What do African Americans want to be called today?

Question

We are playing a benefit in Atlanta this Saturday for poor young African American children to help them feel comfortable in society and help them to finish their schooling. I need to know what African Americans want to be called today. It can be terribly embarrassing when trying to make friends with a minority group to give them a label they now consider racist. I always liked "people of color" because it sounds positive and a colorful personality is outgoing and happy.

I really think that African American is limiting because those that are descendants of the early slaves have been out of Africa for hundreds of years so they shouldn't have the stigma attached to that continent (AIDS, Poverty, Crude Nudity). I know that when you just say "Americans" people assume you are talking about White America (they don't like to be reminded of the slave owner families).

Also, I am trying to pick up some slang so that I can speak in a way that would make them comfortable. Please help me with either of these requests by Saturday. Thanks!

Answer 1

.

Our society really needs to try to begin to understand that
the 'African-American' (AA) 'Ethnic' group is *not* the
same group as the ’Black American' (BA) 'Race' group --
that the two (2) terms are *not* synonymous and that the
two (2) terms should *not* be used inter-changeably.

We are *not* speaking of ‘semantics’ here – but rather
– the BAs & AAs are two different groups of people.

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

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

As confusing as it seems -- the U.S. government
[due to racism & wanting to stigmatize the part
of their lineage that was from Africa which, by
the way, is only one part of their lineage] ---

has labeled those individuals who are the known
"descendents of the survivors" of the system of
chattel-slavery found in the USA as being AAs
(the hyphen is used in reference to acknowledging
the fact that most of them are Mixed-Race,
with African & non-African blood lines)

AND

has labeled those people who are "volitional immigrants"
who are directly from places such as the continent of
African, the West Indies, etc. -- as being BAs
(with the word 'Black' used in reference to acknowledging
the fact that they are of a Mono-racial full-Black lineage).

In addition, it should also be remembered that – although
some AAs adhere to a socio-political ‘identity’ that is
often described by the slang term of “black”—the AAs
are actually *not* a "Race" group at all -- but rather
they *are* a largely Mixed-Race 'Ethnic' group
(and the socio-political ‘identity’ that a person chooses
*does not* change their racially-mixed ancestral lineage).

Most (+70%) of the people born to two (2) parents who
are of the AA ‘Ethnic’ group are are of a Multi-Racially
‘Mixed’ (MGM) lineage – while the people to two (2)
parents who are of the BA ‘Racial’ group – on the
other hand – are of a Mono-Racially ‘Black’ lineage.

There is a big difference between a largely Multi-racial
'Ethnic' group and between a Mono-racial 'Race group.

In addition, there is also a big difference between
one's socio-political 'identity' (ex. "black") and
one's ancestral racial 'lineage' (ex. 'Mixed').

Just because a person adheres to a given
socio-political 'identity' does *not* change
the composition of their ancestral 'lineage'.

Also -- the 'One-Drop' Rule (the false teaching that
'any amount' of Black ancestral lineage make a
person "full black") is nothing more than pure-racism.

The racist 'One-Drop Rule' (used only by the United
States government, by the way) was created during
the antebellum, chattel-slavery era by White racial
supremacist in order to get people to believe the false
racist myth that the so-called White "race" was "pure"
and to falsely view the Black "racial" admixture
(even the slightest amount) within someone's
ancestral lineage as being "tainted".

To embrace the 'One-Drop Rule' is the equivalent of BOTH
embracing "racism" and embracing the false teaching
that a Mixed-Race person's Black lineage is "tainted".

My advice is that a non-Racist should *not* embrace
the concept of the 'One-Drop Rule' -- as "Black blood"
is *not* "tainted" -- and should never be perceived
or embraced as being so (not even in the
name of so-called "pride" and "unity").

In addition, legally-speaking, attempted forcible
application of the racist 'One-Drop Rule' -- against
any individual or group -- was made illegal and ruled
as unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court
in 1967 via the case of 'Loving vs. The State of Virginia'.

Through the 'Loving vs. Virginia' case, the U.S.
Supreme Court, ruled against both all of the laws
banning Interracial marriage -- and -- also ruled
that any so-called law which forcibly applied the
'One Drop Rule' -- was racist, discriminatory,
illegal, unconstitutional, and non-enforcible.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1402

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1400

Related Links:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MGM-Mixed
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FGM-Mixed

------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------

--- Dr. Luigi Caveli-Sforza, who is the Executive
Director of the Human Genome Project and the
world's foremost authority on human genetics
has both tested and proven that more that 70%
of all AAs have a full ancestral lineage which
consists of +20-30% White / European and
more than +25% Amerindian bloodlines.

--- That means that the 'average' (+70%) person
born to two (2) parents who are both members
of the AA Ethnic group actually has slightly
less than 50% Black / African blood lineage
found in his or her full-ancestral lineage.

For more information -- see supporting links listed below:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1399
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1032
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1034
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/991
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1570
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/1573

--------------------------- ADDED NOTE ---------------------

It should also be noted that -- contrary to popular belief and
myth spread among many groups who are not educated or
informed on the whole topic -- it was not the group that is
currently being referred to as being the African-Americans
(AAs) -- who chose this term for them -- but rather --
like so many of the other terms used to describe
them -- this term was also implemented by
the United States federal government
(starting with the 1990 United
States 'Census Bureau' Forms).

