What's in a name? Plenty for African descendants
Angela Lindsay
It may have been just a subconscious slip or perhaps a deliberate effort to be politically correct. Either way, while covering the riots in France, CNN reporter Carol Lin misspoke when she referred to two black teenagers there as "African Americans."
A more correct reference would have been to call them black Frenchmen or maybe even French-Tunisians, since they were French citizens of Tunisian origin. Lin may not have managed to get her euphemisms right, but she did spark discussions about the apparently still debatable issue over how people of black African ancestry in America are nominally defined. Negroid. Negro. Colored. Black. Afro-American. All of these terms have been used to describe blacks in America.
An acquaintance, who is black, suggested that I consistently use either the term "African American" or "black" throughout my editorials. He stated that people still attach very specific definitions to each term and may be offended by their interchange. Interestingly, a Caucasian man expressed similar sentiments to me, pointing out that white people do not consistently refer to themselves as, for example, Irish-American. The difference with black people, however, may lie in the significance labels have played in our collective history.
Many black people associate very distinct experiences with certain terms such as 'Negro' and 'Colored'. Whereas these monikers were once used by both blacks and whites, hearing them these days would cause most black people to cringe. These terms have fallen out of favor for various reasons, not the least of which being their association to the Jim Crow era and the close relation of the term 'Negro', in particular, to the derogatory term "****." Some social commentators say that the creation of a new moniker functions like a defense mechanism, serves as a source of racial pride, and even acts as an objection of white American society.
Currently, the term African American is the most widely used moniker to describe black Americans. Proponents of the term say it causes them to feel closer to Africa and what it symbolizes for black heritage and history. It also designates a place to which we can relate as a people. Some believed that it increased the status of black Americans because of its parallels with terms for other ethnic groups like "Asian Americans." And for some, such importance is placed on it that they are even offended by the hyphenation of the phrase.
Still, the term is not without its dissenters. Opponents of the term "African American" often view it as pretentious and overly politically correct. They deem it inappropriate as many blacks have never been to Africa, have no relatives there, and are too far removed from the country itself. Some believe that the widespread acceptance of the term by many whites is due to a desire to see blacks like other ethnic groups who came to the United States by choice and to ignore the implications of slavery and the Middle Passage.
And there are even those native Africans who have moved to the U.S. in 20th or 21st century and wish to use them term exclusively to separate themselves from those black Americans who are descendants of slaves. Then, of course, there is the common argument regarding inequity of terminology because "African American" technically includes non-blacks who were actually born in Africa. A popular example includes U.S. Sen. John Kerry's wife Teresa, a white who was born in South Africa. However, she would likely be greeted with raised eyebrows if she were to refer to herself as such.
Along those same lines, critics of the term "black" are quick to point out that it is too general since people of other ethnicities, like champion golfer Vijay Singh, could be considered "black" whereas African American is more specific. They point out that it also ignores the key concept of being an American citizen. Those in favor of "black" point out that the term is more universal, represents an entire Diaspora of who we are, and links us to something identifiable beyond just one continent.
The touchy-feely topic of race relations causes a lot of tip-toeing around certain subjects to the point that it leads to incidences such as Lin's mistake. It is the inevitable result of our society's constant struggle to find less ways to offend people.I can remember a time when the "race" section of a standardized test or application basically included white, black or other. Now the section reads like an ethnic dictionary of our ever diverse society.
Blackness clearly encompasses more than just the stringing together of a bunch of letters. As a friend suggested, we may be better served concentrating on more important titles such as fathers, mothers, and educators. And even if more inventive terms do evolve to identify black people, an individual's truest sense of identity should develop from the inside out.
ANGELA LINDSAY is a Charlotte attorney. E-mail her at lindsaylaw00@yahoo.com.
yea i see what your saying, but my point wasn't wether we should clump people in a cateogry, the point i was making is why do we all classify eachother, i mean why does everything have to a race attached to it
mind you, i am taking the less militant point of view
True not knowing a persons nationality kinda **** but what about those whose skin color suggests one thing while genetics says another. Its quite misleading, and then when they come forward and say i am blahblahblah then people see them as denying their race..
i think i went off topic.
i'm Black
i don't call myself American because I'm not treated as an American
but as a second class citizen
now if i were to move to another country, then i'd say i was a Black American
Scientifically, there's only one race. The Human Race.
