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

We are all from the continents known as the "America's" and the original descent of people who have a darker skin color is from the continent of Africa.

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

You asked for thoughts from "older" people and I qualify on that account. It is an interesting and important question. Way back when -- I'm thinking back to way before you were even born, the terms were either "people of color" or "Negros." But at that time, Caucasians were typically called "white." Now, I'm actually no more "white" than you are "black." I was always told my complexion was olive, which always upset me because it made me think of a sickly green shade. Yuch! And you, your hair is more black than your complexion. Actually, my hair was the same color as yours before it turned gray.

It was sometime in the 1960s as I recall that it was thought that if Caucasians were white, then Negros would insist on being called black. That was also the beginning of the phrase "black pride." A decade or so later, about the time the TV mini-series "Roots" came out, someone decided that black pride needed to incorporate a pride in the African continent. With that, came the African-American label. Why? We don't refer to Irish-Americans, German-Americans, Polish-Americans. But, the term stuck and left many with the same question you have. What term should we use? Besides, it seems silly to refer to anyone by a continent. There are many countries on that continent and it certainly makes a difference which part of Africa ones ancestors lived in just as there is a difference in racial traits between people from the USA and people from Mexico even though both are technically from the North American continent.

As for me, I try not to use any term except American, or American Citizen. Our census forms ask for race -- I write "American Citizen." Race or the continent of one's ancestors going back dozens of generations shouldn't matter, period! Sadly, it does. Maybe some day we can all just be people.

Of course, this is only my thoughts on the topic. I'm certain that others think differently and that's okay, too. Especially for those of different races. There is no way I can ever share the experiences of people in another race so I can't possibly wrap my thoughts around how other think and feel. Please forgive this shortcoming in me.

Not only are you "old" - you are wise!

In my grandmother's generation you were Negro or colored.

In my mother's generation, you were Black. Being called a Negro was less than desirable, but you could still get away with it.

In my generation, you were African-American. During the '90's the term African-American reached a fevered pitch. Being called Black was less than desirable, and being referred to as colored or a Negro would get you cussed out.

In my children's generation, it looks like we're going back to Black. Being called African-American is less than desirable, but you can get away with it. Being called a Negro or colored will absolutely get you cussed out.

My grandmother still calls Black people colored. She's not trying to be offensive, it's simply what her generation called Black people.

I guess I could get philosophical and say we are all Americans, why does it make a difference, blah, blah, blah. However, the fact of the matter is, it's just the way our society is; Black Americans NEED to be called something.

So, with that being said, I prefer Black, and always have.

Also, if you're White, and you call a Black person a ******, you're a racist in my mind. I couldn't care less what your explanation is. Of call words to pick, why pick that one??

my fiance is Black and prefers being called Black instead of African American. He doesn't get all offended or anything if they don't though. I'm Mexican American yet I get called Hispanic all the darn time lol, everyone has their likes and dislikes.

I say why does skin color matter? Why can't we all just be "American"??? I see people, not color. Just sayin....:-)

Really-They called me a cracker *kitten* *****. I don't want to be referred to as someone who ever BEAT A SLAVE W/A WHIP. Thank you. THAT is just as offensive to me. Also, they were about to get ran over and were PISSED at me for DRIVING ON THE ROAD-Funny how that can be twisted. I suppose I could have just hit them?... But by the reaction here, I chose the right thing, by defending myself verbally instead of getting scared and thinking they were packin and gonna shoot me had I said the wrong thing to them.

Stereotypes...

RIght -- "getting scared and thinking they were packin and gonna shoot me had I said the wrong thing to them." Because that is what a lot of whites think. They live in fear, it's ridiculous.

This is so true. An ex (black) boyfriend and I went into a shop with a long queue, my ex said he didn't want to queue and was going to push in. I told him he can't do that, for various reasons including people would argue about it and it would cause tension. He said no they won't, white people are scared of black people. So, he went ahead pushed in the queue, no one said a word!!!

We are all from the continents known as the "America's" and the original descent of people who have a darker skin color is from the continent of Africa.

Not to be rude but that is also incorrect, not everyone with a darker skin color's heritage is derived from Africa.