RE: Racial Choice: African American

RE: Racial Choice: African American (Full Version)

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BBBTBW -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/3/2012 2:42:56 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady But that's the whole point, isn't it? "African American" as you are using it (which I agree with) has to do with his family heritage. "African American" as it is typically used in the US is a way to describe race, which as you said, is not accurate. Personally, unless I know someone actually has ancestoral ties (that they are aware of) to Africa, they are no more African American than my mother's family is "Dutch American." In the case of my maternal grandfather, they can be traced back to colonial times, which to me, makes that side really American. On my father's side, I am only second generation born in this country, making that side more "Italian American." On my passport application though, I simply wrote "US Citizen," so neither background made a difference. By both our definitions, you are Italian American. However, if you choose to just use American that is your choice. With me, just saying I am American doesn't sit well with the powers that be, they have to classify me as African American or they can't seem to sleep at night. When filling out the "optional" part on forms, I just leave it blank. I know someone fills it out after they visually see me and mark whatever they feel is necessary. They see the multi-racial person that is me in that I have very light skin but America still uses the 1 ounce rule. BUT ONLY if it can be seen...Therefore, if I am African American, I am also Dutch American, German American and Native American. I can trace my roots back to Africa. However, I was not born in Africa nor were my Parents or Grandparents quote: Describing the president as you have, I find his identifying himself on his Census as "African American" less offensive. However, since he was actually answering more towards his race, I'm still offended that he ignores his heritage from his mother, especially since, if I remember correctly, his father wasn't really part of his life. He chose African American because that's what he is. How was he ignoring his heritage from his mother? It truly doesn't matter whether his father was a part of his life or not, heritage wise he is Nigerian and American. If after my mother and father divorced, I wouldn't cease to be black if my mother or father married someone of a different race. quote: For myself, I am among those who prefers not to use "color" descriptives when describing people unless I'm giving information for someone to be able to identify the person across the room. Sometimes it is necessary to use racial descriptors, eg: The assailant was of (insert Racial Heritage). The only racial heritage that has a color descriptor is Black. (Edited to clarify who said what)

mummyman321 -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/3/2012 4:30:54 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: BBBTBW Sometimes it is necessary to use racial descriptors, eg: The assailant was of (insert Racial Heritage). The only racial heritage that has a color descriptor is Black. (Edited to clarify who said what) Actually that is a very narrow minded statement. Yellow man has been used to describe Asian people Red man or Redskin to describe native american indians Olive skinned for Mediterranean people Sorry, I hate to burst your bubble but Blacks are not the only ones that have had a color descriptor to describe their racial heritage.

JstAnotherSub -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/3/2012 4:54:58 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: mummyman321 quote: ORIGINAL: BBBTBW Sometimes it is necessary to use racial descriptors, eg: The assailant was of (insert Racial Heritage). The only racial heritage that has a color descriptor is Black. (Edited to clarify who said what) Actually that is a very narrow minded statement. Yellow man has been used to describe Asian people Red man or Redskin to describe native american indians Olive skinned for Mediterranean people Sorry, I hate to burst your bubble but Blacks are not the only ones that have had a color descriptor to describe their racial heritage. Don't forget us plain old white folks.

kiwisub12 -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/3/2012 6:30:15 PM)
Is true - my dad used to call me "fish-belly white!

Exidor -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 6:19:54 AM)
"Native American? Do I look like I run around in a loincloth and feathers? I'm from Pittsburgh!" It's strange... as the law tries to enforce "equality", it keeps slicing up the distinctions finer and finer... if it keeps up I'll eventually be able to stand up and demand my rights as a Scots-Seminole-Cherokee, with my own affirmative action and racial discrimination legislation. And eventually we'll all be minorities of ourselves.

yourdarkdesire -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 9:17:57 AM)
If you don't like the choices why don't you just check "Other" and then qualify what you mean in the first line of your profile?

BBBTBW -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 3:23:15 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: mummyman321 quote: ORIGINAL: BBBTBW Sometimes it is necessary to use racial descriptors, eg: The assailant was of (insert Racial Heritage). The only racial heritage that has a color descriptor is Black. (Edited to clarify who said what) Actually that is a very narrow minded statement. Yellow man has been used to describe Asian people Red man or Redskin to describe native american indians Olive skinned for Mediterranean people Sorry, I hate to burst your bubble but Blacks are not the only ones that have had a color descriptor to describe their racial heritage. There is no bubble to burst...Most Black People I know prefer to be referred to as Black and not African American in that we are not direct descendents of an African Person. I honestly haven't heard anyone using the terms "Yellow man" Redman or Redskin" or "Olive skinned" to describe anyone in years. Generally they use their Heritage or their name. The whole point of this thread is to make the powers that be of CM see that but only offering the choice of African American to describe Black People doesn't work. Political Correctness only works if it is Correct. (edited to add the last paragraph.

BBBTBW -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 3:32:32 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JstAnotherSub Don't forget us plain old white folks. White people are usually referred to as Caucasian.

