"African Americans"

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Until people start calling themselves "Americans" instead of different sects of Americans because of their ethnic backgrounds, unity is impossible.

amen, no way i'm gonna go around calling myself an IrePolEng-American. I still havent heard anyone answer my question though... where did it come from? i seem to recall hearing it on the news once and was like "huh?? when did that happen?" Did someone like Hilary Clinton just make an announcement someday?

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Until people start calling themselves "Americans" instead of different sects of Americans because of their ethnic backgrounds, unity is impossible.

amen, no way i'm gonna go around calling myself an IrePolEng-American. I still havent heard anyone answer my question though... where did it come from? i seem to recall hearing it on the news once and was like "huh?? when did that happen?" Did someone like Hilary Clinton just make an announcement someday?

My guess would be the Out of Africa movement that was led by Louis Farrakan et al

 

[CanOWorms]

It's not like only these people call themselves Something-American. The plain American calls them that, too. Anyways, it's not like they don't consider themselves American.

 

[bigalt]

it's just a label.

i personally think 'black' makes more sense, but apparently it's not okay to say that anymore.

 

[Ikonomi]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Ikonomi

Originally posted by: Amused
If you were born here, you're an American... not some hyphenated bullshit connecting you to a country or culture you know nothing about anyhow.

What cracks me up is the made up "African" culture and garb some blacks like to wear. The women even try some Egyptian themed stuff... which only shows their ignorance as the majority of ancient Egyptians were far from black.

I'm sure those people have their reasons for dressing the way they do. Some of them are Muslim, and they feel that their clothing is somehow more appropriate. Some of them are searching for a stronger connection to their heritage (correctly or not) through their clothing. Some of them just like the style, and some of them are just caught up in the fad. At least, that's what I've learned by asking. African-themed clothing isn't my cup of tea, but it's just another clothing style.

Anyway, I never use the term African American. I say "black". I'm black, and I'm American, but I'm not African. My ancestors were, but unfortunately there's no way for me to trace my lineage back farther than whatever white families originally owned them here in America. It's just that, when you start saying "African American" all the time, you run the risk of straying into the territory of uttering phrases like "person of African American descent". Hmm.

Let's address what it really is: A self defeating departure from popular American culture. It's separatist at it's core. Black kids who adopt mainstream American culture are too often deemed "oreos" and made to feel as outcasts. Instead of integrating into popular culture, they've created their own, often self deprecating, culture. And the most damaging part is the trashing of academic achievement. In poor black neighborhoods kids who do well in school are often teased and outcast. It's seems to be anything they can do to avoid "acting white."

You made a good point, and that's actually how I feel about a lot of aspects of black culture: It is self defeating. There's a trend, in multiple facets of black America, to preserve and identify with being black through being... well, too black. I think of the art with jet black, stylized figures clothed in African-styled garb. Who would want that art, besides black people? To me, it's being black to the point of being esoteric, to the point that no one else understands, or cares to understand. Some people are so caught up in being black that they don't realize what their actions do to the image of blacks as a whole. The concept of "black first, everything else second" works both ways, and a lot of blacks really need to recognize that.

But it goes so much deeper than that. There is a cycle in black America that's only being broken as generations go by, that encompasses all of the Afro-centric thought patterns, and all the discrimination surrounding blacks, and everything else. For me, all of this requires a lot of thought to address, because I have so much personally invested in these topics of conversation.

 

[Ikonomi]

it's just a label.

i personally think 'black' makes more sense, but apparently it's not okay to say that anymore.

I think it's okay. If there are "white" people, then there can be "black" people too. They're terms that have been used for centuries, and there's nothing offensive inherent in either of them.

 

[NetGuySC]

I had this discussion with some friends who are black, at work. It all started when the white kid from South Africa was suspended for running for the "Distinguished African American" award in his jr. high school.

The blacks that I spoke with said that you must be black to be African American and that is the reason a white boy can't be African American. His heritage is from europe.

I then asked if someone moved from Egypt to the US, should they be called African American? The popular answer was no because a person who is from Egypt is not black and therefore could not be African American.

I cannot grasp this reasoning.

 

[Red Dawn]

As long as it annoys Whitey I'm all for it😉

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Until people start calling themselves "Americans" instead of different sects of Americans because of their ethnic backgrounds, unity is impossible.

amen, no way i'm gonna go around calling myself an IrePolEng-American. I still havent heard anyone answer my question though... where did it come from? i seem to recall hearing it on the news once and was like "huh?? when did that happen?" Did someone like Hilary Clinton just make an announcement someday?

The term evolved from the earlier term Afro-American. This link gives a short history of the evolution of it.

