Do We As African Americans Have A Culture?

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

DSTChaos,

I have a question for you:

What is the sociological standpoint about referring to "black" people from the African diaspora in the United States?

I ask, because last I remember, there is no Republic of "Black" country/region...

And because people were enslaved from various countries/regions solely based on a "phenotypic variation", then that is why "African Americans" are referred to that way.

Just asking 'cuz I really don't know...

I know you did not direct this question to me, but I'll answer too. Yes, I do know that DSTCHAOS has already provided a great answer.


While there is no Republic of "Black", as I understand it, when the Spainards (?sp) saw Africans, they called us negro, which translates to 'black' in English.

btw, we (AA/Blacks) have been referred to by many colors. In my grandmother's day, they were 'colored'. When I was born, my parents and I were listed on my birth certificate as 'Negro'. I think referring to myself as African American is just a pc term. I don't disagree with it. I just think calling myself African American is about as specific as someone of known French heritage calling themselves European American. How will that French person differentiate himself from someone who has known German heritage. They are both Europeans, but they each have very different cultures and languages.

I would much rather know the specifc place of origin my ancestors came from in Africa and refer to myself as that. Africa has so many diverse and distinct cultures that to lump them all as one category I feel is kinda useless.