The Term African American

[AlexMack]

It shouldn't just be a black thing...people who say they're Irish-American when they've never stepped foot in Ireland bug me. Your great great grandmother was Irish, not you.
When people emigrate to England, they are fiercely adamant that they are English and nothing else. I think all of America is having an identity crisis, like just being American is not good enough.

[LΩVE]

Originally Posted by BlueNYC2

i agree...i've said this time and time again...i tell people i'm not AFRICAN-AMERICAN...i'm black & hispanic(jamaican & panamanian) or Caribbean-American. you got to go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back to trace my roots to the "mother-land"...

and another issue i have with African-american...it shouldnt be used to describe ETHNICITY, cuz what if you're white, but ya parents & their parents & their parents were from a country in africa, but you was born here...are you not African-American??? just some food for thought...

oh yeah...let me just say this...ppl, plz stop confusing race with ethnicity...we're all one race...THE HUMAN RACE, but many different ethnicities...ok, i'm done now...

I know a guy who is actually African-American. As in he was BORN in AFRICA and is now an American citizen. He finds the phenomenon funny because as he points out...and he's right...people who have been here for generation upon generation are American, plain American. In fact, anyone born here is just American. Someone born a citizen of another country who emigrates to America is fdsfdsnjk-American.

I can't see why "black" could be offensive. I am "white", but I'm not white. I'm more of a tan color (naturally and made more so by way of the cancerbox in the winter), but I AM "white". Doesn't offend me in the least to be called "white girl". Almost no one is WHITE or BLACK but those are easy lables that everyone understand to mean someone is of European decent or African decent.

To me "African American" makes as much sense to me for kids of my generation who are in fact just American, as me saying "IrishScottishFrenchItlaianwhoknows American". I'm not. I'm American and I'm classified as "white". That's it.

[Langox510x]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

I know a guy who is actually African-American. As in he was BORN in AFRICA and is now an American citizen. He finds the phenomenon funny because as he points out...and he's right...people who have been here for generation upon generation are American, plain American. In fact, anyone born here is just American. Someone born a citizen of another country who emigrates to America is fdsfdsnjk-American.

I can't see why "black" could be offensive. I am "white", but I'm not white. I'm more of a tan color (naturally and made more so by way of the cancerbox in the winter), but I AM "white". Doesn't offend me in the least to be called "white girl". Almost no one is WHITE or BLACK but those are easy lables that everyone understand to mean someone is of European decent or African decent.

To me "African American" makes as much sense to me for kids of my generation who are in fact just American, as me saying "IrishScottishFrenchItlaianwhoknows American". I'm not. I'm American and I'm classified as "white". That's it.

To be honest I completely disagree with you. The terms black or African-American is both just labels to identify someone’s ethnicity or nationality. Labels that are human made. The fact is that you and I both might be American's, but you are white and I am black. Something that does distinguish us apart from each other and regardless of what we have to say on the matter, it is something that people on the outside of our circle will do. These are accepted labels and I sure don't find anything in that offensive.

Also, personally if I was to move to another country, even if I lived there for the rest of my life I would still consider myself an American of African descent. I think many immigrants who live in America would agree with me on this. Can you say otherwise?

[ufpika]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

I know a guy who is actually African-American. As in he was BORN in AFRICA and is now an American citizen. He finds the phenomenon funny because as he points out...and he's right...people who have been here for generation upon generation are American, plain American. In fact, anyone born here is just American. Someone born a citizen of another country who emigrates to America is fdsfdsnjk-American.

I can't see why "black" could be offensive. I am "white", but I'm not white. I'm more of a tan color (naturally and made more so by way of the cancerbox in the winter), but I AM "white". Doesn't offend me in the least to be called "white girl". Almost no one is WHITE or BLACK but those are easy lables that everyone understand to mean someone is of European decent or African decent.

To me "African American" makes as much sense to me for kids of my generation who are in fact just American, as me saying "IrishScottishFrenchItlaianwhoknows American". I'm not. I'm American and I'm classified as "white". That's it.

Exactly what I was thinking...

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by LΩVE

I can't see why "black" could be offensive. I am "white"...

