I find out that African-Americans are not "Black People" Is that True?

Question

I hear that us "African-Americans" have at least 30% European blood and also A Native American bloodlines to, That the word "Black" was a racial trem to classfiled African decendants, We are a Multi-Racial groups in the USA, and the genes can make a person with dark skin to light with Kinky hair and still be MIx-Race.

I think that one drop rule thing is Racist! Back then we where call 'Colored" or Mulatto people.

And then they change it to "African-American but did you know that:

Black American and African-American are two diffrent racial group of people! African-Americans are a muti-racially group with White and Native Bloodlines.

Black American is not a mix race! They are diffrent

70% of African-Americans here in the USA are a muti-Racially groups with white and native bloodlines thats why us come in diffrent shades of "Brown" and There no such thing of "black skin" of African decendants in USA!

YES, some of us don't have that bloodlines because they are "Black Americans but not African-Americans.

Answer 1

Many ethnic groups and races around the globe are not pure-blooded. What group of people is? There are wide variations found in the Latinos, variations within the East Indian community, the American Indian community, the Asian community, even the White community. You can find a variety of skin complexions, hair textures, and looks within practically ANY community around the globe. I've seen blond haired Arabs, white skinned East Indians, and blue eyed Blacks. But guess what? They still say they are Arab or East Indian, OR Black. Just because a community is not 100% pure blooded (which barely anyone is) does not mean they should abandon what they are for some new-fangled, madeup term such as "multiracial".

When a person says they are Black, they are not saying they are 100% African--we are no longer 100% African, that is a given. The Black community IS the Black community because of shared African heritage, a shared history and culture, and collective experience. It is about far more than degrees of Blackness. What EXACT difference is there supposed to be between African-Americans and Blacks? Last time SOCIETY checked, that was one and the same. There is NO difference. Black, African-American, colored, ***** have all been terms used to describe people of African descent in America. Black IS African-American, and African-American IS Black. These are not different tribes of people here!

Just because the African-American community doesn't happen to be 100% African by having a degree of non-Black ancestry, doesn't mean they should abandon what they call themselves in favor of being labeled "mixedrace". WHAT is THAT? That is a term that's only been in existence for the last 20, 25 years. What other community is held to such standards? Since the East Indian community has fair skinned people within their community, does that mean they should suddenly stop calling themselves East Indian and say "multiracial" instead? How about since there are blond haired, fair skinned Mexicans, does that mean the Mexican community should stop saying "mexican" and start saying "multiracial" now? I mean, this ideology can be held to ANY group of people, not just African-Americans. Members of the African-American community ARE called Black because they share African heritage, a common history and culture, and general experience. We are no longer pure blooded Africans; Black Americans have naturally absorbed some white and indian lineage through interracial relationships and marriages. But that does not mean that we should wholesale forsake calling ourselves Black and start calling ourselves some meaningless term. Besides, even many people who are MORE than "30% white" do not call themselves 'multiracial' but still BLACK. What then would be the rest of the African-American community's excuse?

Answer 2

Technically, many of us are not "black" people if you consider black to mean a pure blooded West African Bantu. "Black" is often more of a cultural identifier than a racial one but its color connections can cause some people emotional distress.

All the mixed peope joined our community because white America rejected anyone with known black blood. The people who could go for white were those who showed no outward trace of black and succeeded in hiding their ancestry from view. Whites rejected mixed race children.

Take a look at Halle Berry's high school experience. She had a white mother but the white kids did not accept her or treat her right. As Bill Cosby once said if "we" didn't accept those children, who would ?

Therefore, I agree with JC's position in that as long as white supremacism and puritanicalism is a significant force, those with black blood will de drawn (or pushed) towards the community with "black" blood no matter how our leaders decide to label the community.

Answer 3

Yes, it's a real issue of politics and linguistics. The African black people who came here as slaves or as free persons were often raped by white owners, and also intermarried with native Americans and others. So yes, most African-Americans/blacks are mixed blood. There used to be laws in the South, during the horrible times of Jim Crow, that even a drop of black blood made you black, and unable to marry a white person or even vote.

BUT, if "you" are African-American, then why am I not European-American? It irritates me that all non-white people are ___-Americans except for whites. I have a rich heritage from northern Europe--very different from people who came from the Mediterranean area, for instance. I find it interesting that at one point, Italians in America (among others) were considered very anti-black, yet many dark-skinned Italians are that way because their ancestors included blacks from Africa! Of course, that's a can of worms, but is very true for some older Italian-Americans.

Does this make sense? Interesting quesiton!

I live in Hawaii and native Hawaiians are almost all now mixed-race. The school for Hawaiian children here is a real rainbow--from black hair/dark skin/black eyes to blonde hair/blue eyes/fair skin. When Hawaiians were encouraged to recognize their heritage, more part-Hawaiians called themselves "Hawaiian," reflecting a pride in their history.

Answer 4

Most blacks do not associate themselves with or identify as being "multiracial" and they never will. As long as white supremacy/racism exists, blacks in America are always going to rally around a black identity; a black culture, and a black cause. And this often includes people who are bi-racial. Being black is more than genetics. It is history, culture, family and community. Blacks aren't going anywhere and the term, "multiracial", I believe is only temporary and nothing more than a passing fancy that will fade into obsecurity in due time. American Mulattoes have historically been a mainstay of the black community as most either identify as being black or being mixedrace. Also, keep in mind that being 30% white european is not the accepted standard of being exactly biracial as someone who is at least half white. So 30% white and the rest black is definitely considered black. However most blacks in America are actually LESS than 30% white european. Most blacks in America are about 17% white.

Answer 5

Well in this day and age many people are bound to be a mix of *something* so it's not exactly surprising that someone might be. Some folks didn't just lighten up all on their own, has to be some lighter genes in there someplace.

Yes the one drop rule is ridiculous, although I've never heard of it actually in use in this day and age. By those strict 'rules' that would make "pure" (hah yeah right) whites back then not want to classify me as white even though I look like them. How ridiculous where they back then?? lol

Answer 6

There happens to be european and indian blood in the black communities, but that does not make all of those comunities mulattoes. Being black is definately more than just one's genes. Look at the Spanish community. There are clearly black people who are Spanish and not european in the least bit. But they share a common culture. I'm half white/black and I do not consider myself either of the halves, but different. I'm not really into either culture either. I'm just a regular New Yorker with a NY state of mind. I would define myself as a mulatto. I believe there were mulatto communities back in the day who were into a Victorian style of living which I'm not into either, but I'm sure each had their own nuances.

Answer 7

Once again. Don't you get it. We're all the same. The only reason we look different is because of the place we were brought up in. There's cultures but not races. You and I are the same because we're from the human race. But we're different because of where we were brought up in like I said before. Stop it with these questions. You and I are not any different than the next person sitting beside you. (Ugh, society)

Answer 8

I am not an american and I am pretty confused by the nomenclature. What is one called if he has a parent from south american countries and another of african ancestry?

Answer 9

Few african americans are purely of african ancestry this was very obvious when I was there.

But culturally they are 'black" there seems to be a specific black culture in the US.

Answer 10

I've always had a problem with the term "black" to describe the descendants of African slaves that reside in the U.S. Idk about you but what I would call that skin color would be anywhere from brown to beige, but not "black".
Then again, doesn't classifing people based on race become rascist? Why is that classification even needed?