Who is tired of the term "african american"?

Question

this is the most retarded thing ever. Just some way for the insecure to be labeled something. I think its a form of disrespect. putting something in front of your country. The only people who are true african american who were born in africa (including whites) and have become citizens of the USA. NOBODY ELSE...i dont need a prefix. I AM AMERICAN...PERIOD. let it go already

Answer 1

People need to try to understand that the
largely Multi-Racial ETHNIC group that
has currently been labeled with the term
'African-American' (AA) IS NOT the
same group as the Mono-Racial RACE
group called 'Black-American' (BA) .

The AAs & the BAs are not the same group!

They are two separate groups.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/991

The AAs are the (largely Mixed-Race)
ETHNIC group.

The BAs are the (Mono-Raced)
RACE group.

As crazy as it sounds
-- the U.S. government
has labeled those people
whose ancestors were
chattel-slaves, as being the
'African-Americans (AAs)
(the hyphen is used in reference
to acknowledging the fact that most
of them are Mixed-Race, with both
African & non-African blood lines)
AND
has labeled those people
who are immigrants who
are directly from African and
arrived volitionally , as being
'Black-Americans' (BAs)
(with the word 'Black' used in
reference to acknowledging
the fact that they are of a
Mono-racial full-Black lineage).

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE
THE LINKS LISTED BELOW:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/991
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1399

.

Answer 2

That term is just saying that our ancestors came from Africa, not necessarily the people alive today that are called that. I do hate the word Black(like crayon color) though, I mean technically, we are brown, and I have NEVER seen a person that was actually Black, I just think it would be a darker shade of brown. I guess I could see where you are coming from though, but only a little. Besides, its been going on for this long, why change it only to complicate things. The answers you get will be based on individuality, meaning that some people like it, and others don't. I don't know what to say about the whole matter, I mean as long as it isn't racial, then I am cool with it.

Answer 3

I think the term African American is absolutely great for Black people in America. It's more respectful. it speaks to our nationality and heritage as opposed to our skin color. It affirms a culture and a lineage, which I believe people need, especially people who are discriminated against. It shows a sense of pride. You don't see native Americans or Asian Americans clamoring to be called "red" or "yellow". My only problem with the term is when the media throws the term around to include EVERY Black man or woman in the diaspora. I had to do a double take when a news reporter described an Afro-Cuban man who had won an athletic competition as "the first African American ever to win an award in that field"!!

Answer 4

I am an African born in America.

Therefore, I am an American African not an African American.

I just use the term Black though. The term "Africa" is named after another White explorer who's name is Africanus.

Answer 5

I agree with you completely. I am a woman, I am black and I am American, plain and simple. I've long been tired of the term African American and never once used it to describe myself. Whoopi Goldberg commented that when a society begins to single out a group, they do it by using another label that differentiates them from the society or country that they are a part of, like the Germans did to the Jews.

Answer 6

I call white people European Americans (mostly to piss them off) but I dont remember taking a vote to call myself African-American. Yes we are all American but its no denying that we have African ancestry. The term African American was created so blacks wont forget where we came from. Id prefer Americans of African descent than what we have now

Answer 7

You sound stupid. You are a white person but you are called Caucasian. Why not say white, you weren't born in the land of Caucasian people. You sound very ignorant.

African American originated from Africa. Not white people. White people originated from Europe. They might have changed locations. but they are still the same race of people. When whites are born in Africa, they should refer to themselves as Caucasian African, because the white race did not originate from Africa.

Why do Mexican born children refer to themselves (in America) as Mexican?
Same as why don't African born Caucasians should refer to themselves as (Caucasian Africans)

We are African Americans because our race originated from Africa and everyone is told that they must have some kind of racial Identity.

If not everyone would be considered Americans, there would be no need to mark down what race you are on formal application, test, or reports and, White folks would never do that. They're to racist.

Answer 8

I'd rather be referred as black, rather than African-American because of the way the term is used in America, meaning (everybody with black or brown skin).

I believe that there is a very big gap between AfAms and caribbeans and a shorter one between caribbeans and Africans (the real ones)!!!

Answer 9

Good question. African Americans are born in Africa and become citizens of the United States. Italians born in Italy become United States citizens, and are Italian Americans. Fine, whatever. I have German parents, one born in Germany, but I am NOT German American, I am freakin American, and PROUD OF IT. But if you were born American and are still American citizens, then you are AMERICAN. If you are born here, and not proud of it, then get the h*ll OUT!!!!!

Answer 10

Let's see I am 31, and was born in America. I am Black, and I was born in America. I know Africans who were born in Africa came to America, received their citizenship...Now, they are African-Americans. I am Black all day everyday. I like and know that I am black....I have enough labels, don't need that one!

Answer 11

I agree. I don't use that PC term either. I was born American, I'm living as an American, and I will die an American. I was raised as a black woman, but I couldn't tell you my sole ethnicity to save my life! My family is a big melting pot and I'm am proud of it.