Some Blacks Now Say, 'I'm not African American'

You are a figment of your imagination.

When Hootie and the Blowfish had their day in the sun in the mid 1990s, mall record store owners would tell the same story, over and over again. They would be opening up the store in the morning, and there'd be a senior couple who walks regularly in the mornings, with the wife often wearing a fanny pack, and they would say, "We just got back from visiting our grandchildren, and they like this colored singer named Hootie. Do you have any records by him?"

(colored?)

"Oh, yes, that's right. Nowadays, they're called 'black' or 'African American'."

They were told that records were no longer commercially available (interestingly, they are now making a comeback) but they could certainly buy CDs or cassettes by this band.

Oh he is such a hoot, he is funny and intelligent and says the most off the wall things in such an intelligent way that you go "huh" and then it clicks and you laugh and laugh. He is also the person that taught me about radio frequency in a manner I could understand and also very good knowledge about salt fog testing and how metals interact with each other when paired and how the environment would then interact with them. I always told him he should have been a teacher but he, like many of us who formerly worked together, became an auditor of testing processes and management systems.

My son told me he was bringing home a friend from college. Never occurred to me that he might be black till he showed up on the door step. Been hosting that child ever since, whenever he wants to come up and stay, he has been more than welcome. I think he thought I might be put off by his color and he and I have discussed it on occasion. I treat him just like my own son and I think that surprised him.

Many times I think that is the secret to the "get along" factor. Look past the color and concentrate on the PERSON. Sure makes life a lot easier. I think the next generation (my son's and maybe the one after him) will make greater strides in seeing people for people, no matter what color they are or where they came from. Just think of the strides we, as a nation, have made in the last 50 years. It has been painful at times, just as any growth process can be, but overall, I think things are getting better.

Maybe I live with rose colored glasses on, but in my lifetime I have seen great strides in how people my age treat each other, not based on color, but on the how and what they are. I think perhaps that was what Dr. King was referring to and perhaps he knew it would take a generation or more to reach that point. I am not deluded enough to think that this works everywhere all the time every time, but watch the younger generation, for all their faults, judging people by their color has to be one in which they have advanced far beyond my parents or grandparents. I hope that this progression continues for it gets really tiresome to have people blaming race for things that PEOPLE have done or are doing. Race may be the excuse, but it doesn't excuse those who do wrong.

__________________
Be yourself - no one can tell you that you're doing it wrong!

I grew up listening to Charlie Pride. Loved his voice!

__________________
http://sonshine-littlebitofsonshine.blogspot.com/

Christian Homesteaders Forum
http://christianhomesteader.forumotion.net/

I always thought it was strange when the terminology changed to African American. I have an e-mail penpal from Africa who calls himself my African Son. He doesn't understand why we differentiate like this and I sure don't have any answers for him.

__________________
http://sonshine-littlebitofsonshine.blogspot.com/

Christian Homesteaders Forum
http://christianhomesteader.forumotion.net/

I strongly agree with this.

__________________
~TheMartianChick~

My latest novels:
Bystander: A Tale of the End of the World as SHE Knew It!

Christmas in Bystander & Other Village Tales

Coming Soon: A Slice of Heaven

A few years back I met someone in person whom I had been chatting with on the Internet. She came into my store and the first thing she asked was if I was surprised. I asked her what I should be surprised about. She replied "well I'm black!" I looked at her and told her her colluding wasn't an issue I didn't even classify her by a colourful she was just Bev to me, I know it really blew her away. I can form predjudi es against people I have dealt with but I tend to never form a judgement on the first meeting because it is so easy to misunderstand people when they talk. Plus I miss about half of what they say so I spend half the first meeting wondering what I think I heard!

__________________
Do not Lead for I will Not Follow
Do not Follow for I shall Not Lead
I am but a Simple Drummer

if i didn't assume the intent of your question this would be really offensive. instead it's just stupid. they always had it, hence the amistad trial.

this is an insultingly simplistic & ignorant statement about both africans & first nations peoples. the peoples of both continent were as varied as europeans & asians and had many different views of their neighbors. assumptions to the contrary dehumanizes both groups & shackles them w/ a racist stereotype (regardless of how positive it may SEEM on the surface).

