Please, the term is African-American

Chicago Tribune ^ | October 5, 2005 | Kathleen Parker

[RWR8189]

The 1st Amendment has been getting a workout in recent weeks on two college campuses--the University of Florida and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--where students are learning that free speech is a messy business.

The two cases, one involving a columnist at North Carolina and the other a political cartoonist at Florida, have inflamed minority groups--Muslims and blacks, respectively--provoking protests and debate. That's the good news insofar as protest and debate are the currency of free speech.

<SNIP>

Exhibit A is Jillian Bandes, a former columnist for North Carolina's The Daily Tar Heel. Her column, which was intended to make a case for racial profiling after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, began hyperbolically: "I want all Arabs to be stripped naked and cavity-searched if they get within 100 yards of an airport."

Then she quoted several Arab students and a professor who said they wouldn't mind being searched. Some of them subsequently said their remarks had been taken out of context Bandes was fired.

<SNIP>

In Gainesville, Fla., where the 1st Amendment argument is more clear-cut, cartoonist Andy Marlette drew an image that has angered some black groups. Yes, a new generation has produced another Marlette. This one is the nephew of Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and author Doug Marlette, whose talent as an equal-opportunity offender apparently seeped into the family gene pool.

Marlette the Younger's cartoon in the Independent Florida Alligator was a commentary on rapper Kanye West's remarks following Hurricane Katrina that: "George Bush doesn't care about black people." Marlette drew a cartoon of West holding an oversized playing card labeled "The Race Card," with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying, "Nigga Please!"

[irishtenor]

I prefer the term "American".

[spintreebob]

We should not tolerate intolerant people

[David Isaac]

An interesting comparison: Bandes was summarily fired for her opinion. How long did it take to get Al Arian out of his job for voicing his "opinion"?

Free speech depends greatly upon who is offended by that speech.

[A. Pole]

I prefer the term "American".

What about Arabs from Northern Africa? Or white Afrikaners from the South? Maybe we should use the term Black African American?

[rdb3]

Marlette drew a cartoon of West holding an oversized playing card labeled "The Race Card," with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying, "Nigga Please!"

That was a Dave Chappelle skit! You see, "Nigga Please!" was a breakfast cereal.

If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!

[Betty Jane]

How much of the intolerable must we tolerate in order to be tolerant?

[freedumb2003]

That was a Dave Chappelle skit! You see, "Nigga Please!" was a breakfast cereal.

Subtlety and indirection are lost on many people, particularly Liberals.

[leadhead]

I prefer "Persons of Involuntary Immigrant" stock

But, it hasn't caught on.

[rdb3]

What about Arabs from...

What about 'em? I agree with irishtenor. "American" will do just fine, thank you very much.

I may be black, but there's nothing "African" about me.

If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!

[Bigg Red]

I prefer the term "American".

**
Ditto!

[Bigg Red]

I prefer "Persons of Involuntary Immigrant" stock

**
LOL! You are too clever.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

I see no need or requirement to be 'tolerant'.

I will not tolerate people that I find displeasing, I seldom watch the tube for the preponderance of one-dimensional unpleasant stereotypes, I leave the room rather than suffer conversation with an unpleasant fool, my killfile is nearly as large as my Adblock file of blockable elements and on and on and on.

You may read and heed this at your discretion.

[dufekin]

Just as the term "free speech" does not include certain types of child pornography or persons who hold certain positions (e.g., private first class dissing the commanding general at war), it likewise does not extend to college campuses for those who offend liberal sensibilities. It's clearly in the plain language of the First Amendment (Schedule of Emanations and Penumbras, page 97).

[rdb3]

Subtlety and indirection are lost on many people, particularly Liberals.

Tell me about it. But look, here's the Chappelle skit (video/698 KB) so prepare to laugh! It has Chris Rock in it, too (click the FREE link!): Nigga Please

If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!

[JMK]

" What about Arabs from Northern Africa? Or white Afrikaners from the South? Maybe we should use the term Black African American?"

That's not politically correct! Only blacks are allowed to call themselves African-American; God help anyone else who uses the term, however accurate it may be:
Student Caught In Racial Controversy-Flyers Promote White Student For African-American Award

[Katya]

I'm fine with the term African-American....as long as everyone understands that you now are removing the "racial component" from this ethnic descriptive.

This description fits people like my close friend who is African...but not black, like Mrs. Heinz-Kerry she is from Mozambique and of portuguese heritage. Previously she has always been dismissed when referring to herself as African American, but her family lived there for generations.

[freedumb2003]

OMG that is soooooooo funny!

Chapelle is a genius. One night I saw the Wayne Brady piece and I was literally on the floor laughing so hard I had tears and couldn't stand up.

Is he back? I seem to recall he had some kind of breakdown a while back...

[Sandy]

[schaketo]

From what I’ve been able to determine based on minimal family tree research, I’m a mutt. I feel somewhat disenfranchised by this whole discussion. From this point forward I demand to labeled:

Mutt-American