The Term African American

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by BlueNYC2

...and another issue I have with African-American...it shouldn't 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...

Sure, every person on the continent of Africa is not "black". If that's where you're from, then that's where you're from. I've met a few "white" people from south Africa and usually the first thing out of their mouth when you ask where they are from is SOUTH Africa, with emphasis on the South.


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...

My train of thought also^^^

troy86
I like the term afro American and I know that the term afro American is not used anymore but I think it sound much 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 started saying it. Some people didn't like the term because not everyone is not African American, black people from all over the world come to America, they bring their own heritage and their culture to America and still being called African American that's not just washing away their heritage. Have you noticed 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's don't know if you like the term afro American but to me it sounds much better and more put together than African American.

If you wanted to talk about black people in the Americas, then afro American is the best term to use. You can't use the term African American if you talk about the Americas because there are black Canadians in Canada and black Latinos in Latin America.

I am speaking specifically to the United States of America. As far as the term Afro-American, I don't like it. An afro is a hairstyle, not a person. And just a FYI, before "we" were African American, we were called Afro-American, Negro, Colored, Negras, and of course the all-American favorite, Ni**er. As far as I am concerned, Af-Am reflects to a degree, where I am now and where I come from. Specifically, I am multi-ethnic and embrace all of my ethnicities but I am not going to add more labels. Last thing I need is an identity crisis.

People can identify with what ever makes them feel good about life. You like what you like.

[naturalrose]

I was born in South America but I consider myself African American, and caribbean american

[macallan25]

I was born in America. I consider myself 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.