If a person insists on spreading the 'myth' that it was the
AAs who chose this term for themselves -- it is clearly
indicative of the fact that they have never even once
actually studied the entire topic and are simply basing
their comments on assumption-based ignorance --
rather than objective facts and empirical evidence.

.

Answer 2

i don't think the term African Americans would be the best approach although many black people may tolerate it. I personally identify myself as a Black American , because although some of my ancestors came from Africa many of them did not so why should I have to be forced into the label of African Americans. I don't see a reason in why White Americans should label themselves as European Americans( a term not used very often). To me an African American is a person of first or second generation of Africans not for me 7 or maybe 8, and now tab bits of everything else blended in. Also it is not a good idea to use "people of color." Picking up slang for them would also not be a good idea because if you are White they will be expecting you to speak as if you were in your comfort zone, speaking in slang will give them the impression that you feel that they are too stupid to communicate with them on your level.

Answer 3

Africans stored slaves as prisoners of battle won via tribal clash. White plantation homeowners made an enterprise of it. In one case, sure, it was once deplorable. But, it was once particularly small. In the opposite case, it was once a big scale enterprise which handled folks like livestock. And, were not Europeans intended to be "civilized" again then? Today, we will thank the entire difficult paintings of all the ones slaves for the fiscal supremacy of the US. We passed centuries-lengthy situated economies at the backs of slave exertions in particularly speedy time. Owe? I'd say on the very least, any person having fun with a tight existence right here within the US owes the ones slaves and their descendants a excellent debt of gratitude. Without them, none of this could be viable. You additionally owe them a way of disgrace, sir. Shame.

Answer 4

The absolute correct term according to geneticists is "Americans of apparent African descent". Technically "African American" refers to a person who personally emigrated from Africa and became a citizen of the United States. Unfortunately the media coins these terms, and they get everything all mixed up. For example the term "holistic" means "preventative" it was never intended to mean "all encompassing" but some uneducated person in the media heard what sounded like the word "whole" in it and thought it meant "all encompassing" all these years later people STILL use the term wrong.

Answer 5

People of color? Are you living in the 50's? Thats horrible.
Like.....what color? green, blue, red....
All the "African American" people I know refer to themselves as black. But who cares? My friends don't call me "white" they call me by my name..duh.

p.s. Dont use slang with them - that will be such a joke.
As a matter of fact, are you FOR REAL w/ this post?
You are condesceding and snotty on so many levels that I cant even address them all.

If you are that uncomfortable, dont represent the group that you are doing the benefit with. You wont make a good impression
I happen to come from a privledged background and am involved in many civic org's and charities. But I am not the snob that you sound like. Good grief

Answer 6

I'm not going to touch anything other than learning slang. I know that you may think we speak a completely different language but one of the things I find most disgusting is the fact that some people feel when they see a black person they have to change their manner of speech. If you don't normally speak slang why even bother now? I understand catering to your audience but I think that move would only make your more of an outsider..try being yourself.

Answer 7

Just say African America. I don't find it offensive when someone say black or Africna American cause that's what we are.

For the person that said she has no connection to Africa, I hope you are not black because if you are that's such a stupid comment to make. I know a lot of black people have different mixtures in their gene pools but when it all comes down to it you're black.

Answer 8

Call them by their name. If you have to refer to color use BLACK for instance "that black guy in the white t-shirt". I think "African American" sounds too formal like you're going out of your way not to offend someone because you are not comfortable addressing a black person. "People of color" is just like saying "that colored boy" which is not good because that's what white people started saying when they finally got the hint the the N-word was not appropriate but colored is no better. As far as slang, if it's not something that you would say to your white counterparts, then don't say it to a black person. For instance, if you say "Hey brotha" to your white friends then it's ok to say it to someone black. Don't use words that you don't ordinarilly use because it will probably sound like you're making fun of their culture especially if you don't sound natural. Just "keep it real". The black race will respect you if you are real and respectful. Basically, just treat people how you want to be treated regardless of race.

Answer 9

All your statements are labeling. Avoid labels at all costs. If you call these kids "poor young african americans," then thats what they'll think they are never progress. Call them "KIDS," or "CHILDREN of ATLANTA," because that is exactly what they are. Give them hope and help lift them to a higher level.

Answer 10

Hi I am a Black/Hispanic Women and I think:

It depends on an individuals up bringing as to what they prefer to be called. If I was you I would stay away from choosing a specific name when talking to a group of Black people, because your bound to offend someone. I would keep it neutral.

It sounds like a positive thing your doing, I commend you and good luck on your endeavor!!!

Answer 11

The trick is to use three verses interchangeably. For formal, african-american. For any ol' thang, Black & for visionary/complimentative People of color. That's really it, you can try to make up some more phrases, but if you use those 3 you'll be fine. & since you'r in ATL, try to use som Y'all's. BUT DO NOT SAY YOU PEOPLE!!