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

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  • Tann19
    Tann19 Posts: 94 Member
    Charlize Theron is an african american.

    Good point.
    And what about black people from Jamaica.... although I guess people from Jamaica are likely the ancestors of people from Africa.
    And if we want to get REALLY technical, the first human remains were found in Africa I believe, so then aren't we all African-American/Canadian?

    it's just Jamaican, I have friends who migrated from Cuba, Africa even China and as soon as they become citizens we are all just plain ole Jamaicans! and that's all it says in our passport! They are still very proud of where they were born and doesn't take away from that.
  • NotThePest
    NotThePest Posts: 164
    I prefer "Black" but at 60 I seen it all, or more correctly been called it all: Colored, negro, N****, African/American, etc. Spike Lee's School Daze anyone?

    By the way, Africa is a Continent and not a county, and there many ethnicity's, skin colors, racial groups within the Continent. Just like America, United States, is part of the North American Continent and north of South and Central America. So technically anyone living on one of the two Continents is American.

    Previously working at a Continuing Education Department within a College,with a large English As a Second Language (American English), ESL, I have seen a young man of South Koran parentage, who only spoke Italian, born in Rome. Two young men, father was Swedish, mom was from a country in Sub-Sahara Africa, who looked "African American" but only spoke Swedish. (There is a hilarious story behind there entrance into our program, as staff were looking to VIP the son's of the Swedish Ambassador, they totally missed it because they didn't hear the accents and were looking for blond hair blue eyes)

    The little girl sitting on my lap, my granddaughter, mother is Chinese. My DIL was born in the U.S.A. to parents born in Jamaica, W.I, whose forefather's came from Hong Kong.

    In College I did a research paper on Mozart so I visited the Free Mason museum in NYC. There as big as daylight, were two group portraits of members of the lodges Mozart belong to, their were black members, several members. He belonged to two lodges and both group portraits of the two different lodges had black folk as members, not servants. My experiences have totally changed my view of the world.
  • gmoneycole
    gmoneycole Posts: 813 Member
    Derogatory names are normal used to degrade others. Why would anyone wanna degrade the slave driver? Slave drivers were people with power over others so socially they were above others not below them. So how is calling someone with power a name be perceived as derogatory? Well mainly cause the term "cracker" does not refer to "cracking a whip"

    The term "cracker" is derogatory in nature but for different reasons. The term originally was used a a racial slur to describe the poor Scottish/Irish and English farmers who had small land ( enough to feed their family). It was used by the rich British who owned huge land lots.

    Now fast forward to the early British American colonies and the term pretty much carried through and was used to describe the poor Scottish/Irish/ English farmers on the frontier. And that how it came to be part of the US culture.

    But what does it mean? Well the only decent definition is it was referring to the poor farmers diet of cracked corn. Which helped create cornmeal and grits the farmers food. So the term "cracker" came to refer to poor farms who "cracked corn".


    Now to go to the whole East Texas situation that got people up in arms against you. I personally do not think it's entirely your fault but rather part of the blame is on laid on your "black" friends for using the "N word" with "er" in the end. Any person who uses that word to describe a person of dark complexion is simply lacking in education of the background of that word.

    Remember words are just words it's the person using them that make them have an impact.

    Jimmy cracked corn but I don't care....

    I just love people. Great thread.
  • gmoneycole
    gmoneycole Posts: 813 Member
    And I hate when white people say they are raising their children "color blind". I prefer to raise my children to see the beautiful and amazing differences that exist between people and to appreciate and respect these differences. Being color blind implies you don't see the authentic experiences of people based on their ethnicity. Dr. King would not have supported a "color blind" society.

    Yes you are educated. Good for you. People might mean that they see people as people and respect them for who they are. Maybe they really do teach their children to understand what a person really stands for through their interactions with them. How do you know so much about what these people intend to do. Try to not be so judgemental of others and understand what their true intentions are before you label them.
  • gmoneycole
    gmoneycole Posts: 813 Member
    I prefer Black, but I don't get bent all out of shape if someone refers to me as African American. It does bother me a bit that people (of many colors) seem to get perturbed when I simply call myself an American. White folks don't go around saying white American or Irish American, German American, etc. unless it is time for their cultural festivities or something. They just say American or white. I just say American or black. It's not a big deal, Americans come in all colors.
    As someone who is half black and has a Bachelor's degree in 'African American' Studies, I prefer being called black. I'm not from Africa, my father is not from Africa, his parents are not from Africa, etc.

    ^This and ^this is awesome.

    I'll admit, I didn't read all 17 pages (mostly because I assumed it would not be constructive since MFP usually doesn't do well with these potentially volatile topics (or even the seemingly benign)), but reading posts like these give me hope for humanity.

