The Term African American

[troy86]

I think the term african-american is not a good term for people who are of african descent,my family are from jamaica and since they live in the u.s. they should be called jamaican american or afro caribbean american.i call myself jamaican american,african american should be for people how were born in africa not america.


tell me what you think...

[NinjaPoodle]

Not that I am a big fan of labels but I am American. I prefer and like African American. To me afro refers to a hairstyle, and black is not the color of my skin, it's brown. My family is descended from Africa. I don't know specifically which country but with more research, I hope I can find out. I think African American is accurate for me. I was born in this country as well as the 7 generations prior to me which makes me American (not to mention I pay taxes) and my roots go back to Africa, hence the African. And although I don’t know which tribe or tribes I am descended from, I think the term pays homage to my ancestors.

[troy86]

Originally Posted by NinjaPoodle

Not that I am a big fan of labels but I am American. I prefer and like African American. To me afro refers to a hairstyle, and black is not the color of my skin, it's brown. My family is descended from Africa. I don't know specifically which country but with more research, I hope I can find out. I think African American is accurate for me. I was born in this country as well as the 7 generations prior to me which makes me American (not to mention I pay taxes) and my roots go back to Africa, hence the African. And although I don’t know which tribe or tribes I am descended from, I think the term pays homage to my ancestors.

i like the term afro american and i know that the term afro american is not used anymore but i think it sound more 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 start saying it.some people didint like the term because not everyone is not african american,black people fromall over the world come to america.they bering their own heritage and their culture to america and still being called african american thats not good,thats just washing away their heritage,have u noties 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.i don't know if u like the term afro american but to me it sounds more better and more put together than african american.






if u wanted to talk about black people in the americas than afro american is the best term to use.u can't use the term african american if u talk about the americas because there are black canadians in canada and black latinos in latin america.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by troy86

i like the term afro american and i know that the term afro american is not used anymore but i think it sound more 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 start saying it.some people didint like the term because not everyone is not african american,black people fromall over the world come to america.they bering their own heritage and their culture to america and still being called african american thats not good,thats just washing away their heritage,have u noties 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.i don't know if u like the term afro american but to me it sounds more better and more put together than african american.






if u wanted to talk about black people in the americas than afro american is the best term to use.u can't use the term african american if u talk about the americas because there are black canadians in canada and black latinos in latin america.

I would consider mastering the English language if I were you.........forget worrying about what to call yourself.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by troy86

if u wanted to talk about black people in the americas than afro american is the best term to use.u can't use the term african american if u talk about the americas because there are black canadians in canada and black latinos in latin america.

I wanted to point out that in South America, they refer to "America" to mean The Continent of South America, and the "Americas" to mean The Continents of North & South America. I think it's pretty much in the States and Canada, that when we say "America", the intended meaning is "USA" (i.e. America=USA).

When I was in Argentina, this lady kept saying "here in America, we do such and such...." and when I asked her to clarify, it came to light that she mean South America The Continent, not the USA.

[BlueNYC2]

Originally Posted by troy86

I think the term african-american is not a good term for people who are of african descent,my family are from jamaica and since they live in the u.s. they should be called jamaican american or afro caribbean american.i call myself jamaican american,african american should be for people how were born in africa not america.


tell me what you think...

i agree...i've said this time and time again...i tell people i'm not AFRICAN-AMERICAN...i'm black & hispanic(jamaican & panamanian) or Caribbean-American. you got to go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back to trace my roots to the "mother-land"...

and another issue i have with African-american...it shouldnt 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...

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...

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by BlueNYC2

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???

An excellent point, since there there are white people in South Africa who have since emigrated to Canada and the USA.

[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.

[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.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by macallan25

...forget worrying about what to call yourself.

You know tony86,

Macallan and few others on this board will be more than happy to call you something else if you'd like?

Because now, you are lucky you even being referred to as Black at this point.

Search all the posts before making a new one. There are huge discussions you can ressurect because you have a crisis of definition.

The issue with buying the idea of being call black: Like Black Power, Black Panthers, Black... Like Black magic, black plague, black death... All things black are evil...

Either way, the epistemology is already defined.

We can only have this dicussion AFTER you realize what a Cultural Asili is to reach an utamawazo to obtain the utamaaroho...

Since, I am a Goddess, there is nothing capabable of defining me...

[Jody]

OP, I'm refer to myself as a descendent of the slave trade in America. If you are unhappy about what folks here call you, I offer two options 1) continue to correct them and let them know you're an immigrant 2) GO HOME