 

[Hubris]

Fvck the term African-American. I'm so sick and tired of people being so damn hung up on race. Just be a person, and insist people accept you as such.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Nitemare
Why not "Darkness"? 😉




I've never asked which term my black friends used. I think I use both black and African American about the same amount

The term I use is "people". I don't associate skin color with a person unless I'm describing them for a specific reason, the same reason I don't say "my blonde friend" unless I'm trying to describe what my friend looks like.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: Nitemare
Why not "Darkness"? 😉




I've never asked which term my black friends used. I think I use both black and African American about the same amount

The term I use is "people". I don't associate skin color with a person unless I'm describing them for a specific reason, the same reason I don't say "my blonde friend" unless I'm trying to describe what my friend looks like.

You're just better than most whiteys then I guess eh?

 

[classy]

Originally posted by: Amused
If you were born here, you're an American... not some hyphenated bullshit connecting you to a country or culture you know nothing about anyhow.

What cracks me up is the made up "African" culture and garb some blacks like to wear. The women even try some Egyptian themed stuff... which only shows their ignorance as the majority of ancient Egyptians were far from black.

LOL. On a very rare occasion I agree 100% 🙂. I'd rather be called black.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: Nitemare
Why not "Darkness"? 😉




I've never asked which term my black friends used. I think I use both black and African American about the same amount

The term I use is "people". I don't associate skin color with a person unless I'm describing them for a specific reason, the same reason I don't say "my blonde friend" unless I'm trying to describe what my friend looks like.

You're just better than most whiteys then I guess eh?

Who said I was white?

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: classy

Originally posted by: Amused
If you were born here, you're an American... not some hyphenated bullshit connecting you to a country or culture you know nothing about anyhow.

What cracks me up is the made up "African" culture and garb some blacks like to wear. The women even try some Egyptian themed stuff... which only shows their ignorance as the majority of ancient Egyptians were far from black.

LOL. On a very rare occasion I agree 100% 🙂. I'd rather be called black.

:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q

🙂

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: Nitemare
Why not "Darkness"? 😉




I've never asked which term my black friends used. I think I use both black and African American about the same amount

The term I use is "people". I don't associate skin color with a person unless I'm describing them for a specific reason, the same reason I don't say "my blonde friend" unless I'm trying to describe what my friend looks like.

You're just better than most whiteys then I guess eh?

Who said I was white?

Sorry to make an improper assumption... you know what they say when you assume!
:beer:

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: Nitemare
Why not "Darkness"? 😉




I've never asked which term my black friends used. I think I use both black and African American about the same amount

The term I use is "people". I don't associate skin color with a person unless I'm describing them for a specific reason, the same reason I don't say "my blonde friend" unless I'm trying to describe what my friend looks like.

You're just better than most whiteys then I guess eh?

Who said I was white?

Sorry to make an improper assumption... you know what they say when you assume!
:beer:

lol - Well, I am. 😀

 

[Modeps]

bhahaha 😀

 

[Arkitech]

Not that it makes any difference but feel free to call me dude, dudester, bro or broha

 

[LordJezo]

They are black.

I will never call them african american until people start calling me european american.

I have met many black people who are offended by the term african american because they are from the carribean.

i have even heard stories of people refering to black people from england as african american.

blah. pc crap.

 

[Kaiser__Sose]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Until people start calling themselves "Americans" instead of different sects of Americans because of their ethnic backgrounds, unity is impossible.

who cares what people are called.. until people are TREATED EQUALLY regardless of their ethnic backgrounds, unity is impossible.

 

[LordJezo]

Originally posted by: Kaiser__Sose

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Until people start calling themselves "Americans" instead of different sects of Americans because of their ethnic backgrounds, unity is impossible.

who cares what people are called.. until people are TREATED EQUALLY regardless of their ethnic backgrounds, unity is impossible.

TRUTH!!

Until the white middle class male is given the same respect and opportunities that every other group of people in this country is given there will always be hate and anger.

(Not a joke either.)

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: LordJezo

Originally posted by: Kaiser__Sose

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Until people start calling themselves "Americans" instead of different sects of Americans because of their ethnic backgrounds, unity is impossible.

who cares what people are called.. until people are TREATED EQUALLY regardless of their ethnic backgrounds, unity is impossible.

TRUTH!!

Until the white middle class male is given the same respect and opportunities that every other group of people in this country is given there will always be hate and anger.

(Not a joke either.)

Yeah seriously, afirmative action is garbage. We're being screwed.

 

[Kaiser__Sose]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: LordJezo

Originally posted by: Kaiser__Sose

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Until people start calling themselves "Americans" instead of different sects of Americans because of their ethnic backgrounds, unity is impossible.

who cares what people are called.. until people are TREATED EQUALLY regardless of their ethnic backgrounds, unity is impossible.

TRUTH!!

Until the white middle class male is given the same respect and opportunities that every other group of people in this country is given there will always be hate and anger.

(Not a joke either.)

Yeah seriously, afirmative action is garbage. We're being screwed.

whhhaaa waaaa waaaa...
would you like a cookie?

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: Amused
If you were born here, you're an American... not some hyphenated bullshit connecting you to a country or culture you know nothing about anyhow.

You sir are the WINNAR!!!