Why do I hate it? Several reasons. First, it’s so lame when people use it to refer to black people in general… even ones who aren’t American. Second, Africa isn’t the only place black skinned people come from.
Is there a good term? I always use the term “black” myself, and none of my black friends has ever seemed to have a problem with it. Do black people actually prefer the term “African American”?
I will generally call people whatever they want to be called, if its not too ridiculous. My ex-girlfriend preferred “black”. Mostly I don’t mention it at all unless I’m actually trying to describe someone. In my world, skin color or national origin is really not relevant.
What torques me though is when people say I’m a racist when I use the “wrong” term. That’s total bullshit. It’s not like I’m going around using the “n” word.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Not only are black people not technically “black”, but African Americans (from Egypt for instance)aren’t necessarily black.
However,I like African-American because I think it has more relevance than skin color.
This discussion certainly demonstrates the confusion in our society between race, heritage,and culture.
On a side note: I’m more confused by Chicano, Latino, and Latin American, and I can’t say which one is PC right now and why.
What I about the term is that it’s inaccurate. What would the NAACP do if an Egyptian descended person applied for an “African American” scholarship? Has this happened?
Plus, just how “black” do you have to be to “be” black? What if you’re 1/16th? Is that enough? It’s a very fuzzy line.
P.S. What would happen if anyone offered a scholarship to only white people? It might be legal, but prepare for the firestorm. And I don’t think it’s a good idea, either. But does that cut both ways?
To be fair, my dictionary recognizes that African-American is used largely to refer to folks from Sub-Saharan Afica.
Actually, I bet anybody could apply for those scholarships because they generally don’t actually see you.
One more piece to the puzzle. What about African Americans that are albino? They’re whiter than most “white” folks, but nobody thinks they’re caucasian.
FWIW, just last evening I was in the bookstore and I overheard two women of color complaining about the census. From what I understand they were upset because there were various sub-catagories for asian and hispanic, but for blacks there was only African-American. And they were Haitian.
Regarding Egyptians, I have a friend at work who is an Egyptian immigrant. FWIW, He bears a passing resemblance to Syria’s president Assad. Anyway, when he came to this country, he listed his race as Af-Am and was told in no uncertain terms by INS that he was middle-eastern, NOT African-American. Go figure.
Last year, Alabama State U., a historically black college, started offering scholarships specifically to whites in the hope of diversifying their student body. You can imagine the furor it caused.
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I look forward to the day when most of us are all some very similar shade of creamy coffee color.
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I’m not ready for mocha-colored Chinese folks, thanks. grin
FWIW, I knew a guy where I worked who was South African, and caught hell when he would put ‘African-American’ on his forms. I guess they should make ‘Boer-Americans’?
-sb
“This is going to take a special blend of psychology and extreme violence.”
“Colored People”
“No, no, no! That’s offensive. It’s people of color!”
I’m going to be glib here. . . You’re black until you’re light enough to pass as white.
If you are from India, are you Indian- or Asian-American? Well, if you’re pulled over while driving, you’re black!
I’m not the best authority on the subject. I didn’t know I was black until I was eight. No, I’m not light-skinned; I’d fail most paperbag tests (borderline though, I’m lighter than a lot of paper bags). No, as a child that it was all about skin color. I was brown [maybe burnt-sienna ] my friends were caucasian (which I thought was a color, like maybe around peach.) My Kentuckian relatives were black (no way they could pass that bag test). Anyway, none of that relates to the question.
On secomd thought, I’m feeling a little bit puckish today. Satan, d’ya mind if I play your advocate for just a bit.
I’m sure you’ve heard about the flap in Texas about a police chief promoted by Gov. Bush. If not, “Let’s go to the videotape.”
The Associated Press
He was asked if several terms could be classified as racial slurs.
But he doesn’t consider “white honkey” to be a slur either. Anyway, he says that now he advises people NOT to go around and use the word nigger.
Let’s ignore the fact our friend here may have no common sense whatsoever. How is he in the wrong. I don’t know him personally, in fact I never of him or this discrimination suit until now (I can’t claim to be a diety, or even a child of Oberon.) so I can’t say if he is racist or uncouth. Are any terms “off limits”?
I once had a lengthy argument IRL with an American who described Nelson Mandela as “African-American” and refused to be corrected. He was, of all things, a politics student.
In Britain, “Black” is the generally-accepted term, although some people from the Indian Sub-continent prefer to be described as “Asian”.
I’ve heard a couple stammering references to “African-Canadian” but most people just give up. Frankly, my best attempt is Black, capitalizing the B. Myself? I’m pink. Or GWM, if I’m on a chat line. But I never put my race when filling out any form that’s not medical, partially because I’m actually of mixed race (although you wouldn’t know to look at me), partially because I don’t think it’s their business.
Here’s another question: what do you call people from India vis-a-vis the indigenous people of North America who are neither Inuit nor Metis?
“Indian” is the least controversial but also the most semantically annoying term since it applies to both.
I say “of India” or “from India” or, in a pinch, “Indian” in a context where it’s unlikely to be misunderstood (“Mohandas Gandhi, Indian spiritual leader”). If I’m referring to ethnic characteristics, I’d say “South Asian” (bearing in mind that there are lots of different ethnic groups belonging to at least two completely separate language families).
As for North American, I say “First Peoples” (which include Inuit and Metis) or “First Nations” which doesn’t. Or I say “native”, which unmodified usually only refers to First Peoples in Canadian English usage.
] my friends were caucasian (which I thought was a color, like maybe around peach.) My Kentuckian relatives were black (no way they could pass that bag test). Anyway, none of that relates to the question.