african american whaaaaa??????

[Kaak]

how is it indecent to call a black person black or a white person white? just doesn't make sense!

[chequita guevara]

Because of 400 years of racial politics which denied the Black people were true Americans. The important part of African-American is American, because in polls, the majority of whites did not view Black people as Americans. Besides, if I can be an Italian-American or an Irish-American, why can't Black people be African-Americans.

Why does it so offend you that people like to connect with their heritage?

[Kaak]

Calling them african doesn't connect them with any particular heritage. To think so is ridiculous. And to answer your question: If the people are from africa, or italy, or ireland, then I have no problem with them calling themselves such. But if they were born in the united states, they are only american.

[Bosh]

Originally posted by MrFun
Then why do historians claim Africa is more diverse than Asia??

Because they're wrong.

[Tingkai]

Re: african american whaaaaa??????

Originally posted by Kaak
i hate that phrase. Africa is a big place, and there are a lot of freakin white people there, and arabs, so it isn't very accurate I've always wondered what the actual demographics of Africa are, what the percentages of each race in africa? I looked but couldn't find it. Can anyone help?

Thanks

So you would object to the term Asian-American because Asia is a big place with lot of freakin white people there, and arabs, so it isn't very accurate?

If your family originally came from Africa then its accurate to describe yourself as African-American whether you're black, white or whatever.

[Kaak]

yeah, i pretty much object to any of the terms, unless you were actually born there. Everyone in the US is origianlly from somewhere else, so it's a waste of breath. I think one of the american ideals is to become part of the 'melting pot'

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Kaak
If the people are from africa, or italy, or ireland, then I have no problem with them calling themselves such. But if they were born in the united states, they are only american.

Who are you to tell people what they can themselves?

If someone wants to call themself a Martian-American, that's their choice, not yours.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Why call them anything. We are all americans (though GL would disagree). Why create another label? And if you must label, why not black?

100% agreement!

[MrFun]

three thumbs up means you are in 90% agreement -- you gotta have four thumbs up if you mean 100% agreement


see section 5, page 123, paragraph 38

[Dis]

I don't call black people anything. . I just call them people.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I don't read books which raccon lovers do .

[MrFun]

You mean you refuse to conform to the dictations of the King of Raccoons?

[Kaak]

Who are you to tell people what they can themselves?

If someone wants to call themself a Martian-American, that's their choice, not yours.

Ting: have you not read the post? I don't care what they call themselves. I do have a problem with someone expecting me to call them something i don't believe they are.

[Aeson]

I call them (by 'them' I mean people) people. They can call themselves whatever they'd like.

[Al B. Sure!]

i can't imagine any person getting mad because you called them Black rather than African-American or (as the older people say) Afro-American... generally, you only hear A-A in formal contexts (a speech, on tv, etc.). i can't imagine people saying A-A rather than Black in day to day conversation.