Calling a Black man an African is that racist to you??

Question

A black man that has his origin's in Africa is called an African. How on earth can that be racist. See what i mean about knowing what the word racist mean. :(

Answer 1

basically, these are the rules I teach my children (coming from a french colonised country):
- not all white men are "french"
- not all black men are african
- not all african men are black men (tunisians are very white)
- not all french men are white men
Therefore we try not to make easy assumptions. In general, Africans like to be called africans unless they have some shame about their origins (sic). As a french speaking person, and although i am black, I am very often called French and i simply hate it (they are only colonial masters and i use their language for convenience, not by choice). So you can add to the list above that not all french-speaking people are French. You can change French for English and then you will see how far it can take you.
I do not think you are being racist, unless you think of the term "African" as an insult, or unless the black person you were talking to thought you were insulting him by calling him an "African", which in both cases would be very stupid.
According to your explanation, the guy is african and does not want to be called one. please convey to him this message , from a proud african lady, that he is the type that Africa does not want to see anymore.

Answer 2

Interesting comments you've received so far. Here is mine:

Why would anyone need to call a man with black or dark skin anything other than sir or mister, or his given name? Why is it necessary to distingiush that he has dark skin? I see this all the time on the TV news. "An african american male" or a " hispanic male" was caught doing this or that-- but when a cuacasian male is arrested, they don't identify his race.

I am caucasian, by the way, and don't understand why there is this big hangup over the need to label people based on their skin coloration, but even in normal conversation with other people--if they speak about someone that is a different race, many times they will make sure and state the race of the person, for no obvious reason.

Answer 3

Not even worth going there. There is so many things now that people see as racist, its unbelievable. What on earth is wrong with the world? why cant everyone just get along. no matter what creed or country they come from.
I last heard the word black will soon be abolished, what on earth will we call blackbirds in the garden? If we cant all get along in a country together, why is it allowed?
I have no problems with anyone no matter the colour of their skin, if it be white, black, brown, red, blue, green. so what. If a person be British, Spanish, African, Chinese, Indian. so what. This really gets my goat. Sorry. x

Answer 4

yeh it can be if he comes from the Uk or say the West indies as a lot of them dont like the Africans, Its like calling an Indian a paki as they hate each other.
But to me its all madness.....

Answer 5

Context is everything. We use words all the time to identify people for distinction. When it becomes racist is when you use those distinctions to belittle or hurt the person or persons you are identifying. Using the "N" word is never needed or wanted by most people for any reason. But saying somone is a Jew or black or white is for distinction and I feel that people are so confused now days they are scared to say anything. People need to understand that we can use words to identify without it being racist. If not, we are only avoiding the issue that each of us are different and have traits that make us distinctive.

Answer 6

Well I don't get offended when someone calls me a Caucasian. And heck. I'm not even from Caucasia. Some people are racist by thinking everyone is making racial comments about then but its really them because they are racist and thinks everyone thinks the same as them.

Answer 7

me too are confused about this politically correct world,i don't know why they are making it a big deal,i have lots of Chinese friends and i call them china man and They are proud of it,but when you call a black person an African they find it offensive,they should be proud of it instead because its a recognition of there being of an African discent beside humans are known to originate from that part of the world so they should brag about it instead of being offended

Answer 8

You're the same person who just posted the stupid question about the black golfer in the Right Guard ad.
No-one else even thought about it.
Calling an African by his nationality is NOT racist.

Answer 9

I live in an island in the West Indies and SOME of the black people here are West Indian. Definitely not African, definitely not African-American. In fact, the majoirty of people here, black and white, refer to each other and themselves as blacks or whites and do not means it in any kind of racist way.. it is just the way things are done here.

Answer 10

Just a stereo type really because of the colour of skin!
And when the majority of people think of africa what do they think? poverty, starvation, disease, etc. no1 knows about the well off, advanced bits of africa, so why the hell should sum1 except being called african when they aint, its wrong.
But im just going back on what i said now truth is,
'WE ARE ALL AFRICAN DESCENDENTS'