Which is politically correct? "Black" or "African-American"? I am writing a paper and I have heard both ways

Question

I am writing a paper about cultural influences in infants and toddlers. : ) Thank you! Sorry to ask, just always better to be well informed! Thanks!

Just curious, if you are Black or African-American, which do you prefer? I am white, or Caucasian, or an eighth German, or German-Irish-Scottish-Welsh-English. I personally don't care which ya call me. : )

Have a good day!

I should explain. I am explaining what I learned in my sociology class about families from different cultures and demographics. For instance, my particular "group" do not have as close of family ties as a whole as the other "groups". This is an insanely sensitive issue, and I generally avoid it, but I have to bring it up for this daggon paper. : ) Ah, the weight of proper etiquette! : ) I am not meaning to single anyone out or say anyone is not American, just trying to figure out how to make an in-this-case-necessary distinction. Sorry if I offended anyone!

Thank you for all the answers! I really do appreciate it!

Answer 1

When you say "African American" I refer to African blacks who have gained American citizenship; when you say "Black Americans" I know they are black and American. If I am black and have American citizenship, I'd prefer to be known as an "American" (not ashamed of the heritage or color) - i think it is correct.

I know many Swiss people who brushed aside being referred to as Swiss French or Swiss German - they are just Swiss. Why do America still persists in categorizing people according their their forefathers heritage?

Answer 2

Some blacks prefer African-American and some African-Americans prefer black, so...
I prefer black, but I use both. I use black when I refer to the race and African American when I refer to the culture. For example, "Sickle cell anemia is most common in black people", because it's not just American black people but all people with black-African ancestry, but "Blues is the most influential African-American artform"- because it's specifically African AND American. (Also, not all Africans are black, so an African-American could actually be white, Arabic, a pygmie, or any of several other races or mixtures, and we don't call white people European-Americans but white, so black balances- really, it's a shame that ***** and "colored people" have such negative histories because they're way more precise.)

Answer 3

Good question. It really depends on who you ask. As a black man, I prefer being called black, or more specifically, I prefer not having any title other than American. To automatically equate black with Africa is not necessarily correct. I have traced my ancestory as far as possible, and not one single family member originated from any African country.

Answer 4

African-American. This is also the correct term for people to use in Brasil & countries with large African populations in the Americas.

Answer 5

I suppose, this is a question you'll not get one answer on...

historically, it used to be correct to call them "****er" - then it was correct to call Black People "Negroes" or "Black", then it was changed to "Coloured", the last ones I heard during my literary and cultural studies was "Americans of African Descent".

The most important thing for your paper is that you thoroughly define the group, and stick to your terms.
Good luck.

Answer 6

I think they should be called black becuz im called white not european american, i was born in american there for i am an american even if my grandma came from europe i wudnt have anyone call me a european im just white

Answer 7

Either form is acceptable; but I think the most politically correct one is "African-American". Another form that you hear sometimes is "people of color". Strange since they used to be known as "colored people", but you can't say that anymore because people get all bent out of shape.

Answer 8

Black American....Is a white person born in Africa... African, or white? White African?
They have a color, and a country they were born in. To go by their ancestry, just doesn't make sense.

Answer 9

When I'm being casual, I say blacks. But then that's not really true cos not all "blacks" have dark skin. So, sometimes African-Americans suffices.

Answer 10

In my sociolgy class, I was taught that "black" is the politically correct term, because not all black people are from Africa... some are from Haiti or other countries.