Hyphenated-Americans
Replies
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Africans were brought to the Americas and the Caribean since the begining of European Colonialism, it wasn't that long ago. Colonialism is still very relevant, in fact, it's the reason for this ENTIRE CONVERSATION. We wouldn't be talking about hyphenation at all if it wasn't for our recent colonial experience.
The first modern humans leaving Africa roughly 150,000 years ago, not relevant.
how is that not relevant? thats where we are all from.
Just because the earliest resemblance of a human fossil was found in Africa, doesn't mean that is the only place where they existed at that time. It just means that conditions there were best for the preservation of 150,000 year old skull.
are you saying that we evolved somewhere else or that humanity evolved in several locations independent of each other?
its been a while since i read anything but at the time the theory was humanity and civilization evolved out of Africa.
Bolded the important part for you.
Just like I stated earlier, if you haven't done any genealogical research, then any claims to ethnicity is going to be theoretical anyway, regardless if you are white, black, brown, purple, or green!
unless something has changed(and clearly you have no info on the matter) im going to stick with what most scientists say and continue to state we all came out of Africa.
Wow! Huge assumption to think I have no info on the matter. The only statement that I made was that the earliest evidence that they found came out of Africa... that is a fact and that is what science states.0 -
Africans were brought to the Americas and the Caribean since the begining of European Colonialism, it wasn't that long ago. Colonialism is still very relevant, in fact, it's the reason for this ENTIRE CONVERSATION. We wouldn't be talking about hyphenation at all if it wasn't for our recent colonial experience.
The first modern humans leaving Africa roughly 150,000 years ago, not relevant.
how is that not relevant? thats where we are all from.
Just because the earliest resemblance of a human fossil was found in Africa, doesn't mean that is the only place where they existed at that time. It just means that conditions there were best for the preservation of 150,000 year old skull.
are you saying that we evolved somewhere else or that humanity evolved in several locations independent of each other?
its been a while since i read anything but at the time the theory was humanity and civilization evolved out of Africa.
Bolded the important part for you.
Just like I stated earlier, if you haven't done any genealogical research, then any claims to ethnicity is going to be theoretical anyway, regardless if you are white, black, brown, purple, or green!
Oh boy.
I have a degree in anthropology and biology, I think I know a thing or two about human evolution. I'm not in the mood to explain basic science to strangers on the internet, I'll just tell you that anthropologists now generally agree in the Out of Africa hypothesis, the evidence supports it.0 -
I think hyphenated America is ignorant.
I am not Anglo-Saxon-Native-American-American
I am not Cherokee-French-Canadian-Scot-Irish-American
I am American.
Me and my husband have this argument often. He swears he is Mexican. I keep telling him he can't be Mexican if he was born in Texas.
Hahaha... I have a friend that is of Mexican descent... and when you ask "where is he from" he will say "Texas"... that's it. That's his "ethnicity"... Texan.0 -
Africans were brought to the Americas and the Caribean since the begining of European Colonialism, it wasn't that long ago. Colonialism is still very relevant, in fact, it's the reason for this ENTIRE CONVERSATION. We wouldn't be talking about hyphenation at all if it wasn't for our recent colonial experience.
The first modern humans leaving Africa roughly 150,000 years ago, not relevant.
how is that not relevant? thats where we are all from.
Just because the earliest resemblance of a human fossil was found in Africa, doesn't mean that is the only place where they existed at that time. It just means that conditions there were best for the preservation of 150,000 year old skull.
are you saying that we evolved somewhere else or that humanity evolved in several locations independent of each other?
its been a while since i read anything but at the time the theory was humanity and civilization evolved out of Africa.
Bolded the important part for you.
Just like I stated earlier, if you haven't done any genealogical research, then any claims to ethnicity is going to be theoretical anyway, regardless if you are white, black, brown, purple, or green!
Oh boy.
I have a degree in anthropology and biology, I think I know a thing or two about human evolution. I'm not in the mood to explain basic science to strangers on the internet, I'll just tell you that anthropologists now generally agree in the Out of Africa hypothesis, the evidence supports it.
