- Home
- Business & Marketing (833)
- Editorials (671)
- Entertainment (2033)
- Fashion (1032)
- Highbrid (189)
- Honeys (2876)
- Humor (948)
- Music (5222)
- Need to Know (2224)
- News (2076)
- Podcasts (4)
- ARCHIVE
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 | 12:59pm
? of the Day Part II: What Term Do We Prefer, “Black” or “African American”?
or should another term be used…weigh in
Interesting ? Alot of us might say it doesn’t really matter but some of us will have an opinion. I’m not sure. I might lean towards either one but one thing I can say is I’m glad we have achieved enough and came far enough that what we used to be called now is only whispered in secrecy behind doors and walls.
FILED IN Editorials
I want to be called King cause that’s what we are but honestly I would say it depends on the individual.
.
I’ve never had a problem with Black. African-American is just longer to type. I’m not African nor do most Africans want to be associated with me. Plus I think African-American is about ancestry. I’m of Dominican Decent. My complexion in that culture makes me Black. I think there are plenty of black folks that aren’t African American.
.
As far as the racist go…I’d rather they call me a “nigger.” If that’s how they feel and that’s what they’d prefer I’d like to know where they stand. It might sound ruthless but when you bring weapons to a battle its always important to know what the opposition is working with.
.
Good ?
Good points Juan.
.
I’ve always preferred Black. It encompasses a broader reach of people that the term “African-American” cannot.
.
Besides, when I think about the Charlize Theron theory I’d say Black is a better fit for a lot of people who are other than white.
If I had to choose, I would go with “Black”. I guess “African American” is more of an ancestry thing like Juan stated. We don’t really use the term European-American for all whites so I guess “White” has the same generic association. Since the newer generations of black people are popultating the U.S. (immigrants, bi-racial) and the older, direct decendants of African slaves are dying out, it can be understood that some people feel dis-attached with the term “African-Amercan”.
Plus the term African-American at the risk of sounding juvenile is “extra.” Its almost as if its some conjured up moniker that someone came up with make us feel like we mattered. While we didn’t before…we do now. Black it back…black it is.
I perfer BLACK myself, the very uttrance of the word connotes something powerful, something strong…Black…is where it’s at!
i like that!
I prefer Black as well. Most blacks who are descendants from slaves maybe mixed with Native American Indian and/or white, such as myself. As Urban Thought mentioned “Black is a better fit for a lot of people who are other than white.” Plus Black is the foundation of all things. So I say it LOUD “I’M BLACK AND I’M PROUD!!!.”
I want to use the term that is preferred by the group being spoken or written of. I am of English-German-Scot descemt, but I feel more like a United Stater. “American” has been used for United Staters, but everyone who lives in the Americas (North, South and Central) is an American. So the term “American” for the people who are citizens or residents of the United States is not precise.
I don’t like the termAfrican-American. Most of native born (as opposed to recent immigrants) blacks have been here longer by ancestry than have many whites. But if that is the term that the non-white group wants used, I will use it.
My Bales ancestor who came here first came to Philadelphia in the 17th century.
I want to be courteous to those non-white non-Hispanic people and use the term that they prefer to refer to them. I tend to go more by the individual than by group identity anyway,though.