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No need. Just tell everyone else to give up their hyphens first, then I'll give up mine. Our whole history has been erased, and I'm not giving up anything else. You first.
100% agreed and well said!!!! Wish I could rep you again.
Why is there always the need for African Americans to give up something? Why is there such fear in my considering myself an AA?
For a "black" American to call themself "African-American" is imprecise and sounds odd. How can you claim a continent for your ancestry?
Same would be odd for someone with European ancestry to call themself, "European-American". Ordinarily they know where their ancestors originated in Europe so it sounds a little ridiculous for someone with French or German ancestry so say they're "European-American". They say "German-American". With African American how can you claim the entire continent. I have heard Asians claim they're "Asian-American" but ordinarily they say "Korean-American" or whatever ancestry they have.
Australians never say they're English-Australian, or Greek-Australian. "They say I'm an Aussie!!!!" - Americans should do the same and say, "I'm an American!!!".
Some Americans feel so bruised by their ancestry having been neglected or negated (or so proud - for something they had nothing to do with) that they feel the need to assert where their ancestors originated by hyphenating their ethnicity.
By all means call yourself anything you want. But if you want to be more precise, have a DNA ancestry test so you know roughly where your ancestors originated.
Sounds silly... "I'm a Northern-Hemispherian American, I'm a Southern-Hemispherian American"... blahhh booo go away!
No need. Just tell everyone else to give up their hyphens first, then I'll give up mine. Our whole history has been erased, and I'm not giving up anything else. You first.
For a "black" American to call themself "African-American" is imprecise and sounds odd. How can you claim a continent for your ancestry?
Same would be odd for someone with European ancestry to call themself, "European-American". Ordinarily they know where their ancestors originated in Europe so it sounds a little ridiculous for someone with French or German ancestry so say they're "European-American". They say "German-American". With African American how can you claim the entire continent. I have heard Asians claim they're "Asian-American" but ordinarily they say "Korean-American" or whatever ancestry they have. Australians never say they're English-Australian, or Greek-Australian. "They say I'm an Aussie!!!!" - Americans should do the same. "I'm an American!!!"
By all means call yourself anything you want. But if you want to be more precise, have a DNA ancestry test so you know roughly where your ancestors originated.
Until very recently, the ability for African Americans to identify the specific countries and/or tribes of origins were systematically denied to us. When African slaves arrived to the New World, they were baptised and given "Christian" names, they were purposely separated from others who shared their common languages and openly punished (beaten and whipped) for any attempt to hang on to their culture. (recall the scene in Roots where Kunta Kente was whipped for refusing to accept his "new" name of Toby given by his owner)
Much has been taken away from us but we know who we are and that obviously scares a lot of people. We will never forget our history, ever.
Black or African-American is fine. When we wanted to be just recognized as Americans, "other folks" had a problem with that. Because if everyone is just labeled American, then threads spewing misinformation about black people would lose their punch!
Black or African-American is fine. When we wanted to be just recognized as Americans, "other folks" had a problem with that. Because if everyone is just labeled American, then threads spewing misinformation about black people would lose their punch!
Again, it's about control. The problem they have with African American is that WE came up with it. If they did, it would be no issue.
And you're right, when we just wanted to be "Americans," they were having NONE of it. But now that we have some say so over what we're called, they demand that we just be Americans and drop the hyphens.
For a "black" American to call themself "African-American" is imprecise and sounds odd. How can you claim a continent for your ancestry?
Same would be odd for someone with European ancestry to call themself, "European-American". Ordinarily they know where their ancestors originated in Europe so it sounds a little ridiculous for someone with French or German ancestry so say they're "European-American". They say "German-American". With African American how can you claim the entire continent. I have heard Asians claim they're "Asian-American" but ordinarily they say "Korean-American" or whatever ancestry they have.
Australians never say they're English-Australian, or Greek-Australian. "They say I'm an Aussie!!!!" - Americans should do the same and say, "I'm an American!!!".
Some Americans feel so bruised by their ancestry having been neglected or negated (or so proud - for something they had nothing to do with) that they feel the need to assert where their ancestors originated by hyphenating their ethnicity.
By all means call yourself anything you want. But if you want to be more precise, have a DNA ancestry test so you know roughly where your ancestors originated.
Sounds silly... "I'm a Northern-Hemispherian American, I'm a Southern-Hemispherian American"... blahhh booo go away!
What others say about themselves has no bearing on what we call ourselves...this is the point i keep trying to make. If Asians or anyone else do it differently, that's their issue. That's not my business. We're gonna do it our way. Black folks don't have to name ourselves predicated on how others decide to name themselves. Our history is distinctive from theirs, and we've earned the right to use whatever methods we choose when we label ourselves.
So telling us what others do is a waste of time. We don't care.
Indians and Irish were slaves, too. Also, you can include Chinese and French-Canadians.
Our slave history is quite multicultural.
The Indians, Irish, Franco-Canadians, and Chinese can call themselves what they want.
That has nothing to do with black people.
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