# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/81 "2010-02-01T11:33:50Z")
I have never heard a black person refer to themselves as African American. Very rarely have I heard a black person refer to black Americans as African American-- and almost all of those were on TV. This could be a regional thing. Perhaps the blacks in the mid-west or West Coast do that. Here in the Mid-Atlantic it is always ‘black’. Sometimes black people describing themselves get more specific, like Trini or Bayesian or Jamaican. I’ve also never seen a black person offended by the term African American either. White people\* though, hoo-boy! The only thing that sets their teeth on edge more is when black people call each other ‘nigga’. \*Not ALL white people. In fact, not even most white people. Most people, black or white, don’t give a flying fuck what descriptor is used. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/82 "2010-02-01T12:09:19Z")
For some people, it’s like they had a mental “find and replace” function. No matter what the context, they substitute “African-American” for “black” with hilarious results. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/83 "2010-02-01T14:15:19Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I rescind that completely. Now that I look it up, you never said anything wrong in the Michelle / monkey thread. But nobody called you a racist in that thing either. > > So, **curlcoat** , who called you a racist? Get off the cross and tell me who called you a racist. Rescinding it isn’t quite the same as apologizing, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/84 "2010-02-01T14:42:59Z")
Shitty pitting or no, I learned two actual facts today - malaria is caused by a eukaryotic protist, not a bacteria or virus, and my people (ie., northern Indians) are most likely to suffer from sickle-cell anaemia. That _never_ happens in the Pit. > [@](#): > > Bayesian What does that mean? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/85 "2010-02-01T15:23:58Z")
> [@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. Make that nurse-Americans then. Nurse-Canadians aren’t like that at all. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/86 "2010-02-01T15:44:08Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > What does that mean? From Barbados. I’ve also seen it spelled Baisen. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/87 "2010-02-01T15:45:29Z")
Oh, thanks. I googled and all I got was stuff about probability. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/88 "2010-02-01T15:49:53Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I meant to address **Slithy Dove’s** post earlier to point out that not only will I be a nurse, I’ll be a _male_ nurse. > > I am so screwed. Whatever, Fokker! 🙂 > [@sulamith](#): > > Yes, you are. > wizzened old poons I believe Poon is a Native-American name…likely Comanche Indian… ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/89 "2010-02-01T16:12:05Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Sounds like what you’re really pitting is the _misuse_ of the phrase “African American” in contexts where it isn’t appropriate, such as textbooks talking about people of African descent in general. > > “African American”, correctly used, seems to be an adequately descriptive and generally understood way to refer to American blacks. I don’t see why we should throw out the term entirely just because some textbook authors are too dumb to use it properly. But the only specifically racial descriptor available is “negro.” Can we really expect scientists to use that, given its social history? ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/90 "2010-02-01T16:22:53Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I have never heard a black person refer to themselves as African American. Very rarely have I heard a black person refer to black Americans as African American-- and almost all of those were on TV. I came in here to make this post, verbatim. I swear, almost word for word. BrainGlutton, I love referring to myself as negro around white people. Fun. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/91 "2010-02-01T16:32:54Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > But the only specifically racial descriptor available is “negro.” Can we really expect scientists to use that, given its social history? “Negro” is not the N word – it’s still used by the United Negro College Fund, among others – but there are alternatives. “Of Subsaharan African descent” is a little wordy, but it’s accurate and non-offensive. ---
**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, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/92 "2010-02-01T17:05:37Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > “Negro” is not the N word – it’s still used by the United Negro College Fund, among others – but there are alternatives. “Of Subsaharan African descent” is a little wordy, but it’s accurate and non-offensive. I think the flap when Harry Reid used the term “Negro Dialect” despite that being the term that was likely in use in academic circles back when he was in college shows that using Negro is not generally acceptable. I plan on avoiding it unless referring directly to one of the organizations which still have it in their name. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/93 "2010-02-01T17:08:37Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I have never heard a black person refer to themselves as African American. Very rarely have I heard a black person refer to black Americans as African American-- and almost all of those were on TV. I think it just depends on what [linguistical register](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Register_(sociolinguistics)) you’re using at the moment (_def_: “a variety of language typically used in a specific type of communicative setting”). TV reporters aren’t supposed to use a casual register when they speak; however it would be down right bizarre for anyone else to use (that exact same) formal register in casual situations… “My wife, shall we proceed with intercourse.” versus “C’mon honey, let’s down n dirty tonight.” > [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > BrainGlutton, I love referring to myself as negro around white people. Fun. lol. