African-American?

Question

Ok, so I'm a white girl from the suburbs and everyone around me tries to be politically correct by using the term "African-American" and frankly, it confuses me to no end.

Is there anything wrong with the term black? If there is a black person from England or Germany you don't call them African-British or African-German do you? African-American just seems ridiculous to me.

I'm not called European-American. My family's been here enough generations that I'm just American - and so are all of the Black people. The fact that people label them with some other country seems more racist to me than just calling them black.

Just wondering w hat your thoughts were.

Answer 1

I see nothing wrong with the term "black." I am biracial, mother is white, father black. I think the term African American is incorrect for most of the population of black Americans. My father has German, Italian and African descendants. My mother has French, German, Spanish and god knows what else. What would you call that combination?
The day we stop requiring fancy labels is the day begin taking a step into the right direction. I know some people like to feel connected with Africa and claim that as a "homeland" of some sort, but I think that's kind of silly. We as Americans have no idea what African culture is about and I don't think we have the capability to understand it fully. No matter how your people got here, we're here now. We have American values and America is our culture.
The truth is once we start accepting that we are all Americans, we can break through this outdated racial barrier that divides us. We need to focus on the similarities of all people.

Answer 2

I am BLACK AMERICAN and very proud of my heritage.
When my gr grandmother was a child she was called ***** or COLORED. My gr grandmother was taught by her ancestors that BLACK was a bad word. However, it was not until the 1960's that Black American were proud to be called African American, Afro American or Black American. I prefer being called Black American--I was not born in Africa. Black people who were born in America would rather be called Black American--to be label as such does not make me feel bad. I am who I am. If I were ill in an emergency room it is very important for the physicians to know my correct heritage some disease on many parts are limited to your race--Sickle Cell Anemia.


The term "African American" has been in common usage in the United States since the late 1980s, when greater numbers of African Americans began to adopt the term self-referentially. Black nationalist Malcolm X favored the descriptive term "African American" as more historically and culturally defining over "*****" and "black" and used the term at an OAAU (Organization of Afro American Unity) meeting in the early 1960s, saying, "Twenty-two million African Americans - that's what we are - Africans who are in America." Former NBA player/coach Lenny Wilkens is another who used the term as a teenager in the 1950's when filling out a job application.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American

Answer 3

You're not the only one confused. A lot of us are confused too.

I think some people don't like being called Black because of all of the negative connotations associated with the word black. But others don't want to be called African American, I think because of the American (don't quote me).

I would prefer to be called an American, because that's what I am. But for some reason, in America, you have to fit into a group. You can't be just an American.

Answer 4

It's all about what you want to be called. All blacks don't want to be called African-American because alot of us aren't straight from Africa. If you want to use the term black them use it. There is nothing wrong with it. I use the term white all the time when I refer to a Caucasian person. Though my family was brought here as slaves and I have a mix of Native American and most likely white heritage I consider myself African-American.

Answer 5

I don't think there is anything wrong with the term black. There is white and black. If white people are called white, then black should be called black. Some black people from African descent might prefer to be called African-American however you cannot ever exactly know about everyone's descent. Someone you might decide to call African-American could turn out to be Jamaican. I think black is a better term for this purpose.

Answer 6

This is an interesting question that does cause discomfort and some verbal squirming among those of us not of African/Haitian/Jamaican (etc.) ancestry. I have worried that I would say something inappropriate out of ignorance more than once!

What the heck DO you say, when it apparently has a place in conversation? Do you say black, African American, Jamaican, dark-skinned, mulatto? I thought mulatto was the appropriate term for a person of mixed black and white ancestry. I was told this by a woman who was in fact mixed race. I later learned that the term stems from the Spanish word for mule. (Sigh). What is the right thing to say? Even red-haired people are having their turn in the bad spotlight. SouthPark has labelled red-headed children Ginger Kids, and claims they have no soul. While funny, it does drive a point home. Visible differences and cultural differences are noticeable. Why not talk about them, like anything else? To me, when I meet a person, their race and cultural heritage are as important to who they might be as their career, parental status, etc.

