African American or American?

Hey mypcforums I'm an African American male and I totally disagree with u. African Americans(blacks)do not use the term to segregate themselves from whites or other ethnicities. The term is used as a sense of identity and to distinguish blacks from others. So what your saying when different ethnicities use the suffix American after there country of origin or their ethnicity, that means they are segregating themselves as well? That doesnt make any sense because NATIVE AMERICANS also use the suffix American after their name. That doesnt mean Native Americans are by no means segregating themselves, however like blacks using American in their name implies that they were born Americans but are of a different ethnicity from mainstream America. Also look on the news,television, newpapers and other forms of media. What you'll notice when there is a celebrity from a minority group talked about, the media label them as, Chinese American, African American, Native American, Mexican American, Italian American etc. Further more, African Americans are not continuing the prejudice among other ethnic groups! ALL whites arent racist but the segregation is often created by them. One of my good friends is from Sri Lanka but he stated his mother did not like blacks bc she believed all blacks were like what the media potrayed them to be! Although I'm far from perfect by befriending me my Sri Lankan friend realized for the most part blacks are good people. I'll admit those racial nicknames are wrong by no means n should stop being used!! On the other hand, come on lets face it I've witnessed many white people @ school refer to someone as a wetback n or call a person a *beep* There are almost no nicknames KNOWN that could amount to the type of degradation, belittlement and hate from using the N word!! The history behind the N word is too deep an extensive that just the thought of it could spawn a # of thoughts reminiscent of slavery times!! It's just no comparising, yes the word hunky is bad but that word was already used before it was considered a racial slur! Doesnt hunky tonk man ring a door bell?? It is sad that the black man you are refering to said that to his son that's not the way to raise kids! I've heard worse stories though, my little niece once stated that her white friend came to school said the N word in a non harmful way! The little girl didn't know what that mean't but she stated she heard it from home! My mom respectfully spoke to the little girl's mom and she apologized. I stay in the Midwest and I have a class with a white guy n he stated he came from a predominately white school in a small town. He stated the town and high school was so racist that he had to fight whites almost everyday bc he was one of the only non racist white people. Furthermore he stated the kkk was stationed in his home town! You are right we all have a skin color but whites created the color terms to emphasize someones race bc the words white and black are English words. I'll agree it is sad that a catastrophie is what ultimately unifies all races n ethnicities!! No there isn't an Africa America but also there isn't a Europe America! I hope racism does diminish everywhere but if you are relying on it to start in the African American comunities it will NEVER cease to exist bc it didn't start there!! Furthermore most blacks aren't racist!! However if racism decreases in White America then we will began to see a major change n shift in this country!! That's were racism originated from in the U.S.! You don't believe what I'm saying? Come to the Midwest in Illinois n visit a town with a majority of white people, you'll mostly likely see where I'm coming from!! On a final note I HATE racism n wish it didnt exist but this is often a part of American society. Racism can be found in any race or ethnicity, so to get this straight I know all whites are not racist! Even though most of the white people I know are not racist, racism is more prevelant among them then blacks! So I hope you take this to heart and look at the truth for what it is!!

PS: I love all races and ethnicities and believe we can continue to learn from our differences and similarities. Applying this method will increase our chances of a life long bond from generation to generation.

mypcforums, are you new to this country? If not, you must be aware that African-Americans were intially separated from Euro-Americans upon arrival to this country and Euro-Americans have attempted to maintain this separation throughout American history. As a result, African-Americans have had numerous labels throughout the last 400 years, most created by the Euro-American majority. This traditional has continued. I believe the term "African-American" was popularized by Jesse Jackson during the presidential primary (1984?). When other candidates (European-Americans) displayed their ethnic backgrounds to the American public, Jackson's story was limited to the southern U.S.; as a result, Jackson declared that he too has an ethnic background, hence the appropriation of the term "African-American". This term became popular as people began to gain pride in their African background. We are no longer just a color (i.e. black).

As for your declaration that Euro-Americans never use the hyphen, that is total b.s. I've grown up around whites, and as soon as someone asks what they are, you get a endless barage of European ethnicities (I'm German, I'm Italian, I'm 1/4 French, etc. etc.). I've never once heard "American". We have just as much right to have pride in our ethnic background as well.

Racism and separation in America is not a result of the use "African-American" or any variation thereof. Racism is held in the hearts and psyches of many American people. The direction of this country will never change until American people change. If you are not a racist, you would have no problem with our ethnic background and declaration thereof.

Hello,

I know it's been a while since you wrote this post, but I this is also a very important subject to me and I would like to weigh in.

I use both black and African-American to refer to the subject matter; mostly when I write, especially on internet forums such as this one (I use both interchangeably because I feel it would be redundant to keep repeating the same term over and over). I'm also an evangelical Christian. Thirty years ago, I came to faith in Jesus Christ. And I'm a historian of American studies. I'm proud to be an American and I love my country dearly. But as a historian, I have to be honest about its mistakes and shortcomings. This pretty much sums up my life. And in my life, it has become very apparent to me that criticism for issues concerning black people routinely gets singled out over and over again.

Before I go on, let me make it clear that I do not believe you are a racist. At least I don't believe so as I do not know you, except for the post you have written. In fact, I believe your opinion to be a legitimate concern among many white people today. And I certainly believe racism can go both ways and anyone can be a racist.

