RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"?

RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (Full Version)

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Blaakmaan -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/27/2009 9:44:15 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: nubianmuscle Honestly, I have sat back and watched your responses, rather bemused. IMO, you did seem to come off as the end all and be all of black opinion. If you are one of the few blacks/African Americans/Negroes/people of color on here that post you owe the rest of us the courtesy of making it clear that you are stating your opinion, not everyone else's. I personally believe the old saying, "What you call me is not as important as what I answer to." As an aside, I honestly am lost as opposed to what point you were trying to make as it seemed as if you were all over the place in your various responses. If your general opinion, is the appropriateness of what you are called, depends on the situation, that's fine. That's all you really had to state. I have been referred to as "colored" by older ladies from WV and taken no offense as I understood the context in which it was used and the backgrounds of those using it. At various times, I have also been referred to and refer to myself as black, African-American, man of color, etc. I believe the intent is more important than the actual word used. Now you don't have to be seen as the only one of "us" responding and posting to this thread. Happy now? [:)] Actually, I don't recall being unhappy. Aren't you like post #108 on this thread? You're kind of late to the party. So, while all of this semi-racist (and at times, explicitly racist) crap was being posted on this thread, you "sat back and watched, rather bemused," and now you post, and this is what you have to say? Damn! Now I think I'm feeling rather bemused myself! Next time, try jumping in when the water is hot. If you can take the heat. If not, stay bemused. Personally, I care BOTH what I am called AND what I answer to. And I think the question was what WE Black Americans choose to call ourselves, not what YOU answer to. We Black/African Americans/Black Americans/whatever-else-we-may-choose-to-call-ourselves claim the right to determine both what we are called, and what we answer to. Not my opinion. Just a fact. Like it or don't. And, finally, when the white posters on here start to state that they're not speaking for all white people, then I'll think about stating that I'm not speaking for all black people. Until then, I will trust that most people here have the good sense to at least know the obvious. But...

einstien5201 -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/27/2009 11:30:35 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kittinSol I think the ethnic box sucks monstrous ass, everywhere I encounter it (which is often). Personally, none of the options suit me - as a woman, I'm a 'minority' in this culture. This has always bothered me. In the United States (as of 2002, according to the figures I've found), women make up slightly over half the population (51.1%). Isn't that the definition of a majority, rather than a minority? I'm looking for accurate worldwide figures, but if I go by wikianswers, then men make up about 50.3% of the worldwide population. While technically this would make women (at 49.7%) a minority, a difference of 0.6% is hardly significant.

Aneirin -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 4:45:10 AM)
So if CM uses African-American, how does that apply for the same racial type whose ancestry never went near the Americas ?

kittinSol -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 5:09:09 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: einstien5201 quote: ORIGINAL: kittinSol I think the ethnic box sucks monstrous ass, everywhere I encounter it (which is often). Personally, none of the options suit me - as a woman, I'm a 'minority' in this culture. This has always bothered me. In the United States (as of 2002, according to the figures I've found), women make up slightly over half the population (51.1%). Isn't that the definition of a majority, rather than a minority? Exactly, which is why I used quotation marks. A sociological minority: we still hear about 'women's issues' all the time. I look at Congress, I look at the Senate, I look at any television program: it's men, men, men everywhere, whereas on the news, in sports, or in the movies. Most of the values that rule our world are masculine.

kittinSol -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 5:10:11 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Aneirin So if CM uses African-American, how does that apply for the same racial type whose ancestry never went near the Americas ? What's a racial type?

HatesParisHilton -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 5:27:32 AM)
you know, like them Froggie Frenchie types! [;)]

ShadowSide -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 5:39:41 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: einstien5201 quote: ORIGINAL: DarkSteven Fashion. They used to be called Negroes (well, they were known as something else first), then darkies, then coloreds, then blacks, then African American. We'll think of something else to call them eventually. A minor correction: Negro was in use well before the other word you imply, and was actually the root word of the other. It comes from the Spanish word for "black", "negro". As for why "African-American" is used in favor of "Black", I can think of a few reasons, though I have no support for these other than my own thoughts. The new term emphasizes that they are a subset of Americans, rather than of people in general, helping to promote the idea that citizens of the US are Americans first, and only after that whatever group or culture they identify with. "Black" conjures up images of evil, witchcraft, and spooky graveyards at night, in much the same way "White" conjures up images of cleanliness, angels, and healing magic. While most won't object to an adjective that associates them with angels and clean linen, being associated with evil knights and bad luck is understandably undesirable. It just doesn't fit. While "Black" may be a relatively accurate description of the population in certain areas of Africa (at least as accurate as "White" is of certain populations in Europe - I'm thinking of the Norse countries and Ireland in particular), it certainly isn't accurate of the majority of those who identify with the term "African-American". Even before his transition into a poster child for cosmetic surgery gone wrong, Michael Jackson could hardly be described as having black skin, and I think that the same goes for most "Americans of african descent". We are after all a mixing pot, and that doesn't just apply to culture and language, but to genetics as well. Since europeans tend to use latin as their base for the current languages, "negro" was already in use. Since Egypt highly influenced early europe, there was a word in use in Egypt, NGR- which was equivilent to the names of deities know today, so its the opposite in regards to origin. Our ancestors created the word and used it only to now be allegedly used against us. ha!! Black, though a color embodies all who came from the African continent and who have been transported around the world as a unlimited labor force. It's our connectiopn to each other. Even in Egypt, Ausur (Osirus) was "god of the perfect black", so once again, we've been calling ourselves that for a good while. As for literally having black skin, we can create colors from blue-black to albino pink. It's never about skin color alone, but where you can blend in and where you can go to find twins of family members and friends.

kittinSol -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 7:55:20 AM)
As long as you exclude the slavic, celtic, germanic, semitic languages (the list does go on)... Europe is as large as it is varied, and Latin isn't the basis for all european languages, not by any stretch of the imagination.

