"BLACK or AFRICAN AMERICAN" mainly a question...

QueenyLanae

I always thought "ppl of colour" was more offensive.

And technically, can you really call a "person of colour" an African-American since Americans don't spell color that way anyway?

Sorry... just picking on you a bit.

Funnily enough, even in Canada where we spell it "colour", black people are often referred to as "African Americans" even though they are usually neither African nor American.

This is because they are of African descent and live/born in North America.

Beastette

I prefer Mutant American, but that only works for mutants. Otherwise, Nubian King or Queen.

antizoni1

I am Black....Blacker than the darkest alley that you are scared to go into, But you can call me Tony:bigsmile:

tasiamere

It always amazes me that people are still stuck on the race definition thing...smh but with that said I would rather just be called black. "People of Color" irritates me simply because in all actuality Black is void of color and white is all color. and I'm not from Africa, I'm just a normal homegrown American. We don't say European Americans so why specify Asian-American, African American, etc...It just sounds to me like a mechanism to provide a gateway and subconsciously say "Go back to where you came from" when being derogatory against anyone not deemed "white".

Whole thing is pretty stupid to me but that could stem from the fact that I identify with many and see no real differences in "races".

tasiamere

I'll probably get flamed for saying so, but I think African American is a little bit of a stretch for most people that describe themselves using that term. Most are not connected to Africa in any substantive way and are culturally 100% American. If someone referred to me as a European American, I'd probably laugh. I mean, my culture is not European, it's thoroughly American. So we can cut that whole first descriptor out, I think. I might have the same skin tone as someone from Germany, but we are not culturally connected in my mind.

Sometimes I get really radical and call people by their first names...

Love it!

AnitaVolpato

I just say I am multiracial, black or African American. It really doesn't matter to me. I am such an strong individual and so different from the stereotypes of my "own" race and culture that what people call me doesn't matter as long as it's not derogatory. I am just me..

I do get a kick out of people that try to deny that they have negro/black ancestry... black people are everywhere and speak all languages.. and come in various shades.. LOL

e.g. The Dominican or Puerto Rican that is darker than me or anyone in my family with similar features telling me he has no negro ancestry.... YEAH RIGHT!!!

Laces_0ut

it is shameful that in the USA we have such a recent history of the treatment of minorities. there are minorities alive today who marched with Dr. King. those wounds will take a long time to heal. so i dont care what they want to be called. i will gladly use whatever term they want. and i can use different terms at different times when seen fit.

so maybe in 100 or 200 years we can all call ourselves Americans.

glamouritz64

I'm bi-racial (half white, half black), but I largely identify myself as "BLACK".

"African American" seems a bit pretentious, and not at all accurate IMHO. There are "African Americans" who have white skin (South Africans? Hello??).

Just my 2 cents.:glasses:

melb2003

bump

TeachTheGirl

I remember a news article where people were asked how they would describe the man in the picture.

Most said 'African American'. He was a British man of Jamaican descent.

Midnight_Sunshine

And then Asians, Why aren't they called Yellow people? Hmm..they mysteries of the world...

Um.....You don't get out much, do you?

survivor1952

Good for you, I like your attitude. I am white, I don't call myself Caucasion. Isn't there a lot more important things to worry about than words?

sobriquet84

Funnily enough, even in Canada where we spell it "colour", black people are often referred to as "African Americans" even though they are usually neither African nor American.

THIS is what makes me crack up about the whole thing.

Brunner26_2

I am Black....Blacker than the darkest alley that you are scared to go into, But you can call me Tony:bigsmile:

You're dark, but you're no Wesley Snipes.

I know I'm white, but I can say it because I learned it from Chappelle's show.

Lone_Wolf70

I am so glad this thread is back

*opens popcorn

Promqueen_74932

I will never understand the statement "people of colour." I am an art major and black is not a color, it is a non-colour. Black is the result when no lightwaves are emitted or reflected. White is a color and White light is all the colors of the visible spectrum.

By this statment I am White, Heinz 57, mixed, whatever you would like to call it. I have Indian, Irish, Black Dutch, German, and God only knows what else is in my blood line. Born and raise in Oklahoma, so I'm totally "country."

I always ask what people reference themselves as. I don't mind be called white, country, hick, caucasian, etc. One of my black guy friends calls me "European" and we crack jokes. I wouldn't with some random person off the street though. I think it's all about preference and respect.

Thanks for the topic!

Sara

Promqueen_74932

I remember a news article where people were asked how they would describe the man in the picture.

Most said 'African American'. He was a British man of Jamaican descent.

LOL! Oh wow!

DimpleQueen

That was very well said! Thank you for posting this

UsedToBeHusky

Okay... maybe I didn't. Post 500!

Will the thread die... or carry on?

We shall see.

rextcat

i dont know will we?