It doesn't make sense when referring to people such as Martin Luther King who wasn't born in Africa, and makes even less sense when referring to Africans. Is a black man who is born in England an African-American? Is a black man who has never been outside Africa an African-American? I just think the term is incredibly stupid, I'm not trying to offend anyone.
Yes; if they're born and raised in America then they shouldn't be referred to as even remotely African. I just call them black if the situation prevents me from referring to them as "person".
Yes, I do. Even though I just used it in another thread. Other than my ethnic background I have no ties to Africa, I'd much rather just be called an American, or referred to as black if one must acknowledge my ethnicity.
... and why can't a black person of African decent call themselves such? Does it also bother you that some people Identify as Korean American? Or Irish American? I am currently working on the Census and I know for a fact that people Identify by all kinds of terms. And the official Census rule is "Let people Identify themselves as they want. Whatever they say, write it down". I think YOU should take a similar stance.
I think it's an idiotic term, you don't hear me calling myself German-American because my lineage goes back to Germany. If you're an American citizen you're American, no hyphens!
[QUOTE="Anti-Venom"]Hell yea, I hate it...richwalker13
If you hate it so much why start a thread about Black Superheroes with African American in the title? wow you were the first person to catch that. bravo sir
It doesn't sound as if you understand it. No not all black people are African American, only those who were born in the US who are the descendents of African people. At least that's my understanding. I think the term used for British black people is Afro Caribbean.
We just say black here. I don't see the point in reciting an essay of where someone may or may not be from or where they may or may not live now, simply to avoid saying the word black. Obviously it doesn't exactly mean 'black', but it has adopted that sole meaning regardless.
I think it's an idiotic term, you don't hear me calling myself German-American because my lineage goes back to Germany. If you're an American citizen you're American, no hyphens!
Bloodaxe726
But that makes it harder for me to apply stereotypical assumptions. Don't deny me one of life's simple joys - keep the hyphens!
I just use black. In alot of ways African-American doesn't really work. People use the term for people who aren't American, have no ties to Africa or both. I don't think anyone finds black an offensive term and it just gets the point across better. I'm not Scandinavian-Canadian (even though I just read that aloud and it sounds awesome), I'm white. It just encompasses everything better and gets the point across.
[QUOTE="richwalker13"][QUOTE="Anti-Venom"]Hell yea, I hate it...Anti-Venom
If you hate it so much why start a thread about Black Superheroes with African American in the title? wow you were the first person to catch that. bravo sir I noticed it, but I wasn't sure if I should mention it.
I just use the word black, most black people I know are cool with it. African American is just too long, and I know some black people whose ancestors weren't even African.
I just use black. In alot of ways African-American doesn't really work. People use the term for people who aren't American, have no ties to Africa or both. I don't think anyone finds black an offensive term and it just gets the point across better. I'm not Scandinavian-Canadian (even though I just read that aloud and it sounds awesome), I'm white. It just encompasses everything better and gets the point across.Ace6301
If you're of Scandinavian descent you should just have everyone call you a Viking, it's what I'd do.
The term african american is probably only used because people assume its more polite than calling somebody black. I don't know why black is considered racist though if we're considered white by others. If theres 10 blacks guys in a room, and one white guy, a stranger will probably refer him as the white guy (even a white guy), and vice versa. It's just the easiest way to describe somebody physically, instead of trying to dance around it to not offend somebody, and say "the guy with the white and blue sneakers".
[QUOTE="Anti-Venom"][QUOTE="richwalker13"] If you hate it so much why start a thread about Black Superheroes with African American in the title?Eleckidding
wow you were the first person to catch that. bravo sir I noticed it, but I wasn't sure if I should mention it. Yeah I didn't want to soundcatty Anyway... I think sometimes the problem is the acceptable terminology changes... Where once upon a time Stevie Wonder is singing about 'Coloured' people if you use it today it starts a riot (kind of) Similarly I remember growing up the right term for someone of mixed heritage was 'half-caste.' DEFINATELY don't use it today. I think 'African American's' time has been and gone
just to add though, it's weird how I still considered "red" and "yellow" racist. It's like the opposite, calling somebody asian seems alot less racist than saying that yellow guy over there!
I would hateto live in a place where I had to call every-one by ______ American (German, Mexican, French, English, etc) -it is wrong most of the time to call someone a _____ American -we don't call white people from Africa 'African-Americans' -seems divisive (we are all just American now)
The term african american is probably only used because people assume its more polite than calling somebody black. I don't know why black is considered racist though if we're considered white by others. If theres 10 blacks guys in a room, and one white guy, a stranger will probably refer him as the white guy (even a white guy), and vice versa. It's just the easiest way to describe somebody physically, instead of trying to dance around it to not offend somebody, and say "the guy with the white and blue sneakers".Jordo321
I've never met a black person offended by the word black.
another problem is, what about in nations where almost the entire population are descendents of slaves, such as in the carribean.
none of those people are "african americans" they are just Jamaicans, Bajan, Bahamian etc.
And none of the white people in those carribean countries are "european-jamaican" thats just dumb. African american is probably the dumbest politically correct term ever.
It doesn't make sense when referring to people such as Martin Luther King who wasn't born in Africa, and makes even less sense when referring to Africans. Is a black man who is born in England an African-American? Is a black man who has never been outside Africa an African-American? I just think the term is incredibly stupid, I'm not trying to offend anyone.Eleckidding
I agree! It drives me nuts and makes little sense.
I feel like a total douchebag saying "African American."
If, for some reason, I am asked to specify race of a black individual, I simply say "black."
On a related topic: I do, in contrast to "white" and "black", perceive a negative connotation with people using "yellow" to describe East Asian ethnicities.
It's not really a big deal to me. In a world where the norm now is to constantly be referred to as **** and hoe under many casual conversational circumstances--African-American is the last term that would even begin to annoy me.
I feel like a total douchebag saying "African American."
If, for some reason, I am asked to specify race of a black individual, I simply say "black."
On a related topic: I do, in contrast to "white" and "black", perceive a negative connotation with people using "yellow" to describe East Asian ethnicities.
Velocitas8
Yeah the word yellow isn't used here at all, and would probably be perceived as rather childish racism. For the simple reason that the term is almost completely unheard of. I only know it exists because of online forums like this, and have never actually witnessed its use so it's a very foreign term even to me.
QUOTE] Yeah the word yellow isn't used here at all, and would probably be perceived as rather childish racism. For the simple reason that the term is almost completely unheard of. I only know it exists because of online forums like this, and have never actually witnessed its use so it's a very foreign term even to me.cjek
It used to be (unfortunately) it even crops up in Revenge of the Pink Panther where Clouseau calls Kato a... Well I can't use the actual quote but...
The usage depends on the context. You say Arican-American to show respect for strangers or to describe someone in a place that requires it (court or some professional setting). You say "black" when it's a friend and they don't mind being called black.
I have a friend/co-worker and when I tell someone they need to talk to him and he's not around, I say "the black guy who runs the warehouse" not "the Dominican who runs the warehouse".
For one thing, not everyone knows what a Dominican looks like (it can vary). And for another thing, he's not African.
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