So apparently, the term African-American is pointless now. At least to this guy.

[kofiadrian]

http://www.tnr.com/blog/john-mcwhorter/did-african-american-history-really-happen-atlanta-cleveland-philly-and-detroit-


I somewhat agree with this this.

[Healthy Scratch]

i agree too. that webpage may have moved.

[rawesome]

Link didn't work but I've always thought it was a silly term. If you were born in America (especially of two American parents), then you're an American. I understand that there is a desire to have a more politically correct term for a certain race, but I'd hope we would be/could be a little more progressive than to need that descriptor to discuss someone.

Though, I didn't get to see the article and don't know what this guy's reason was.

[xshady121]

I've come across a couple black students at school that were born either in New York or Boston that took offense to my (white) friend using the label "african american" on his applications since he was born in South Africa (and lived there for many years).

[saysmydoctor]

"You read the Times? You read the New Republic? Well I was reading that and it's funny, because it was saying you don't know what the fuck you're talking about?"

[rawesome]

I've come across a couple black students at school that were born either in New York or Boston that took offense to my (white) friend using the label "african american" on his applications since he was born in South Africa (and lived there for many years).
See, I would consider that the proper label of "African-American."

Does no one else find it unnecessary to ask questions about race on things like that to begin with?

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

Randolph: What's he doing here? You know I don't like these people... Surgeons. Not African-Americans.
Turk: Oh!... We're actually saying "black" now, sir.
Randolph: I was right, Catherine!

[macabre]

Does no one else find it unnecessary to ask questions about race on things like that to begin with?

Well it quantifies the amount of diversity in a given occupational or educational environment so I could see its usefulness.

[paper halo]

Randolph: What's he doing here? You know I don't like these people... Surgeons. Not African-Americans.
Turk: Oh!... We're actually saying "black" now, sir.
Randolph: I was right, Catherine!

That's exactly what came straight to my mind.

[rawesome]

Well it quantifies the amount of diversity in a given occupational or educational environment so I could see its usefulness.
But on an initial application or similar situation? Isn't that just asking for some sort of biased outlook on a person from the beginning. I mean, not even necessarily that the one who is looking at the form would want to see things in such a light, but to have it staring them in the face seems like you almost want them to.

[kwsqd]

"You read the Times? You read the New Republic? Well I was reading that and it's funny, because it was saying you don't know what the fuck you're talking about?"
You know what kills your career? Passing, on a hit!

[inthemidst]

Randolph: What's he doing here? You know I don't like these people... Surgeons. Not African-Americans.
Turk: Oh!... We're actually saying "black" now, sir.
Randolph: I was right, Catherine!

You're my hero.

[re7ard1337]

I stick to N*****.

[Mibabalou]

lol

[Mirrors Shatter]

I stick to N*****.

Beat me to it.

[-karla]

i agree that the term 'african-american' has become somewhat of a redundant term to describe black americans.

I understand that there is a desire to have a more politically correct term for a certain race, but I'd hope we would be/could be a little more progressive

this exactly.

[MyNameIsRoss]

black is perfectly fine,

[Love As Arson]

It doesn't matter when varios facets of society barely consider us people.

[rawesome]

It doesn't matter when varios facets of society barely consider us people.
Where does this happen, apart from the South or Rush Limbaugh's radio show?

[Not being sarcastic or condescending, I'm genuinely curious.]

[Love As Arson]

Where does this happen, apart from the South or Rush Limbaugh's radio show?

[Not being sarcastic or condescending, I'm genuinely curious.]

The United States justice system. The blatant racism that is attached to the south's history obscures insidious forms of racism which dehumanizes people. Another example is the disproportionate allocation of resources in school systems that are highly segregated.

[dru]

haha, i love when people say "african-american" around me because they're afraid to say black, it's pretty amusing to watch. i'm honestly more comfortable with people calling me "black", than african-american. it's not like i call white people "americans" or "white americans" haha.

[Love As Arson]

Black isn't very descriptive thogh. No one is the absense of color.

[MyNameIsRoss]

...and white people are more like Crayola Peach, what's your point?

[caveBEAR]

...and white people are more like Crayola Peach, what's your point?