I am of Irish ancestry. I am not Irish American, however. I am American Irish. This might be a new twist on the country/race of origin question. We are Americans, not Irish, African, German, French, Russian, etc. I realize this view is idealistic, in that we all become both color-blind and blind to other features that serve to make us unique.

I celebrate the differences in this country. Not because it is politically correct to do so, but because this country is a melting pot of races and peoples. That is one of the special things about America and her history.

The fact that many black persons can trace their ancestral arrival in America to the slave trade is one of the most unfortunate realities of the western world. However, the slave trade died long ago. I am totally opposed to derrogatory comments or jokes about slavery, and think of it in serious terms. At the same time, the reality is that my personal ancestors were not involved. They were scratching out a living in Ireland (being put down by the English "man"), and then were moving across Canada to farm in Washington state.

I am not responsible for slavery any more than the black child down the street is resonsible for the underground railroad, the initiation of civil rights, or to go further back, upholding her or his part in the daily life of an African village. Slavery is an imporant and unfortunate part of American history, and if being African American is important to an individual, I totally respect that. I don't necessarily know how that person names themself, without being told, however.

When my ancestors came here from Ireland, it was during the potato famine. The people that came were not robust and healthy, and they certainly didn't bring talent, training, or money with them. They were a pretty ragged, unpopular lot. Their place in society was lower than that of northern free negroes. A lot of the paddys became police officers, and one even became president.

Part of the reason for that I think is because Irish blend into the caucasian visual fabric. There are lots of people who do not, and while I am technically white, I am often asked if I am Mexican, due to my dark hair, eyes, and tan.

When I was little my parents took me on a train and I was told that dinner would be served by a colored man. I waited all through dinner. There was a very nice man who knew my dad and he visited while he brought dinner. He was darker than my parents, but he didn't have any interesting colors on him. The point of this is that labels are a matter of opinion and viewpoint.

I had to be taught that colored means black. I had to be taught by my parents who were of WW2 era, that Japanese people were dangerous and to be feared. I had to be taught that blonde was better than brown hair and that I should stay out of the sun so my skin didn't get too dark. These lessons came from people who didn't question the group thought, and who wanted to be like everyone else. My parents were good people who, like many of their generation, were trained to see the differences before they saw anything else.

Because of that, I grew up intentionally NOT noticing differences. It is something that can be learned. I do notice that differences exist, but in a positive way. We are all here. We don't all have to be the same. It would be pretty boring if we were. But back to the actual question, what the heck should be said? African American? Black? And what is the appropriate term for the people of mixed white/black ancestry?

As for me, I won't be offended if you forget and call me Irish American. I would prefer, however, American Irish.

Answer 7

For me its important to be called African-American and not black. Mainly because in the past being black automatically determined your place in society which meant being a slave. For many years African Americans where made to feel ashamed of who they were and where they came from. Being called African AMerican links me to the my past ancestors from Africa and reminds me daily of the struggle in which got us to this point. It may seem ridiculous to you, however, for me its making a statement its taking pride in who I am and where I come from. I am part Africa and American and I want to be called African American. I mean yes my skin is brown and not black, black is a color and African American defines my race and has meaning to me. I hope this helps you out..

Answer 8

Some blacks embrace their African heritage, and in the US those people choose to be called African American. Other blacks couldn't care any less and really prefer just to be called black. You just have to know who you are talking to.

Answer 9

i use the term black because it encompasses a group rather than a race ..its like native american vs indian ... politically correct crap for ppl that have nothing better to worry about..im bi racial should you call me white? native american? half breed ? indian? ..cmon ... ppl are ppl -- if your "black" your in a group of ppl that have darker skin than the white folks ...personally im not going to worry about the little stuff.... just give ppl their due respect ..thats all mosty of us require

Answer 10

I can be called Black,African-American or brown(which is my real skin tone).The only people who can can call me ***** are Spanish or Mexican speaking folks.