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Discussion: Do you guys say "black" or "African American"?
Member Since: 12/4/2010
Posts: 37,894
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Quote:
Originally posted by inspiration4
You just don't get it. "African" is not a race. , It's a geographic region, a continent...not a race.
And that is exactly why it sounds foolish to refer to someone as African American in any attempt to identify them as a person, since
1. African is not a race, I repeat.
And 2, There's no other basis for usage of the term, such as (pan African) culture.
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Sure African isn't a race. White isn't a race either. Black isn't a race either. Asian isn't a race either. The races are Mongoloid, Negroid, and Caucasoid, though some scientists include just a few other -oids as well. But that's a bunch of semantics.
At the end of the day, when someone is asked their race, they will say White, or Black, or Asian, or whatever. This whole thing is about race, and culture is completely irrelevant. From when they started immigrating to America til a good time from now, Asians will still be classified as Asian when it comes to race (or ethnicity, if that makes you feel better). Same thing applies to Blacks.
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Member Since: 3/6/2011
Posts: 7,353
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Quote:
Originally posted by Feather
Give him a break, maybe DrunkNHotBoyz ain't black and he wants to learn too  |
OH, I'm black. 
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Member Since: 6/25/2011
Posts: 28,853
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Quote:
Originally posted by BLaCKPoWeR
If you want to get technical about it, they are 'European Americans'. It's not a common term, but it's accurate.  |
Or CAUCASIAN....
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Member Since: 6/4/2010
Posts: 38,919
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Quote:
Originally posted by DrunkNHotBoyz
OH, I'm black trash. |
Hey now
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Member Since: 12/4/2010
Posts: 37,894
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Quote:
Originally posted by Love
I know but why arent' white people referred to as European American? Their ancestors are from Europe.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Doc
Am bolding this because it's been brought up a lot.
Whites aren't called Euro-Americans, and don't call themselves Euro-Americans because most know where they come from. We all have met people who are proud of their French, German, Polish, Italian, English, Irish, etc heratage. Therefore, it isn't unheard of for them to be known as French-Americans, Italian-Americans, Irish-Americans, etc. Same goes for Hispanics and Asians as well.
Blacks on the other hand, again, for the most part, don't know **** about where they came from (not entirely their fault though, but that's a different topic). Hence the term African-American, instead the lesser heard terms Nigerian-American, Ghanaian-American, etc.
I italicized 'most' and 'for the most part' for a reason, btw. |
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Member Since: 8/31/2011
Posts: 18,529
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Quote:
Originally posted by inspiration4
Ok, I'll make this easy. You tell me what Black people in America have in common with black people in Africa, besides appearance (if that).
Food? NO
Music? NO
Dress? NO
So... what exactly are the cultural similarities between black Americans and Africans again that justifies the ignorant "African American" term, in reference to black Americans?  |
well "black" americans have been desensitized of any african "culture" because of society. U don't have to live up to Chinese customs, but that still doesn't change that ur Chinese
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Member Since: 8/31/2011
Posts: 18,529
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We were just talking about this in my college cultural diversity class..............it sparked a big debate.
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Member Since: 12/4/2010
Posts: 37,894
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Quote:
Originally posted by Feather
See, but how are we suppose to know that? So I guess at the end of the day, saying "black" is easier. It's just like describing an asian person. You're not going to say "The Korean guy", "The Chinese guy" because some people can't tell, so it's just easier to use "asian"
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For a good chuck of people, that isn't true.
Although, now that I think about it, I think it's been a little while since I've heard someone refer to a random Asian person as Chinese. 
That's kinda off topic though.
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Member Since: 12/10/2011
Posts: 12,699
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cap10Planet
Black is not a skin color; it's a race. Same with white.
Your complexion is something.
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"Race" is a made up term, a belief. YES people do have different skin colors, etc, but RACE was a word created to separate people. However, it's been around for hundreds of years and my "denouncing" of it on a message board (ESPECIALLY ATRL  ) ain't gonna change ****, so whatever. But, my problem with your post is you say, "black is not a skin color", but it is a race..when the word "race" actually means the distinct physical differences among divisions of humans. And one distinct physical difference is skin color. So if you say black is a race, then it's a skin color as well.
I hope you're following what I'm saying, because I barely can myself 
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Member Since: 10/10/2009
Posts: 10,662
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Quote:
Originally posted by Doc
Sure African isn't a race. White isn't a race either. Black isn't a race either. Asian isn't a race either. The races are Mongoloid, Negroid, and Caucasoid, though some scientists include just a few other -oids as well. But that's a bunch of semantics.
At the end of the day, when someone is asked their race, they will say White, or Black, or Asian, or whatever. This whole thing is about race, and culture is completely irrelevant. From when they started immigrating to America til a good time from now, Asians will still be classified as Asian when it comes to race (or ethnicity, if that makes you feel better). Same thing applies to Blacks.
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We'll just have to agree to disagree. In my little corner of the globe nobody uses "african" as a synonym for "black", and thank god for that.
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Member Since: 3/6/2011
Posts: 7,353
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Quote:
Originally posted by Anti.Emotional
I've never been to a clinic.
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Oh wait a minute.
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Member Since: 11/4/2006
Posts: 37,808
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I always thought it was ignorant to call someone African-American, because thats suggesting all black people are from Africa. The thing I don't understand is with white people, we are just called Americans. So why do we call black people AFRICAN- Americans? or latinos MEXICAN-Americans? Why do they need to have a dash? They should be just called Americans. I think this is just another way to divide people in this country.
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Member Since: 8/19/2011
Posts: 37,346
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I prefer the term, "black"
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Member Since: 10/10/2009
Posts: 10,662
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Quote:
Originally posted by Fireman25
I always thought it was ignorant to call someone African-American, because thats suggesting all black people are from Africa. The thing I don't understand is with white people, we are just called Americans. So why do we call black people AFRICAN- Americans? or latinos MEXICAN-Americans? Why do they need to have a dash? They should be just called Americans. I think this is just another way to divide people in this country .
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I completely agree. 
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Member Since: 3/5/2011
Posts: 8,561
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Omg you guys, y'all are having some intense discussions over this.
But anyway, it's black.
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Member Since: 6/4/2010
Posts: 38,919
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Quote:
Originally posted by FunkyNUglyBoyz
My life is miserable, someone save me.
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I got you
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Member Since: 9/23/2009
Posts: 12,662
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Member Since: 12/4/2010
Posts: 37,894
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Quote:
Originally posted by fortheloveofmusic
well "black" americans have been desensitized of any african "culture" because of society. U don't have to live up to Chinese customs, but that still doesn't change that ur Chinese
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Somebody gets what I'm saying.
Thank you.
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Member Since: 8/16/2011
Posts: 2,277
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Quote:
Originally posted by Feather
And is saying "black" offensive?
For some reason, I always feel awkward (when describing a black person) as "S/he's black." because I don't know if it's offensive or not. My friends use to say African American, but that sounds weird... Especially in Canada.
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That's totally me. 
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Member Since: 5/18/2011
Posts: 17,136
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The point is, The United States is a melting pot. There's specific criteria for race to be an American. The only real requirement is that you're a legal citizen of the country. They can be of African, European, Asian, Hispanic, Indian, etc descent so why do blacks have to be labeled such? Can't we all simply be "American"?
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