# I pit the phrase "African American" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 31, 2010, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095 "2010-01-31T07:43:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/41 "2010-01-31T21:08:24Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Screw “misuse”, it’s a bad descriptor, plain and simple. Just possibly that is because it’s not actually meant as a descriptor, but as a label. (Just as “black” is, I’ll might add – how many people do you know whose skin tones actually approach true black, anyway?) It came into use when “negro” and “colored” were going rapidly out of favor due to racist overtones and “black” was bouncing around that weird neverland between “could-also-go-racist” and “too tied to ‘black power’”. People were looking for something neutral to use instead, and you can’t get much more neutral than “place of origin for most of us”-American. This sort of thing seems to be whined about much more often by white people who feel the need to pick at anything even vaguely “PC” like a teenager picks at a zit, than it is by people whom the label does not describe accurately. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/42 "2010-01-31T22:33:51Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > Too late to edit it in: > African American is quite specific. It means black American descended from slaves that were brought to the United States from certain areas of Africa during a certain time period, slave owners, and possibly Native Americans/American Indians. No, it doesn’t tell you exactly where they came from, but it’s not a confusing catch all unless you want to make it that way. So someone who is the child of a recent African immigrant is not African American? Will Hakeem Olajuwon’s children not be African American? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/43 "2010-01-31T22:52:38Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > If I can call Nancy Pelosi Italian-American, and I could call Ted Kennedy Irish-American, why can’t I call President Obama African-American? Because “Kenyan-American” would be a better equivalent. Africa is a continent, not a country. If you referred to Pelosi and Kennedy as “European-Americans” then “African-American” for the President would be an equivalent. The reason most black people in the US might choose to be called “African-American” is because slavery erased the knowledge of their more precise origins. Discussing the obliteration of such knowledge, not to mention rape of women and attempts to breed people like livestock, make the discussion of all that a minefield in the US. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/44 "2010-01-31T23:01:46Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > WTF, you’re not one of those people who think that Obama is not an America citizen? 😉 Birther jokes will never get old to me. > [@Teacake](#): > > “Black-British” - no, not so much, any more. It’s assumed you’re British unless you say you’re not, and the descriptor for a person who is black is just… black. “British-Indian” I have never heard in my life, but if I did it would be from a person who was from India, very specifically. Again, you’re British unless you say you’re not, and most people can tell where you’re from ethnically so people don’t really make a big song and dance about it, unless they’re racists. (As in, someone who would go on about “those Pakis” - and they’re usually wrong about where the person’s origins lie anyway.) > > For your information, I felt very calm until you suggested I should boil some tea (which would ruin it), and I am not stiff having had a lovely relaxing bath only a short while ago. I thank you. And I don’t anthropomorphise my lexicon, but I do occasionally imply something, relying on the intelligence of the reader being sufficient to discover it. Your user name makes me hungry – I’m sorry, what were we talking about again? ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/45 "2010-01-31T23:02:43Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/46 "2010-01-31T23:12:56Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > Too late to edit it in: > African American is quite specific. It means black American descended from slaves that were brought to the United States from certain areas of Africa during a certain time period, slave owners, and possibly Native Americans/American Indians. No, it doesn’t tell you exactly where they came from, but it’s not a confusing catch all unless you want to make it that way. Which would be fine, if people actually used it that way. But they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/47 "2010-01-31T23:30:34Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Because “Kenyan-American” would be a better equivalent. Africa is a continent, not a country. If you referred to Pelosi and Kennedy as “European-Americans” then “African-American” for the President would be an equivalent. Ok, so substitute Jessie Jackson for Barack Obama. Obama was just the first black guy I could think of. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/48 "2010-01-31T23:38:16Z")
> [@Normal\_Phase](#): > > This sort of thing seems to be whined about much more often by white people who feel the need to pick at anything even vaguely “PC” like a teenager picks at a zit, than it is by people whom the label does not describe accurately. I disagree. I’m annoyed when the clunky-ass descriptor is used when it is just plain wrong, but I don’t normally give a shit. In my experience, the people who do care have always been black. I’ll always remember my friend Devron’s take on the phrase. I don’t think I can quite do it justice, but I’ll try: **Monkey** : Hey, D., should I call you “African American”, now? **Devron** : NO. **FUCK NO**! I’m no goddamn African. I’ve never been to Africa. I don’t want to go to Africa. I can’t stand those clip talking motherfuckers. Every time I get in an argument with one of those assholes they turn their backs to me. I want to punch the motherfucker in the back of the head just so Djunababwe or whatever that guy’s name at the Citgo will sell me a fucking candybar. I grew up in Selma, Alabama. That means I’m American, and I don’t need a fucking bunch of white people telling me I’m fucking African. I’m fucking black! I … AM… BLACK! And then he ranted in much the same vein for a few minutes until I made him drink a beer to calm down. