Quote:
Originally Posted by Conskeeted7
I'm sorry, but I don't agree with the premise of the previous post at all. I believe that Blacks should consider themselves Americans. Who we are as a culture is significantly impacted by the fact that we are Black in America. Without that, none of us would be who we are. Of course there have been limitations because of racism. However, I don't think it goes deep enough to say that we are not American. The very fact that we deal with racism as a group, know how to respond, relate to it and identify with each other because of it signifies that we are a culture within this country: Black Americans. I believe that if we start to believe that we are not part of the country and we focus our energy on exclusion, we will never get anywhere as a people living within this country. Of course there is a great benefit to researching our history and knowing the great legacies that we come from. I think that can be done while acknowledging that we are American as well.
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without being too wordy, i agree. if i was referred to as "African-American," i wouldnt mind, but i prefer "Black." i mean, i didnt choose or create either title, but I (along with my black peers, ancestors and future generations) do have a part in choosing and creating what being Black means in America. never mind that sometimes i may not like or agree with what exactly being Black is or has come to mean, but it's my culture to call mine.
sure we all have African roots, but my experience has more to do with being American than being African. that DOESN'T mean that i dont identify at all with African ancestry, but being that 1. ive never been to Africa, 2. don't know any Africans from Africa (well personally, as in ones i associate with) 3. have lived my whole life in the American/black experience, i think its a misnomer to say otherwise.
and when we say "African-American," surely that doesnt encompass each of the 54 nations that comprise the great continent. no one ive ever met from a North African country every identified with being "African" or "African-American," but by their nationality (Egyptian, Ethiopian). why would it be any more incorrect to say "hey, i'm black! and dare i say american?!"
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