Another thing. Am I the only one here who doesn't feel treated as a second class citizen? I mean, I haven't experienced any open discrimination in my entire 19 years of life. People are going to be people, but overall, I feel like I enjoy the same rights as everybody else.
I think the issue is sometimes blown out of proportion.
Considering that the entire human species originated in Ethiopia, all races are technically of African origin. In the modern sense the term recognizes that in appearance we most closely resemble the people found in African civilizations in the 1500s.
As Americans, the majority of us have been established in North America for at least four generations and have not only African heritage, but also Native American and European ancestry as well.
The original methodology used to classify people into ethnic groups was flawed; as a result it isn't a perfect indicator of one's ancestry, culture, and identity. Could a white person of Dutch ancestry from South Africa be considered African; likewise a Black native of Australia or Samoa?
In some Latin American and Asian cultures, what we consider "ethnicity" is tied more to social status and class than to ancestry. All a matter of perspective.
I use the term African American and Black interchangably - I am American as my great grandparents established and created a successful life here; I am of majority African descent but also Native American and European. I personally am not offended with either term - people make more out of it than there really needs to be sometimes.
Holla!
Scientifically, there's only one race. The Human Race.
Another thing. Am I the only one here who doesn't feel treated as a second class citizen? I mean, I haven't experienced any open discrimination in my entire 19 years of life. People are going to be people, but overall, I feel like I enjoy the same rights as everybody else.
PLEASE GO TO THE HOOD OF WHATEVER CITY YOU STAY IN......YOU WILL.
but to say that we are this "american" and leave off the black? would we do that because we are proud of our country and want to pretend that everythings o.k. and were all one race? cause we aren't.....and i dont think it makes it worse to seperate yourselves by saying african- american or whatever because whatever you say..the person will know who you are when they see you. and people from other races....even white are proud of their past nationality and will gladly say what they are if asked or in title itself..... i think the bigger problem is black people don't want to be conected with africa because of the neg. stigma (i think thats the right word) attached to the continenet and the people... Sure we haven't been their in a while ? so...we claim the land of our kidnapping and imprisonment? when you go to jail and get free do you say you're from San Quinten or whatever jail? even in ancient times, when a man was brought into a civ. as a prisoner of war, when they let him become part of their society, he still kept his nat. but we are disconnected with our home, while EVERY OTHER MAJOR RACE IN THE WORLD IS CONNECTED AND UTILIZING IT. so maybe we should claim african and go back.....i did, and it will change your opinions. they call us their brothers...not the same with other races that go their..and they weren't tryina hustle me either.
^^^..Brah, if I went to the hood of Philly, I'd probably get hated on for being part Asian...BY OTHER BLACKS. I'm not saying that we shouldn't claim the land of our ancestors. Understand that people who claim to be Irish American, Italian American, or whatever else are able to instantly trace their land of origen. Soooooo much effort was put intot trying to erase the roots of Blacks in this country that it's almost, almost, impossible to trace exactly where your family comes from. I give honor to my ancestors, but like I said before, I'm not stressin at just being called an American. I live here, my family is here, in this country.
the poster above
wants to be in the air force
so his mind is GONE
why is it that it's the biracial heads who come with all the "let's all be one" funk?
just call me american? wtf
seems like this one can't pinpoint what he is so he's choosing a broad term like he doesn't realize he's a ****
very weak minded
^^^..Brah, if I went to the hood of Philly, I'd probably get hated on for being part Asian...BY OTHER BLACKS.
I just wanted to interject real quick...ya know, I don't think alot of black people would hate on you for being part asian...I find that alot of black people like blasian people. They're somewhat of a hot commodity. (Sidebar: Notice how any other race mixed w/ black is like 100% better looking? Something in the black blood...we juss spice up everything IMO)
ok..back to the bickering
I didn't say it was impossible. I said it was almost impossible for some people. You're right, I haven't tried to trace my roots. It's not hard for me though. I have fam still alive in Japan. As far as reparations go..... :???: ....I don't think we're gonna see those for a while, and it wouldn't be a good idea for it to be in money either.
