The Term African American

[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.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Ch2tf

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.

At the same time, I wonder about the mental soundness of people who are unrelenting about self-identifying with certain things.

If a person of African descent wants to identify as white, is that okay because that's what THEY want? Sure, it's technically okay because this is all socially constructed. But does calling yourself a "Brown American," for example, prove some kind of point or make the person feel vindicated?

Then I also wonder if the person REALLY identifies with something or just vocalizes it when such topics come up. Being a "brown American" in this thread is different from considering yourself one everyday, putting that down on paperwork, and correcting people/informing people that you are a "brown American."

[Ch2tf]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

At the same time, I wonder about the mental soundness of people who are unrelenting about self-identifying with certain things. If a person of African descent wants to identify as white, is that okay because that's what THEY want?

I would say no, but I also recognize that a person in that situation would not be able to be convinced otherwise, if you get what I mean.

Sure, it's technically okay because this is all socially constructed. But does calling yourself a "Brown American," for example, prove some kind of point or make the person feel vindicated?

I think the only person that can answer that is the one who chooses to use the term.

Then I also wonder if the person REALLY identifies with something or just vocalizes it when such topics come up. Being a "brown American" in this thread is different from considering yourself one everyday, putting that down on paperwork, and correcting people/informing people that you are a "brown American."

It definately is. When I wrote that she can call herself what she wants, I was more leaning to if you self identify as brown then "good for you", to each his own. Using the term "brown american" over "black american" over "african american" is rather moot to me, personally. I happen to be all those thing. I tend to use black american/african american 1. because that is what I've been "made" to use, i.e. filling out forms, job applications etc. But I also do believe it speaks to my heritage. Unfortunately, like many Americans of African descent I cannot specifically state that my roots are ghanain or nigerian, or congolese, so I use African-American.

But I do feel like we (the people in the USA) suffer from "hyphenation syndrome". If someone's family imigrated to the USA from Nigeria and had children, and those children had children, etc." when does someone stop being Nigerian(American), and become African-American (kinda a rhetorical question, but it doesn't have to be).

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Ch2tf

I would say no, but I also recognize that a person in that situation would not be able to be convinced otherwise, if you get what I mean.

Indeed I do.

"I'm a pony!! I'm a pony!! Don't you just feel like a pony?!" Nutty Professor

Originally Posted by Ch2tf

I think the only person that can answer that is the one who chooses to use the term.

I guess that's what the person just attempted to do.

Originally Posted by Ch2tf

It definately is. When I wrote that she can call herself what she wants, I was more leaning to if you self identify as brown then "good for you", to each his own. Using the term "brown american" over "black american" over "african american" is rather moot to me, personally. I happen to be all those thing. I tend to use black american/african american 1. because that is what I've been "made" to use, i.e. filling out forms, job applications etc. But I also do believe it speaks to my heritage. Unfortunately, like many Americans of African descent I cannot specifically state that my roots are ghanain or nigerian, or congolese, so I use African-American.

But I do feel like we (the people in the USA) suffer from "hyphenation syndrome". If someone's family imigrated to the USA from Nigeria and had children, and those children had children, etc." when does someone stop being Nigerian(American), and become African-American (kinda a rhetorical question, but it doesn't have to be).

I hear ya.

[Sista]

There are People here in America who have white parents and they call their self black. Not because they have a black parents though, but more so because more so they want to identify with their black side. Here in America, it is a cool thing to be black, almost like a fad. Being black will allow you more fun and the acceptance by the people who are real, hip and trend setting, those people being, black people. I understand the plight of people who are obviously mixed with white but I do not identify with them.

My family is a family full of generations of black people who only intermingle with their own kind, that being African decent people. I am one of those my self, I only mingle with my own kind, that being African Americans, other descendants of African slaves and Africans on the continent, they are my people, they are a part of who I am.

My reason for telling this is because, I was just out buying some food and this Asian girl who looked like she may have had some black in her down the line was talking to me and she went out of her way to project what Arican Americanss call the swaggar, it's a way that African American people talk, move and connect when amongst each other. I didn't identify with her but she thought she identified with me. The thing about those kind of people who try to project the black image just because they probably have 2% black blood in them,or no black blood at all but what they perceive as a black style, they don't really identify with Africa, nor do they care to. They actually think black people in America are their own kind of race aside from Africans. Now tell me, why would they think that if they identified with where the black in them came from, that place being Africa? To me, black means I am African decent, not just black alone. That black in me means something, it means I am African.

I once worked with a Mexican who told me I was not like the Africans on the continent but do you know why she said that? She said that because her distorted image of African people is that they are jungle people, people who are not civilized. how does one expect for AA's who acknowledge and are proud of their African Genes, Roots and DNA to settle for that? I let them know immediately that they have not seen real African people if that is what they think and even if they do see Africans on television who are poor and being projected as savage, I let them know that those people are my people as well. I really don't care what people who can not think for their self think or feel or believe.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Sista

There are People here in America who have white parents and they call their self black. Not because they have a black parents though, but more so because more so they want to identify with their black side. Here in America, it is a cool thing to be black, almost like a fad. Being black will allow you more fun and the acceptance by the people who are real, hip and trend setting, those people being, black people. I understand the plight of people who are obviously mixed with white but I do not identify with them.