Again...
The only statement that I made was that the earliest evidence that they found came out of Africa... that is a fact and that is what science states.
What is "accepted" is only true until someone proves differently.0 -
ok, well i don't think hyphenating is stupid.
if your white, your prob not getting discriminated against very much, and in the eyes of almost everyone, which part of europe your from doesn't matter.
but america is very racist, race matters. your race and heritage is a huge part of your identity. i think it's very understandable that many visible minorities would want to hyphenate.
^^ Very prejudiced statement to make.
I don't want to hyphenate. I'm a visible minority, I just want to say American or better yet, not be asked on paper EVER and in person seldom only if it mattered like I were dying the ambulance came and it had something to do with odds of blood type or some *kitten* like that, otherwise just stare at my brown *kitten* all you want but leave me the hell alone.0 -
Good afternoon everyone,
I'm in school. Currently taking a composition class. Our class project is to write a research paper. I would love to get the opinions of as many of you as I can. Here is the topic:
Mixed racial and cultural groups are growing in the United States. Should each group expect to be treated as a separate entity, or should residents of the United States be considered Americans without the hyphen?
I'm American. The politically correct term for me would be "African-American". However, personally, I have never done my ancestry on my father's side to know exactly if we are "Black" or of "African" descent. But I do know that my mother is White and Cherokee. Thus, leading me to review my thoughts on this and say so, I'm White-Cherokee-African-American? That seems a bit much for my tastes.
I don't identify with either side of my heritage more than the other. I have a friend who, before we were friends and had only spoken on the phone, said she was really shocked when she saw me for the first time. She said by the way I speak, "proper", she would have never guessed I was "Black". And our on-going joke is "Really? I don't know what gave you the impression that I'm Black. I think it's my lovely tan."
Anyway, my first question is American the only hyphenated country? Do the British say "African-British" or "Indian-British" or the Africans say "American-African" or "British-African"? You follow me on this?
Secondly, what is your take? If you wish you can inbox me or post it here. Please tell me the country you are in and/or your nationality if you wish to share it.
Thanks for your input. Have a healthy day!
Namaste,
Nika
I'm no expert, but I'd say your original post showed GREAT composition! Very readable, intelligible. Concepts around the topic were coherent and flowed well!
Signed,
IT-Science-Not-an-English-major-American.0 -
Good afternoon everyone,
I'm in school. Currently taking a composition class. Our class project is to write a research paper. I would love to get the opinions of as many of you as I can. Here is the topic:
Mixed racial and cultural groups are growing in the United States. Should each group expect to be treated as a separate entity, or should residents of the United States be considered Americans without the hyphen?
I'm American. The politically correct term for me would be "African-American". However, personally, I have never done my ancestry on my father's side to know exactly if we are "Black" or of "African" descent. But I do know that my mother is White and Cherokee. Thus, leading me to review my thoughts on this and say so, I'm White-Cherokee-African-American? That seems a bit much for my tastes.
I don't identify with either side of my heritage more than the other. I have a friend who, before we were friends and had only spoken on the phone, said she was really shocked when she saw me for the first time. She said by the way I speak, "proper", she would have never guessed I was "Black". And our on-going joke is "Really? I don't know what gave you the impression that I'm Black. I think it's my lovely tan."
Anyway, my first question is American the only hyphenated country? Do the British say "African-British" or "Indian-British" or the Africans say "American-African" or "British-African"? You follow me on this?
Secondly, what is your take? If you wish you can inbox me or post it here. Please tell me the country you are in and/or your nationality if you wish to share it.
Thanks for your input. Have a healthy day!
Namaste,
Nika
I don't think those labels or hyphenated names came about from people's expectation's to be called something like that. I think they came about from "other" people's desire to sort and classify people for whatever reason. The person themselves IMO and in my experience rarely walks around on a daily basis wanting to "claim" all these ethnicities or bloodlines. In my experience those who's physical appearance allows them to blend in with the visual image of an American are the first to shed those nitpicky labels and comfortably refer to themselves as simply "American". It's those who's physical features leave the other person with this face :frown: :huh: during a conversation when referring to themselves as American who have to struggle to find which category they fall under.