First, none of us were there, so none of KNOW what they were considered. however if we choose to make assumptions based on actual & provable evidence, we find two irrefutable conclusions: 1. slaves regardless of color have no LEGAL personhood because they are property 2. free people regardless of color have LEGAL personhood, inequality (legal or extralegal) does NOT negate its existence
there are plenty of blacks, indians, mexicans etc. who view each other & whites as something on a lower order on the scale of human personhood. singling out one race or ethnic group as the sole practitioner of these ideologies is in itself racist & ignorant. such ignorance practically gaurantees the continued existence of these views.

yeah, cause only white united statesians have supremacy ideologies. people just need to accept that racial & ethnic bigotry is written into human DNA as a biological function to ensure the survival of the species/subspecies. unless you're a creationist, then you just need to accept that some people use their free will to be A-holes. fortunately the first amendment protection on speech means these a-holes can mostly be identified & avoided.

so by extrapolation there is no such thing as a jew because there is no nation called Judah (or Judea if you like that better).
or perhaps you'd like to meet some Afghans i know and explain to them they can't be Pashtuns because there is no nation of Pashtunistan. there's a conversation i want to hear. but you'd have to travel as they aren't interested in going to Canadia.
that was just a REALLY assinine assertion on your part. the name applied to a nationality or ethnicity is highly dependant on perspective. it is no more incorrect for citizens of the United States of AMERICA to be referred to as Americans by themselves (and the rest of the world) than it is for citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Norther Ireland to be referred to as British. more problematic for you is how the citizens of the Bundes Republik Duetschland can be called Germans.

Sorry, only read page one...

Seems that in my daily exposure, in the last few years, "black" is more natural and acceptable than "African American" which in context is sounding strained, affected, and politically correct. People, white and black, are saying "black" and finding comfort with it, if skin color is necessary to mention at all. Like Martianchick said, it's all about the intent.

I found it fascinating, the poster (sorry, forget name) who said that in their day it was thought to be kinder to say "colored" and saying "black" was the insult. I think I actually understand that - my understanding had been broadened by their post. Thank you! Following through, I also understand why the black community eventualy rejected the euphemistic term "colored". Maybe just like today's "African American"? I don't know.

Why are we still asking this question ? There shouldn't be a box to check. We're all part of the human race.

__________________
"The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend." Henri Bergson

Describing yourself as "Blank"-American is NOT saying that you're not fully American or that you're only partially American or that you only identify with some Americans of similar ethnic backgrounds, or that you're labeling yourself to stand out, stand apart etc etc etc. It's just a way of describing background.

Yes, it's an imperfect way. Many ethnic slurs of the past have been replaced by more neutral phrases. These can change over time. Some people prefer this or that descriptive word. Sometimes that has to do with age. Probably most people, most of the time, prefer none at all, because why would it come up in conversation most of the time anyway?

There are times, though, when it can make a useful distinction. Take Jeremy Lin (if you follow basketball). Yao Ming is Chinese, but Jeremy Lin is Chinese-American, born in this country to immigrant parents.
If his parents had lived in the US in the 1940's, they probably would have found it useful to describe themselves as Chinese-Americans NOT Japanese-Americans so they wouldn't be have to go to an internment camp.

I don't know of any non-white person who goes around habitually describing him/herself as "Blank"-American. The phrase would only come up if background is part of the context. I don't know any white people either who habitually go around describing themselves as German- Irish- etc etc American. It would only come up in context: describing ethnic background.

It's a lot more common to hear people - both on this site and in real life - describe themselves by geography, as in southerner or Texan or New Englander. When people do that, we don't condemn that as unpatriotic and say why can't we all just think of ourselves as Americans, do we? So why all the offended sensibilities about ethnic descriptive phrases? I don't get it.