I prefer 'Wax-American'.

[Machu505]

I only go by Appalachian-American.

[x togepi x]

i've heard pretty good arguments about how african-american is an offensive term.

[Love As Arson]

...and white people are more like Crayola Peach, what's your point?

If we're ditching the term African-American, why is black the default? A lot of the criticism points out that it is't accurate, since only our ancestors are from Africa, so why isn't similar criticism levelled at "black".

[zbrmike79]

this term is ridiculous - freshmen year i was in a class talking about ancient egypt or some shit - and this kid was so afraid of political correctness he called the slaves "african-americans" - and everyone in the class was like "they were in africa - and there's no american yet"

not only that... but most of the black people i know don't have african decent in them - coming from jamiaca/barbados and what not - i think it'd be annoying to be called an "african" american when you aren't actually from africa at all

[rawspinner]

I prefer 'Wax-American'.

lol

I stick to N*****.

you mean nagger?

[J.C.]

I'm an asian of the cauc persuasion.

[Gunwalls]

We Americans have a terrible habit of calling people with dark skin "African-Americans", despite the fact that a large number of "black" people aren't African or American. The are plenty of black people who are born and raised in London, or Australia, or New Guinea and who descend from a long line of people who were also born and raised in those countries.

[SubStylee]

It's pointless to judge people by the color of their skin.I think the color of your skin is not even important enough to mention.

[alliegator16]

you mean nagger?

Is that two Scrubs references now? Haha good thread.


And, as a white girl who lives in a predominately black area, I never say African-American. Ever. I don't know anybody who really does, other than old people. I don't really know any black people who get offended by being called black. White people don't get offended by being called white, so I don't see why it would be any different for black people.

African-American seems to me like a term that people use because they're afraid of being called racist for calling people black I guess. I've headr quite a few of my friends say that they don't like being called African-American because they're not from Africa, and they don't really feel any special connection to it. Black or white, we're all just Americans. If all black people are African-Americans, then are all White people European-Americans?

[caveBEAR]

Is that two Scrubs references now? Haha good thread.

South Park... :squint:

[Villanova1L]

My boss is black, the vast majority of the people we represent are black, and it would be incredibly awkward to call them African American.

[alliegator16]

South Park... :squint:

ah yeah...it was on an episode of Scrubs, too, and that was the one that came to my mind. Sorry :shrug:

[Echo Park]

where i originated (canada) we called black people black, asians Chinese, since most were from China, and all brown people were Indian.
America however doesn't want unity, instead they must separate all by name, they can't all just be American.

[caveBEAR]

Here (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1570802) is a link to the General Forum's new thread, Use of the N Word. If anyone would like to interact with non-Politics Forumers...well, that thread's just ripe with gems, including the guy who see's no problem with the n-word, especially since it just means 'black', so it's just like someone calling him 'snowy'.

Have fun, anyone who ventures in.

[nathaniel]

Link didn't work but I've always thought it was a silly term. If you were born in America (especially of two American parents), then you're an American. I understand that there is a desire to have a more politically correct term for a certain race, but I'd hope we would be/could be a little more progressive than to need that descriptor to discuss someone.

Though, I didn't get to see the article and don't know what this guy's reason was.

Very well said. I agree.

[jessicalynn-xx]

where i originated (canada) we called black people black, asians Chinese, since most were from China, and all brown people were Indian.
America however doesn't want unity, instead they must separate all by name, they can't all just be American.

Is this a joke? This definitely does not apply to all Canadians. We don't all assume members of a certain race hail from one country.

[Echo Park]

Is this a joke? This definitely does not apply to all Canadians. We don't all assume members of a certain race hail from one country.

some people say cucumber tastes better pickled

[vodyanoj]

http://www.tnr.com/blog/john-mcwhorter/did-african-american-history-really-happen-atlanta-cleveland-philly-and-detroit-


I somewhat agree with this this.

I think that the term has always been pointless, not to mention unnecessarily loaded in the same sense "European American" is. Africa is a big place, and has never been culturally or ethnically homogeneous (in fact, the Bantu people are genetically closer to eans than to some of their neighbors further south).