Some blacks insist: 'I'm not African-American'

#1
RespectTradition

RespectTradition

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#1
Some Blacks Insist: 'I'm Not African-American' | Fox News

The labels used to describe Americans of African descent mark the movement of a people from the slave house to the White House. Today, many are resisting this progression by holding on to a name from the past: "black."

For this group — some descended from U.S. slaves, some immigrants with a separate history — "African-American" is not the sign of progress hailed when the term was popularized in the late 1980s. Instead, it's a misleading connection to a distant culture.

The debate has waxed and waned since African-American went mainstream, and gained new significance after the son of a black Kenyan and a white American moved into the White House. President Barack Obama's identity has been contested from all sides, renewing questions that have followed millions of darker Americans:

What are you? Where are you from? And how do you fit into this country?

"I prefer to be called black," said Shawn Smith, an accountant from Houston. "How I really feel is, I'm American."

"I don't like African-American. It denotes something else to me than who I am," said Smith, whose parents are from Mississippi and North Carolina. "I can't recall any of them telling me anything about Africa. They told me a whole lot about where they grew up in Macomb County and Shelby, N.C."
...
"It just doesn't sit well with a younger generation of black people," continued George, who is 38. "Africa was a long time ago. Are we always going to be tethered to Africa? Spiritually I'm American. When the war starts, I'm fighting for America."

Joan Morgan, a writer born in Jamaica who moved to New York City as a girl, remembers the first time she publicly corrected someone about the term: at a book signing, when she was introduced as African-American and her family members in the front rows were appalled and hurt.

"That act of calling me African-American completely erased their history and the sacrifice and contributions it took to make me an author," said Morgan, a longtime U.S. citizen who calls herself Black-Caribbean American. (Some insist Black should be capitalized.)
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#2
#2
Don't care what a black person wants to be called. I will refer a African american as a black person. Stupid political correctness bs
 
#3
#3
You are a black or white American to me. Africa is not a player.
 
#7
#7
volinbham said:
Call me Eurotrash-American
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Holy crap... I just figured it out. Eurotrash. Affinity for high end German cars.

You're this guy.

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#8
#8
Sensible, young people imo. I guess Charlize can no longer be considered an African-American...

images
 
#9
#9
I am Irish, German, English, and also any other number of variables when it comes down to it. I am a Native American.
 
#13
#13
If you're born in this country, you are American. We don't call ourselves European Americans or whatever country our ancestors descended from. Blacks shouldn't have to be called African American.
 
#15
#15
GoBigOrangeUT said:
If you're born in this country, you are American. We don't call ourselves European Americans or whatever country our ancestors descended from. Blacks shouldn't have to be called African American.
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Agreed. They should be called Vols if they root for UT and they should be called scum if they root for anyone else. :rock:

That applies to the melanin-challenged as well. :thumbsup:

But seriously, I don't care what people want to call themselves. I just think it is interesting that there seems to be divisions in certain circles about what is appropriate.

It does bug me when I don't know how to refer to people without ticking them off. As long as I am not trying to be offensive, then they should just get over it. Whoever they happen to be.
 
#23
#23
If you equate the term 'African-American' to mean the descendent of slaves then I can see why some would object.

I have met and talked with more than one man of direct African descent who claimed that their family story was that they migrated to the Americas under their own volition.

Consider the Olmec tribe, I meant to work that into the archeologocal thread eventually, they were way precolumbian and no doubt sailed here from west Africa.

I generally am of the mind that we are all American.

I am a Volunteer (even more than just a fan) but would not go to the extent to call others 'scum', I have met fans of many schools for whom I have much respect.
 
#25
#25
gsvol said:
If you equate the term 'African-American' to mean the descendent of slaves then I can see why some would object.

I have met and talked with more than one man of direct African descent who claimed that their family story was that they migrated to the Americas under their own volition.

Consider the Olmec tribe, I meant to work that into the archeologocal thread eventually, they were way precolumbian and no doubt sailed here from west Africa.

I generally am of the mind that we are all American.

I am a Volunteer (even more than just a fan) but would not go to the extent to call others 'scum', I have met fans of many schools for whom I have much respect.
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Just those with differing viewpoints, right?
 
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