You may have something here, though I have to say I think the Dark and evil thing at least from my stand point is over thinking it.
I never once drew such a correlation in the use of Black as a descriptor.

I'm labeled White,Honestly though that's inaccurate also. Having Olive tone skin, my shade varrys through the year. By the end of summer I can be mistaken for any of the "Tan" or "Brown" brotherhood.Latino,Indian,Italian,Spanish(or decent),Middle Eastern,Greek,French (which I have ancestory)sure there a a few more I left out.And I have been mistaken.
Once I had a teacher that when my mom said my dad was from the east thought she meant ME. LOl,No Massachusetts!My cousins where doing work in S.C., the home owner talked to them for a Minuit and called the boss and said get these Mexicans out of here? We have no Spanish blood,LOl.

I have to say,I'm sure some has already said it.African-American is also Incorrect. Africa is not a country. never was and most likely never will be.Even among the countries of Africa there are divisions in the people, they refer to themselves by Tribe not national origin.
I know that a hard thing for folks here to do as much of that info was lost to antiquity.Even for many "white" folks.

That part is often left out all together.the way I understand it is
Slavery was a big thing over there prior to Europeans getting into it.
The first group being the Dutch.They traded for their"cargo" that means someone else was the original slaver.
When the English seen the money being made off their colony's in that "trade" they went into competition. though the English being English decided why pay for "cargo". They started filling the holds the same way they staffed the ships,by force.
Even then though in the early part prior to Slavery becoming a invaluable and indispensable to the Plantation owners. Most where treated as any other arriving here, many people (all colors) that arrived here did so against their will. when they got here they became indentured servants, as common law only provided such. At the end of your servitude you where released from service with a small stipend to aid in securing a future. Many went on to become holders themselves.It was the way of things.Doesn't make it right or wrong just the way things where. So I think the whole point of this is it was not a American thing,it originated in Africa,and was propagated by the English and Dutch.Being furthered by English colonists most notably the wealthy elite. One thing many never bring up in slave trade discussions is the Natives that where forced into servitude.
My Arcadian Ancestors where forced from their farms and deported from Canada by the English.Not for the reasons given but to steal what they had built.Some where forced into servitude in Massachusetts.
Many though due to Religious convictions found slavery to be despicable in nature. So again I do not consider it a "American" thing. Now if you could show that at any point in history the majority of citizens embraced such a thing,before or after we became the United States,I will concede.

I don't think there are enough months?

I grew up in Flint,Mi. Flint is a melting pot in a melting pot.My Grandfather moved the Family there for the same reason people from all over the country came.To work in the auto shops,and a better chance at life. Flint has had a huge Black population ever since.
I have seen a change in that population over the decades.Far to much to put here,but the racial divisions are not as prominet as they once where.though some still exist,perpetuated by all colors. During the last election, I spoke to many people,most of them did not like the term African-American, they prefered Black.Some of the Older people still preffered colored.

little off topic
Part of what I find funny with my Family coming here is my mothers Family has roots in Flint,But she was raised in Indiana and met my Dad in Kansas City! Another funny thing is my Arcadian Ancestors (which are on my Fathers side)deported to Massachusetts ended up in the same county as my Name sake resided (again on Dads side.)Small world aye.

As far as the Hyphenated American, It leaves a bad taste with me.
if I ask what you are,In my mind you should respond American.
If you are proud of your ethnicity that's great but it would be so much better to Say "I'm a American of such and such descent."
Every one here has ethnic roots,some even deeper then what they can Identify.I can say I'm of Irish and Scottish decent but I can also Identify Clans.Not everyone can. I can also say I'm of native descent and Identify Tribe,though not a particular family group.
I'm a Heinz 57 and probably could fill a page with my ethnic ties.
First and fore most I'm a American.
Your Nationality should be the first Identifier,then ethnicity and any other thing you wish to expound.

Those who like to wonder why we in the US claim the title of American. It is because our country is the United States of America.
its a natural function of language that the term American is Used.
No we are not just the United States.if you wish to Identify my nationality Using the United states you would use the term United States Citizen, not United Statesidian or such.