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/94 "2010-02-01T18:54:09Z")
> [@sulamith](#): > > And while we are at it, the term Caucasian is about as inaccurate and stupid a descriptor as it gets, too. For one thing the Caucasus mountains are in Eurasia, and second, a large percentage of white Americans descend from various Celtic tribes that splintered into other groups through the centuries, so how is that Caucasian? Did the Celts originate in the Caucasus? I am seriously asking. It derives from Johann Blumenbach in the early 19th century, who divided races based on anatomical differences between skulls and used those of the Caucasus as the ‘type’ or stereotypical example of the group. The Caucasian group was considered in to encompass Europe, North Africa, and western Asia up to and including northern India. Obviously the word has shifted meaning a bit over time, but that’s where it comes from. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/95 "2010-02-01T19:00:59Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Wait. “African” misses the point because it’s too broad a term to cover the huge number of different cultures in Africa. Therefore, we should use black instead? Because it’s… more specific than African? How specific is “white?” Should we stop using that term? I’m white. What country did my ancestors come from? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/96 "2010-02-01T19:03:03Z")
Japan. Didn’t see that coming, did you? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/97 "2010-02-01T19:05:48Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Japan. Didn’t see that coming, did you? I did not. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/98 "2010-02-01T19:15:20Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > BrainGlutton, I love referring to myself as negro around white people. Fun. Ha, makes 'em uncomfortable. I also use the term colored, or if I really want to watch someone grimace, darky. I was meeting a friend for drinks at bar some weeks ago, and when he called to say he’s about five minutes away, or our conversation was something like: Me: It’s super-crowded in here, but I’m [at such and such part of the bar, or wherever I was], so that should be enough to help you spot me. Friend: Well what color shirt are you wearing? Might make it easier. Me: Dude, I’m the only colored person in the state. I think I’ll stand out. Friend: (Pause) …Okay… ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/99 "2010-02-01T20:05:41Z")
(hijack post) > [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I meant to address **Slithy Dove’s** post earlier to point out that not only will I be a nurse, I’ll be a _male_ nurse. > > I am so screwed. If this is what you find your purpose in life to be, then that will sustain you through the abuse you’ll get. Nurses are like cops: there are no people better than the good ones, and few worse than the bad ones (Oh, and I hope your cold is better soon :D) [QUOTE=eleanorigby] Not really. Male nurses tend to be treated better by management and by most of their colleagues. 'Ware those nurses who want to flirt with you/harass you/hold you responsible for their misanthropy/think you’re there to **move their pts for them** etc, though… [/QUOTE] (bolding mine) my mom was a nurse, both my SIL’s are nurses, my daughter is in nurse’s training right now, and my brother became a nurse when he, like the OP sought a career change. His female co-workers conned him into doing the heavy lifting, with which he complied as a “team-player,” and when he broke his back they gladly supported his employer by lying so that his disability quest would be as long and difficult as possible. He now weighs 130 pounds and will probably not live another three years. **A Monkey With a Gun** , I encourge you to get the full 4-year degree and not get stuck at bedside nursing. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095/100 "2010-02-01T21:47:57Z")
> [@BottledBlondJeanie](#): > > If I may be so bold as to hijack and ask a semi-related question, if you are trying to describe someone is it OK to identify them by skin color? I dunno, but I hear black people do it all the time. “Do you remember Jane Smith? She worked in Finance?” “Was she black?” “Yeah.” “Sure, I remember her.” > [@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? No, they’ll be Nigerian-American. Or just American. > [@Ale](#): > > 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. Good. We should be putting down the slave traders and slave owners and overseers and people like that. Oh, did you mean that using it seemed like a way of putting the _slave descendants_ down? 'Cause that’s just wack. I can’t imagine what could be shameful about having ancestors who were slaves. > [@Biggirl](#): > > I’ve also never seen a black person offended by the term African American either. I did. She tartly replied that she was neither African nor American, but from Barbados. Then again, she got offended at everything, so she may not be a good example. > [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > BrainGlutton, I love referring to myself as negro around white people. Fun. Well, this white girl TOTALLY lost it when I saw [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11965565&postcount=20). F’in hilarious in that sentence. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-phrase-african-american/527095.md?page=6)