Let me know what you think!! Let's be real!?

Question

The Difference between African Americans and Black Americans.

African Americans are citizens who are part African and part Americans (Example: Barack Obama). This is NOT TRUE for Black Americans.

Black Americans are decendants of Africans brought here many years ago that were brought here for the purpose of slavery. Black Americans are products of the systematic deprivation and unfortunate racism.

Black Americans ARE AMERICANS with different social and historical backgrounds than the decendants of their ancestors' slave masters (what we call 'Whites'). Black Americans are ot accustomed to any other country except America. And Black Americans (or the images of Blacks) are severly and commonly displayed as being angry, negative, etc.

What you you all think. Only reply if you have a brain, please.

Answer 1

I agree with the last paragraph.
Also, this whole thing that you just said made sense. there really is a difference between African Americans and Black Americans.

Answer 2

I understand your anger at the racism that continues to exist in our country but the only difference between Black Americans and African Americans is a linguistical one.

If your are descended from Africans that were enslaved and brought to American (You call these black Americans) you are still part African (what you call African Americans). So there is no difference...only in what you call them and I am sorry to say that is a true form of racism.

Answer 3

It's just a matter of semantics. Black American, African American, Black, its all the same. As for your comment about "images of blacks commonly displayed as being angry, negative," these are the reasons why it is important for the media to be responsible and fair since the images they show are what many people remember and cling to in ignorance. Besides, I can't imagine a "Happy slave."

Answer 4

(searching inside my head to see if I have a brain - aha! I found one! the size of a pea, but it's there!)
I had never thought the terms were actually intended to differentiate the two groups. Is this true, or is it your way of differentiating them? By the way, Obama was born in America. Otherwise he couldn't run for president. However his father did come from Africa.
I never think of the descendants of slaves as being angry and negative. On the contrary. Of course, those who live in slum areas, whether they are black Americans, Hispanic Americans, or Anglo Saxon Americans, could be portrayed as angry.
The most joyous looking people that you have seen, I think, are those who worship in black American churches.
By the way, I had a Black American friend, who was studying with me here in Canada. At the beginning of our friendship I asked him what term was not offensive to him. He said "We prefer Afro-American" - that was in 1969-1970. (First time I heard that term). Since then, I have learned that different terms are preferred by different people - probably depends on how the expressions have been used - if the expression has frequently been used in an insulting way, it is normal they would prefer another one, I guess.
EDIT:
My friend was a descendent of slaves.

Answer 5

Some people for polictical correctness prefer the term African Americans.

Some people prefer to be called Black Americans.

Some people prefer to be called Afro Americans.

Some black people, as with other cultures, prefer to be called Americans, especially if they have been born in this country of descendents of other countries.

We cannot sterotype any culture as there are good and bad in all cultures.

Some people in every culture are angry. Some people in every culture are negative, etc. Some people in every culture are poor, uneducated, educated, etc.

The important issue is to always value the cultural differences and use those differences to grow as a person and to learn to appreciate the differences and what those differences have and are contributing to all of us.

Answer 6

African Americans are ANY person, regardless of color, who can trace their ancestry back to Africa and currently are citizens of the US.

Black Americans don't really exist! The term Black American refers to a person based solely on their color. It has absolutely nothing to do with ethnicity or ancestry.

If a black person happens to be from Africa, they are African American. If they are from Grenada, they are Grenadian American. If they are from the Dominican Republic the are Dominican American. When you use the term black you refer only to color. If you associate "black" with being angry or negative then "THE MAN" has got your soul! You are officially racist!

Answer 7

I totally disagree with you. Put it into context you wouldn't call a Mexican American a "Brown American." Even what you call "Black Americans" were here from Africa whether it was voluntarily or not. They are still of African descent. The only reason "Black Americans" arent custom to any othere culture is because most dont know exactly what country their ancestors are from.

Answer 8

I don't see a difference because I'm referred to as black and african american. also, black american is rarely used.

Answer 9

black americans are hebrew israelites! we forgot who we was when we came over here to the united states! black people are not african! we're from israel! africans are africans and black americans and west indians and central americans are hebrew israelites!

Answer 10

What does it matter? If you live here and pay taxes and are here legally and permanently, you are American. Color, Race, Religion shouldn't matter even though I know in my heart that it does to most. It shouldn't.