    Read the 17 pages, you'll be glad you did.
  • britlocs
    britlocs Posts: 124
    to answer to British questions from way back.

    We go by Black British here.Well,just Black actually,but the full term is black british.
  • MissShancey
    MissShancey Posts: 464
    i live in canada ... people ppl at me funny when i call them African American
  • focus4fitness
    focus4fitness Posts: 551 Member
    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.

    Doh! Maybe its North American ;)
  • Perfectdiamonds1
    Perfectdiamonds1 Posts: 347 Member
    *throws feet up on desk* who brought the popcorn?

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I have the candy
  • Thatsdatdiva601
    Thatsdatdiva601 Posts: 209 Member
    Well i consider myself black American. I have no problem ppls calling me black because that's what I am. What I don't like is the phrase " ppls of color". I find that offensive!
  • Buffdrita
    Buffdrita Posts: 7
    Black works for me. Never understood the need for "African-American". We don't distinguish white ppl as German-Americans, Scottish-Americans, etc etc

    On the other hand I am not at all offended by African-American. It just sometimes seems like ppl use the term because they think it would be bad to call somebody black. I think it's fine.
  • usmcjarhead3
    usmcjarhead3 Posts: 28 Member
    As a former Marine with 4 years Iraq/Afghanistan under my belt, I never understoood this. Look at the following:

    Native American
    African American
    Hispanic American
    Cuban American

    What is the common denominator? AMERICAN. Like it or not, we are all Americans. Regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual orientation we are AMERICAN. The very melting pot of ethnicities that made this country great, because of political correctness is now threatening to be our downfall. Caucasians (which I am) are the majority race in this country right now with the Hispanics on our heels. If and when caucasians get surpassed, will that mean we can split off into European American, Italian American, Scottish/Irish American etc.? It is foolish. We are all in it for the long haul for better or worse, IMO we need to stop this nonsense and become AMERICAN. Now, I am not saying forget your ancestry and/or heritage, celebrate it and be proud of it. That's what made this country great!. Do not forget that you are AMERICAN first. Semper Fi!
  • knwitall
    knwitall Posts: 420 Member
    I refer to myself as chocolate awesome

    ^^^ This! Lol
  • NotThePest
    NotThePest Posts: 164
    As a former Marine with 4 years Iraq/Afghanistan under my belt, I never understoood this. Look at the following:

    Native American
    African American
    Hispanic American
    Cuban American

    What is the common denominator? AMERICAN. Like it or not, we are all Americans. Regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual orientation we are AMERICAN. The very melting pot of ethnicities that made this country great, because of political correctness is now threatening to be our downfall. Caucasians (which I am) are the majority race in this country right now with the Hispanics on our heels. If and when caucasians get surpassed, will that mean we can split off into European American, Italian American, Scottish/Irish American etc.? It is foolish. We are all in it for the long haul for better or worse, IMO we need to stop this nonsense and become AMERICAN. Now, I am not saying forget your ancestry and/or heritage, celebrate it and be proud of it. That's what made this country great!. Do not forget that you are AMERICAN first. Semper Fi!

    Hey jarhead, not a Marine but my son was a jarhead like you and was known as a dark green Marine :laugh:
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    I prefer "soul challenged"... but I get called "ginger".... to each their own.

    Bwahaha!

    I'm lazy and prefer short words, but I've trained myself to say African American. As a misanthrope, I strive to offend everyone equally and not single anyone out for offending. :laugh:
  • HisPathDaily
    HisPathDaily Posts: 672 Member
    Usually I call people by name ... but if they live in America, and I travel abroad, I may call them my American friend. If they life in Europe, I may refer to them as my European friend (or maybe even call someone Italian if they live in Italy)

    I'm weird like that.
  • HisPathDaily
    HisPathDaily Posts: 672 Member
    Oh, I do have a few African friends too ... well ... because they live in Africa.

    Think about that for a minute ... imagine we all had various skin tones (I know, crazy thought) ... imagine categorizing people by the color of their skin! That would be weird wouldn't it? I mean for instance, the few friends that I have in Africa ... they have very different skin tones ... one looks like me, and one looks much darker ... Imagine if I had to call them a "color" ...

