Are all dark-colored people from Africa? Do all Africans have dark skin? Are you necessarily sure that the dark-skinned person you see on television isn't Canadian or British or Icelandic?
Why can't we all just call each other human beings? Or failing that, if we have to use a descriptor, black, pink, brown, yellow, green, purple, violet?
2007-03-25 17:44:08 · 21 answers · asked by This Is Me Being Grumpy 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
lol, to the first poster... this is my hobby. Most of my other time I spend writing. Got a book I'm about to send off to be published.
2007-03-25 17:49:36 · update #1
Loving your answers, people. This is going to be a hard choice for "Best." Keep it up!
2007-03-25 18:04:24 · update #2
See, I agree. Besides, I don't hear anyone calling me Canadian-American, or worse, French-Canadian-American, just because my great grandparents immigrated from Canada.
I think people don't want to offend, and aren't really sure what to call black people. African-American has been the "politically correct" name for so long, that it's kind of stuck in our heads.
I'd love to see a green person :)
2007-03-25 17:48:10 · answer #1 · answered by rita_alabama 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
During the life of malcolm x, he was asked by a so-called ***** if he was american. Malcolm replied and told this so-called ***** no, I am an african that happened to be born in america. Furthermore it was leo africanus name whom the term africa was developed. Color issues began during slavery times because the idiots could not distinquish the many cultural differences. So the drama continues over the true itentity of the descendents of former slaves in this north american continent. Black people if you will were the original people who migrated and settled in every continent on earth. the olmec civilization, the original dynasties of the orient, europe, [pacific islands, south and central americas(the olmec civilizations), yes, north america too. So today, we as so-called black people collectively speaking do not in general have a clue as to what their true identity is because of the refusal to research and study. So who are we????? Stay tuned because the day is coming when everyone will know and understand!!!!
2007-03-25 18:23:40 · answer #2 · answered by triple o.g. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes I agree! Well atleast somewhat. I don't see a problem with being proud of, or wanting to state your heritage! But now I am so confused I don't know what to say, I mean when I am talking about my heritage or whatever, and I ask another person what there's is, I don't know if I will offend someone to say black (if they are black) or if I will offend them with African American, or what the heck is going on. So I try to avoid those situations as much as possible. Only I do get picky about Native American, because loads of people still say Indian and it gets on my nerves. I mean just because Columbus is a dummy doesn't mean we should still act so stupid.
2007-03-25 17:54:40 · answer #3 · answered by wtf 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh my gosh..thank you for that; I've been arguing that same thing this whole time. Forget the unnecessary terms - that's what leads to all these stereotypes and judgments anyway...... but people do jump to those exact conclusions - it just seems so ignorant to me sometimes... and it's kind of ironic that people are called "African" Americans but don't even know the first thing about Africa, and worse still belittle and make fun of the culture
2007-03-25 17:49:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't think there's anything about it to get all hyped up about. It's just a couple of descriptive words.
No not all people who inhabit Africa are dark-skinned, but the term African American denotes that they are descended from the indigenous Africans. And no, not all dark-skinned people are from Africa; there's the Aborigines in Australia, whose name describes them, too: they are the original people of Australia.
2007-03-25 17:54:41 · answer #5 · answered by Petrushka's Ghost 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't hate the term, but I'm pretty ambivalent about all the "separating" terms we use for people. Like you, I see humans as humans, and don't like isolating certain groups. When I'm describing someone, I will use color (black OR white), but a part of me always worries that I'll offend someone, and I do hate that feeling. I don't think less or better of anyone for their skin color, so I'm annoyed that our culture instills that worry in me.
2007-03-25 19:07:25 · answer #6 · answered by Cracea 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The American Government came up with the term for census purposes. It always cracks me up that people on yahoo attack "african-americans" about this stupid debate when Asians are called Asian Americans and Hispanics Hispanic-Americans.
"African-Americans" call themselves Blacks. But I'm sure that will just spark up a debate about how they aren't really that color.
Find something else to whine about.
2007-03-25 17:55:08 · answer #7 · answered by JAdorE 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
My friend was born and raised in Kenya and she is white, white, white...wel kinda beige actually. She is now an American citizen and she has been told she does not qualify as "African American".
I think people like to acknowledge their roots.
Best of luck with the book.
2007-03-25 17:58:43 · answer #8 · answered by ohbrother 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the first sentence of your last paragraph.
The rest of us think that African prefix is irrelevant if you have the American part down pat.
You are American or not American. If American, you are truly fortunate, if not American, I would like to extend an invitation to the rest of the world to join us to share our good fortune.
2007-03-25 17:50:23 · answer #9 · answered by valcus43 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
With a passion. But it seems to be the phrase of the moment anyway. We are all Americans. It's time to get with it and not be against it.
2007-03-25 20:11:21 · answer #10 · answered by carl j 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