The Term African American

[NinjaPoodle]

Not that I am a big fan of labels but I am American. I prefer and like African American. To me afro refers to a hairstyle, and black is not the color of my skin, it's brown. My family is descended from Africa. I don't know specifically which country but with more research, I hope I can find out. I think African American is accurate for me. I was born in this country as well as the 7 generations prior to me which makes me American (not to mention I pay taxes) and my roots go back to Africa, hence the African. And although I don’t know which tribe or tribes I am descended from, I think the term pays homage to my ancestors.

[troy86]

Originally Posted by NinjaPoodle

Not that I am a big fan of labels but I am American. I prefer and like African American. To me afro refers to a hairstyle, and black is not the color of my skin, it's brown. My family is descended from Africa. I don't know specifically which country but with more research, I hope I can find out. I think African American is accurate for me. I was born in this country as well as the 7 generations prior to me which makes me American (not to mention I pay taxes) and my roots go back to Africa, hence the African. And although I don’t know which tribe or tribes I am descended from, I think the term pays homage to my ancestors.

i like the term afro american and i know that the term afro american is not used anymore but i think it sound more better,i read that the term afro american died out in the 80's because of jesse jackson using the term african american and everybody start saying it.some people didint like the term because not everyone is not african american,black people fromall over the world come to america.they bering their own heritage and their culture to america and still being called african american thats not good,thats just washing away their heritage,have u noties that white people are not called european american just white.afro american is a good term to call all black people in the americas not african american.i don't know if u like the term afro american but to me it sounds more better and more put together than african american.






if u wanted to talk about black people in the americas than afro american is the best term to use.u can't use the term african american if u talk about the americas because there are black canadians in canada and black latinos in latin america.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by troy86

i like the term afro american and i know that the term afro american is not used anymore but i think it sound more better,i read that the term afro american died out in the 80's because of jesse jackson using the term african american and everybody start saying it.some people didint like the term because not everyone is not african american,black people fromall over the world come to america.they bering their own heritage and their culture to america and still being called african american thats not good,thats just washing away their heritage,have u noties that white people are not called european american just white.afro american is a good term to call all black people in the americas not african american.i don't know if u like the term afro american but to me it sounds more better and more put together than african american.






if u wanted to talk about black people in the americas than afro american is the best term to use.u can't use the term african american if u talk about the americas because there are black canadians in canada and black latinos in latin america.

I would consider mastering the English language if I were you.........forget worrying about what to call yourself.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by macallan25

...forget worrying about what to call yourself.

You know tony86,

Macallan and few others on this board will be more than happy to call you something else if you'd like?

Because now, you are lucky you even being referred to as Black at this point.

Search all the posts before making a new one. There are huge discussions you can ressurect because you have a crisis of definition.

The issue with buying the idea of being call black: Like Black Power, Black Panthers, Black... Like Black magic, black plague, black death... All things black are evil...

Either way, the epistemology is already defined.

We can only have this dicussion AFTER you realize what a Cultural Asili is to reach an utamawazo to obtain the utamaaroho...

Since, I am a Goddess, there is nothing capabable of defining me...

[Reds6]

Originally Posted by macallan25

I would consider mastering the English language if I were you.........forget worrying about what to call yourself.

I totally agree with you! Reading his post was painful.

[rhoyaltempest]

The term African American was coined by Blacks in the United States, meaning those whose African ancestors were brought here in chains. The term was coined by those who were once called Colored, Negro, Afro American, Black American, etc. etc. I think that most people know, particularly those whose families have been in the U.S. for generations, that African Americans are the descendants of the Africans brought here during the Slave Trade.

Now that we have other Black people in the U.S. who are from various different parts of the world (Africans, Jamaicans, Haitians, etc.etc.), people want to act like they don't know who the term African American is meant for. Is it okay for someone who was born in the United States but has African parents to call themselves an African American? I say sure if they want to, but when I personally think of African Americans I think of people like me, whose African ancestors were enslaved in the United States. I personally LOVE the term African American because I think it sums up what I am quite nicely. I'm an American because I was born here and many generations of my family were born here but I am proud of my African heritage also. I also know in doing my own genetic research that DNA doesn't change just because you are generations removed from your ancestors. The DNA my ancestors had is the DNA that I have, therefore I am also African. You'll find this for yourself if you do your own genetic research on DNA, mitochondrial DNA in particular. A good place to start might be www.africanancestry.com. My DNA has been tested and it matches that of three tribes/countries in Africa.

It's all about how you define yourself; other people will define you however they see fit. My husband is from Ghana, West Africa and he does not refer to Whites as Africans, even if they were born in Africa, even if their family has been in Africa for generations. To him, they are Europeans or Whites in Africa. He has also been living in the United States for quite a while but if you ask him he will very proudly tell you that he is an African...living in America. He does not consider himself or anyone like him to be African American. He also has no problem in being called Black; he considers all people of African descent to be Black. Ethiopia, the birthplace of modern man, translates into "Land of the Blacks."

The bottom line is call yourself whatever you feel comfortable with and if someone calls you something you don't like, kindly correct them. That is all that you can do. I'm African and I'm American so African American suits me just fine.

