African American?

[rheff78]

I was just thinking about this. Why do some people refer to black people as African Americans? Is this really needed? I don't refer to myself as a European American. IMHO all this does is cause division in the populace. Do blacks in England call themselves African English? My point is, if you wereborn in that country, in this case, America, then you're American. Sure, you can be proud of where you came from, but isn't it time we drop all the labels and just consider yourself American? Opinions?

 

[Father Heathen]

Just a wacky quirk of our culture. You make a good point, though. If Asians are Asian American, and blacks are African American, whites should be called European American. After all, we aren't not indigenous to this continent.

 

[whereismynotecard]

Mmmm... I think it is a way to sound nicer than to say that someone is "black." Everyone is obsessed with classifying everyone into races, so they call black people African Americans... Because maybe they think it sounds nicer?? They do the same thing with other people too, right?? Asian Americans?? I don't know.

 

[rheff78]

But that's my point, why? I don't get upset if someone calls me white. It's not negative, it's what you are.

 

[whereismynotecard]

But that's my point, why? I don't get upset if someone calls me white. It's not negative, it's what you are.

Yeah... I don't know.

 

[whereismynotecard]

Yeah... like "caucasion" if that is how it is spelled...

Where do you have to be from to be considered caucasion??

 

[Magic Man]

It's just a result of oversensitivity. People get offended at the slightest little thing these days. It is a little stupid, and I almost never use "African-American", I usually just say "black". What's funny to me is when someone refers to a black person from another country like England as an African-American. It just shows how ingrained it has become, that some people forget that it is not a general term for all black people.

Also, on a radio morning show here recently, they had a contest to come up with a white version of the N word, a word that only white people could use for each other, but that would be "offensive" when used by others. The winner was "nilla". I thought that was hilarious. You know, like "What up, ma nilla?", or "That is one crazy nilla!".

 

[fullyveiled muslimah]

I like to use the word black because it is the most apt. Black is not a place. There is no blackland, or blackoria, or anything else. It is indicative of a people without a definable background which is what we are. Chinese are from ___________, Europeans are from ___________, Africans are from _________, and Blacks are from _________?

 

[DallasApple]

Besides that...Not all black people are from Africa(not any more than me)..Thats what confuses me..IMHO based on research we all origianlly came from Africa..But "recent" origin" (last many hundred years) is not where all black people came from..

And no ...I dont say Im "Scottish/English white" American...That would be retarded.

Love

Dallas

 

[Booko]

I was just thinking about this. Why do some people refer to black people as African Americans? Is this really needed? I don't refer to myself as a European American. IMHO all this does is cause division in the populace. Do blacks in England call themselves African English? My point is, if you wereborn in that country, in this case, America, then you're American. Sure, you can be proud of where you came from, but isn't it time we drop all the labels and just consider yourself American? Opinions?

Because people who are black request that I use the term, and kludgy though it may be, it's not inaccurate nor is it offensive to me, so I figure what the heck, it's good manners anyway.

I've lived through negro, colored, black and now African-American.

If African-Americans want me to call them Oompaloompas next, I'm sure I'll be able to adapt to that too.

I really don't have a problem with some group wanting to define their own name, as long as I'm not knocked for using one term when there's no consensus on one term to use (as in Hispanic vs. Latino).

Perhaps that's the underlying issue here...for centuries people of African descent here were not allowed to define themselves....white culture decided that for them. Now, having taken back some of their own power, they're trying to figure what works for them. If it takes a little while to settle on something, I figure I can be patient about that.

 

[fullyveiled muslimah]

The other reason why I prefer the word Black is because it conveys a sense of meaninglessness. It means nothing, even quite literally black=nothing. Black holes, black voids, even the definition of the color black is the absence of all color. It conveys a sense of being lost or without direction. This is applicable to us as a people as far as having a recognizable land and culture to come back to. I am not African American because I do not come from Africa. I know nothing of Africa except what I read. I am not American because of the simple fact my people had to go from sub-human to human only after legislation passed saying so. If our history in America had been one of respect and human status, I might be tempted to call myself American. As it stands I am only American by virtue of being born here. I still in many cases am not regarded in the same esteem as my white counterparts. I do not, and urge the American people not to, pretend that just because laws have been passed to prevent or punish prejudice or racism that it has in any way died. The type of hatred and contempt that drives one group of people to enslave another doesn't go anywhere just because the government says it's not cool anymore.

 

[DallasApple]

Well then Im African American too...original man (my ancestors) were foudn in Africa..

So Im "White African American"....

