Which is politically correct? Black people or African American?

Question

Here in Fl there are many Haitains and Jamaicans, etc. I referred to one as black and was told to say African American but how would I know what they are without asking them?

I had to describe an employee for an anonymous critique of a business. Not having gotten a name I decribed her as black and was corrected by the company who hired me to refer to blacks as African Americans.

I had to describe an employee for an anonymous critique of a business. Not having gotten a name I decribed her as black and was corrected by the company who hired me to refer to blacks as African Americans.

Answer 1

African American..................

Answer 2

Well, I might be a little rusty, because politically correct language changes regularly, but probably both. African American would appear at first glance to be a perfectly straightforward but fairly specific description of lineage, so you have to be sure that you're talking about people who genuinely fit the description.

You can be black absolutely anywhere, and it's a more vague term. There's an argument that despite its obvious advantages as an adjective, "black people" might be unhelpful when attempting to further the cause of integrated societies, but most of the black people I know here in the UK wouldn't yet make that claim.

Answer 3

That is a good question and it totally depends on who you talk to.....in America the term African American is so-called politically correct for black people in America with African descent........Then there are black people from the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, maybe they won't like to be called African American........The best thing to do is not give anyone a title until you figure out what they consider themselves........

Answer 4

This question is asked over and over and as a black woman, I do not want to be called African American. I am not African, and I cannot trace my lineage to Africa. I am also German, Irish and Native American, but mostly black. Black is fine. African American lays claim to a place that many black Americans cannot claim and many of us are mixed with Caucasian blood. But why is there a need to categorize people of color? Many black people I know feel the same way. My husband, for example is Haitian, and has 1/4 French blood and some Taino Indian blood, and you'd better not call him African American. He'd be highly insulted. Unless the person you are referring to came from Africa, or has a parent or grandparent from Africa, calling them African American sounds ridiculous. And even Africans feel the same way. Call us by our name!

Answer 5

African American.

Answer 6

African American, civilize.

Answer 7

I'm in Canada and I say black people. More often than not, I will just refer to whatever country they are actually from - Jamaica, Trinidad, Somalia, England, Cuba.

African American is an "American" thing.

Answer 8

Just like any hispanic or asian race it would be polite to simply ask. I don't assume an Asian is Chinese, I ask them "What is your ethnicity?". In a professional setting stick with African American. But I personally am Black, never been to Africa. This doens't make you racist. But don't be so overly conscience of what people want to be called. No ones gonna trip

Answer 9

Black people for generality. African American limits it to people from african descent/ancestry

Answer 10

Black is more polite. 'African american' sounds as if you think there is something wrong with being black, anyway it only works for americans.

Answer 11

African American if they actually are American. It's a little stupid to call every black person an African-American though, because it's somewhat likely that they -aren't- American.