"African-American", how do you feel about that nomenclature?

#1
OrangeEmpire

OrangeEmpire

The White Debonair
Joined
Nov 28, 2005
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#1
Maybe to revisit IMUS...........

The term reeks of apology to me. Also, it makes the assumption that a black person has ancestors in Africa and that they are American, which are both false.

Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Asia all have black people.
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That's exactly the problem I have with it as well. Before I go any further, I'm going to indulge you and act as if there really are such things as "african americans" or "black people" or other "persons of the negro (or for that matter, oriental or caucasian) race" or any such claptrap as that. The idea that there's any real sort of biological truth above and beyond physical appearance behind the concept of "race" is rubbish as far as I'm aware. I am racist in preference to only one race: the human race. Everything after that is window dressing. But I digress...

The term "African American" as a socially acceptable term for blacks (although it's questionable just how 'black" they are, but as John Shaft would point out, I'm not really that white either, but that's another matter) is problematic in that I don't know what to call such a person who isn't an American.

Shouldn't they just be called "Africans" and whites be called "Europeans" in the same sense that we no longer use "yellow" but rather "Asian" or "Native American" instead of "red." Personally I don't think color descriptors to identify races is all of that offensive or degrading, but rather inaccurate. And if a color descriptor really is based on something with offensive connotations (****** being the best example), would it really kill us to chage it?

Thoughts?
 
#2
#2
I hate it and think it is extremely dumb. Nobody cares where my ancestors are from and they don't call me a British-American.

Like you said just because you are black doesn't make you African. You could call white people born in Africa, African-Americans for goodness sake.
 
#4
#4
Not a fan of it. If we want to go that route, then I should be called European/Native American
 
#5
#5
I do not see why it is offensive to use a descriptor like white or black when describing people. Is it 100% accurate, color-wise? No. I just do not feel that there is any malice behind it.
 
#6
#6
At my work place it is policy to refer to people as African-American and or Asian American etc.
 
#12
#12
One of my best friends in college was of Boer origins from South Africa. He went around campus telling people he was African American. Many African Americans on campus (as we define them) weren't too thrilled with him making that claim.
 
#13
#13
CSpindizzy said:
One of my best friends in college was of Boer origins from South Africa. He went around campus telling people he was African American. African Americans as we define them weren't too thrilled with him making that claim.
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I would imagine not.
 
#16
#16
of course cause they are the only ones that are from africa. even tho 95% of them never lived in africa
 
#17
#17
CSpindizzy said:
One of my best friends in college was of Boer origins from South Africa. He went around campus telling people he was African American. African Americans as we define them weren't too thrilled with him making that claim.
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They need to get over it. I am sure he has just as much if not more right to use it than they do.
 
#19
#19
OrangeEmpire said:
You would be met with progressive discipline which could ultimately lead to termination.
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That would be fine with me. First, I have no problem getting fired for doing something I feel is not wrong. Second, I would think a good lawyer would like a shot at that, even though I am really not into that type of stuff.
 
#20
#20
allvol123 said:
That would be fine with me. First, I have no problem getting fired for doing something I feel is not wrong. Second, I would think a good lawyer would like a shot at that, even though I am really not into that type of stuff.
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When you get right down to it, it is a double edged sword.

:mf_surrender:
 
#21
#21
I don't really care so long as someone tells me what they want to be called. I'll oblige.

I object when there are multiple acceptable terms for a racial background and if you use the wrong one with the wrong person -- somehow, you're the bad guy :no:

I'm not out to offend anyone -- just tell me the ground rules and I can take it from there.
 
#22
#22
volinbham said:
I don't really care so long as someone tells me what they want to be called. I'll oblige.

I object when there are multiple acceptable terms for a racial background and if you use the wrong one with the wrong person -- somehow, you're the bad guy :no:

I'm not out to offend anyone -- just tell me the ground rules and I can take it from there.
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whatever you dumb dancing moron:)the ground rules are I can call you that
 
#23
#23
I'm an un-hyphenated American.

this obsession with labels is unhealthy and just increases racism, bigotry and inequality.
 
#25
#25
CSpindizzy said:
Are you a conservative?
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more of a libertarian, actually. but I don't consider that a "label" in the way "African-American" or "Native-American" would be. In other words, I don't wrap my identity up in it.
 
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