Off topic, but does the term "African American" bother anyone else?

lander · Jan 25, 2004

Sure, Diekembe would be "African American" (because he's acutally African) if he became American (maybe he is, I don't know), but my point is that this term seems racist to me ...

I've NEVER heard any white people say that they're "Eurpean America."

What's wrong with just being black? or white? or yellow? or red? or better yet - American

Does anyone else think that this is a stupid term, or am I missing something?

go2guy · Jan 25, 2004

It was a term created to always make African (Americans) or for that fact Native (Americans) or Mexican (Americans) or Asian (Americans)... <I think you get my point> feel like second class citizens.

wilheim · Jan 25, 2004

It is just another label. We put labels on everything. No one is just a human being. "anyone (African, Mexican, Native etc,) American" came about with the advent of political corretctness some 20 years ago.

wil.

RPM · Jan 25, 2004

i prefer american african.

Railbird · Jan 25, 2004

Isnt Ernie Els an African American ?

monicus · Jan 25, 2004

George Carlin has a long bit on this very phrase. His points were:

Not all African's are black, i.e. South Africa, Libya, Egypt.

Were all from someplace else originally. Why do we have to reference where black people came from?

All of humanity got its roots in Africa therefore we all could be considered African-Americans.

wilheim · Jan 25, 2004

I don't think Ernie is an American at all, or did I miss something.

wil.

go2guy · Jan 25, 2004

Technically, Rail he is. As matter of fact any white South African can apply for financial aid or scholarships he in the US under the title African American the same as a black kid could.

RPM · Jan 25, 2004

george carlin has a bit about white people too. its hilarious!~

go2guy · Jan 25, 2004

Correction he is if he claims American citizenship or dual citizen ship then he would be considered African american.

TheFunkMonkey · Jan 25, 2004

Interesting article on the topic:

Students disciplined for award campaign
Posters promoted white student for African American award
Thursday, January 22, 2004 Posted: 11:13 AM EST (1613 GMT)

OMAHA, Nebraska (AP) -- Officials disciplined students who papered their nearly all-white high school with posters advocating a white student from South Africa for the school's "Distinguished African American Student Award."

Peggy Rupprecht, spokeswoman for the Westside Community Schools district, said administrators at Westside High School discovered more than a hundred of the posters throughout the school first thing Monday -- Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

"The content of the posters, they believed, was inappropriate and insensitive to some members of our school community," Rupprecht said.

Citing privacy policies, Rupprecht said she could not specify what the penalties were or how many students were disciplined. But the mother of the boy pictured on the posters said he was suspended for two days.

The award has been given the last eight years to an outstanding black student as part of the school's Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, she said.

The poster pictured junior Trevor Richards, 16, smiling and making a thumbs up sign. A message at the top encouraged votes for him for next year's award.

Karen Richards said her son and his friends were not trying to hurt anyone.

"My son is not a racist," she told the Omaha World-Herald. "He has black friends, friends from Bangladesh and Egypt. Color has never been an issue in our home."

"It was a very innocent thing," she said.

Two of her son's friends were disciplined along with him, she said. A fourth student was punished for circulating a petition Tuesday criticizing the practice of recognizing only black student achievement with the award, she said.

Tylena Martin, a junior, said the poster had been on the door to her homeroom class where she is the only black student. She said she felt hurt by the posters and the backlash that ensued.

According to 2002-2003 state statistics, 56 Of Westside's 1,632 students are black.

go2guy · Jan 25, 2004

Interesting article Monkey.

WinOne · Jan 25, 2004

I thnk some of you are missing the point. Consider the other terms that have been used before African-American. There was the "N" word, then there was Negro (which because of the way some folks pronounced (esp. those south of the Mason-Dixon line)it caused just as many fights as the "N" word). Then there was "Colored". What color, oh then there was "Black". The term African-American does not apply to Africans but only should apply to AMERICANS, of African Decent. Those who were born in the US, not those who came here. I don't believe those that have come here because of education, political indiference, sports, or just for a better way of life want to be called African-Americans. I believe they call themselves Egyptians, Lybians, Kenyans, South African, etc.

I think American of African Decent would be better because you are American First and formost. (IMHO!) Would probably put a wrench in the forms for the Census folks though and on employment applications.

I hope this helps.

WinOne!!

VaultedTreehouse · Jan 25, 2004

I teach and I use black and African American interchangeably. I personally think A.A. is a better term but its hard to teach a lesson about Civil Rights and say A.A. a hundred times.

WinOne · Jan 25, 2004

Go2guy,

"As matter of fact any white South African can apply for financial aid or scholarships he in the US under the title African American the same as a black kid could."

I don't think that statement is accurate. That would amount to fraud. There are specific sections where it asks if you are US Citizen. I don't think a White South African kid could pull that one off.

GL,
WinOne!!

lander · Jan 25, 2004

I think Go2Guy might be onto something.

I've know a black lady that calls herself "African American", yet she has roots in the Caribean ...

I asked her if she thought Jamacia was in Africa, but she wasn't amused.

go2guy · Jan 25, 2004

WinOne it's a tricky predictment but technically a white kid could try and use it if it applies. That's why there's a quiet movement right now to get rid of the term entirely because it created a loophole such as the one I mentioned. It's just not used to identify skin color but also ones country of origin who adopts America as their new home.

WinOne · Jan 25, 2004

You know that's interesting and funny all the same.

Here's one for you. If you have friends or acquaintences who are Black and from African countries, ask them what they think of American Blacks. I think the answers, if they are honest with you, will intrigue you. It is something that I have seen and been privy to. They typically don't hold Black Americans in high regard, but they don't attempt to disassociate themselves based on the color of their skin when there is an opportunity that would benefit them personally. Kind of interesting. I think it's funny!!

WinOne!!

GreenDoberman · Jan 25, 2004

Most of the "African Americans" I work with, that is people that actually came over here from African countries, are hard workers and excellent employees.

Most of the "black Americans", that is black people who grew up in America constantly bring up racial issues and are not the best of workers.

I said most, not all, and this is just an observation not intended to be racially prejudiced in any way.

go2guy · Jan 25, 2004

WinOne I've made the same observation myself when African are asked the same about black Americans.

Off topic, but does the term "African American" bother anyone else?

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