The Term African American

[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...

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I personally know more about the slavery ancestry of my Jamaican mother's background than that of my American father's.

That is a good point, we are "brown", but so are a lot of other people whom I wouldn't necessarily defined as black.

Also on wikipedia (yeah, good old "reliable internet") they discuss that there are people who are very dark brown from other parts of the word (like India)who also consider themselves black.

Then there are Africans (I remember from Real World: Voyage At Sea I think?) that an African woman told them that African-Americans aren't Africans! LOL!

So yeah, if we listened to everyone then we'd be nobody. And I'm too busy worrying about being somebody to worry about the color of my skin and the history of my people every second of everyday! So it's definitely a personal choice to go for something and stick to it and make it work for yourself.

[TotallyWicked]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

Then there are Africans (I remember from Real World: Voyage At Sea I think?) that an African woman told them that African-Americans aren't Africans! LOL!

/Hijack

that was from Road Rules: Semester At Sea, that was good episode, Ayanna (who was offended by the speaker's remark of "If you're not born in Africa, you shouldn't be calling yourself African American), was assigned to visit a Black African family (other teams visited a European family, another visited a Muslim family). She said in her confessionals that she was upset "if I'm not African American then what am I?". She told the family she was staying with, and they quickly disregarded it saying "Oh you should have told her to shut up!" LOL

Just thought i'd bring that up

/End Hijack

[RoyalEmpress33]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

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...

Your response to what I typed is totally off base. You don't have a clue as to what I was trying to convey. Let me explain.

And before I proceed, let me just reiterate that this forum is about whether you had an issue with any of the terms: Black American, Afro American, and African American. I stated my opinion. If YOU go by any of those terms, that's your business. But if I say I want to be referred to as something else or nothing at all, that's mine. And just because I chose to do something different doesn't mean I'm lacking pride as you seem to be insinuating.

Ok. Why don't you answer your very first question as to whether I consider my color as "poo" or "mud"? What the hell kind of question is that? I mean, would you? I wouldn't and I don't. I'm not in that frame of mind to refer to my color as such. I'm not even thinking like that. Why would you even ask something that asinine?

Next, I agree with you about people not being proud of their heritage and race. You must be under the impression that I'm not proud of who I am or want to acknowledge where I came from and that's far from the truth. What I said was not stated to discredit my African ancestry or have a lack of pride about where I came from. I know I have African ancestry. And you know what? Contrary to what YOU might believe, and I don't really care what you do or don't, I do. Ask anybody that knows me, and they will tell you that I'm very much proud of where I came from. Your reading a little to deeply into what I was saying.

As for your question about financial aid and all that, it was a RHETORICAL QUESTION. Not something that was supposed to be literally answered. Just something to ponder about. Stop analyzing everything. I'm not WORRIED about anybody "outdoing" me or others doing BETTER than me, it was just something that crossed my mind. Aren't I allowed to at least think about something? Is it an abomination to have something simply pop up in my head? Its not that big of a deal. Well, not to me anyway.

Since when were YOU certified to tell me that I need to do some "research" about my heritage? Who are YOU supposed to be? What did I say about my ancestry that was so "horrendous" to you? Don't put words in my mouth. I have never done such a thing and NEVER would. I would appreciate it if you could go back and show me in my original post where I somehow down graded my ancestors. Where in my original post did I say anything about a damn Nazi or Klansman? Who said that I didn't "forgive" the people that enslaved mine? Who said I gave a rat's ass? Where is all this slavery talk coming from? I didn't mention it. Apparently it must be on YOUR mind, not mine because you were the one that brought it up.

One last question, who said I hated myself? I've never said such a thing or thought that either. Since you like to break everything down, go back to my post, read it again and show me where I posted that and repost it for me to see. I want to see this. I LOVE myself. I look in the mirror everyday and say it.

Anyway, back to Troy86. Thank you for posting this. I've wondered about this subject for a while now.

--Thank you and have a nice day.

[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.)

[RoyalEmpress33]

How about I just say "Brown" and you call yourself what you would like to and call it a day?

[Ch2tf]

Originally Posted by RoyalEmpress33

How about I just say "Brown" and you call yourself what you would like to and call it a day?

No one can tell you how you should self identify. You should use what you're comfortable using on yourself. A point I think rhoyal tempest made a lil bit further up in the thread.

[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...