is the correct term african american, or black?

Question

i want to refer to ppl of color by a name that is non offensive, should i use the words 'Black American" or "African American"?

Answer 1

I prefer Black American, because I didn't come from Africa.

Answer 2

Well, each person will have a different preference, but in my mind, African American should only be used to describe those who are citizens of both an African country and an American country (America as in both continents, not as in the US). The term African American excludes black people who are from other continents- what about European citizens who are black? It also ignores the fact that not all Africans are black. An estimated 9.3% of the population of South Africa is white.

The way I see it, it's just skin color. It's just another physical feature. I don't call people with blue eyes anything other than blue eyed, so why would I call anyone with black (dark, but you get the idea) skin anything other than black?

I feel that assigning special names for skin color other than just a description enforces the idea that those of different skin colors are somehow different in some way other than just physical appearance.

Answer 3

Why is it necessary to focus on their race? If you say three guys were walking side by side down the street, why do you feel the need to say 1 white guy, 1 Asian guy, 1 Black guy. Unless their race significantly affects the details of the story, why do you need to "call them" anything other than people? If we stopped giving a rat's behind what race people were in the stories or anecdotes we share, maybe it would spread. Then we could talk about each other as human beings.
Good Luck

Answer 4

Either is appropriate, though most seem to prefer 'black'. 'African-American' is just an overly politically correct term that is not true the vast majority of the time - very few blacks in the US actually were born in, or have been to, Africa. We don't call whites European-Americans, do we?

Answer 5

Want not to offend. Great personality trait in you.

That being said, calling them black for what they are is appropriate.

Calling them African American is not. They are not Africans.

You started by asking ".......ppl of color........." right there, is not polite. They are not ppl of color. They are Americans.

I have many American friends of varying faith, beliefs. I never had an occasion to call them by their color of their skin.

Answer 6

For me - African - American! I've never seen a person the color Black. Also, I've never seen any white people - I've yet to find one.

Answer 7

Black because I am Black before i am African and black before i am American.

Answer 8

I don't agree with referring to people by their race. I'm in a minority race where I come from, and it pisses me of when I hear people identify me like that. Why can't we all just be people, without any of these stupid labels? But African-American is the correct formal term.

Answer 9

Only highly educated blacks refer to themselves as african american. Most use the term black. These are americans. Other types of blacks want you to use the term specific to them (mostly because they HATE american blacks and all the other groups).....jamaicans, haitians etc.

Answer 10

I've never called a single one of my friends "african american". They were always ok with me saying black.