BBBTBW -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 3:36:18 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: yourdarkdesire If you don't like the choices why don't you just check "Other" and then qualify what you mean in the first line of your profile? I did choose other...years ago. However the point being is that there are people from other countries that peruse this sight as well and more times than not they choose African American because that is their only choice. The only place people are considered African American is The United States of America.

JstAnotherSub -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 4:08:39 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: BBBTBW quote: ORIGINAL: JstAnotherSub Don't forget us plain old white folks. White people are usually referred to as Caucasian. No one I know refers to them self as Caucasian. Perhaps it is the same thing as no one you know calling them self African American? Ima white chick, with freckles. It has never occurred to me that this is not a choice when checking my race, I just check white or Caucasian, whichever is there. Fuck, now I am confused!

mummyman321 -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 4:38:14 PM)
WASP - White Anglo-Saxon Protestant - Generally refers to White Americans of British Protestant ancestry Now were are mixing color and religion :)

PeonForHer -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 5:13:44 PM)
FR 1. "Human" 2. "American" What other categories are needed? Sorted.

Marini -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 6:40:38 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: BBBTBW quote: ORIGINAL: JstAnotherSub Don't forget us plain old white folks. White people are usually referred to as Caucasian. I stopped referring to white people as Caucasian years ago, if I can call myself black, I can call them white. My ex-husband is white, and I never heard him call himself a caucasian. He calls himself a white man, and when he wants to be specific a white man, of irish and native american descent. I have rarely heard a white person, call themself a caucasian. I am well aware that black is a color, and maybe some people don't want to refer to themselves as a color. But, at the end of the day, I rather call myself a black woman, than a negro woman or an african american woman. If someone creates a term I like better, I will use it. I doubt that will happen at this point in my life, so I will continue to call myself black, and white people white, and keep things moving. Peace

BBBTBW -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 6:44:18 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JstAnotherSub quote: ORIGINAL: BBBTBW quote: ORIGINAL: JstAnotherSub Don't forget us plain old white folks. White people are usually referred to as Caucasian. No one I know refers to them self as Caucasian. Perhaps it is the same thing as no one you know calling them self African American? Ima white chick, with freckles. It has never occurred to me that this is not a choice when checking my race, I just check white or Caucasian, whichever is there. Fuck, now I am confused! I don't think you will ever see white on an American form again. Caucasian is internationally universal. African American is strictly United States, which is my point. It doesn't really speak to most black people in the United States and certainly doesn't speak to our International friends that peruse this site.

Hillwilliam -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 6:44:32 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: BBBTBW quote: ORIGINAL: JstAnotherSub Don't forget us plain old white folks. White people are usually referred to as Caucasian. That's the technical term but we usually just say "White" Well, if we've been in the sun too long, we're more lobsterish.

BBBTBW -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 6:50:29 PM)
It seems a lot of people are missing the point. I was referring only to this site in my original post. Got to your profile editing page and see if you can choose "white" you can only choose caucasion as a racial descriptor. However, that is universal. African American however is not. If this site is going to cater to the international community, they either need to get rid of the racial descriptors completely or fix it so that their political correctness is correct. For the record, I don't go around describing people by their race, I like to use their names or something else to describe eg: red hair, tall, large etc.....I hate being someone's "black friend" when I see them as simply my friend without racial descriptors.

LookieNoNookie -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 6:53:46 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: BBBTBW To whomever makes the decisions around here, For your consideration. I understand the need for political correctness. However, this being a site that caters to the international community as well as the United States of America, can you also add "BLACK" as a choice, eliminate African American or just eliminate the racial choice altogether? The only place Black people are considered African American is The United States. The current way it is set up leaves the international community of Black people with no choices other than to call themselves American. Thank you for your time and consideration. BBBTBW And your question is? (I presume there was an actual question).

Marini -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 6:59:05 PM)
I call my friends, my friends, I don't identify them by color. But, if you ask me to describe my white friends, I will not call them black. I will call them white. Peace

BBBTBW -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 8:20:21 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LookieNoNookie quote: ORIGINAL: BBBTBW To whomever makes the decisions around here, For your consideration. I understand the need for political correctness. However, this being a site that caters to the international community as well as the United States of America, can you also add "BLACK" as a choice, eliminate African American or just eliminate the racial choice altogether? The only place Black people are considered African American is The United States. The current way it is set up leaves the international community of Black people with no choices other than to call themselves American. Thank you for your time and consideration. BBBTBW And your question is? (I presume there was an actual question). Yes there was an actual question. There it is in Boldface

Marini -> RE: Racial Choice: African American (4/4/2012 8:33:57 PM)
Eureka! I think I finally get the point. Why not, drop the color crap all together and just classify each other as: American, French, Russian, Spanish, Greek, Italian, etc. ? If, we just put American, how in the world would people be able to put us into nice little boxes, based on the color of our skin? [;)]

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