Then take yourself out of the conversation.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I prefer black because I hate when people refer to people who are black from other countries (like my mom) as African-American. I have heard people say things like "He is African-American from the Bahamas" or seen newspaper articles with things like "Thandie Newton, an African-American actress" when they fully acknowledge that she is from ENGLAND. I just drop my jaw, it's downright ignorant!

I have even heard a woman "school" a white lady in Wal-mart that she should not refer to their daughter as black because she is A-A. Well, how in the hell is the woman supposed to know? It's easier to see that someone is more likely than not black skinned, than it is to know where they are from. I am vehemently against the term African-American. I'm about as African as a Swede.

On Oprah, many years ago, I saw a white lady raised in Ethiopia who currently live in the U.S. She said that she was African-American. People like this more than qualify. I, however, do not feel that I do.

[AKA_Monet]

Miscreant... I'm African American!
~Katt Williams in First Sunday movie

[Jody]

OP, I'm refer to myself as a descendent of the slave trade in America. If you are unhappy about what folks here call you, I offer two options 1) continue to correct them and let them know you're an immigrant 2) GO HOME

[DSTCHAOS]

I think we are too stuck on terms.

[DSTCHAOS]

Okay, I won't be identified by my shade of "blackness." I'm not going to be called a "Yellow American." LOL.

As far as I'm concerned, black is black. That isn't about complexion but about African diasporic cultures and experiences.

So I really think it's silly when people refute "Black American" because they aren't of a darker complexion.

[RoyalEmpress33]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Okay, I won't be identified by my shade of "blackness." I'm not going to be called a "Yellow American." LOL.

As far as I'm concerned, black is black. That isn't about complexion but about African diasporic cultures and experiences.

So I really think it's silly when people refute "Black American" because they aren't of a darker complexion.

DSTCHAOS, I understand what you are saying. It does seem rather awkward but who cares? LOL! I mean, I am brown. And I am an American, that's my choice to use those terms. Some people are more literal or technical than others. Someone else may feel differently and that's fine, call yourself whatever you want. If I had the luxury and funds to find out my true African "tribe" or "ethnicity" or whatever you want to call it, then I'd eliminate all these terms and claim that proudly. I long for the day...

If Black is Black, why are people sweating something as simple as what one wants to name themselves? Dang, some people act like I tried to kill somebody lol. Just voicing an opinion, ya digg?

I have a question though. I know this is suppose to be directed to people who are of African descent, but let's use a hypothetical situation. If a biracial or multiracial person (regardless of racial make-up) decided to claim one race over the other, could we still use the argument that they are not proud of where they came from because they don't claim this, that or the other? Would we even be sitting here discussing this? I'm just curious to know people's feelings on this particular matter. Or is it because they're of more than one racial background, they have that option? What makes it ok for them to claim whatever the hell they want, but because I'm predominately one race, as soon as I diverge and do something as trivial as claim one term over the other, people have an issue with it?

I think I'm going to write a paper on this...

[Ch2tf]

Originally Posted by RoyalEmpress33

I have a question though. I know this is suppose to be directed to people who are of African descent, but let's use a hypothetical situation. If a biracial or multiracial person (regardless of racial make-up) decided to claim one race over the other, could we still use the argument that they are not proud of where they came from because they don't claim this, that or the other? Would we even be sitting here discussing this? I'm just curious to know people's feelings on this particular matter. Or is it because they're of more than one racial background, they have that option? What makes it ok for them to claim whatever the hell they want, but because I'm predominately one race, as soon as I diverge and do something as trivial as claim one term over the other, people have an issue with it?