[RoyalEmpress33]

I don't like the terms Black-American, Afro-American or African-American. As someone else already stated, my skin is not black, its brown. I don't wear an afro so I'm not an Afro-American. Now, I do have African ancestry as many of you do also, but I don't want a term that ANYBODY can use. All you have to do is be of another race, be born in Africa, then move to the U.S. or vice versa. Then you can claim African-American. I don't like that. I wonder how many people of other ethnicities have done that and then got financial aid for it? I mean, if they claim this term, can someone deny them of the aid? That money could have been mine.

I'm a Brown American.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by RoyalEmpress33

I don't like the terms Black-American, Afro-American or African-American. As someone else already stated, my skin is not black, its brown. I don't wear an afro so I'm not an Afro-American. Now, I do have African ancestry as many of you do also, but I don't want a term that ANYBODY can use. All you have to do is be of another race, be born in Africa, then move to the U.S. or vice versa. Then you can claim African-American. I don't like that. I wonder how many people of other ethnicities have done that and then got financial aid for it? I mean, if they claim this term, can someone deny them of the aid? That money could have been mine.

I'm a Brown American.

So you'd say your color is dog poodoo or mud?

No, I'm skeerrrioussssssssssssssss. Because I get tired of the lack of pride from those who ashamed of their African enslavement ancestry. So what, SOME of my ancestors were raped and pillage, sent on waters, rounded up and herded in like chattel. That is what I have ALLOWED to be defined to me.

Your only concern that you can change is: But who defines you? What are you all about? Who ARE YOU? (I don't need to know these answers to these questions)

Why are you worried about others getting money and outdoing you? Are you worried that you might actually not be that good according to what others are saying?

The other issue is you need to do some research in your heritage. Not all things are horrendous. And when will you forgive the folks that kidnapped, enslaved and segregated us? Why do you give a rat's ass about a Klansmen or a Nazi?

Maybe the person you have difficulty with and hate is the one staring back at you in the mirror...

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by RoyalEmpress33

I don't like the terms Black-American, Afro-American or African-American. As someone else already stated, my skin is not black, its brown. I don't wear an afro so I'm not an Afro-American. Now, I do have African ancestry as many of you do also, but I don't want a term that ANYBODY can use. All you have to do is be of another race, be born in Africa, then move to the U.S. or vice versa. Then you can claim African-American. I don't like that. I wonder how many people of other ethnicities have done that and then got financial aid for it? I mean, if they claim this term, can someone deny them of the aid? That money could have been mine.

I'm a Brown American.

Personally, I've always heard "brown" used by South Asians and Americans with South Asian ancestry. (This may be a generational thing; I've never heard anyone over 30 use this slang, but it is extremely common in my area with the Indian & Pakistani people that I know.)

[Ch2tf]

Originally Posted by RoyalEmpress33

As someone else already stated, my skin is not black, its brown...but I don't want a term that ANYBODY can use. I'm a Brown American.

If you don't want a term that just anybody can use, I would rethink the usage of "Brown American" then, because that term can be used to identify a much larger population than what seems to be your intent. Hell, some of my "white" friends could be "Brown Americans" for at least 1/4 of the year (and even more than that for those that live in warmer climates).

[Sphinx101]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

The term African American was coined by Blacks in the United States, meaning those whose African ancestors were brought here in chains. The term was coined by those who were once called Colored, Negro, Afro American, Black American, etc. etc. I think that most people know, particularly those whose families have been in the U.S. for generations, that African Americans are the descendants of the Africans brought here during the Slave Trade.

Now that we have other Black people in the U.S. who are from various different parts of the world (Africans, Jamaicans, Haitians, etc.etc.), people want to act like they don't know who the term African American is meant for. Is it okay for someone who was born in the United States but has African parents to call themselves an African American? I say sure if they want to, but when I personally think of African Americans I think of people like me, whose African ancestors were enslaved in the United States. I personally LOVE the term African American because I think it sums up what I am quite nicely. I'm an American because I was born here and many generations of my family were born here but I am proud of my African heritage also. I also know in doing my own genetic research that DNA doesn't change just because you are generations removed from your ancestors. The DNA my ancestors had is the DNA that I have, therefore I am also African. You'll find this for yourself if you do your own genetic research on DNA, mitochondrial DNA in particular. A good place to start might be www.africanancestry.com. My DNA has been tested and it matches that of three tribes/countries in Africa.

It's all about how you define yourself; other people will define you however they see fit. My husband is from Ghana, West Africa and he does not refer to Whites as Africans, even if they were born in Africa, even if their family has been in Africa for generations. To him, they are Europeans or Whites in Africa. He has also been living in the United States for quite a while but if you ask him he will very proudly tell you that he is an African...living in America. He does not consider himself or anyone like him to be African American. He also has no problem in being called Black; he considers all people of African descent to be Black. Ethiopia, the birthplace of modern man, translates into "Land of the Blacks."

The bottom line is call yourself whatever you feel comfortable with and if someone calls you something you don't like, kindly correct them. That is all that you can do. I'm African and I'm American so African American suits me just fine.

Well Put...

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by troy86

if u wanted to talk about black people in the americas than afro american is the best term to use.u can't use the term african american if u talk about the americas because there are black canadians in canada and black latinos in latin america.

I wanted to point out that in South America, they refer to "America" to mean The Continent of South America, and the "Americas" to mean The Continents of North & South America. I think it's pretty much in the States and Canada, that when we say "America", the intended meaning is "USA" (i.e. America=USA).

When I was in Argentina, this lady kept saying "here in America, we do such and such...." and when I asked her to clarify, it came to light that she mean South America The Continent, not the USA.