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I think this is really silly because people are casting aspersion on the label “African American” because of its literal inaccuracies. In other words, many argue that we are not “Africans”, but Americans. Yet, what do they prefer to be called…….”black”…lol. Well, I have never met a literally “black” person in my life. I have seen really, really dark brown people, but I never met someone who is literally “black” or literally “white” for that matter. Furthermore, the term “American” as is used is inaccurate as well. The “Americas” refers to a continental land mass named after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespuci. There is North America ( of which the United States is a country in), Central America and South America. Hence, Canadians are technically or literally “American”, as well as, Nicaraguans and Argentineans. Everyone who lives in the Americas is “Americans”. Thus, any label that includes “American” that is meant to uniquely associate people to this country ONLY is also inaccurate because there is no country whose official name is “America”. We are the United States OF AMERICA(S) (THE).
In light of that, I think people are making too big a deal out of it, because all the labels are misnomers in one way or the other. As long as the label is not used as a pejorative, I don’t see what the problem is. I actually prefer African American but I don’t get bent out of shape if someone refers to me or the collective as “black”, even though I am actually dark brown.
PS....my phenotype and physiology was designed to maximize survival in the African climate. Maybe that is why I am always complaining about being cold
I agree. You have one group of people arguing with another group of people about which literally inaccurate term is less inaccurate.
Yes educate yourselves! People such as yourself who are stuck on stupid
Again, the irony here is just too delicious.
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and follow idiots like Jesse Jackson, because he wants you to say african-american you do it.
I was calling myself African American long before I knew that Jesse Jackson used the term.
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So you can fit in with the whites folks I guess. You feel left out that Irish-Americans or German-Americans use that term.
I don't need to fit in with anyone. I feel a need to use a term I find appropriate.
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You're ignorant about race and ethcicity and cultrue.
You're right about that. I don't even know what "ethcicity" and "cultrue" are.
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You think Africa is made of only black people. And the only other black people in the world are in the U.S.
You obviously haven't read my hundreds of posts on this subject.
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My mom was born in Trinidad, she moved here in 1976, is she african-american.
She is Trinidadian. If you've ever seen any posts I've made that say that black immigrants to America or their children are automatically considered to be African American, I'd like to see them.
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I was born here, I'm african -american. No , I'm a black american. If some black people(because none of the black people I know use that term) want to incorrectly use that term thats on them. Reading the article its seems the younger generations is not falling for it either. And some of you black people are so quick to jump on the African bangwagon, not realizing that most REAL african people have a disdain for Black Americans and want nothing to do with you.
Guess what? If anyone has disdain for me because I'm an African of the Diaspora and I haven't given them a reason (such as beating the crap out of them, stealing their girlfriend or ripping them off out of lots of money) to have such disdain, I don't want anything to do with them either.
I so agree. The black friends that we have in our circle of friends, would rather be called American before all other. And they have told us they get so annoyed at those that have to be refered to as Africian American.
They do not like the label, and fact is they were born in this Country as i was, making them as they tell us American. They do not mind being called black american, but as they tell us all the time in discussions, they are american as apple pie, and vanilla ice cream.
Excuse me for typing on the fly, and not having time to proof read, but it just show me that you know your wrong, and can only nitpick about grammer and not the facts. Typical tactic on this forum.
I was calling myself African American long before I knew that Jesse Jackson used the term.
I don't need to fit in with anyone. I feel a need to use a term I find appropriate.
You're right about that. I don't even know what "ethcicity" and "cultrue" are.
See above.
You obviously haven't read my hundreds of posts on this subject.
She is Trinidadian. If you've ever seen any posts I've made that say that black immigrants to America or their children are automatically considered to be African American, I'd like to see them.
Guess what? If anyone has disdain for me because I'm an African of the Diaspora and I haven't given them a reason (such as beating the crap out of them, stealing their girlfriend or ripping them off out of lots of money) to have such disdain, I don't want anything to do with them either.
They have a disdain because they think American Blacks are lazy and ignorant, and don't want to be put in the same category and people like you do nothing to dispel that notion.
I'm an African American - my ancestry spans five continents (Africa, Europe, Asia, North America and South America). This is not rare among the African American population.
Actually it is quite rare at most the average African American has 20% European admixture and the instances of Native American blood in African Americans is considerably lower than previously thought.
Evidently a lot of the "Indian blood" many African Americans claim is in fact European blood.
Actually it is quite rare at most the average African American has 20% European admixture and the instances of Native American blood in African Americans is considerably lower than previously thought. Evidently a lot of the "Indian blood" many African Americans claim is in fact European blood.
I've seen African Americans test anywhere from 40-80% African and, indeed, many who think they do have Native ancestry do not.
I've had extensive testing done, as well as know a lot about my genealogy, and I definitely can include Asia, North and South America with Europe (as well as Africa of course).
They have a disdain because they think American Blacks are lazy and ignorant, and don't want to be put in the same category and people like you do nothing to dispel that notion.
There isn't a black or white or other who wouldn't want to be placed in the same category as me. So please don't even begin to go there.
And, 14Bricks, if you are stupid enough to try to insult someone by claiming they lack education or are in need of it, wouldn't it follow that you would try within your statements to make sure that you come off as at least passably literate? You can attempt to insult me all you want, but I challenge anyone who is naive enough to think for one second that I might be stupid, lazy, ignorant or in need of education to look at my body of work here and compare it to yours.
They have a disdain because they think American Blacks are lazy and ignorant, and don't want to be put in the same category and people like you do nothing to dispel that notion.
I would give you my opinion of Africans who look down on African-Americans, but I don't think I would be able to mince my words nicely enough. Suffice it to say that Africans who look down on African-Americans can shove it.
I so agree. The black friends that we have in our circle of friends, would rather be called American before all other. And they have told us they get so annoyed at those that have to be refered to as Africian American.
They do not like the label, and fact is they were born in this Country as i was, making them as they tell us American. They do not mind being called black american, but as they tell us all the time in discussions, they are american as apple pie, and vanilla ice cream.
Are you black? African-American? If neither, why do you need to have an opinion on this?
By the way, how do your Asian friends self-identify? If they choose to label themselves Asian-American, do you have a problem with that?
As American as vanilla ice cream, eh? How telling.
The other thing though -- the loss of melanin is preferrable in climates with little sunshine. You can't have a lot of melanin blocking UV light when there isn't much light or you end up with Vitamin D deficiency which is not good. People with less melanin have a survival advantage - they can live where there is sun or where there is little sun.
People with less melanin do not have the advantage in environments where there's lots of sunshine. Just imagine if sunscreen wasn't invented. There would certainly be far more cases of skin cancer.
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