    That would be a weird world wouldn't? ;)
  • marie_cressman
    marie_cressman Posts: 980 Member
    i say i'm white... because i look white. my dad is white. my mom is vietnamese. i'm always very confused if i should put "other" because i'm technically a mutt... there's no telling what i'm mixed with really. mom is from vietnam (but i think her dad is french... we don't know my grandfather, but she definitely looks like someone in her family was "white"), dad's family is from germany , but i get people who tell me i look hispanic or italian. i'm so confused!
  • shaybell34
    shaybell34 Posts: 50 Member
    My mom is Shashony Indian an white an my dad is Seminole an black, but also its just where your family roots lead you an history. When I fill out a app I put black. But i'm enjoying these threads.
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    I listen to a lot of AM talk radio. And I heard this one caller say "I am a BLACK American. Not an African American. I'm not from Africa. I'm an American who is Black."
  • kimi131
    kimi131 Posts: 1,058 Member
    I have always heard that both "black" and "African-American" are correct. I am sure it varies by person, as some people might prefer to be called one or the other. Myself, for example, I don't really like being referred to as "white." Call me "Caucasian," or even "Anglo," or the honest answer: "American." I just feel like "white" is actually the color of my skin not my ethnicity or really even race, and it is actually not even white - I am more apricot in color :wink:
  • nalfavi
    nalfavi Posts: 174 Member
    I just use the term black. I see African American being used the same way Caucasian is to refer to white people, which is only on forms.
  • MisguidedRoses
    MisguidedRoses Posts: 96 Member
    When people ask me what ethnicity I am I tell the Hispanic and Black
    If I filling out my ethnicity on a document I mark OTHER: then write American
  • FitPhysique
    FitPhysique Posts: 284 Member
    Did not read any of the post except for OP. So please excuse me if I've being redundant. Not all black people are of African origins etc and not all African American are Black. But it seems a few seem to want to claim that. I tell people that I am Black not African American. I am of mixed heritage from the caribbean.

    I have a friend from Sierra Leon and her 5 yr old son was born here so he is truly African American. Just like a child born to Italian parents are Italian America. I knew a caucasian couple from South Africa and they consider their son African American because he was born here but people got all up in arms about it so he had to refer to himself as South African American. Total B.S

    Native new Zelander(?) and Australian are black, thus they descendant should not be African American just plain black american. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't want to be called black because they feel that there is a negative connotation associate with Black. For example in Dominican Republic and Brazil, people with Dark Skin have a kazillion way to describe what their skin look like rather than saying black. Sad Sad Sad.

    Enough of my rambling. The race is black nothing else!
  • kimi131
    kimi131 Posts: 1,058 Member
    If I filling out my ethnicity on a document I mark OTHER: then write American

    :heart: that!
  • kaseysospacey
    kaseysospacey Posts: 499 Member
    ....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?

    Some people just think that African American is more respectful, but I don't think it is accurate as a label because you can be white and be "african american" if you were born in Africa and move to America...

    I think if you use white and don't bother with Caucasian its fine to say black...

    I mostly think its funny when I hear people referring to non-American black people as African American because its what they are used to saying. Not everyone that is black is African American, because not all black people live in America.
  • usmcjarhead3
    usmcjarhead3 Posts: 28 Member
    As a former Marine with 4 years Iraq/Afghanistan under my belt, I never understoood this. Look at the following:

    Native American
    African American
    Hispanic American
    Cuban American

    What is the common denominator? AMERICAN. Like it or not, we are all Americans. Regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual orientation we are AMERICAN. The very melting pot of ethnicities that made this country great, because of political correctness is now threatening to be our downfall. Caucasians (which I am) are the majority race in this country right now with the Hispanics on our heels. If and when caucasians get surpassed, will that mean we can split off into European American, Italian American, Scottish/Irish American etc.? It is foolish. We are all in it for the long haul for better or worse, IMO we need to stop this nonsense and become AMERICAN. Now, I am not saying forget your ancestry and/or heritage, celebrate it and be proud of it. That's what made this country great!. Do not forget that you are AMERICAN first. Semper Fi!

    Hey jarhead, not a Marine but my son was a jarhead like you and was known as a dark green Marine :laugh:
  • treimnitz
    treimnitz Posts: 51 Member
    I refer to myself as chocolate awesome

    This made me giggle! LOL!
  • ThatMrs99
    ThatMrs99 Posts: 41
    I'm curious for this answer as well, as many are not even from Africa.
    I know right?
    As a black woman, I have no problem with the tern 'black'. I am not African and am so far removed that I'm not really comfortable calling myself African American. Not to mention, many black people in America are not 'African' but are from the Caribbean, Central and South America and so on - also you may have someone who is from Africa and living in America (an African American) but is Caucasian or white!
    I guess it's a matter of preference.
  • caslyn3
    caslyn3 Posts: 70 Member
    for some reason this thread made me think of MJ..

    R.I.P. Michael!

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