"BLACK or AFRICAN AMERICAN" mainly a question...
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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.
lol... sorry COLOR. And im learning something new already. never looked at "ppl of colour" as offensive.
maybe its just me
I was born/raised/live in the deep south. Calling someone a "person of color" would get you slapped. It implies that white/caucasians are devoid of color. Surprisingly enough though, more people here seem to prefer to be called "black" though African-American is used when describing the culture.
nice what part of south texas!0 -
Danilee...I will go out on a limb and defend you for a second...
Referring to the time that I was insulted racially and fought fire w/fire. It really shows that either you have never been close friends with anyone black, or maybe they were raised different and don't use the word. IDK.
Whew. Glad you said that. It's always best for white people who use the "n word" to follow-up with, "I'm not racist either".I am not racist either, i am fair.
I totally get what you mean..There are few ...I mean a few white people who have been around black people soo damn long..it's as iff they are now part of the family...I myself have a white friend who we call the n word too..and he is allowed to use it among me and my family and friends...he is trully a black man in a white man's body...AND get this ...he from Texas.
Thank you
I guess that some people just can't understand.
As a white person no I don't understand. I work with a woman who is like a mother to me and she is black... and if I called her that she would not only be hurt that I called her that (because she is not that) but she would think less of me... so no I don't understand either... but then again, I don't call my friends deragotory names of any kind, whether it's accepted or not.
Let me explain the difference...You said " I work with a woman who is like a mother to me and she is black"
You did not say..."I grew up with black people and I was pretty much the ONLY white person in their crew....I am like family to them"
That's when the N word is allowed to be used...
and we aren't referring to the N-gger we are referring to N-gga
Therre is a difference..and if you don't know...it's because you have NOT been around enought black people to know the difference0 -
....for the Older generation. I know this is a weight loss site, but i know there's a diverse group of ppl here who i can get responses from. With that being said, why is it that some "ppl of colour" get upset when they are referred to as BLACK instead of AFRICAN AMERICAN. Maybe i hvnt spent enough time in history class, but i am black, whts the big difference?
Are you English? I only ask that because you spelled it "colour" and because I've had this question posed to me while working abroad in London. The gentleman asked this of me and was pretty passionate about it because I guess when he was traveling in the US he used "Black" and was told that he was a terrible African American, to which he responded "I'm neither African nor American, I'm British." I also used to work with some girls who had a discussion about it and they said they never use "Black" because no one is truely black but they'll describe each other as Coffee, Mocha, Blue, and quite a few other descriptives . . . which I kind of thought was beautiful.0 -
Aflack (per skitty)
As the only Chinese guy growing up in a mostly African American neighborhood, I referred to everyone as African American rather than Black because being politically correct kept me from getting my *kitten* whupped. Even to the green card Jamaican born guys that were neither African or American.
One time in 6th grade someone started a rumor that I had used the N-word. Maybe they misheard something or someone wanted to instigate a fight. Some of my "friends" turned on me so quick. More or less the entire class erupted and I nearly got expelled defending myself... all in the span of about 15 minutes.
Some people take "just a word" pretty seriously.
but your Chinese, so you must be a shaolin monk. No fair whooping the entire 6th grade.0 -
But what about Eskimos?
Dag...you really want some attention!
So are they Black Eskimos or White Eskimos?0 -
best thread EVAR! oh and i like my women like my coffee Strong and black0
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sometimes i feel like ive been punched in the gut when i realize how bad the USA has been to minorities. and the sadder part is that it wasnt that long ago.
so i say let them be called anything they want. maybe in a 100 years those wounds wont be so fresh.0 -
I always laugh at this question. first off I'm not black. I'm a rather warm shade of brown. I don't even use the term WHITE People. When in all actuality they are more TRANSLUCENT than white.
I know it's easier to use simple terms like, white, black, yellow and brown instead of American of African decent, or American of German decent. etc etc.... In the end it does not really matter. What I care about is your intent when using any term. It's not so much about the word. It's about the intent.
I think we get too caught up on words. Life is too short.
Oh! and I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance!0 -
Black is the umbrella term, those of african desent, in africa, the carribean, the americas, europe etc.