Omygod YEES. :drinker:
It's not something that I particularly want to identify as per se. Again, the term Afro-Trinidadian is new to me (learned that one a couple of years ago as well). There were many race related conflicts in the 70's in T&T and to this day still. The reluctance to be included in the 'Trini' identity because I am not dark enough & have straight hair (and my daughter who appears white) not to be included as well is not my own.
An exchange between my auntie and mom overheard while I was a teen getting ready to go out on a Saturday night....
Auntie: whey she tink she goin'?
Mom: she go hangin OUT in de street wit boi...She yankeee nah. :huh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:0 -
ok, well i don't think hyphenating is stupid.
if your white, your prob not getting discriminated against very much, and in the eyes of almost everyone, which part of europe your from doesn't matter.
but america is very racist, race matters. your race and heritage is a huge part of your identity. i think it's very understandable that many visible minorities would want to hyphenate.
And presumably labelling people of Caribbean descent who can go back many generations of ancestors who've never been anywhere near Africa as "African-Americans" because they're black and consequently might be African so we'll just make that assumption is a valid solution against racism?
I don't understand your point. I didn't say it was a "solution" to racism, I said since racism is so pervasive, a person of visible minority may understandably make their heritage part of their ancestry, since they are gonna be judged by it every day anyway. Not that much of a stretch lol.
Also, still not getting why people are making a distinction between being Black and having African ancestors. Do people not realize that all Black people have African ancestors?
So we are all racists, and there is no solution, so let's maintain racial prejudices in our language? Is that really what you are trying to say?0 -
I'm pretty much everything. English, Scottish, German, Turkish, Japanese, Cherokee, Portuguese, Egyptian, Swedish.. And i was technically born in America. Kentucky. But I don't consider myself American, or any of these. I simply consider myself "me". There is no name for what i am. :laugh:0
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Ethnicity is really only important to census-takers and policy-makers.
To the world, you're just American.
Oh if only that were true :drinker:
As in this has not been my experience.0 -
ok, well i don't think hyphenating is stupid.
if your white, your prob not getting discriminated against very much, and in the eyes of almost everyone, which part of europe your from doesn't matter.
but america is very racist, race matters. your race and heritage is a huge part of your identity. i think it's very understandable that many visible minorities would want to hyphenate.
And presumably labelling people of Caribbean descent who can go back many generations of ancestors who've never been anywhere near Africa as "African-Americans" because they're black and consequently might be African so we'll just make that assumption is a valid solution against racism?
I don't understand your point. I didn't say it was a "solution" to racism, I said since racism is so pervasive, a person of visible minority may understandably make their heritage part of their ancestry, since they are gonna be judged by it every day anyway. Not that much of a stretch lol.
Also, still not getting why people are making a distinction between being Black and having African ancestors. Do people not realize that all Black people have African ancestors?
So we are all racists, and there is no solution, so let's maintain racial prejudices in our language? Is that really what you are trying to say?
the solution is, remove the systematic economic, political, and educational barriers that entrench racism. also, pop stars.0 -
Again...
The only statement that I made was that the earliest evidence that they found came out of Africa... that is a fact and that is what science states.
"Just because the earliest resemblance of a human fossil was found in Africa, doesn't mean that is the only place where they existed at that time. It just means that conditions there were best for the preservation of 150,000 year old skull. "
your statement here seems like you were trying to say that humans existed elsewhere.
skulls have been preserved all over the world...so far it seems the fossil record supports that we all came from Africa.
right now we believe the water on earth got here by comets....of course it could have been a giant alien tanker ship with a big hose....0 -
Again...
The only statement that I made was that the earliest evidence that they found came out of Africa... that is a fact and that is what science states.
