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As a black male who's family has been here since at least the 1790's (thats as far back as I can trace), I really dont care for the term African American. I use it in public b/c it seems to make the public comfortable, but in all honesty, Ive never been to Africa, dont have a clue about everyday culture over there, dont know the language and may not ever visit in my lifetime.
Dominicans and Brazilians of African Descent dont even think about AFrica, they are just straight up Dominican or Brazilian and thats it. They embrace the culture of that country and thats nice to see.
I personally believe if your liniage in this country traces back a hundred or so years, just call urself american and leave it at that. A lot Africans that come to the USA dont particularly care for American Blacks anyway. They have derogatory terms that they use.
Also 75% of American blacks have european or American Indian blood in them anyway but a lot of people like to forget about that
Excellent post; thank you for reason, honesty and logic. You are an American, as American as anyone else. Rep point for you.
I have a client who's white who's family goes back generations in southern Africa.
He had a point that he is also African - American. Many people believe this term only describes blacks but many white Africans have moved here to the US.
So does African-American not apply to these whites also if you must use a label ?
If they were born in Africa and immigrated to America, of course it does. Why do so many people hate logic?
Sorry the issue isn't a mathematical formula, but a cultural one. Tracing one's Afro-ness isn't an issue of genetics of nationalism but a shared social history. Without that appreciation you "logic" falls apart.
Check into the use of German American, Polish American, Japanese American, Italian American, etc. It was in response to and copying those terms that blacks first started using the term African-American.
Sorry the issue isn't a mathematical formula, but a cultural one. Tracing one's Afro-ness isn't an issue of genetics of nationalism but a shared social history. Without that appreciation you "logic" falls apart.
African American. They're two words, in which the definitions of each are not up for debate. If leftist political correctness has tried to hijack the words and turn them into political leverage, that's not my problem.
Bottom line: If you are born and raised in Africa and immigrate to America and you insist on labels, you are African American. If you are born and raised in America, and you're lineage is 4, 5 and 6 generations of fellow Americans, you are American. Political Correctness rots the brain.
Check into the use of German American, Polish American, Japanese American, Italian American, etc. It was in response to and copying those terms that blacks first started using the term African-American.
We should make a law banning all hyphenated Americans. They did so in France; every French citizen in France is French, none of this hyphenated pc nonsense.
African American. They're two words, in which the definitions of each are not up for debate. If leftist political correctness has tried to hijack the words and turn them into political leverage, that's not my problem.
Bottom line: If you are born and raised in Africa and immigrate to America and you insist on labels, you are African American. If you are born and raised in America, and you're lineage is 4, 5 and 6 generations of fellow Americans, you are American. Political Correctness rots the brain.
There are many German Americans, Polish Americans, Irish Americans and Italian Americans around here who aren't going to agree with you
African American. They're two words, in which the definitions of each are not up for debate.
I agree whole hardly, so when will you and folks like you give it a rest. It's a done deal.
Quote:
If leftist political correctness has tried to hijack the words and turn them into political leverage, that's not my problem.
Well that would be quite a change in comparison to the 300 years of rabid racist playing word games with people of African descent.
Quote:
Bottom line: If you are born and raised in Africa and immigrate to America and you insist on labels, you are African American. If you are born and raised in America, and you're lineage is 4, 5 and 6 generations of fellow Americans, you are American.
Call me when America sees folks with dark skin as Americans first and maybe we'll talk.
Call me when Americans show as much concern about 10th generation Europeans using hyphenated names.
Call me when the first thread entitled, "I Can't Stand the Word Irish/Italian/Polish/German/ American" appears on this talk board other than as a response to this post!
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