When White People Stop Identifying Themselves As White, I'll Drop African American. (Mexican, elect)

[claudhopper]

Originally Posted by SoEdible

I'm curious to know when "African-American" was inaccurate. I'd think that "Black" is more inaccurate because most of us aren't "Black." So, I'm thinking people should be bothered by that even more. I mean, what's the big deal with African-American? It's obvious that it is just a term used to describe one's ancestry or heritage. What's wrong with that? Yet, Italian-Americans can proudly say they are Italian? Why can't we say "African?" I mean ... are we embarrassed, ashamed or something? We are indeed of African heritage and blood.

Have you traced it? I have Irish blood, do I have to announce it? No, who cares, and why would it matter to anybody else? I am American, and not that proud of it, right now, but that's what I am.

[rbohm]

Originally Posted by ovcatto

Deal?

After reading innumerable threads and comments regarding racial self-identification, lack of assimilation, and screeds about multiculturalism I thought to myself why is it that I've never read a thread or comment advocating the ending of the classification referred to as white? I mean if African American is so offensive because of its alleged inaccuracy then why not do a way with the term white, after all, white people are exactly white or anything close to it. So, in the hopes of bringing about that much touted color blind society, I would like to make the following offer.

Do away with the idea or whiteness and I will stop identifying myself as an African American and ask others to do the same.

What do you think?

i have a better idea, if you can prove to me that you have a dual citizenship, both here and in an african nation, i will accept you as an african-american, otherwise to me you are an american who happens to have a great tan.

[theunbrainwashed]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

I do. On the checkboxes for race I check "other" and fill it in with American.
More people should start doing that.

Would really screw over "government statistics"

If you look at the 2000 American ancestry map, half the South identified as African-American, the other half as American

[Roaddog]

You just go right ahead and do that don't bogart, pass that sh*t around

[Savoir Faire]

Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed

If you look at the 2000 American ancestry map, half the South identified as African-American, the other half as American

I didn't realize that American was a race.

[residinghere2007]

Originally Posted by Savoir Faire

Good point. What do you call a Black American whose family is from Brazil or Haiti? African American? Probably not.

I know black people from Brazil and Haiti. They call themselves Brazillian American and Haitian American.

Personally I don't care. I'm black. I'm an American. I have African and European and Native American genes. But I do have a particular fascination with Africa and have a great desire to actually live there in Ghana or Botswana specifically. But I'm an American and really you shouldn't care about what white people think about you calling yourself African American (if you chose to do so) anyway.

Hope you don't take offense to this but I tell this to all the young or not so young black people that I know. Quit caring about what white people think about you. What they think isn't important anyway. You shouldn't care about what anyone thinks of you. Just be yourself, identify yourself how you want to be identified and get on with your life. If someone questions you tell them to deal with it since they can't make you not call yourself what you want to call yourself.

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by Savoir Faire

I didn't realize that American was a race.

Neither is African-american.

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by residinghere2007

Quit caring about what white people think about you. What they think isn't important anyway. You shouldn't care about what anyone thinks of you. Just be yourself, identify yourself how you want to be identified and get on with your life. If someone questions you tell them to deal with it since they can't make you not call yourself what you want to call yourself.

I don't care what anyone of any color,ethnicity or sex thinks.

[Savoir Faire]

Originally Posted by oz in SC

Neither is African-american.

Yeah, and ?

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by Savoir Faire

I didn't realize that American was a race.

Well let's make it a race and then we don't have to worry about "race" anymore.

One can always check "other" and fill in whatever they want for the race question you see on forms.