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/49 "2010-02-01T00:37:26Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > So someone who is the child of a recent African immigrant is not African American? Will Hakeem Olajuwon’s children not be African American? Children of African immigrants are in the same boat as Obama, and aren’t AA, but are black Americans. They might grow up in that culture, and as more immigrants of Africans come here, their culture will influence American and AA culture, just like the cultures of other immigrants, though. If I move my child to an area with lots of Polish Americans, they might absorb some of the customs, but they’d never be Polish American. > [@pedescribe](#): > > Which would be fine, if people actually used it that way. But they don’t. The fact that some people aren’t using it for the meaning it was meant for doesn’t mean that there’s no valid use for the term. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/50 "2010-02-01T00:51:17Z")
Why don’t you pit the average USA government form? It’s a standard question. I refer to my other colored friends (of any color) as I would address any other human being. On the other hand I refer to anyone else as sir or maam. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/51 "2010-02-01T00:52:23Z")
I’m going to take a wild guess here. **Omega Glory** , you’re white, aren’t you? Whiter than white. Probably wear a dress shirt with shorts in the summer. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/52 "2010-02-01T01:00:51Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I’m going to take a wild guess here. **Omega Glory** , you’re white, aren’t you? Lets just say you shouldn’t apply for a job at the psychic network anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/53 "2010-02-01T01:06:42Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > African American is the **best we can do for those blacks** who are descendants of American slaves, and slave owners. I’m not planning on starting a psychic hotline, but, yep. You’re white. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/54 "2010-02-01T01:21:59Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I’m not planning on starting a psychic hotline, but, yep. You’re white. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12047147&postcount=44](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12047147&postcount=44) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11051510&postcount=7](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11051510&postcount=7) That’s funny. I wasn’t white last year, and wasn’t white four days ago. Why didn’t anyone tell me? The best we can do for those blacks,\*\* myself included\*\*\*, etc. etc. There. It wasn’t necessary to bring my race into that post, as I was talking about what America as a whole could do. \*sort of, since lots of my black relatives aren’t AA. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/55 "2010-02-01T01:33:11Z")
meh, I bet you still wear dress shirts with shorts. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/56 "2010-02-01T01:42:26Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > meh, I bet you still wear dress shirts with shorts. > > 😃 Sorry, no dice. As a kid, I was a fan of miracle whip sandwiches on wonder bread though. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/57 "2010-02-01T01:57:03Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > That’s funny. I wasn’t white last year, and wasn’t white four days ago. Why didn’t anyone tell me? Did you forget you were black, for at least an hour? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/58 "2010-02-01T02:34:34Z")
I would be happy if the term were not used for those who are not Americans. I have seen reference to “British African-Americans” who were not dual citizens. " ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/59 "2010-02-01T02:36:26Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > If you’re white and going into nursing, you absolutely must not bring any issues, or perceivalbe issues, that may cause racial conflict. > > This isn’t because you’ll be working with African Americans, but because you’ll be working with _nurses,_ a bunch of twisted bitches who eat each other alive. She speaks truth. Heed her. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/60 "2010-02-01T02:56:09Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > The people who call the president African American do so because they’re the sort who think all blacks in America should be called AA, but that is never what the term was meant for. It was always meant to refer to the people who couldn’t be more specific because their family history that dated before their arrival to the U.S. had been erased by slavery. The people like Obama whose black relatives aren’t American have a separate, although possibly intertwined, culture than the blacks who are descended from slaves. In my area, the northeastern part of the U.S, up until recently, a lot of people were still living in segregated neighborhoods, so people were able to retain some of the values of their ancestors’ original country, while adopting some others, and those people still refer to themselves as \_\_\_\_\_ - American. That’s really all it is. If that’s not what people do in your area, then fine, but that’s not the case everywhere, and it’s not harming anyone except those who want to make a big deal out of it. This is the reason the term African American bothers me, feels to me that it’s one step removed from calling people Slave Descendants. It’s an insidious, albeit involuntary mostly, way of putting people down. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095.md?page=4)