Black or "African American"?

Question

Ok so I've been having this debate for a while but since I'm neither black nor african american It's probably sensible to get some other opinions. I personally think it's about time we start calling people with black skin black again and stop with the African American joke. Not everyone with black skin is of African decent, and more importantly I'm pretty sure people who's families have been American for generations don't always consider themselves to be of African heritage so much as just average americans who happen to have black skin. The only thing that all black people have in common is the color of their skin and that's not a bad thing. I'm white, I'm not ashamed to be white and I don't need to be called a "European Australian" I'm just white... a black person is black and if there were blue people they'd be blue, it's just a color.

I'm hoping that in a community of intellectuals this isn't going to spark a racist response. It's just a point of curiosity

Answer 1

Hyphens are used to separate, If you must differentiate, I prefer American of "blank" descent.

The United States is the only country in the world that a person can emigrate to, and become a citizen of and actually become and American. No other country grants that privilege, you can't be a Greek unless you are Greek or French unless you are French. Everywhere else you are identified by the place you came from.

I think that's pretty cool, why are we so intent on losing that distinction?

As to your original question, it depends on the person you are referring to. Everyone that I know who fall into the catagory of African American prefer Black, the only people I see using African American to refer to a whole group of people are middle or upper class white men (and some women) who want to look like they actually care.

Answer 2

I completely agree with you. I'll tell you right now....the only race not included in my family tree is possibly Chinese. I say possibly because it might be in there, too, for all I know. Predominantly, my father's heritage was Scottish, my mother's was French-"something". I don't feel the need to be called anything but American, female, and my name. I suppose I really could be called American in the real sense because I have a nice chunk of Cheyenne in there, too. These people alive today are no more African than I am. Why stop at African American? Should we now label people Vietnamese American, Filipino American, Russian American, etc? Oh, how about Eskimo American? It really does sound silly, doesn't it? Where will all this PC nonsense end? The black people in America today are not African. Hell, they are not even black. They are mixed, just like the rest of us. I agree with you. Let's all just be Americans and forget about what country our ancestors came from a couple hundred years ago. I'm afraid you are going to get a lot of hissing, spitting, rabid responses, but kudos for asking the question. Here's your star.

Answer 3

A person of any race should be 'called' what he or she wants to be called. Among the 30 million Americans of color, some prefer to be called 'black' and some 'African American.' You will find that most Americans who are 'black' are exceedingly proud of their African heritage and know all about the African experience in the Americas. Yes, there are 'black' people in the USA whose ancestry were not kidnapped in West Africa and made slaves in South and North America, but most were. Across four centuries, 'black' people in the USA were called what white people chose to call them. The memory lingers. It's a matter of courtesy, of respect.

Answer 4

well i am afican american, black, brown, whatever u wanna call it as long as i am not called the 'N' word, i don't care. u are right i am not African nor are any of my family in at least the last 4 generations. i think some of us don't like to be called black, because for a long time black, had a negative connotation. i think people were just trying to find a politically correct way to id us w/o offense... but now just the color (black ,brown, etc) won't do it justice because i have met different races of peeps, who's skin is just as dark or darker than mine that aren't of african american decent. so i guess that is why we use the aa description....btw i was not offended by ur question

Answer 5

I am from Lebanon. I moved to the States a few years ago. You could call me a Labanese-American if you wanted to. BUT, when I have a child, he will be AMERICAN. Period. Yes he is of Lebanese descent but he is born and raised in America. The term African American was created to refer to people of African descent. But, the vast majority of blacks in the United States have been American in their family for generations. So I say, drop the African American thing. We are all Americans here.

Answer 6

Black is black, and should be called black.

There was a story recently of a stupid American journalist who was covering a news story in Aftrica. He got to the part in his transmission where he had to refer to a native black African. The only thing his pea-sized PC wimp brain could compute was to call the black African an "African-American African".

So what the hell would you call a white-skinned African? An "American-African African"? JHC Almighty when will the PC wimps just give it all up and go home?

Answer 7

Have you really seen BLACK people? I have never seen a BLACK person. I have seen all shades of Brown people, now how do we go about that? Hi, Mr. Tan, Mrs. Milk Chocolate Brown, Ms. Dark Chocolate, etc,,, why the heck do we need to keep labeling people at all. Why do we need to refer to a persons heritage, color, creed, religion etc... why can't we just call the other person Jim, Jill, Andrea, etc....
I want to be referred to as Andrea, a pretty nice person to know. How about that for a change?

Answer 8

I personally prefer Black.

I, my parents, and my parents' parents were born here. I feel I am as American as it comes and therefore shouldn't have to be sub-labeled. That's one of the things I admire about other country's (that we are suppose to be more advanced than), there are no sub-labeling. If you are born in Canada, you are Canadian, if you are born in Africa, you are African, if you are born in Europe, you are European. When terrorists wanted to strike Americans they didn't care what color our skin was, they saw us all as Americans. Can't I just be an American?

Answer 9

Unless they're actually from Africa, I don't refer to black people as African Americans. I have a Scottish heritage but I'm not from Scotland. So I don't say I'm Scottish American. My mom on the other hand, she was born in Scotland and got her citizenship here in the sates. She can call herself Scottish American.

Answer 10

I say black. It seems weird to say African-American because, you're right, the person could be Jamaican or something. I don't see anything wrong with just saying black. I say white when I refer to white people. I don't say European-American.