The Term African American

[BabyPiNK_FL]

i also have the same problem. My mother is Jamaican and my dad is American (Black) so I prefer Black or Jamaican American or even just Jamaican over African-American. People see a little brown and try tog et all politically correct and start saying that black British people and Bahamians are African AMERICAN. I have heard people who work for the school I go to say the term "African American Bahamian" WTF is that?! Or the local newspaper referred to Thandie Newton (British actress) as African American! Um...NO! The African no longer applies to me and many others and the American doesn't apply to everyone either. It's a disgusting and offensive term for me personally. I understand why some people cling to it, but it really has a negative effect on Black people who are not easy to categorize by skin alone.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

i also have the same problem. My mother is Jamaican and my dad is American (Black) so I prefer Black or Jamaican American or even just Jamaican over African-American. People see a little brown and try tog et all politically correct and start saying that black British people and Bahamians are African AMERICAN. I have heard people who work for the school I go to say the term "African American Bahamian" WTF is that?! Or the local newspaper referred to Thandie Newton (British actress) as African American! Um...NO! The African no longer applies to me and many others and the American doesn't apply to everyone either. It's a disgusting and offensive term for me personally. I understand why some people cling to it, but it really has a negative effect on Black people who are not easy to categorize by skin alone.

I understand how the term comes off as cultural imperialistic by blacks from other cultures. Thus black is a workable compromise, acknowledging the various Afro cultues in the American diaspora and those from Africa. But it's even more compicated than this b/c using such designations as Jamiacan, Trini, Bajan,etc. as an ethnic/racial designation is problematic also, since there is some diversity in these countries, esp. East Indian, Asian, Middle Eastern, European.