Do white people feel uncomfortable when they refer to african American Americans as "black"?

Question

I've noticed that a lot of white people (not all) won't refer to AAs as black...they always say "African Americans"
I call "caucasians" white and I rarely refer to them as caucasian. I don't get offended when I am called black but I get uncomfortable when I am having a discussion about race and white people INSIST on saying African American EVERYTIME...some even go as far as correcting themselves when they "slip up" and call us black.

I think it's kinda funny actually...do you guys (those who do this) think that black people will get offended by your use of the word "black"????

Answer 1

i dont feel uncompfortable saying black but i do feel weird saying african american but thats just me

Answer 2

I have been chastised for using the term "black" , "African-American", or "*****". The women I work with I now call sisters. And they think it's funny and are not offended! It is a very touchy subject and the politically correct terminology keeps changing!
I am considered caucasion, but am very olive skinned and could never be "white"! And I have never met a human that was truly black.
This rainbow of color that God created was for environmental success in the beginning and should be considered as just another part of what makes each of us unique! But we humans need to find something to hurt each other with, so being derogatory about a color other than your own can be used as a weapon.
It is is shaky ground to walk on!

Answer 3

This is an interesting question. I am not uncomfortable calling black people "black people" or "African Americans" (and good point, what if they're Jamaican?) Anyway. The thing that makes me a little uncomfortable is referring to a group as "blacks." I am not sure why. I guess just using the term to describe based on their skin color dehumanizes them to me. Somehow adding "people" makes it easier for me to say. I also don't like saying "Jews" for this same concept...but I don't really know where I got this thought process. I realize we must use some word to differentiate between different groups of people sometimes, but most importantly, I want to ensure that I don't use any term that makes it more separative than necessary. You get what I'm trying to say?

Answer 4

It's the whole PC thing that took off in the 80s and 90s.
We were told that blacks would be offended if we said "black" in stead of AA. Then some clever chap pointed out that not all blacks are from Africa.

From my experience interacting with people from all over the world, there are very few people who have a skin tone that is actually black - I mean that's pretty dark. The darkest skin is dark brown. And for any 2 different skin colors in the world, you can probably find someone else who has a skin color somewhere in between.

So, can I assume that since you would prefer to be called "black," then all people in the world with enough melanin in their skin to be darker than average would also want to be called black? Can I say brown?

Answer 5

It is my opinion that EVERYONE needs to chill about about what one race calls the other and we would all get along so much better. Whites are scared to use ANY word that means someone not white.
I am white and I have noticed that so long as I don't use a derogatory term it's only other whites that will give me a look like I just did something wrong.
I personally don't care if someone not white (And not white gets me a look from most whites) calls me a White, Caucasian, European, etc, Heck, I kinda like "Cracker" lol.
Everyone needs to turn off their televisions and stop worrying so much about being politically correct in their expressions.
Racism will never end so long as we have the mass media whispering in our ears that we can't say this and that. We can and it only bothers those that are trying to hard to pretend there is no difference or pretend that they don't notice the person's skin color they are talking to.
Pretending you don't doesn't fool anyone. It just makes you look silly to any intelligent person.

Answer 6

No I don't feel uncomfortable using the word black.

Some people in both races are very touchy. They make each other uncomfortable with the word.

I have met blacks that refer to themselves as African American and are offended by being called black.

It's all depends on the person. Everyone is different regardless of race.

Answer 7

It seems every decade or so there is a new term for "people of color".Example: "Coloreds","******", "Blacks", and "Darkies" to name a few......it seems that when the title changes Caucasians tend to be scared they are using the wrong term and will offend by not being politically correct.Perhaps they have crossed paths with someone that has taking the term "black" in the wrong way and caught grief for it?

Answer 8

I do call people black because like other people previously said, you may not be african american. And like you said, its not you see people walking around calling white people caucasians so I don't believe people will be affended by me callend them black, but there are always some people who could be offended. Who knows in these days?

Answer 9

Even though I am black, I think it's actually kind of annoying that white people will say African American's, while in front of you or in front of black people, but behind doors, they will just say black people. I like when white people say black people, because it feels like they are more real and less artificial.

Answer 10

I hate saying african american, i grew up saying black, and i damn sure aint going to change now. The few black friends i have tell me black is ok, so its going to stay black, i dont see anything wrong with it, and i wont change.
The other side of that coin is a friends grandmom, who feels the same way about saying coloured, which was acceptable 50 years ago, and she refuses to change.

Answer 11

well I am not one of those .... I will call a black person black and I will call a white person white because thats what they are ... but I will never call a black American .. African American because there is NO such thing unless they were born in Africa