Is the term African American more ignorant than "Black" (Post 2)?

Question

Okay, so I hear a lot of black people get offended by the term "black" and say they prefere the term "African American." Well, say there is a "black" guy, of whom people refere to him as African American, but he is Austrailian, neither American or African! Also, doesn't that phrase assume that all black people come from Africa, ignoring the native blacks from Haiti, Jamaica, Austrailia, and other places completely unrelated to Africa? Also, it assumes that all people from Africa are black, but there are plenty of white people from Africa who have said citizenship. (Dave Matthews Band.) Citezenship is another issue, as most black who live in America have no African citizenship, or haven't even been there. All in all, the phrase is completely busted. If you are offended by it, then you are ignorant. I am a white male, and I have yet to hear any black person refere to me as a German-American. Usually it is cracker or honky anyways.

What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

Well, some historical context is in order. You're talking about a group of people who have been killed, tortured, hated, etc. for the COLOR of their skin. "African American" is just a political solution to try and change a historical perception that black = less than.

You don't need to be called german american because "white" does not have a negative connotation, historically or in general.

Answer 2

The reason why the movie "Roots" created such a stir is because it brought out into the open the cruel history of the Africans brought to this country against their will. Their blood flows in the African Americans you refer to. Using the blanket term Blacks is merely a step from the terms ***** and Coloured , None of the terms Blacks or ***** give recognition to the cruel heritage of passage for African Americans. They are unique and the term is significantly very important. The term Black inadvertently promotes the denial of that heritage. Its not ignorance. Its self pride. Unconfortable and cruel as the history maybe its a way of remembering the roots. Try hard as America may, she is split along racial lines. When occasion calls for it a white man would be refered to among other white men as German-American or Italian-American, Polish American, Irish American these terms are used everyday in the American culture. Why not African American? The white African has the choice of using his ethnic origin Dutch, British, Portugese, German etc. Black American limits the ID to skin so white Africans do not have to worry about being"tarnished" If they are Africans..and become naturalized citizens of America they should be proud to be called African American.

Answer 3

If they find out he's from another country, they may then refer to him as being from that country. But until then, they assume he's an "African American" (just like you do too I bet). But in a larger sense, no matter where that black person comes from, their roots of origin are in Africa. So even if he's from Australia and becomes a citizen of the U.s., he could still theoretically be called an African American. and you're right about the whites from African who move to America. They too are African Americans. the reason black American use the term "African" is that that is the one thing that they know all of the natual born black citizens of the U.S. have in common. As for your not being called a "German American" that mostly your fault. Blacks declared themselves African Americans (well some did) and asked that people refer to them as such., if you want to be called German American, insist on it. Besides, there is a German American heritage month (http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/gamonth.htm) , an Italian American heritage month (http://italian.about.com/library/blniahmspecial.htm), Asian American heritage month (http://www.infoplease.com/spot/asianhistory1.html). And blacks aren't the only ones to demand that they be referred to that way. What are "Indians" called these days? That's right, Native Americans. But you don't seem to complain about that.

If some people want to be called that, let them. What's it to you?

And I seriously doubt if you're called "cracker" or "honky" all the time by blacks.

Answer 4

People should be called whatever they want to be called.
When I worked in Lousiana, where they classify people as White and Black, my company hired a man from India who had skin as dark as skin can get. In India, he would have been called Black, but in Lousiana, he was White.
Each language has a word for the color black. In Latin, the word is Niger and some Latin scholars inform me that the correct pronouciation is with a short "i" and a hard "g". There is also a country by this name and another, Nigeria, which is obvious derive from the word.
When I was young, ***** was the popular word. ***** is the Spanish word for the color black.
Growing up, I have known Negroes, Blacks, Colored People, and African-Americans. As someone once said, a rose by any other name.... Personally, this White Boy Honky is happy to call people whatever makes them happy.

Answer 5

I wouldn't say it is ignorant, just because it is an accepted, standard term and people will know what you mean by it.

However, it is definitely inconsistent. "African-American" implies that a person was born in Africa and immigrated to America. But as you say, not all blacks were born in Africa. And also, by the same logic, I should be considered "European-American" but that would not apply.

"Black" isn't ignorant, it's just a bit inaccurate. The skin of a "black" person is actually dark brown.

But who really cares anyway?

Answer 6

Yes African-American is suppose to be the "pollictically correct" term for blacks, but its obviously one of the most loosely used terms in the English Language. Obviously not every black is American and a lot of blacks have Hispanic backrounds, not African.

Whatever, I just call black people, black.

Answer 7

I think saying African American is stupid. What's so wrong with saying Black or White? I mean, I hate when people call me Caucasian.

Answer 8

"African American" is a stupid term for blacks. I'm white and from Africa so you could call me an "African America" too.

Answer 9

yes as people should understand not all people of color are african and none of the people of color are black. as for your first answer


She is the reason there continues to be hate. And though people love anonmity karma is a much greater thing

Answer 10

yes. But i think both terms are ignorant because they both lead to something that may provoke a race. We are all different and unique but calling someone ******* or anything is an awful term people use against race.