Is anyone here "African American"?

[Victor]

I have to know. You guys have got me curious. I have been asked in too many threads "what makes you think we are all pasty faced pastrami eatin' white boys???" etc etc so here is your chance.

Nice meeting you. By the way, whilst I will have a pretty nice tan in a couple of weeks, I can't rap, dance or jump.

[Victor]

........but I do drive a "bling ride"........anyone?

[aap1966]

My 8 y.o. came home from school the other day and mentioned a kid in her class, "C". Name didn't ring a bell so I asked her to describe her. She said tall...curly hair.... in the school choir...etc. Couldn't figure out who she meant until it clicked. "C" is the only black kid in my daughter's grade. (O.K., it's a WASPish school) My kid had attempted to describe her to me, but C's colouring hadn't even registered as a distinguishing feature.

It's not that my kids don't know any black friends, it's that they don't know they're friends are black.

I think that's pretty cool.

[skipdup]

Originally posted by aap1966
My 8 y.o. came home from school the other day and mentioned a kid in her class, "C". Name didn't ring a bell so I asked her to describe her. She said tall...curly hair.... in the school choir...etc. Couldn't figure out who she meant until it clicked. "C" is the only black kid in my daughter's grade. (O.K., it's a WASPish school) My kid had attempted to describe her to me, but C's colouring hadn't even registered as a distinguishing feature.

It's not that my kids don't know any black friends, it's that they don't know they're friends are black.

I think that's pretty cool.

Very similar story happened with my niece. My sister kept hearing all about by nieces friend at school. Whats her name did this, that and the other. Time passes, what's her name comes over for a sleepover, and she's black.

My sister was just amazed and so very proud of her little girl.

- Skip

[Joeaksa]

One of our flight attendents is a true African American. She was born in Rhodesia, back in the old days and that is what is shown on her passport. Mother and Father were missionaries and before you ask, they are white. They lived for 12 years in a mud hut, 200 miles from the closest store. Trish went to school by short wave radio and what we would now call home schooling.

She loves it when some uppity black person starts spouting off that they are "african American" and she gets in their face and asks them just where in Africa they were born? After all, we do not go around saying that we are a "German American," "Dutch American" or "English American" and so on, its only the blacks who insist on this.

Life can be interesting at times...

JoeA

[AFJuvat]

My grandmother was south african

A resident of Africa, came to the US, that would make her african american.....

Or were you just referring to black people?

AFJ

[aways]

I was born in America, and live in America, so I guess that makes me an American-American.

BTW, I think the history of the common use of the term "African-American" dates back about 20-25yrs to about 1980. I think it was Jesse Jackson (the self-appointed moutpiece for Black Americans) who first promoted the term as a replacement to "Black", which up to that time was politically correct. At the time I remember a lot of opposition to the hyphenated American terminology, but it appears to have won out in the end thanks to the PC brainwashing of our Universities and media.

[Vipergrün]

Originally posted by AFJuvat
My grandmother was south african

A resident of Africa, came to the US, that would make her african american.....

Or were you just referring to black people?

AFJ

There inlies the problem. Just like when the ad stating "Must be bi-lingual" really means "Must speak spanish" English and German just won't cut it....

As for being PC, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's a duck and I am not gonna call it a water foul just to keep someones panties out of a bind.....

[speeder]

(Fill in the blank)-American refers to where your ancestors really came from, not what country you were born in. Your ethnicity+ the fact that you are an American. Since Americans do not have their own ethnicity, unless they are Native Americans. But of course everyone knows this.
A British person who lives in one of the colonies does not become a different ethnicity for doing so. They are still British. A White person born in Rhodesia or South Africa is still white.
WHat is it about the term "African American" that bothers the right wingers so much?? Does Italian-American also raise hackles?

And who has ever had a black person "get in their face and tell them that they are African American" ?? WTF is that? Like you are blind and deaf and need it explained? I've been around black (or African-American) people all my life and have never seen such an exchange. Are you sure that wasn't a made-up story from Rush L. or Larry Elder?

We need to open a new field of study in Universities which deciphers the mind of the embattled white conservative in the U.S., maybe call it "No Past/No Future, the strange world that they live in".....

[tabs]

I didn't think Black folk would be interested in Porsches just Cadilliacs....

[AFJuvat]

Originally posted by bb80sc
There inlies the problem. Just like when the ad stating "Must be bi-lingual" really means "Must speak spanish" English and German just won't cut it....

As for being PC, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's a duck and I am not gonna call it a water foul just to keep someones panties out of a bind.....

Exactly the point I was trying to make. The term "African American" is stupid.