Love

Dallas

 

[DallasApple]

The other reason why I prefer the word Black is because it conveys a sense of meaninglessness. It means nothing, even quite literally black=nothing. Black holes, black voids, even the definition of the color black is the absence of all color. It conveys a sense of being lost or without direction. This is applicable to us as a people as far as having a recognizable land and culture to come back to. I am not African American because I do not come from Africa. I know nothing of Africa except what I read. I am not American because of the simple fact my people had to go from sub-human to human only after legislation passed saying so. If our history in America had been one of respect and human status, I might be tempted to call myself American. As it stands I am only American by virtue of being born here. I still in many cases am not regarded in the same esteem as my white counterparts. I do not, and urge the American people not to, pretend that just because laws have been passed to prevent or punish prejudice or racism that it has in any way died. The type of hatred and contempt that drives one group of people to enslave another doesn't go anywhere just because the government says it's not cool anymore.

Black is not absent of color...It takes a lot of color to make black..

Love

Dallas

 

[Booko]

Just a wacky quirk of our culture. You make a good point, though. If Asians are Asian American, and blacks are African American, whites should be called European American. After all, we aren't not indigenous to this continent.

Asian American is a pretty broad term and I don't hear it used in the Asian community, which is huge where I live. I hear people say they are Chinese or Korean or Hmong just as those of European descent would say they are Dutch, French, English, German or Greek.

Here's the difference with the African American thingy. Uh, do we have Malians here? Do we have Ghanese? No, because blacks in this country lost their history when they were brought here as slaves. All they know now is the continent their ancestors came from, thus "African-American."

And if they want to stress the American where those of us of European descent would not bother, perhaps that has something to do with their invisibility in our culture and the pervasiveness of the idea that somehow blacks are somehow "less" American than those of us who are white.

If you want to understand why a black person would care to be called African-American, begin by studying their history, as they tell it.

It's a fascinating story and well worth your time.

 

[DallasApple]

The other reason why I prefer the word Black is because it conveys a sense of meaninglessness. It means nothing, even quite literally black=nothing. Black holes, black voids, even the definition of the color black is the absence of all color. It conveys a sense of being lost or without direction. This is applicable to us as a people as far as having a recognizable land and culture to come back to. I am not African American because I do not come from Africa. I know nothing of Africa except what I read. I am not American because of the simple fact my people had to go from sub-human to human only after legislation passed saying so. If our history in America had been one of respect and human status, I might be tempted to call myself American. As it stands I am only American by virtue of being born here. I still in many cases am not regarded in the same esteem as my white counterparts. I do not, and urge the American people not to, pretend that just because laws have been passed to prevent or punish prejudice or racism that it has in any way died. The type of hatred and contempt that drives one group of people to enslave another doesn't go anywhere just because the government says it's not cool anymore.

Welcome to 2008...There are no slaves in the U.S.A..Not legally..Its against YOUR laws in the country you are a citizen in.

Love

Dallas

 

[fullyveiled muslimah]

Black is not absent of color...It takes a lot of color to make black..

Love

Dallas

As far as color with light, black is the absence of all light, and since we cannot perceive colors without light, it can mean absence of all color as well. As far as painting and the color wheel goes, the mixing of primary colors renders a dark brown. I don't know how black paint is made, except maybe to add a naturally black pigment.

 

[fullyveiled muslimah]

Welcome to 2008...There are no slaves in the U.S.A..Not legally..Its against YOUR laws in the country you are a citizen in.

Love

Dallas

Just my point. It's against the law, but that doesn't stop anyone from feeling that way and influencing others to feel that way, to raise their children with prejudice and racism. All I'm saying is that just because laws were passed that racism could not be outwardly practiced, doesn't change the minds of the ignorant people who still practice it in whatever capacity they think they can get away with.

 

[DallasApple]

As far as color with light, black is the absence of all light, and since we cannot perceive colors without light, it can mean absence of all color as well. As far as painting and the color wheel goes, the mixing of primary colors renders a dark brown. I don't know how black paint is made, except maybe to add a naturally black pigment.

I do...And black has many colors it it...

Love

Dallas

 

[fullyveiled muslimah]

I do...And black has many colors it it...

Love

Dallas

And my point still stands, meaningless when applied as an identity for an entire group of people.

 

[DallasApple]

Just my point. It's against the law, but that doesn't stop anyone from feeling that way and influencing others to feel that way, to raise their children with prejudice and racism. All I'm saying is that just because laws were passed that racism could not be outwardly practiced, doesn't change the minds of the ignorant people who still practice it in whatever capacity they think they can get away with.

Well then ...focus on the ignorant people.They certaintily wouldnt be me or my family..And Im not stupid enough to think that every black perosn I meet has roots in Africa..(not any more than me that is) And Im as white as a Ghost...White is also absent of color ..Is it not?

Love

Dallas