It also Doesn't matter if the continents where erroneously named,they had none before and that is the name that they got.

I have never liked the African American thing either, as I never ran around saying I`m a German, Dutch, Irishmen. I am American first, and proud of it, and someday we will all stand together and tell the government that also. I have a milk customer that is African American, he stands all of 6ft 5in, and 350 lbs, and is as white as a driven snow, he loves playing with people about it as he was born in south Africa. > Thanks Marc

__________________
Our Diversified Stock Portfolio: cows and calves, alpacas, horses, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, cats ... and a couple of dogs...
http://springvalleyfarm.4mg.com

I understand why some posters feel that hyphenated terms are divisive, but the problem with that (to me) is that someone else is trying to decide what label is appropriate for someone else. I tend to use the terms black and African American interchangeably, however, not everyone feels the same way. As evidenced by the article posted, some people don't like to be called African Americans but others feel that it is preferable. It is a personal preference that is being expressed. There is nothing threatening about it...Nothing divisive about it. It just is what it is.

The Amish refer to their own members as Plain. Should I be offended by their use of the term. Chances are, if you asked a Amish person what they were, they would respond by saying that they were either Plain or Amish. Stating that is not divisive. It is a cultural identifier.

My experience in the US is that (in the absence of a foreign sounding accent) when someone asks someone what they are, they do start going through the family immigration history. We generally assume that anyone else here is an American citizen.

While in a foreign country (where an American accent is considered to be foreign), the response is always "American" because that person is really asking, "What country do you hail from?"

__________________
~TheMartianChick~

My latest novels:
Bystander: A Tale of the End of the World as SHE Knew It!

Christmas in Bystander & Other Village Tales

Coming Soon: A Slice of Heaven

I was going to include this in my original post but forgot.

In all reality slavery would still exist here,regardless of anyone's sentiments, the one thing that helped to end slavery was Technology. With the Advent of new processes and machinery. there was much less demand for actual physical labor. this is a continuing thing even today.

Slavery though folks was never actually done away with it was just morphed into the Idea of free choice. We all still have to bow to the masters or suffer the consequence.
The whip is not made of leather anymore nor is only used upon One ethnic group. It is now in the form of economic and legal matters. Applied to all who are not of the "upper Crust" above and beyond such matters. I refuse to use the term Class/es. but in the sake of communication those in this pseudo slavery would of been the Lower Class and increasingly the Middle Class.

It is the Elite that seek these ends. After all if you will not carry your weight someone must. With indulgent tastes that weight may be more then anyone can carry.

I know someones going to bring up the redistribution thing, really though the money handed out is a drop in the bucket. Its also a very cheap form of control. Should the masses realize they could take what they are given plus what ever else they wanted. well there isn't any more control.

Labels don't work in our house. I'm from England, My wife was an army brat born in Germany of American parents. She married her first husband who was Mexican and had three children. So we have a Limey, a German American and three Hispanics, and the dog is a Hienz 57. Until we drop all the labels and start calling each other neighbor, this sort of discussion will go on until the end of days.

__________________
http://outlawfarm.blogspot.com/

I kind of thought that the point?

I don't know, was it? I guess I didn't get my point across too well then.

__________________
http://outlawfarm.blogspot.com/

the "modern" slavery era began w/ a portugese ship in 1488. the spanish (including their possessions in the netherlands) followed shortly there after. important to remember that the chistian iberians had just spent 400 years forcing out the african & arabs that had oppressed & enslaved them for the 380 years before that. also important to note the arabs enslaved large numbers of black africans during the same period. and finally important to note that slavery existed in europe, the middle east & africa (at least certain parts whose history is known to us) throughout recorded history. so it wasn't a shocking new invention of the europeans.

Slavery was old, when Moses was Young.

I was not aware the Portuguese preceded the Dutch in Slave trade though.

Through history and cultures, Slavery has had different rules.

The Jews kept slave also. The Bible has rules on what you can and can not do with slaves.

Don't forget the Moors. they raided Europe for White Slaves.