African-American vs. Black.... Why is it Ok Sometimes and Other Times Not? (bias, states)

[2mares]

Originally Posted by Todd_96

But they are North Americans. So maybe African North Americans? lol

Ha. So technically it should be North African North American or if they are white skinned from Africa South African-North American.

[desertdetroiter]

Originally Posted by PullMyFinger

So a caucasian person born and raised in Africa but immigrated to the US is not an African-American? How can that be.

The designation is reserved for black Americans of African descent.

That's how it can be.

Originally Posted by Moth

African-American is fine by me.

Just out of curiosity, why did Afro-American fall out of favor? Why was it deemed no longer acceptable?

It isn't out of favor to me. It's perfectly fine. I actually like it better than African American.

It sounds antiquated...but that's the worst you can say about it.

[Spartacus713]

And what about white people from places like South Africa. They have been there for generations. Some pretty good professional golfers and such have come from South Africa. Should they move to America, surely they would be African Americans. How could they not be?

[Veneficus]

Originally Posted by desertdetroiter

The designation is reserved for black Americans of African descent.

That's how it can be.

Did you call dibs with the trademark office?

This guy is a hundred times more African you than you can ever hope to be:




And I love how it burns your racist butt.

[alphamale]

I don't care.

For instance, Dr. Ben Carson is a black man. al sharpton is an "N" word.

No group should be lumped together.

[Enigma777]

I don't know what went on at the Urban League, but I use the term blacks or black people when talking to my black friends and nobody has ever been or acted offended.

I'm fairly certain it is accepted just fine by blacks.

African-American vs. black - Grammarist

[blktoptrvl]

So, let me understand. If you meet an older woman at a event and she is introduced to you as "Mrs. Lastname," you would feel perfectly fine with calling her by her first name? None of you would see that as rude?

It's the same when you meet a person at the office or at a social occasion and a racial discussion ensues in which one of the people - maybe even three or four of them tell you they personally don't like being called "colored", "black", or "negro"; instead, they would prefer that you call them "African-American."

So, now armed with the information regarding what those people prefer, you decide you cannot and will not call or refer to them as African-American - because it somehow offends YOU.

You guys are too full of yourselves.

[Packard fan]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

So, let me understand. If you meet an older woman at a event and she is introduced to you as "Mrs. Lastname," you would feel perfectly fine with calling her by her first name? None of you would see that as rude?

It's the same when you meet a person at the office or at a social occasion and a racial discussion ensues in which one of the people - maybe even three or four of them tell you they personally don't like being called "colored", "black", or "negro"; instead, they would prefer that you call them "African-American."

So, now armed with the information regarding what those people prefer, you decide you cannot and will not call or refer to them as African-American - because it somehow offends YOU.

You guys are too full of yourselves.

Some Black people over a certain age DON'T like being referred to as "Black", many of those dudes and ladies actually prefer "Negro". Word is some really young Black people now use "people of color". My point is: make up your minds, please. I CAN'T and WON'T be held accountable for the different code words used. Period.

OTOH; us white people have used "white" BEFORE any of us of ANY skin color or race were born.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by Packard fan

Some Black people over a certain age DON'T like being referred to as "Black", many of those dudes and ladies actually prefer "Negro". Word is some really young Black people now use "people of color". My point is: make up your minds, please. I CAN'T and WON'T be held accountable for the different code words used. Period.

OTOH; us white people have used "white" BEFORE any of us of ANY skin color or race were born.

You think there should be some countrywide vote where each social group decides what they want to be called? That is the only way you will get an "Official!" consensus, but isn't that a stupid idea?

And if someone was stupid enough to try that, then what about those who lose the vote, are they then to be pinned with a label they don't approve of?

Being black, I am pretty sure I communicate with far more black folks than the average non-black person and in my entire 55 years, I don't recall EVER been told by anyone I have met - old or young - that they prefer being called "Negro."

But what if they do? The majority of blacks in this country are fine with being called black or African-American. Use those terms and in 95-100% of the cases, as long as your attitude or demeanor in general is not confrontational, there will be no problems. For the remaining 0-5%, ask them (more than likely they have already told you) what they prefer and they will tell you.

This issue almost never seems to me to come up unless some non-black offence-prince brings it up. People like this need to get a productive job.

As for the use of one over the other, I find that paperwork tends to use the more formal "African-American" while people talking amoungst themselves are more likely to use black. "People of Color" is used more often than not to refer to a group of multi-cultural non-whites.

[PedroMartinez]

You know, I've learned something here.

I don't call a person of Asian decent "yellow", I refer to them as Asian, not even Asian-American, but just Asian.

I think I'll start referring to black people as Africans.