african american whaaaaa??????

[Last Conformist]

I've always found the various something-American terms fairly stupid when not applied to first-generation immigrants, and African-American is worse than most, since it, near as I can tell, don't include folks of, say, Afrikander or Algerian descent.

That said, I don't really have a problem with other people call themselves (as long as it doesn't impinge on my identities - it does sometimes rub me entirely the wrong way when Americans of Swedish descent refer to themselves as Swedes), and am usually happy to use whatever term they want to be used. che's claims nonewithstanding, however, this isn't out of basic human decency, but out of a wish to avoid confrontation.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by chegitz 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?

For most of them, their heritage is a mix of African, Caribbean Indian and white.

I just saw the Suzuki Rock and Roll Marathon just outside my house Sunday morning (the cross street on the corner was part of the route), and the lead group of runners at mile 16 were all Africans - Kenyan and Ethiopian. It was easy to tell all the African runners from any "African-American" runners. I've worked with Africans from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Zimbabwe, and they have next to nothing in common culturally with "African-Americans"

And a lot of "African-Americans" don't particularly like that label either.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
I've worked with Africans from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Zimbabwe, and they have next to nothing in common culturally with "African-Americans"

The commonalities in linguistics and culture are small, but they are there. Speech patterns, style of dress, music, all show traces of African influence. Of course, from the other side of the Atlantic there is almost no feeling of commonality. Africans do not seem to look kindly upon African-Americans. But Europeans doesn't like us white Americans much either. And Asians seem to think Asian-Americans aren't pure.

Identity and community are imagined realities, articficial constructs. But like religion, they are deeply held and felt, regardless of any actual basis in truth.

And a lot of "African-Americans" don't particularly like that label either.

Which I noted, which is why you should refer to people how they wish to be refered.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by MrFun
Africa has always been the most culturally and ethnically diverse continent.

That must be why we need more diversity here in America...so we can be more like Africa.

[Al B. Sure!]

chegitz, stop playing... you know very well that most black people in the us don't give a damn about africa. the classic response to repatriation is "Why the hell would I want to go to Africa? I got nothing over there"

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Reagan is a moron!

[Last Conformist]

MrFun is "The anti-Reagan". Does that mean he went alive a few days ago?

[JohnT]

Let's not forget that Speer is somebody who blindly hates vast groups of people merely on the basis of Where they live.

but yeah so i visited the suburbs... only makes me hate it more. and what was with all the jewish things? i always thought there was more jewish people in the cities than outside of them

[Al B. Sure!]

i quote... "only makes me hate IT more" as in the suburbs... no reference to these vast groups of people

[MrFun]

But what was your point then in your comment about more Jews being the suburbs?

[Al B. Sure!]

arent there more jews in the cities than the suburbs? i mean NYC alone is said to have more jews than jerusalem.

[MrFun]

That's nice . . . . .


so . . . . .??

[JohnT]

Speer, the suburbs are the way they are because the people living there are the way they are. Hate the 'burbs and you hate the people who want them that way.

[MrFun]

Nothing wrong with being critical about the conformity culture of the suburbs though -- you can be critical without hating the people.

[Al B. Sure!]

johnt:

they dont want them that way. if they did, their children wouldnt dress, act, and talk like bad versions of us urbanites.

this is all besides the point.