Anyway, to your question: why do blacks have to call themselves "African-Americans?" Well, I've thought a lot about this and I actually think it is very American to refer to yourself in the hyphenated term. Isn't it American to know your history? I mean, don't we appreciate those who have traced their roots or think that the 4th of July is more than just a picnic snd fireworks? Doesn't this history include knowledge of your personal heritage and ancestors? As someone else said, I've seen white people all of my life acknowledging their Irish, German, Greek, Polish, English or other European heritage. In fact, most of the time they don't even use the hyphen! They just say, "I'm Irish and German" or "I'm Italian." Why is that accepted and "African-American" is not? Why is Black History Month criticized as being divisive and separatist but nothing is said about St. Patrick's Day? St. Patrick never even set foot in this country and had nothing to do with America. All of these other months are acknowledged in this society and never receive the backlash Black History Month does:

* Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

* National Hispanic Heritage Month

* Jewish American Heritage Month

* Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender History Month

* Mongolian American Heritage Month

* Indian American Heritage Month

* National Tibetan American Heritage Month

* Puerto Rican Heritage Month

* Women's History Month

* Gay and Lesbian Pride Month

* National Disability Employment Awareness Month

(And don't forget the recent news of Virginia's "Confederate History Month." If that is not divisive- celebration of a rebellion to that sought to destroy the United States and preserve black slavery, I don't know what is.)

I really believe the reason many people have a problem with people referring to themselves as African-American is this: in two words, I think "African-American" says "I know my history. I know about the slavery, the segregation, the discrimination, the cruelties... I know it all." I can understand if that would be difficult for some people to deal with. But I'm blessed that I don't look back on those things and use them as a tool to hate white people. Some do, I'm definitely aware of that. But I believe most African-Americans do not; they simply want to know who they are and be respected. I believe it is absolutely important to know your history- all of it- for the obvious reasons: to remember those who brought us where we are today. To understand their motivations and sacrifices so we can make batter choices for our future.

And you also talked about black racism towards whites on TV. What shows do this? I'm not saying it does not exist. I've certainly seen bias that, if it were the other way around, many blacks would complain of racism, no question. Maybe it's the TV shows I watch, but I don't see a lot of black people calling whites racially-charged names on TV these days. Unless it were used in a historical context (and I feel the same about the n-word, which I do not use) then I can see the use of it; otherwise, it should not be on the air. And please- do not use TV and movies to try and figure out who black people are. the media is full of unfounded stereotypes. It really makes me sick that all some people know how to do is focus on the worst examples of black people- the "thugs" and "gangstas" rather than hard-working, responsible people.

Years ago, I saw a survey in Ebony magazine that asked a bunch of questions to guage the state of things for African-Americans/its readers. One of the questions it asked was, "White people a) Don't care about the black struggle; or b) Don't know about the black struggle." Those were the two choices with which to answer. It upset me that there was no option to answer that whites do care about the black struggle. But since I read that survey, I have to say that most white people I have met either do not know much of anything about black history or current experiences; or, they simply do not want to know and do not want to discuss it. Or if they do, they prefer to believe lies and falsehoods rather than see the truth for themselves. No question, race is a difficult issue... but the problem, whether it was created long ago by someone else, or whether we live with it today, will not fix itself. "Look, let's just not talk about it" does not work. Or "It's all their fault, they and they alone keep it going" just isn't true- both sides contribute to it; perhaps in different ways, but guilt and blame is on both sides.

Next point: is racism today powerless as you suggested? By that, I think you mean that can a black person go to the college they want, get the job they want, live where they want to live and marry whom they want to marry? I would like to think so. But we still hear at times about educational and job discrimination; and many people still have an oppositon to interracial marriage. I've heard people claim that it's natural to be with "your own kind" but I don't trust that to be true in a society founded on racial understandings. Maybe you can, but I can't think of any aspect of American life that has not been affected by race in some way. Put it like this: if slavery, segregation, discrimination etc. never existed- or let's just say that if black people had never even come to America at all- this country would be completely unrecognizeable. I have no doubt whatsoever about that.

Finally, I disagree with you- the IS an African-America. It exists whether we like it or not.

I saw it in the eyes of a white woman I had as a customer when I worked at a dating service. It was open to all people, but she happen to come on an afternoon when I was there as the employee and two black customers were there on their own business. She carefully asked me if the dating service was for her.

I heard it in the voice of the man I called whom I considered working for in helping write a book about his walking across the United States. I asked him if he walked the entire distance without a ride in a car etc; he told me- not realizing who he was talking to, that he took a ride in a car one time because when he got to a certain place (I forget, sorry) there were "too many young blacks" there for him to be around.

I saw it in the three Hispanic men who once walked by me with a threatening gesture. They pointed at me, motioned like they had a shotgun firing at me, laughed about it and walked away. I was in the same spot later when they came back, and they did it again.

I've also seen it in the all-black Church I used to attend and in the all-black high school I used to teach at. And you know what else? I think it is kind of hypocritical that while so many complained about President Obama's attending Reverend Wright's Church for 20 years (I'm not defending Wright or his Church), if that Church had not had the controversial sermons or an Afrocentric website- if it had just been a black Church, nothing would have ever been said about it at all. My issue is the all-black Church, period. I won't attend such a place again because my life is not all-black and I don't expect heaven to be, either.

All for now,

bryanac625

You all almost certainly refer to yourself as "German" or whatever other ethnicity.

The fact is that no one ever asks this question of Irish-Americans or Italian-Americans. The only reason it's ever asked of blacks is because whites feel threatened by the idea that African-American people might have their own opinions on what to be called, opinions which whites are bound to respect.

"Unless Alpert's covered in bacon grease, I don't think Hugo can track anything."

It seems that black people have segregated themselves.