What can't Creoles just be Creole?

Question

I don't understand why it is so hard for people to understand who we are. It bothers me when people ask why we can't except that we are black. That's like saying why do people consider themselves pacific islanders and not just say that they are asian. I mean give me a break. What is African American; A culture, a language, a way of cooking. We as creoles have all of these things. We have a creole way of cooking, dancing, speaking, religion (most creoles are catholic). I think technically creoles would be considered Latinos before black. Futhermore, I do not know anyone person that is "african-American" or "euro-American" in my family unless they have married into the family. My parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were all Creole.

I don't understand why it is so hard for people to understand who we are. It bothers me when people ask why we can't except that we are black. That's like saying why do people consider themselves pacific islanders and not just say that they are asian. I mean give me a break. What is African American; A culture, a language, a way of cooking. We as creoles have all of these things. We have a creole way of cooking, dancing, speaking, religion (most creoles are catholic). I think technically creoles would be considered Latinos before African-American. Futhermore, I do not know anyone person that is "african-American" or "euro-American" in my family unless they have married into the family. My parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were all Creole.

There is nothing wrong with being African-American, if you are African and American but I am Creole-American.

Answer 1

creole is a culture not a race the same as Latin all the things you just talked about like cooking and language my best friend grew up in the creole culture he is from Haiti As far as race creole for the most part are known as being part of the ******* race with a white/french or mulatto add mixture.

Answer 2

It is hard for people to understand who you are because you are a locality minority. There aren't any Creoles in Cleveland, if you get my drift. I think quite a few of us think that Creoles are French and African American not latino at all! Or Caucasion and African American of a certain mixture. Appreciate the clarification.

Answer 3

Like it's been said Creole is a culture not a race, aside from your culture you do have a race and assuming from what people say to you your race is black; when was the last time you saw Creole on a government form?

My mother is from Haiti and speaks Creole but she is black

Answer 4

to pale kreyol btw? well anywayz..

idk, creoles do have a specific culture, language, etc. and i thought creoles were christian mostly...see my family is christian and some members do voodoo aka hoodoo. but anyway...yeah a lot ppl say that we are"denying our blackness" wtf is that. to be creole you have to be indian, french, and BLACK, and sometimes a little spansih in the mix for some.

im creole and i really dont say it unless asked where im from. clearly i look black, so these ppl just want an explainion for my "different" features.

its hard to understand b/c there arent that many all over the place. im the only la. creole i know that isnt family. i know others but not personally, met them online. i know A LOT of cajuns tho, it seems like they ARE everywhere...lol

i mean i personally dont care if some calls me creole, black, or african american. i get the gist of wat they mean. as long as im not mistaken for cajun (you kno wat i mean..lol) then its cool.

i dont feel like educating everyone i meet abt my culture..plus as soon i say im creole, ppl esp. black ppl get mad at me..as if i just dont want to say im black...but then i say, well you asked me "what im mixed with"

so dont worry abt these ppl, creole is creole, and ppl who have an issue with it can get over it...laisez les bon temps roullez!! adyeu! chico,

-chai

edit: chicka above me, your mom is haitian and speaks HATIAN creole, not our french crele..some minor differences. but the culture is related. we arent saying its a race. haitian isnt a race either, its a culture...we just want ppl to stop saying we dont think we are black....and that there are differences among non creoles and creoles.....we arent fully black but we focus on that fact and we dont deny our african-ness....(if thats a word...dont think it is..lol)

Answer 5

if they are calling you african american, they'd be wrong, but if they're calling you black and your skin is black, they'd be right. and how offensive is that?
i have referred to my cousins husband as black and he's from trinidad. my jamaican friend is black and so is my panamanian friend. i have a black friend from the bahamas as well. my puerto rican neighbor lovingly called her boy ***** because he was very dark. it means black.

gee how bad is it to be black, anyway? i'm japanese and folks insist on calling me asian. god forbid they accidentally think i'm chinese or something. when they say asian, i correct them. i am japanese. i think it's p.c, crap and a true slap in the face to call a person asian, hispanic or european.