My reason for telling this is because, I was just out buying some food and this Asian girl who looked like she may have had some black in her down the line was talking to me and she went out of her way to project what Arican Americanss call the swaggar, it's a way that African American people talk, move and connect when amongst each other. I didn't identify with her but she thought she identified with me. The thing about those kind of people who try to project the black image just because they probably have 2% black blood in them,or no black blood at all but what they perceive as a black style,

Are you talking about the whole "acting black" and "talking black" thing?

Every group of people has cultural markers and identifiers that both insiders and outsiders know of. This doesn't mean that every member of that group has to display these markers and identifiers, since there is some variation across social classes. The problem is when it becomes a negative and something to be mocked.

I have a level of comfort when I'm around people of the African diaspora. But I don't use my comfort as an excuse to pretend I don't know the English language or am an ignorant person. I used to use my comfort as such an excuse when I was young because I didn't understand the intellectual and cultural roots of "blackness."

That said, I'm annoyed by ANYONE who approaches me and dumbs down or acts what they think is "ghetto" just because I'm black. That includes black people, white people, Asian people, Hispanic people, and so forth. If you can't speak a coherent sentence, talk about something other than "black things," and act like you have some sense and home training around me just because I'm black--keep it moving.

Originally Posted by Sista

they don't really identify with Africa, nor do they care to. They actually think black people in America are their own kind of race aside from Africans. Now tell me, why would they think that if they identified with where the black in them came from, that place being Africa? To me, black means I am African decent, not just black alone. That black in me means something, it means I am African.

I identify with the struggles and triumphs of people of the African diaspora and the black culture. I don't identify with Africa as a continent nor do I want to. I'm not African and don't feel loyalty to Africa.

That's fine if you do as long as you don't think that all black people in America have to.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by Sista

There are People here in America who have white parents and they call their self black. Not because they have a black parents though, but more so because more so they want to identify with their black side. Here in America, it is a cool thing to be black, almost like a fad. Being black will allow you more fun and the acceptance by the people who are real, hip and trend setting, those people being, black people. I understand the plight of people who are obviously mixed with white but I do not identify with them.

My family is a family full of generations of black people who only intermingle with their own kind, that being African decent people. I am one of those my self, I only mingle with my own kind, that being African Americans, other descendants of African slaves and Africans on the continent, they are my people, they are a part of who I am.

My reason for telling this is because, I was just out buying some food and this Asian girl who looked like she may have had some black in her down the line was talking to me and she went out of her way to project what Arican Americanss call the swaggar, it's a way that African American people talk, move and connect when amongst each other. I didn't identify with her but she thought she identified with me. The thing about those kind of people who try to project the black image just because they probably have 2% black blood in them,or no black blood at all but what they perceive as a black style, they don't really identify with Africa, nor do they care to. They actually think black people in America are their own kind of race aside from Africans. Now tell me, why would they think that if they identified with where the black in them came from, that place being Africa? To me, black means I am African decent, not just black alone. That black in me means something, it means I am African.

I once worked with a Mexican who told me I was not like the Africans on the continent but do you know why she said that? She said that because her distorted image of African people is that they are jungle people, people who are not civilized. how does one expect for AA's who acknowledge and are proud of their African Genes, Roots and DNA to settle for that? I let them know immediately that they have not seen real African people if that is what they think and even if they do see Africans on television who are poor and being projected as savage, I let them know that those people are my people as well. I really don't care what people who can not think for their self think or feel or believe.

*bangs head against wall*

[RoyalEmpress33]

No. I'm not trying to prove a point. No. I'm not trying to vindicate myself. Its just my preference. Not all personal opinions are the same. End of story.

**Looking for new view points**

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by RoyalEmpress33

No. I'm not trying to prove a point. No. I'm not trying to vindicate myself. Its just my preference. Not all personal opinions are the same. End of story.

**Looking for new view points**

Huh?

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

At the same time, I wonder about the mental soundness of people who are unrelenting about self-identifying with certain things.

If a person of African descent wants to identify as white, is that okay because that's what THEY want? Sure, it's technically okay because this is all socially constructed. But does calling yourself a "Brown American," for example, prove some kind of point or make the person feel vindicated?

Then I also wonder if the person REALLY identifies with something or just vocalizes it when such topics come up. Being a "brown American" in this thread is different from considering yourself one everyday, putting that down on paperwork, and correcting people/informing people that you are a "brown American."

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

At the same time, I wonder about the mental soundness of people who are unrelenting about self-identifying with certain things.

If a person of African descent wants to identify as white, is that okay because that's what THEY want? Sure, it's technically okay because this is all socially constructed. But does calling yourself a "Brown American," for example, prove some kind of point or make the person feel vindicated?

Then I also wonder if the person REALLY identifies with something or just vocalizes it when such topics come up. Being a "brown American" in this thread is different from considering yourself one everyday, putting that down on paperwork, and correcting people/informing people that you are a "brown American."

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

At the same time, I wonder about the mental soundness of people who are unrelenting about self-identifying with certain things.

If a person of African descent wants to identify as white, is that okay because that's what THEY want? Sure, it's technically okay because this is all socially constructed. But does calling yourself a "Brown American," for example, prove some kind of point or make the person feel vindicated?

Then I also wonder if the person REALLY identifies with something or just vocalizes it when such topics come up. Being a "brown American" in this thread is different from considering yourself one everyday, putting that down on paperwork, and correcting people/informing people that you are a "brown American."

I just like these comments...