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SHRED

(28,136 posts)
Thu Oct 27, 2016, 08:44 AM Oct 2016

"African American"

Last edited Fri Oct 28, 2016, 08:20 AM - Edit history (1)

I don't care for this label. Not the label of this group but society's use of the term.

In my mind it conjurs up someone who is new here from a foreign continent.
It sounds separate to me.
Less inclusive.

I guess you could say I'm "European American" then? (I'm white)

I'm interested in thoughts in favor of this term since I probably am not looking at this from all sides.



16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"African American" (Original Post) SHRED Oct 2016 OP
I agree with our thoughts. Plus, its technically inaccurate with regards to a racial designation. aaaaaa5a Oct 2016 #2
Group Host - Locking JustAnotherGen Oct 2016 #3
Unlocked upon explanation from OP JustAnotherGen Oct 2016 #4
Thank you SHRED Oct 2016 #5
I don't care either way JustAnotherGen Oct 2016 #6
You may not like it, but it is not up to you. kwassa Oct 2016 #7
Co-sign lib87 Oct 2016 #8
I see SHRED Oct 2016 #9
if you are so easily bothered by criticism of a label that is not even yours, why are you posting La Lioness Priyanka Oct 2016 #12
How Dare You Indeed lib87 Oct 2016 #13
I never said it was... SHRED Oct 2016 #14
I think generally the first term I would use would be black Travis_0004 Oct 2016 #10
It would be nice if I could be seen Coolest Ranger Oct 2016 #11
This sounds like "color blind" thinking gollygee Oct 2016 #15
Non-white groups end up hyphenated... JHan Nov 2016 #16

aaaaaa5a

(4,672 posts)
2. I agree with our thoughts. Plus, its technically inaccurate with regards to a racial designation.
Thu Oct 27, 2016, 09:33 AM
Oct 2016

When I was a kid I remembered meeting a white family who had moved here from South Africa. They were really nice. Great family. But I thought it was odd that they referred to themselves as African. I've lost touch with them over the decades but I have no doubt they still refer to themselves as African today. technically they are more African American than I am as black american. It honestly wouldn't shock me if they even check African American on their census form. And they would be justified in doing so.

BTW... that white family from South African new more about Africa and loved Africa more than any American black family I have ever met.

JustAnotherGen

(33,785 posts)
3. Group Host - Locking
Thu Oct 27, 2016, 11:27 AM
Oct 2016

One other post back here in the past two years (was mid september) to challenge a regular participant.

Incendiary.

Questioning the VERY name of the Group.


JustAnotherGen

(33,785 posts)
6. I don't care either way
Fri Oct 28, 2016, 10:02 AM
Oct 2016

Black or African American - doesn't bother me.

If we are talking:

Folks - let's make this an issue! Let's fight it all the way to SCOTUS and get it changed on the Census and forms!


I'm not going to do that. I have bigger issues - Personal safety, fair treatment by health care providers, ensuring the children/millenials in my family don't lose hard fought civil liberties and rights, making sure my home isn't re redlined, etc. etc.

Either one beats 'colored' or 'n-bomb' ya know?



kwassa

(23,340 posts)
7. You may not like it, but it is not up to you.
Sat Oct 29, 2016, 12:09 PM
Oct 2016

Most black people I know don't care all that much about the terminology. They care about the big issues.

We have both African-Americans, and Africans in this area. The two are not confused.

 

La Lioness Priyanka

(53,866 posts)
12. if you are so easily bothered by criticism of a label that is not even yours, why are you posting
Sun Oct 30, 2016, 10:58 AM
Oct 2016

here?

lib87

(535 posts)
13. How Dare You Indeed
Sun Oct 30, 2016, 11:44 AM
Oct 2016

Come into a safe place for African Americans , trying to be an ally(???), state your opinion on us and get defensive when 1 AA doesn't give you the response you want to hear because that's how you learn "from all sides".

 

Travis_0004

(5,417 posts)
10. I think generally the first term I would use would be black
Sat Oct 29, 2016, 06:51 PM
Oct 2016

At least until they tell they prefer something else. I have no issue if somebody prefers the term African American, and if so that is the term I would use. But they might be from the Caribbean, Europe, South/Central America, and not identify as African American.

Coolest Ranger

(2,034 posts)
11. It would be nice if I could be seen
Sun Oct 30, 2016, 07:50 AM
Oct 2016

as an American, but no, I'm identified as African American even though my great grandfather is white, my great, great grandfather comes from the Pacific Islands, my grandmother is Native American and my other grandmother is Native American. I have no problems with this. I honestly don't understand the need to see posts like this show up every few months.

JHan

(10,173 posts)
16. Non-white groups end up hyphenated...
Fri Nov 4, 2016, 11:05 PM
Nov 2016

because white has historically been the "default" , so it feels odd to say "european american" - Although we do say Russian American, I can imagine Irish-American as well, showing the impact of identity politics in modern times - but for a long time "real american" was considered white and blue eyed- everyone else had to get their own label and the legacy of that thinking lives on.

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