"Just because the earliest resemblance of a human fossil was found in Africa, doesn't mean that is the only place where they existed at that time. It just means that conditions there were best for the preservation of 150,000 year old skull. "
your statement here seems like you were trying to say that humans existed elsewhere.
skulls have been preserved all over the world...so far it seems the fossil record supports that we all came from Africa.
right now we believe the water on earth got here by comets....of course it could have been a giant alien tanker ship with a big hose....
My statement there says that they could have existed elsewhere, which has not been completely ruled out by science.0 -
Interesting thread. We adopted a daughter from China and have spoken with her about our ancestry and hers and how she would like to describe herself (i.e., Chinese-American or how). She nailed it with "Dad, I'm half Chinese but I'm all-American!" Couldn't have said it better myself.0
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ok, well i don't think hyphenating is stupid.
if your white, your prob not getting discriminated against very much, and in the eyes of almost everyone, which part of europe your from doesn't matter.
but america is very racist, race matters. your race and heritage is a huge part of your identity. i think it's very understandable that many visible minorities would want to hyphenate.
And presumably labelling people of Caribbean descent who can go back many generations of ancestors who've never been anywhere near Africa as "African-Americans" because they're black and consequently might be African so we'll just make that assumption is a valid solution against racism?
I don't understand your point. I didn't say it was a "solution" to racism, I said since racism is so pervasive, a person of visible minority may understandably make their heritage part of their ancestry, since they are gonna be judged by it every day anyway. Not that much of a stretch lol.
Also, still not getting why people are making a distinction between being Black and having African ancestors. Do people not realize that all Black people have African ancestors?
So we are all racists, and there is no solution, so let's maintain racial prejudices in our language? Is that really what you are trying to say?
the solution is, remove the systematic economic, political, and educational barriers that entrench racism. also, pop stars.
Agreed! :flowerforyou:0 -
Again...
The only statement that I made was that the earliest evidence that they found came out of Africa... that is a fact and that is what science states.
"Just because the earliest resemblance of a human fossil was found in Africa, doesn't mean that is the only place where they existed at that time. It just means that conditions there were best for the preservation of 150,000 year old skull. "
your statement here seems like you were trying to say that humans existed elsewhere.
skulls have been preserved all over the world...so far it seems the fossil record supports that we all came from Africa.
right now we believe the water on earth got here by comets....of course it could have been a giant alien tanker ship with a big hose....
My statement there says that they could have existed elsewhere, which has not been completely ruled out by science.
and earth could have been filled up by a giant alien water truck, which has not been completely ruled out by science.0 -
So much blah, blah, blah, blah in this thread. Who gives a flying chimpanzee where you are from.
You silly Americans and your labels. At the end of the day, everyone is human.0 -
ok, well i don't think hyphenating is stupid.
if your white, your prob not getting discriminated against very much, and in the eyes of almost everyone, which part of europe your from doesn't matter.
but america is very racist, race matters. your race and heritage is a huge part of your identity. i think it's very understandable that many visible minorities would want to hyphenate.
^^ Very prejudiced statement to make.
I don't want to hyphenate. I'm a visible minority, I just want to say American or better yet, not be asked on paper EVER and in person seldom only if it mattered like I were dying the ambulance came and it had something to do with odds of blood type or some *kitten* like that, otherwise just stare at my brown *kitten* all you want but leave me the hell alone.
:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:0 -
Ethnicity is really only important to census-takers and policy-makers.
To the world, you're just American.
Oh if only that were true :drinker:
As in this has not been my experience.
So people from other countries insist on labeling you? Really?0 -
I personally think the hyphenation only really applies for one generation, mayyyybe two. My grandparents were Irish-Americans, but I'm just American, with Irish heritage.0
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I feel as if sometimes people care a little *too much* about your background. For example, I'm Hispanic, and I have people ask me where I'm from all of the time. When I tell them I'm *from* Florida, they follow up with "but where are you REALLY from?" :huh:
I know where my parents were born, but I do not identify with their heritage. Quite honestly, they do not much either, so it sort of annoys me sometimes that people want to try and pry information about a country that we don't really think much about.
Me too, on the first bit!