Any of the following could be considered african-american by strict definition:

Any white person from South Africa or Nambia.
Egypt, Lybia, Tunisia, Algeria. etc., which are ethnically Arabic countries.

I know english and german will not cut it, they will not even teach german in my kid's schools. I have to teach them at home.

AFJ

[Vipergrün]

There goes Tabs, kickin' the hornets nest....

Forgive my ignorance, but is the origin of ALL black people from Africa? If not, the term "African American" would not necessarily be appropriate. Similarly, some folks of spanish decent are upset by the misuse of Latino/Hispanic/Mexican in an attempt to lable them all as one class. If we called them Spanish American, would that be correct, or would that only apply to those from or decending from Spain?

[Gooch1971]

Just for the sake of this thread.

I am 100% American from the state of Oklahoma (no need for a hyphen). I have reddish brown hair, lots of freckles and a fair complextion.


As for lineage...

I am a listed member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, in addition I am part Cherokee indian, English and Irish.

[Vipergrün]

Yeah, Gooch, I have not seen too many job applications that say "Okie-American" on them My folks are okies, so I can call you an okie, maybe even in a rap song...

[AFJuvat]

Originally posted by speeder
(Fill in the blank)-American refers to where your ancestors really came from, not what country you were born in. Your ethnicity+ the fact that you are an American. Since Americans do not have their own ethnicity, unless they are Native Americans. But of course everyone knows this.
A British person who lives in one of the colonies does not become a different ethnicity for doing so. They are still British. A White person born in Rhodesia or South Africa is still white.
WHat is it about the term "African American" that bothers the right wingers so much?? Does Italian-American also raise hackles?

And who has ever had a black person "get in their face and tell them that they are African American" ?? WTF is that? Like you are blind and deaf and need it explained? I've been around black (or African-American) people all my life and have never seen such an exchange. Are you sure that wasn't a made-up story from Rush L. or Larry Elder?

We need to open a new field of study in Universities which deciphers the mind of the embattled white conservative in the U.S., maybe call it "No Past/No Future, the strange world that they live in".....

Ok, then by your strict definition, my grandmother is still african american. She was born to a Boer family outside Pretoria, South Africa in 1911. South Africa became an independant country in 1910.

Also following your arguement, try calling anyone from Australia a Briton - By your argument, they are all british - that is where they all came from. Say that in a bar in Sydney Australia... I dare you...

It raises hackles because it is a stupid term. Show me an ethnic african person. - you cannot. Africa is a incredible blend of races and cultures.

Any citizen of the US is called an american, any resident of europe is called european, any resident of australia (white or aboriginal) is australian. Why is it only blacks are african?

You want to start combating racism... start by getting rid of the labels..

AFJ

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by speeder
WHat is it about the term "African American" that bothers the right wingers so much?? Does Italian-American also raise hackles?

And who has ever had a black person "get in their face and tell them that they are African American" ?? WTF is that? Like you are blind and deaf and need it explained? I've been around black (or African-American) people all my life and have never seen such an exchange. Are you sure that wasn't a made-up story from Rush L. or Larry Elder?

We need to open a new field of study in Universities which deciphers the mind of the embattled white conservative in the U.S., maybe call it "No Past/No Future, the strange world that they live in".....

Why am I not surprised where this comment came from??? Considering that I have seen this happen several times, no its not made up but am sure that you will not believe that.

Hope you enjoy your new field of study, but you are the "embattled" one here...

Joe A

[island911]

Originally posted by speeder
(Fill in the blank)-American refers to where your ancestors really came from, ...

I've met you Speeder, and so I know that your ancestors were from Africa (makes you an 'African American") I also know that you are proud that those African ansestors of yours hung-out a while in Ireland. (as African Irish, of course.)

So really, I suppose we should refer to you as an "African Irish American"

look speeder, "Italian-American" refers to ones immediate culture . . .Whereas "African American" is used euphemistically to reflect a skin color. !!!!!

Oh, and again; We all (if you're human) have ansestory out of Africa. (Blame it on the genome.)

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/Columnists/paramindercolumn1.htm

[competentone]

Originally posted by island911
Oh, and again; We all (if you're human) have ansestory out of Africa. (Blame it on the genome.)

Yep. That's my position too. All Americans are technically African-Americans....if they trace their family tree back far enough.

[austin552]

Originally posted by tabs
I didn't think Black folk would be interested in Porsches just Cadilliacs....

That is a racist remark and not true! They drive Buicks with multiple air freshners.

[vash]

victor. never been down under....what about the aborininal folks? are they treated as second rate citizens? is there a huge rift? do they have the same jobs, life, live in the same neighborhoods, et? i will visit soon, well one day. just wondering about this type of stuff.

i grew up colorful, but i aint blind to it.