Comments on: Are You Black or African-American?

By: Web Prospector

Web Prospector — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:04:13 +0000

Theo If you’re interested in tracing your ancestry, check out this site that I featured on my blog.

http://blackmediamine.blogspot.com/2008/02/center-for-african-american.html#links

By: theo.johnson

theo.johnson — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:26:38 +0000

Sandy & Web Prospector, thanks for your comments. I’ve been wanting to trace my ancestry. It’s something I may do later so my boys will know their roots.

By: Web Prospector

Web Prospector — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:01:01 +0000

I generally go with the term Black but I’m old enough to have been negro and colored in the past. I occasionally use African American but now I am starting to lean toward “American African” since I’ve traced my ancestry in America back
seven generations and still counting. Most of us whose people didn’t arrive on these shores recently go back at least that far whether they can trace it or not. I honestly believe that most white folks can’t make the same claim. Many of their families only arrived after our ancestors built the infrastructure.

By: sandy

sandy — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:17:47 +0000

Today I was determined to find a website discussing the term/label “African-American”. I am sick of hearing it. Just as HTownTejas put it…some white people think all of us black people prefer African-American as politically correct and are afraid to say black. I as a black person sense this and am revulsed each time I hear it used. It sounds condesending. I don’t need it. People should not discuss their ethnicity anyway. It will always be impolite, just as discussing religion, politics and sex. This type of discussion IS politically incorrect because it is PERSONAL and only to be discussed in private among family and friends.
All public officials and business associates need are simple identifying characteristics. For example: Country of birth, Hair color, Skin color, Eye color, Height and Weight. If that is not enough, too bad! Any further probing into a persons personal information would be POLITICALLY INCORRECT with rare exceptions such as one’s doctor.

By: theo.johnson

theo.johnson — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:08:03 +0000

I think the only real “African-Americans” are those who come from Africa and become an American citizens. I’m not trying to distance myself from my African roots, I just don’t see why people get upset over it. My birth certificate actually has “Negro” as the race. Born in Texas 1976.

By: HTownTejas

HTownTejas — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:34:54 +0000

The unfortunate thing is that we have to focus on exactly what to call someone. That being said, there will never be an agreement on exactly what to call anyone. All you can do is be respectful in your intentions and carry on.

That sounds dead on.

By: darrell.holmes

darrell.holmes — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:11:56 +0000

The unfortunate thing is that we have to focus on exactly what to call someone. That being said, there will never be an agreement on exactly what to call anyone. All you can do is be respectful in your intentions and carry on.

By: theo.johnson

theo.johnson — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:01:27 +0000

HTownTeja,

Thanks for your comment. There are a lot of people sensitive to the term. I don’t understand always why, but I’m sure they have their reasons.

I’ve felt the same way when it comes to calling someone Mexican, Hispanic, Latino. But people have their preferences.

By: HTownTejas

HTownTejas — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:26:42 +0000

Interesting, I’ve always said black (I’m white) unless I feel uncomfortable that someone might be sensitive. Then I say African-American and feel wierd that I thought about it and changed what I would have ordinarily said….

By: theo.johnson

theo.johnson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:19:07 +0000

Funny you’d say that. Some people seem to get uncomfortable when calling us black. Yeah, painting the White House “African-American” doesn’t sound so cool.