I grew up with Cuban -and- American Culture, and I identify with both. However, I always say "I'm American, and I'm from Florida." Though, sometimes I hesitate because I never stayed in one state or one country for more than 1-3 years growing up, so I identify with -many- cultures and places, too! It's just easier to say I'm from Florida because I always end up back here and then I don't have to talk about my traveling for half an hour. (A little bashful about it!)0 -
I personally think the hyphenation only really applies for one generation, mayyyybe two. My grandparents were Irish-Americans, but I'm just American, with Irish heritage.
if you moved here from another country i get the hyphen. if i moved to China i wouldn't call myself Chinese.0 -
I personally think the hyphenation only really applies for one generation, mayyyybe two. My grandparents were Irish-Americans, but I'm just American, with Irish heritage.
if you moved here from another country i get the hyphen. if i moved to China i wouldn't call myself Chinese.
Good point. What if you naturalized to China? IDK how I would refer to myself if I naturalized to another country, probably an american ex-pat.0 -
My dad is egyptian(Nubian) and my mom is black American. Typically I refer to myself as American or black however I doesn't bother me when people say African or Afro American ----heck I even I had a old guy call me woman of color American.0
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She said by the way I speak, "proper", she would have never guessed I was "Black". And our on-going joke is "Really? I don't know what gave you the impression that I'm Black. I think it's my lovely tan."
I'm still stuck on this^^^. It amazes me that people still think that if you speak properly or use grammar correctly that you must be something other than black. But ok, all labels should be done away with promptly. I've never been to Africa nor do I know any decedent of mine who has. My great great grandmother was Cherokee, but I don't identify as an indian. Show me a pure bloodline. I'm American.0 -
I feel as if sometimes people care a little *too much* about your background. For example, I'm Hispanic, and I have people ask me where I'm from all of the time. When I tell them I'm *from* Florida, they follow up with "but where are you REALLY from?" :huh:
I know where my parents were born, but I do not identify with their heritage. Quite honestly, they do not much either, so it sort of annoys me sometimes that people want to try and pry information about a country that we don't really think much about.
Me too, on the first bit!
I grew up with Cuban -and- American Culture, and I identify with both. However, I always say "I'm American, and I'm from Florida." Though, sometimes I hesitate because I never stayed in one state or one country for more than 1-3 years growing up, so I identify with -many- cultures and places, too! It's just easier to say I'm from Florida because I always end up back here and then I don't have to talk about my traveling for half an hour. (A little bashful about it!)
LOL!! I worked in Animal Hospitals for years. While assisting in the amputation of an Iguana's tail, conversation goes like this:
Doctor: hey, look at that meaty tail (winging the amputated appendage around like a turkey leg, it was his iguana, but whatever)
Don't they eat Iguana where you're from?
Me: Queens?...nah. :laugh:0 -
My dad is egyptian(Nubian) and my mom is black American. Typically I refer to myself as American or black however I doesn't bother me when people say African or Afro American ----heck I even I had a old guy call me woman of color American.
This made my day... A woman of color american? That's a mouthful! LOL.0 -
But to be snarky, on the demographic questionaires if it says "caucasian" I will check other and put "European-American" as I am a European Mutt (but mostly Anglo-Saxon-Jute) born and raised in American (5th generation).
Haha.. ME TOO! I'm not from Caucasia!0 -
Even though I am black, I am American. Plain and simple.
I was born here. My family's roots have been here for generations, therefore, i'm just as American as anyone else.
I will never bother to hyphenate myself. I am the country I live in AND identify with, no matter what shade.0 -
But to be snarky, on the demographic questionaires if it says "caucasian" I will check other and put "European-American" as I am a European Mutt (but mostly Anglo-Saxon-Jute) born and raised in American (5th generation).
Haha.. ME TOO! I'm not from Caucasia!
I don't understand that at all. Caucasian by definition means:Cau·ca·sian
adjective /kôˈkāZHən/
Of or relating to one of the traditional divisions of humankind, covering a broad group of peoples from Europe, western Asia, and parts of India and North Africa
White-skinned; of European origin
in terms of those demographic questions.0
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