed MY point if you think I assumed that.



Hmmmm...my first post (the one that you tried to be a smartass for) was of a neutral tone because these discussions require a degree of objectivity.

You responded a certain way because you've become paranoid and impatient from explaining yourself to a number of posters. Don't attribute that externally. Attribute it internally and figure out why you're receiving the reception that you're receiving.



And I don't consider you a researcher. But it's called an analogy.

Oh I don't think so. My point has not yet been considered nor have my posts been read. Enjoy the sensation.

It was not of a neutral tone. This is a circular argument. That entitlement theory swings and rounds about, eh? Continue the pointless baiting or "take a hike". Your move.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

It was not of a neutral tone.

Because the back and forth has made you paranoid.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

My point has not yet been considered nor have my posts been read.

Which of your points/posts have not received a suitable response?