"African American"

[Jaguar]

I hate the term "African American."


Firstly, it is factually incorrect. It was coined to describe black people. However, it uses continent of origin to describe race. If you went to South Africa, would you say that the country has some white people and some African Americans? Clearly not, because many of them have never been to America, and certainly aren't American. So would you say that the country has some white people and some Africans? No, because the white people are African as well. And what about a black person who immigrated from the Caribbean? Would he be African American?

Secondly, it is a seven syllable description when one syllable could suffice.

Thirdly, it reeks of political correctness.

Lastly, using it implies that the adjective "black" is offensive and must be replaced by the tamer "African-American." Nobody ever hesitates to say someone is white. Why is the word "black" any different?

[Japher]

i agree Jag, and so many black ppl in the public eye... what are you to do? I call 'em black.

[Verto]

I can't stand this term. It irritates me to no end.




Ok, I'm done.

[David Floyd]

I recall someone at work once referring to an ACTUAL AFRICAN as an African American. I couldn't stop laughing for about five minutes

[Shogun Gunner]

Couldn't agree with you more Jag!

@ David Floyd

[Inverse Icarus]

i refer to them as "people-who-happen-to-have-a-melatonin-count-in-their-skin-higher-than-that-of-the-majority-of-this-country americans

[Patroklos]

A voice of reason in the madness.

[Shogun Gunner]

Originally posted by Uber KruX
i refer to them as "people-who-happen-to-have-a-melatonin-count-in-their-skin-higher-than-that-of-the-majority-of-this-country americans

That just rolls off the tongue. I think I'll start using it. Thanks Uber.

[Drake Tungsten]

Melanin...

[monkspider]

African-American isn't so bad, but the only PC term I frequently use is native-american. "Indian" is just not cool unless describing someone from Bangalore, Calcutta, Bombay, etc.

[Jaguar]

I agree with that one. It has a "Cowboys and Indians" connotation.

We should have a faster way of saying it than Native-American, though.

[loinburger]

I knew a fellow back in high school who was a white immigrant from South Africa, so whenever he had a chance to fill out the "ethnicity" section on a test or application or whatever he'd always fill in the "African-American" bubble for ****s and giggles.

[Japher]

Just don't call the N/A's what MrFun does; AmerIndians...

I call 'em Indians, or Injuns, mainly because that is what the call themselves.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by loinburger
I knew a fellow back in high school who was a white immigrant from South Africa, so whenever he had a chance to fill out the "ethnicity" section on a test or application or whatever he'd always fill in the "African-American" bubble for ****s and giggles.

Would be funny if he got into some college on affirmative action and then the school tried to kick him out for not being "African American"

[jdd2007]

I use 'black' and 'African American' interchangably, and the latter almost always when I am reffering to them as a whole. I don't mind the term at all.