Am I the only one who can't stand the term "African-American"?

Question

I'm an UNhyphenated American, dam*it! I'm so sick of people segregating Americans with hyphens. African-American, Asian-American, Italian-American, Irish-Chinese-Yugolslavian American...we're all Americans! How are we going to fight alienation and unify ourselves into a melting pot when we keep segregating ourselves into these mental ghettos? Yes it's great to love one's ancestry but our identity should still be American. I personally prefer the words "black" and "*****". They're the perfect words because they aren't racist but they aren't overwhelmingly PC either. African-American sound like the kind of word that's used by anal insecure blacks like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and hypersensitve patronizing whites. ***** isn't a racist word. Just because a word is old doesn't make it racist. If you think it's a racist word, you're getting it mixed up with another N word. Our ancestors used it all the time. Frederick Douglass used it. MLK used it. Do you think they were racists?

As the saying goes, “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. People can use the word “*****” lovingly or “African-American” with contempt. And how stupid is that that people are offended by “colored” but not by “people of color”? It’s the same thing! Rewording something doesn’t change the meaning. I encourage people to use what ever term they want, except, you know…, and if anyone gets offended, just tell them what I said. Well sorry for rambling but I hope I got my point across.

As the saying goes, “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. People can use the word “*****” lovingly or “African-American” with contempt. And how stupid is that that people are offended by “colored” but not by “people of color”? It’s the same thing! Rewording something doesn’t change the meaning. I encourage people to use what ever term they want, except, you know…, and if anyone gets offended, just tell them what I said. Well sorry for rambling but I hope I got my point across.

Whoops sorry for the double submission. I hate it when that happens:-(

Yes I know. AA would make more sense for someone who's the descendant of African immigrants, that is, if I was for hyphens.

Answer 1

I agree. I don't like to use the term because I believe that it is incorrect. It is also promoting segregation and misunderstanding. When people choose to separate themselves by racial titles they are saying that they are unwilling to be a part of this culture. This breeds contempt amongst other groups who feel that they are being pushed aside or belittled because they don't have a special title for themselves too.

I find it amusing that some black people are offended for being called black but then the next words out of their mouths are about white people. If I'm white you're black. I really don't see what's wrong with that.

Also, almost no one in this country is all of any ethnicity. I don't want to be called French-Canadian-Belgian-Spanish-Lebanese American. What a freakin' mouthful! Blacks are no different. If you go back into your geneaology you will find many different groups represented in there. Why would you choose to leave those out? They are as much a part of you as any other group.

Answer 2

I hate the term, and think it is completely inaccurate. Most Blacks in America have never been to Africa in their lives, nor have their parents, grand parents, and great grand parents. Furthermore, Africans see absolutely no kinship with Black Americans. When American Blacks visit Africa they are often told "Yankee go home". There is no relationship, so why even use the term African Americans?

Black American is not much better. Most Blacks are not really black anyways. ***** is out of the question. Colored, no way. So what then? I don't know. Come up with something better, someone. Please.

Answer 3

I hate African American and not so fund of American either. Calling myself American mean I share my belief with this country and I do not. If I have to forget who I am and where I come from to be call by a name the oppress my people for 98% of our history then No. I not from any tribe or any way related to a Amerigo Vespucci. I will be what I'm always been, black and living in America.

Answer 4

the term can be annoying sometimes because I am just an American. I've never been to Africa... But it's better than being called a ***** or a n igger since that means ignorant, at least that's what I've been told, so it doesn't bother me all that much, but I agree with you; we should drop all the labels and just be Americans.

Answer 5

Because us white people that aren't racist don't know how to talk to your people without the fear of getting shot or accused of being a racist. A woman and her husband went to mcdonalds drive thru and got home and the order was wrong. The husband called back and complained and the manager asked him to "describe the guy" the husband said "he was a younger black guy" totally not racist and the manager responded "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY? WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO TALK LIKE THAT YOU RACIST ASSHOLE!....." seriously...this is a true story, I was there.

Answer 6

I also hate that term. It is SEVEN syllables long. Saying 'american' is really unnecessary, not only when applied after 'african', but after any race. The best term is 'african', and the best term for 'white' people is 'european'. Africans and europeans are NOT racially americans. People of the true american race are those people that we refer to as 'the red man'.

Answer 7

I have to say that I call black people black or just American I or just by their name. I cannot write many times African American is just too long againg and again or say it. I call my black friends "N" word they don't have problem with it and they call me names too and we both had never problems with it but they are foreign and I'm too so it is ok but if you are Americans it is it's big deal because was used by slave owners toward Africans.

Answer 8

No, you're not the only one. I don't like being called African American just because I didn't come from Africa. People call us that because we originated from Africa, but most white people originated from England and we don't call them England American.

Answer 9

I personally think that regardless of the skin color if your an American then your an AMERICAN. Don't stereo type a person by their skin.........If that is the case then I'm European American,Native American, But I like the sound of just plain AMERICAN........=)

Answer 10

You are a breath of fresh air. I've thought that same thing for many years now why as Americans are we so worried about our past? Why can't we put American first?