African American vs Black vs African American

[rhoyaltempest]

Everyone is definitely entitled to call themselves whatever they choose to but I will never understand the problem that some African Americans have in calling themselves African American. I will never understand this to save my life. Anyone who is born or becomes a citizen in America can call themselves American but simply calling yourself American says nothing of your racial/ethnic roots and we all know that none of us (with the exception of Native Americans) can claim America as an ancestoral birthplace. It is true that many Americans (White, Black, Chinese, or otherwise) are fine with simply calling themselves American and if that's what you choose to do, then fine but the term African American was created (for us, by us) to instill in us pride for a place that we were abruptly and viciously removed from, encouraged not to remember, and made to feel ashamed of. The term is an ode (if you will) to our roots and a slap in the face (if you will) to all of those who have tried to deny us the memory of that place, our original birthplace. You don't have to physically step foot in a place or on certain soil to know that you belong there, to feel and understand that connection and everyone (of other ethnicities) seems to know that except for us. I can see and feel that connection every day when I look in the faces of Black people from every corner of the world and note how very similar our features are and when I interact with my husband (who's from Ghana) and note how very alike we are (culturally) even though we were raised in two very different places. And calling yourself "Black" is fine as long as you realize that all people of African descent can call themselves Black so the term is not specific to African Americans. As for calling ourselves African American, these days because there are Black people here in America from around the world, anyone who wants to call themselves African American can certainly do so but we all know that the name was coined especially for the descendants of those who were enslaved here for over 400 years to instill pride and to regain some of all that was lost. I don't know why people want to (all of a sudden) act like they don't remember how that name came about and who it was meant for initially. So the name is a tribute basically to two places that we embody. Don't think for a second that because you've never been to Africa that Africa isn't IN you, that all of the things that we do and say and all of our families' traditions are original, that all of America's traditions are original.

As for people from North Africa not calling themselves Black or African, that ignorant mess is on them. You don't have to buy it...I don't...because I know better. And for the record not all of them feel that way and all/most Africans identify with their country first; for example my husband will tell you that he is Ghanian but has no problem with saying that he is African. I have met Ethiopians, Kenyans, and Egyptians who will proudly tell you that they are African/Black (some light, some dark). Bottom line, call yourselves whatever you'd like but I am proud to pay tribute to my true birthplace, to a place that many around the world like to put down, and I don't have to ever physically go there to know and appreciate who and why I am.

We are not the same as other Americans. We are African Americans and that says a lot about a whole different time and history, one that we must never forget.