Blaakmaan -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 8:04:25 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JohnSteed1967 quote: ORIGINAL: EvilEyes269 Why do the black people on here have to choose between selecting "African American" (even if they're not American) or "Other"? Why does CM not want to use the word "Black"? Here in the UK it's ok to use the word but is it taboo in the States? This is a sad state of affairs, Black people think that by calling themselves "African American" that some how they become better. I saw a black female comedian who said. "Ok So now I am African American, am I going to get that loan that I was turned down for last week, or when the cop stops me, what do I say "Officer I am African American not black, so you shouldn't have stopped me" There was the case of the Black Harvard professor, Cop who deals with people all day long, and is going by the book and his training, follows the procedures of his department in handling an unknown situation. Next thing he know the professor is screaming that he is being attacked because he is black. The most racist people in America today are not whites, they are blacks and hispanics The "sad state of affairs" would be if somebody actually mistook what you just said for an enlightened opinion instead of the racist rant it is. I was gonna let my nubian brotha handle this one, but it seems that he's off duty.

Blaakmaan -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 8:05:25 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kittinSol quote: ORIGINAL: JohnSteed1967 The most racist people in America today are not whites, they are blacks and hispanics So sad [8\|] . So stupid!

Blaakmaan -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 8:10:16 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: lronitulstahp Apparently, my ancestors would fuck anyone...but i still chose African-American rather than "Mixed". i just know as soon as i fuck around and pick one of my other options....reparations'll start getting passed out and i'll miss the damned boat. Not taking ANY chances.... Perhaps they would. Or perhaps, having at one point been property, anyone could fuck them. Either way, don't hold your breath waitin' on reparations. Or those 40 acres and a mule.

Termyn8or -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 8:15:01 AM)
I'll read through later, but something occurred to me. Two things are fact : 1. Not all Black people come from Africa. 2. Not all White people come from Europe. I have proof of this in real life. I suggest just calling people what they want to be called. However options on a dropdown list are another story. They can't include everything. Should they ? Should they try even ? Since discrimination based on these criteria are now incorrest, what term should be used ? Spain and Hungary for example have people ranging from blond hair and blue eyes to the black as coal. How should they answer ? Similarly take the case of Palestinians and Jews living in Israel. Do they both answer Israeli ? Though they share "roots" way back, they have evolved into very different peoples. For year there was Czechoslovakia, two very different peoples in the same country. I know this has changed, but it is still the point. What about Iraqis ? Shiite, Sunni or <the other one> whatever. How do they answer ? Or is it more what they consider themselves ? T

Blaakmaan -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 8:21:10 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: einstien5201 quote: ORIGINAL: kittinSol I think the ethnic box sucks monstrous ass, everywhere I encounter it (which is often). Personally, none of the options suit me - as a woman, I'm a 'minority' in this culture. This has always bothered me. In the United States (as of 2002, according to the figures I've found), women make up slightly over half the population (51.1%). Isn't that the definition of a majority, rather than a minority? I'm looking for accurate worldwide figures, but if I go by wikianswers, then men make up about 50.3% of the worldwide population. While technically this would make women (at 49.7%) a minority, a difference of 0.6% is hardly significant. I believe kittinSol was referring to women as a minority group in the sociological sense, not in the strictly numerical sense. To quote Wikipedia (hey, you quoted wikianswers!): "A minority is a sociological group that does not constitute a politically dominant voting majority of the total population of a given society. A sociological minority is not necessarily a numerical minority — it may include any group that is subnormal with respect to a dominant group in terms of social status, education, employment, wealth and political power." In that sense, she is correct that women are a minority group, even though they are numerically in the majority.

Missokyst -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 8:30:14 AM)
I believe he is referring to blacks (and all other chosen adaptations), who do not live or have ever lived in America. What do they chose if they live in England? Japan? What if they never stepped foot on American soil? CM's catagory says (supposedly as I have never checked), African-American, and since this is an international website, American may not apply to who they are. quote: ORIGINAL: kittinSol quote: ORIGINAL: Aneirin So if CM uses African-American, how does that apply for the same racial type whose ancestry never went near the Americas ? What's a racial type?

kittinSol -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 8:46:54 AM)
I categorically object to the expression 'racial type'. It's offensively meaningless.

RCdc -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 10:34:22 AM)
Kittin, knowing A like I do - I know he did not mean to be offensive. He's just using 'type' like you would if you said 'hair type'. the.dark.

kittinSol -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 10:36:20 AM)
I realise that he's not trying to be offensive, dark, but there are some subjects that warrant extra cautious use of language, you know? "Race" is such a false notion...

RCdc -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 10:43:58 AM)
But A does have a point that I hadn't noticed before. What catagory does a black person who isn't american get to choose - apart from 'other'? the.dark.

kittinSol -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 10:47:11 AM)
I think tulip made this point too... That's why I boycott this kind of thing as much as I can by ticking the "other" box myself. If only we all did it, perhaps this kind of crap would disappear eventually...

RCdc -> RE: Why not "Black" instead of "African Ameriican"? (10/28/2009 10:57:40 AM)
'Other' is ok for people who aren't actively looking. People are going to have preferences on the colour of a persons skin or their ethnic make up, just like people prefere a certain hair colour or height. Doesn't make them necessarily racist - just because they have a preference. But unlike people like us or you, not everyone has the ability to put up a photograph. In that case, 'other' isn't going to help. Yeah I know that is what profiles are for... but it still seems a bit out there for me, being not from the USA. the.dark.

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