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Never understood this either. Considering how messed up Africa is right now, I wouldn't want to have any association with that continent at all! All the human rights violations and genocide issues going on in there, somehow the monicker Dark Continent now fits. If I was black, I just want to be called black.
First, I find it curious that this issue is only raised with regards to African Americans, I have never seen this issue raised when it comes to Irish Americans, German Americans, or Italian Americans, ethnic descriptions that have been used for centuries.
I noticed that too. I grew up in a neighborhood where people called themselves just plain "Irish" or " Italian"
I was thinking about this and had a few questions, so feel free to give your 2 cents.
From an outside point of view, it can sometimes seem strange that in the US, black people are referred to as African American.
What's wrong with someone being described as just black? Especially since black people can come from any number of countries, not all of which are found in Africa. If an aboriginal person from Australia went to live in the US or had children there, I'm sure they'd be referred to as African American, even though they have no links to Africa whatsoever.
I mean, I've overhead Americans in London becoming confused, because they suddenly realised that they couldn't call a black Londoner 'African American' because... he was black, but neither African, nor American.
Conversely - there are also many people in Africa who are white, or another race, or colour. If these people went to live in the USA and had kids there, don't they have the right to call themselves as African American?
I guess my (rambling) point is that it just seems to me that African should be used to denote nationality (or rather, your nationality is from that continent) and not race.
There are plenty of white African-Americans in this country. John Kerry's wife is from South Africa originally. All any hyphenation of a person does is to separate them from truly being a complete American. One is either an American or not. The blacks are black and most couldn't point out Africa on a map. Of course, neither could the idiot white kids out there. But, they aren't from Africa and even if they are, once they become an American citizen then they are American. PERIOD!
I was thinking about this and had a few questions, so feel free to give your 2 cents.
From an outside point of view, it can sometimes seem strange that in the US, black people are referred to as African American.
What's wrong with someone being described as just black? Especially since black people can come from any number of countries, not all of which are found in Africa. If an aboriginal person from Australia went to live in the US or had children there, I'm sure they'd be referred to as African American, even though they have no links to Africa whatsoever.
I mean, I've overhead Americans in London becoming confused, because they suddenly realised that they couldn't call a black Londoner 'African American' because... he was black, but neither African, nor American.
Conversely - there are also many people in Africa who are white, or another race, or colour. If these people went to live in the USA and had kids there, don't they have the right to call themselves as African American?
I guess my (rambling) point is that it just seems to me that African should be used to denote nationality (or rather, your nationality is from that continent) and not race.
Why are you only curious about African American and not other races? How does satisfying your curiosity affect you?
I find it amazing how some non-blacks (or non-AA) are constantly trying to place African Americans in their idea of what they believe AA s/b. What is even more amazing is how some believe they have the answers? If this was the case, the world would be a better place for all races.
I really doubt Americans travelling or living abroad would be confused as to why they couldn't call UK citizens who are black 'African-American'. That sounds like a caricature of American stupidity to me.....kinda like if I asked the OP hows his teeth?
Anyhoo -- I am mutt, and as such I don't call myself anything hyphenated. Like Filet Mignon, it would be too long. But, I do know most of my ancestry and that is something that whites have that black Americans don't. I know I am of European descent, and I also know specifically where from Europe I am descended (or at least mostly). For black Americans, they can only point to the continent of Africa....they have no idea from what countries or tribes they descended from.
Now, that said I think identifying primarily with another country/continent is foolish. From my understanding the people of those countries/continents think Americans are somewhat idiotic when we try to 'claim' brotherhood with our ancestral stomping grounds. Apparently this annoys the Irish the most
Actually; with modern DNA testing many American Blacks can pinpoint quite closely which parts of Africa their Black ancestors came from. Supposedly despite Blacks/Negroes being lumped into one 'race'--------on a genetic level they are quite diverse.
I do it all the time and have done so for more than 35 years.
Like I said, I've never heard anyone ***** and moan when Irish Americans of Italians do it.
I didn't think the term had been around that long.
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