African American usually reffers to the descendants of the african slaves that were brought to the United States and is usually used to refer to the unique culture that was developed there (for example, Jazz and R&B music comes from african american culture)
Its not offensive to use either terms. It's only gets offensive when someone acts uncomfortable with those terms and tries too hard to be politically correct.0 -
I dont know but ive been told Eskimo booty is mighty coldBut what about Eskimos?0 -
The older generation is more attached to the identity "Black" because of what the identity came to mean in the 1960's. Moving from being called a "Negro" to being called "Black" was a huge accomplishment and a huge sense of pride came along with that change. With the civil rights movements and several "Black Power" campaigns, they have become emotionally attached to the term, even to the point where calling them anything else now seems offensive.
But strictly speaking in socio-cultural terms - Black is a race. African American is an ethnic group. Every Black person is not African American, every African American isn't Black.
I personally get offended when every Black person in America is referred to as an African American. There are so many Black ethnic groups and they are limiting us by calling us ALL African American. It's very one dimensional. Black people are global and come from so many ethnic groups - Afro-Cubans, Afro-Brazilians, Afro-Panamanians, and the list goes on. :0)0 -
But what about Eskimos?
Inuit?0 -
I call myself Anerican! I was born here.0
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never feel uncomfortable to educate yourself in any form! If people get upset over you asking, then their the ones with an issue, not you!Well, i know some ppl are about to b hostile about the question, but really, its only a question, i wanted to know wht other ppl think about it from their PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.0 -
Drinking a beer and watching the carnage
too funny!
It's getting hot in here, take off all your clothes.....
:drinker:0 -
In my opinion people are too over sensitive these days. There isn't anything wrong with words. Sticks and stones break bones but words will never hurt me. Who cares? Over sensitive people care.
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This all got really interesting. I have enjoyed reading everyone's points of view.0
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How about just "person?"
A point was made to me not too long ago that the entire CONCEPT of race (as separate from Ethnicity - your genetic makeup, or Culture - your social background) was for all intents and purposes INVENTED by white people and more or less around when colonization of the states began.
It was necessary (or at least useful) at some level to be able to have a concrete reason for committing genocide against the natives and importing other people for use as commandable furniture.
The solution ended up being along the lines of "we are naturally better/stronger/purer than these other folks," and they based it off of race - at that time there was "people of color" and by implication, us "normal" folks. History is written by the victors, so it's all stuck.
And unfortunately, it's pretty much handed down parent-to-child.
So black, white, asian, middle-eastern, hispanic - we're all just goddamned people. Put a bunch of kids together and they'll play together like kids. Any other prejudice is ingrained by our previous generations.
SO - PARENTS - KNOCK THAT **** OFF.0 -
I am 40yrs old and I only refer to myself as black. I have white friends from Africa that have come to the United states ,and they too call themselves African American. Saying your African American links you to your African heritage,and for alot of people thats really important. For me, I have no desire to do such a thing, and Im ok with the identity I have. I am a product of slavery and that is a given, but I have no desire to immerse myself in African Heritage or culture. I do have a desire to be further educated on the matter, but i no reason yet to believe Africa is where I belong. You my dear are an American and with that right you may call yourself whatever you like.0
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from your mouth to our creators ears!sometimes i feel like ive been punched in the gut when i realize how bad the USA has been to minorities. and the sadder part is that it wasnt that long ago.
so i say let them be called anything they want. maybe in a 100 years those wounds wont be so fresh. 0 -
But what about Eskimos?
Inuit?
How dare you refer to them as tax software!0 -
I have always believed that if you were born in America then you are a black american. If you were born in Africa and then moved to the US and became an american citizen then you are an african american. Just my thoughts. Im a white american My great great great great great great grandfather came from ireland that doesn't make me irish american. Just my thoughts for what its worth.
this is very well said and also props to ZugTheMegasau for also bringing prospective.