My guess is that many peoples reaction to the "hypothetical" situation that you mentioned would depend (in part) on why the person decided not to claim their heritage. And also what you mean by claim. Case in point, my Grandfather and Great Grandparents are Cape Verdean-American/Cape Verdean respectively, however my parents didn't grow up in that culture per say, as they were predominantly raised by their African-American parents. I have Cape Verdean ancestry, but I personally don't claim it as my ethnicity. Not because I pick and choose, not because I'm ashamed, but I was not raised in the Cape Verdean culture, and what I do know of it is from an "outsiders" perspective so to say. I don't know what it is like to live/grow up in a Cape Verdean household, or live in a Cape Verdean neighborhood, or even speak Cape Verdean Creole, have part of your family still on the island(s), etc. I've educated myself on my history and will continue to do so. If you ask me, I will tell you about my heritage/ethnicity (the many parts of it), but I "claim" African-American because it is what I know.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by RoyalEmpress33

DSTCHAOS, I understand what you are saying. It does seem rather awkward but who cares? LOL! I mean, I am brown. And I am an American, that's my choice to use those terms. Some people are more literal or technical than others. Someone else may feel differently and that's fine, call yourself whatever you want. If I had the luxury and funds to find out my true African "tribe" or "ethnicity" or whatever you want to call it, then I'd eliminate all these terms and claim that proudly. I long for the day...

If Black is Black, why are people sweating something as simple as what one wants to name themselves? Dang, some people act like I tried to kill somebody lol. Just voicing an opinion, ya digg?

I have a question though. I know this is suppose to be directed to people who are of African descent, but let's use a hypothetical situation. If a biracial or multiracial person (regardless of racial make-up) decided to claim one race over the other, could we still use the argument that they are not proud of where they came from because they don't claim this, that or the other? Would we even be sitting here discussing this? I'm just curious to know people's feelings on this particular matter. Or is it because they're of more than one racial background, they have that option? What makes it ok for them to claim whatever the hell they want, but because I'm predominately one race, as soon as I diverge and do something as trivial as claim one term over the other, people have an issue with it?

I think I'm going to write a paper on this...

Please write a paper because I don't know what you're talking about.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by RoyalEmpress33

DSTCHAOS, I understand what you are saying. It does seem rather awkward but who cares? LOL! I mean, I am brown. And I am an American, that's my choice to use those terms. Some people are more literal or technical than others. Someone else may feel differently and that's fine, call yourself whatever you want. If I had the luxury and funds to find out my true African "tribe" or "ethnicity" or whatever you want to call it, then I'd eliminate all these terms and claim that proudly. I long for the day...

If Black is Black, why are people sweating something as simple as what one wants to name themselves? Dang, some people act like I tried to kill somebody lol. Just voicing an opinion, ya digg?

I have a question though. I know this is suppose to be directed to people who are of African descent, but let's use a hypothetical situation. If a biracial or multiracial person (regardless of racial make-up) decided to claim one race over the other, could we still use the argument that they are not proud of where they came from because they don't claim this, that or the other? Would we even be sitting here discussing this? I'm just curious to know people's feelings on this particular matter. Or is it because they're of more than one racial background, they have that option? What makes it ok for them to claim whatever the hell they want, but because I'm predominately one race, as soon as I diverge and do something as trivial as claim one term over the other, people have an issue with it?

I think I'm going to write a paper on this...

Yes, "Black" ultimately refers to culture in America, and to call oneself "Black" is making a political statement, whether one realizes it or not. All "raced" language in America, which is ensconsed in white supremicist ideology, is political: it tells us about our self-identity and where one's afilliations lie in how we view the ordering of society, etc. So, for example, Moses, a Jew by parentage and raised in Pharaoh's household, made a choice to identify with his people in their suffering and injustice in his adulthood (in this biblical example). It's why Halle Berry and Alicia Keys, both "biracial" persons, are "Black" and Tiger Woods and Jennifer Beals, other "biracial" persons, are not in their self-designation. And this is why Barack Obama is "Black." (This is not making a value judgment about the persons themselves but just to address this specific issue.)

For this reason racial cartographies are somewhat culture specific, reflecting the concrete sociohistorical and political exigencies of a given society. This is why the country with the largest "black" population outside of Africa, Brazil, has a lower percentage of people who designate themselves as "black" on a racial continuum.It's no accident that this is changing as the current government of Brazil is intentionally addressing the racial/caste/economic disparities of the nation and they are implementing affirmative action-type programs. Now there is some social capital in being "black" and some folks are rediscovering their blackness as it relates to increased opportunities in college admissions,etc.

[Ch2tf]

hijack/
Of topic, but I so didn't know Jennifer Beals was bi-racial, but now it makes sense.
hijack/