African Americans
For the record, I'm not a black person. Note I said "black" not "African American." I was born a white person whose parents are of multiple lineage. I have English, Scandinavian, French, German, Irish and Spanish ancestors. With brown hair and green eyes, it's hard to say anything else. However, I'm not a "European American." I don't know anyone in Europe, I have no allegiances to anyone or anything European, nor do I give a shit about them except in humanitarian terms. If anything I'm just an American, and I'm a white guy.
I have friends and acquaintances who are black. They have mixed lineage too, from predominantly African roots, along with some other races. But they are not "African American," they are black. Every black person I know was born here. They don't know anyone in Africa, have any allegiances to anyone or anything African, and don't give a shit about them except in humanitarian terms. Also, there is nothing wrong with being black.
I resent the term "African American" as I believe it's just more politically correct bullshit. For one thing, it's misleading. Although black people are the predominant race on the African continent, they are not the only ones there. "African American" is a political term. There are many people who live in the United States who can trace roots to Africa, but they look like me. Technically they are "African American," but then again, they are not....not as you would expect.
What about black people who live in say.....Canada. Are they "African Canadians?" Are black people who live in France "African Francos?" Are black people who live in England "African Anglos?" The list could go on and on, because black people can be found in most parts of the world, yet the only term I hear to describe someone who is black is "African American."
When I was younger, among the words used to describe black people were negro or colored. Neither one had a good ring to it. But then sometime in the sixties negro and colored people became "black." We already had "white" people, so why not "black" too? Hmmm, black....white, what's wrong with that?
I don't know what brain trust came up with the African American term, but I wish we would just go back to black and white. We as a people are so worried to offend anyone that we lose sight of the big picture. Black is black, white is white, and neither is better or worse than the other.
I have friends and acquaintances who are black. They have mixed lineage too, from predominantly African roots, along with some other races. But they are not "African American," they are black. Every black person I know was born here. They don't know anyone in Africa, have any allegiances to anyone or anything African, and don't give a shit about them except in humanitarian terms. Also, there is nothing wrong with being black.
I resent the term "African American" as I believe it's just more politically correct bullshit. For one thing, it's misleading. Although black people are the predominant race on the African continent, they are not the only ones there. "African American" is a political term. There are many people who live in the United States who can trace roots to Africa, but they look like me. Technically they are "African American," but then again, they are not....not as you would expect.
What about black people who live in say.....Canada. Are they "African Canadians?" Are black people who live in France "African Francos?" Are black people who live in England "African Anglos?" The list could go on and on, because black people can be found in most parts of the world, yet the only term I hear to describe someone who is black is "African American."
When I was younger, among the words used to describe black people were negro or colored. Neither one had a good ring to it. But then sometime in the sixties negro and colored people became "black." We already had "white" people, so why not "black" too? Hmmm, black....white, what's wrong with that?
I don't know what brain trust came up with the African American term, but I wish we would just go back to black and white. We as a people are so worried to offend anyone that we lose sight of the big picture. Black is black, white is white, and neither is better or worse than the other.
posted by It's Not All Real at 8:52 PM
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