Black or African-American

[cenkiss]

Why is it that black american people like to call themselves African-American?Most of them have never even seen Africa,some of them not even have visible ties with Africa.Is black american offensive and wrong?

[Playfishpaste]

I don't know any black people that prefer to be called that, but I guess "black" sounds rather informal. Like calling indians "brown".

Though most indians I know call themselves brown, so beats me.

[Old_Scratch]

It's a ridiculous generalization and I will never call anyone "African American". Not everyone in Africa is black and not all black people are from Africa. I have a friend from Tunisia, white and speaks French and English. He had some problems understanding the term "African American" at first since in reality, being an immigrant from Africa, he was in fact African American even though he was white. PC BS.

[Del Valle]

Indians call themselves brown? Are they color-blind or something? They're obviously red.

[Playfishpaste]

Indians call themselves brown? Are they color-blind or something? They're obviously red.

I think you're thinking of native americans.

[Copperknickers II]

I think you're thinking of native americans.

You mean First Nation Inhabitants i presume.

[Prodigal]

black. I'm white. I'm not Greek-American. I can't imagine someone saying "oh, he's that Greek-American guy" or "European-American guy." I CAN image someone saying "He's white" I tend to think of skin color like eye or hair color.

[★Bandiera Rossa☭]

Black - African American is a bit stupid, although someone being "black or white" or even purple for that matter is of little consequence, they are people, skin color is a genetic trait, not something that makes them "different" than everyone else.

I tend to think of skin color like eye or hair color.

Which in reality is what it is - a genetic trait and little more, "Race" is not an accurate term for describing humans, and skin color does not accurately describe ethnicity.

[Taiji]

I wonder if european-africans are upset about being called white?

It would be pretty silly and embarassing if this all boils down to childish associations some people have with white being a color that represents good and black being the color for bad.

But then childish as they are, they are suggestions which can be responded to unconsciously.

It's probably true that using black and white to represent different races only makes sense if you want them to hate each other. Because of the connotations these words have, as opposites, etc.

[Prodigal]

I wonder if european-africans are upset about being called white?

It would be pretty silly and embarassing if this all boils down to childish associations some people have with white being a color that represents good and black being the color for bad.

But then childish as they are, they are suggestions which can be responded to unconsciously.

It's probably true that using black and white to represent different races only makes sense if you want them to hate each other. Because of the connotations these words have, as opposites, etc.

In old-slavic culture, white was seen as bad and black as good. Interesting stuff.

[★Bandiera Rossa☭]

In old-slavic culture, white was seen as bad and black as good. Interesting stuff.

This is the same in Rastafari.

African-American is politically correct. It is used in the wrong way, of course (if it's PC, it's used incorrectly most of the time). Saying their black is better than what they call themselves anyway (you know the word, the word they don't want anyone to call them but themselves). At least around here that's the case. But I normally don't even bothering mentioning someone's skin color. It isn't that important really.

African-American - Someone born in Africa that has immigrated to America, not a black person living in America, born in America, which would be an AMERICAN.

It is nothing but a poor generalization, just as many people of Middle Eastern and Indian descent are all called "Muslims, Arabs, Hindus, etc aside from the fact that most of these are only true of some people. There is also a large use of other more offensive terms, although I am sure certain posters in this thread have no problems with that.. Why should he care that people.. who are just that.. other people are being hurt not by racism but by ignorance. PC is a load of bull crap which leads to nothing but ignorance which causes more trouble than good, We do more by ignoring peoples culture than by learning of it..

[Taiji]

I'd imagine that africans in old-slavic communities would not have objected, it is interesting.

But then they are still set at odds by the abstraction...

[royfang]

Why is it that black american people like to call themselves African-American?Most of them have never even seen Africa,some of them not even have visible ties with Africa.Is black american offensive and wrong?

Maybe some of them do find calling them black offensive because not all of them are black.

[Helm]

Maybe some of them do find calling them black offensive because not all of them are black.

Some of them are albino?

[royfang]

Some of them are albino?

They have skin tones that range from light brown to nearly black.


But I agree with people here who say they should be called Americans but when it comes to identify people by their "races", it is always a problem.

[Helm]

They have skin tones that range from light brown to nearly black.

White people have different skin tones as well, compare someone from Norway with someone from Spain.

[S.L.I.G]

African American is just the politically correct way of saying it, whenever your in a formal setting. I've heard European-American, Caucasian etc, in such a formal setting as well. Virtually every other circumstance I've always heard someone be denoted by colour.

[Confederate Jeb]

African-American is politically correct. It is used in the wrong way, of course (if it's PC, it's used incorrectly most of the time). Saying their black is better than what they call themselves anyway (you know the word, the word they don't want anyone to call them but themselves). At least around here that's the case. But I normally don't even bothering mentioning someone's skin color. It isn't that important really.

African-American - Someone born in Africa that has immigrated to America, not a black person living in America, born in America, which would be an AMERICAN.

[Helm]

African-American - Someone born in Africa that has immigrated to America, not a black person living in America, born in America, which would be an AMERICAN.

I think they would just be called an African immigrants, they call Barrack Obama African American though I'm fairly sure he was born in America. He also isn't exactly 100% black seeing as he is mixed race but only a small amount of African genes seems to be enough to qualify someone as black/African American. It's like there's some kind higher standard of racial purity people have to meet in order to be called white.

[December]

Saying their black is better than what they call themselves anyway (you know the word, the word they don't want anyone to call them but themselves).

lol

this guy has never met a black person.