I was born here in America but am African descent. i consider myself Black.
hopefully, some folks also dialoged that Black isnt an Ethnicity but a cultural indentity. meaning that you are of African descent but not a national/citizen of that continent and as a born American your experiences here are different and 'darker' (due to discrimination, racism, diaspora, social depravity, etc.) than that of Africa-born folks who migrate to American who are by definition African-American hence the accepted term Black for people like myself. i don't dislike being called African-Am. but its not how i self-identify but i despise the term "person/people of color" unless the discription is a collective usage for all Ethnicities in the group. makes me feel inanimate or like a thing. as if im not in the same class/group as the person making the statement.
thats just my 2 cents.0 -
Ballz! - After reading 9 pages I'm still confused. Will check back later to see if a firm conclusion has been drawn.0
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Drinking a beer and watching the carnage
too funny!
It's getting hot in here, take off all your clothes.....
:drinker:
how YOU doin?0 -
So much entertainment on this site.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:*throws feet up on desk* who brought the popcorn?0 -
i'm not African, and i'm not American...i'm 100% Jamaican....so if you call me Black, i'm fine with that, in fact, you can call me whatever you like, and if I get offended, i'll tell you what your girl called me last night!0
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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.
Technically, if they are citizens of Canada and from Africa, they ARE African American, as Canada is part of the Americas.
There IS a big difference in the terms, but as people have said, not everyone with darker skin tones are from Africa, and not every African American has a darker skin tone. There are many, many examples of celebrities that fall into the "white African" group... Theron for one, Dave Matthew's another, Tim Robbins I believe as well...
The reason it becomes an issue is that being raised, we're told different things. School tells us "white" kids that calling "black" kids Black is offensive and we should call them African American. Then we get told, no wait, not all are African American. Some are just African. Some, American. Some still are French, Spanish, Asian, etc.
It's kinda like how I hate being called White. I barely can handle Caucasian. The term lumps my ancestors and myself in with a group of people that were not our family, but our enemy.
However, these things are dictated by the societies we live in, as well as the dialect of the area. I defer to African American because at least it sounds respectful (except for my friend who was all, I'm Jamaican American dangit!) and generally isn't used as a slur, while many other terms can be used, but generally at least one part of the US identifies such things as offensive.0 -
All I can say is I feel proud that we can joke and have some fun with each other on such a sensitive subject. It's hard to believe that not that long ago (in our parents/grandparents generation) that segregation still existed.
I'll be happy when all the old guard/good old boys are dead and gone0 -
I prefer "soul challenged"... but I get called "ginger".... to each their own.
Bwahahahahahaha!!!
If African-Americans/Blacks are people of color, and I am very fair skinned, then am I colorless?
Seriously, I have always wondered:
a) aren't we all AMERICANS?!
b) if you can call me white, than why can't I call you black? Or should I be a Caucasian-American? (Actually a Scottish-Canadian-Irish American, but whatever...)0 -
I'm mixed black and white.
The other day another mixed man asked me if I was yellow.
Now I am not easily offended so it didn't offend me but I noticed I didn't like the term.
Even though I am mixed I predominantly go with calling myself black when filling out paperwork and such.
I don't say African-American when asked, but it doesn't bother me or seem politically incorrect to me if other people do.
I don't like colored. My grandma who I love so dearly and is the sweetest most accepting person in the world, is also white. We were in the store one day and she said to ask "The colored young gentleman" working there for help. I found myself explaining to her that I didn't think it appropriate in these days to use that term. My only reason behind it is this term along with the N-word was used in a derogatory fashion and when it's used it can be taken wrong.
I learned in my African-American studies class that the term mullatto was also derogatory, I used to use this term because I thought it sounded cool haha. My mom always told me when I was younger I would say "I'm not black, I'm brown!"
Times change, and with times terms will change as well. I have friends that use the N-word, my dad's family all use it, I don't like it, and I don't prefer to use it myself, but it doesn't bother me either because I know their use behind it is not to slander. And I would hope that anyone who does use it as a racist term will someday learn that no matter the pigment in our skin we all bleed blood, breathe air and live life. The same with the black community that still blame the white community or any other race...it's one thing to acknowledge history and your heritage but it's another to live in the past and continue to separate yourself.
Like some few have said, I prefer to be called by name, I am Mariah, I am human as are you.
Now who wants to be this human's friend 0
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