Why do people call Africans, "Black"?

Question

Stop labeling african people as black! If you ever looked up at the sky at night, or think of the universe, What colour is space really? It's BLACK... Black represents NOTHING... EMPTY SPACE.

African people aren't even black, they're brown. African people aren't nothing or empty space that's just there. STOP CALLING THEM BLACK.

They are something. Something more special then you people out there that are racist. CHANGE YOURSELF... STOP CALLING PEOPLE BLACK.

Answer 1

Calm down... Few of us "Blacks" take offense to being called that. It's ok... call us black :)

Answer 2

Stop telling people how they should identify themselves. It's their choice, not yours, and you should honor their choice.

Some people PREFER the designation "black." Many Black Americans have no direct link to Africa; they have lived here for too many generations to have any specific connection with a particular African nation or with the continent in general. "Black" embraces their experience as dark-skinned people; something that it is distinct and not tied to any particular place of residence.

You could just as easily argue that "White" is the color of nothing, of empty space; and that white people are really pink, not white.

You're getting so hung up on names that you're ignoring the people underneath the skin. There is nothing inherently insulting or wrong about the words black and white - if YOU want to attribute a negative meaning, that is your issue, not anyone else's. Don't assume everyone else thinks as negatively as you do.

Answer 3

Not all people with brown skin are from Africa, hon, and it's just not possible to look at a person and be expected to know their original nationality. I'm not "white" but that's what they call me. I've got Spanish and Slavic blood. I'm kind of a medium beige color. I call myself white (if actually asked). I have a good friend who is black and she hates the term "African-American". In this PC age, it's just impossible to not offend people. Don't take it personally. We know you're not black any more than we're white or Asian people are yellow. It's just a word, hon.

Answer 4

i guess you have a point, but i mean some African people like being called black because they were born in America and others like to be called African. I'm African and i really don't care whether you call me black or African.

Answer 5

I dont call Africans (i.e citizens in Africa) Black. Even though in reality they are. I call them Africans or black africans along with most people. I call black people outside of Africa BLACK (i.e Black American, Black Canadian, Black British). African Americans invented the definition of the term for blacks in the Western World. Google black power movement. Its generally means people of African descent NOT Africans.

And not to sound harsh but calling SOME Black Americans an African and leaving off the American is usually insulting to them.

Answer 6

Well, hate to break it to you, but Africans have skin so dark that it is, in contrast to their eyes, black. So yeah, people call them black. While it may not be politicly correct, I wouldn't say it's a horribly offensive term.

So on the flip side... why aren't you freaking out about people being called white? or brown? if you're going to freak out about people being called by the color of their skin, might as well rant about them all and not single out one specific nationality.

Answer 7

I agree with you oculus. We're all humans anyway and that is the only true race. And to Jezebel: you are denying your roots in the most perfect way (sarcasm). Say or do what you want sweetie, your African ancestry will NEVER change.

Answer 8

i think a lot of people miss something of what you said. for all those he said why do they call africans black.(the meaning of africans is people born in Africa not africans descendants). and we call africans black because that's their race, as i'm white. also calling them black is not discriminating them. the discrimination is always in the listener not in the offender. i mean not all the people who calls you black is doing it to underestimate you, but if you have that idea in your head you'll think he is discriminating you when actually you are the one discriminating them.

Answer 9

Why should people whom have never set foot on african soil be called african. Besides, not all africans are black (i.e., charlize theron, gary player, etc...). I know many black people: but, I dont know any africans. Personally, I feel that someones skin color is (or should be, anyways) about as important as their hair color. If you must refer to people by their ethnicity...why not use the region that THEY (not their ancestors) originate from. My ancestors were from italy and ireland, but I'm an American...alway have been...alway will be...

Answer 10

Well, what should we be called then? I'd personally rather be called blk than African as my family has been in this country for hundreds of years and there's nothing African about me.

Answer 11

Hell, I don't know what to call --------? When I was young we were taught to be respectful and call them ******, later that was bad so we went to colored, like the "c" in naacp then that was bad so it went to black.. now it's something else. Why can't you get together and decide what you want and make sure it's what everyone of your race ( which is probably as mixed as mine) wants and let us know. Or perhaps you just need to complain about something..