What's in a Name: Who Is an African American?

DiversityInc ^ | 26 June | Raymond Arroyo

[flowerplough]

Any discussions about the terms used to describe African Americans as a group must begin by understanding the historical context within the United States in which these terms were used. It is a history that encompasses more than 300 years, when Blacks were brought to the United States against their will. During the subsequent three centuries, many terms were used to describe African Americans as a group in the United States.

During the 1950s and 1960s, common terms "negro" and "colored" were used, often disparagingly. Today, these two terms are unacceptable and are almost never heard, with the exception of old books and movies.

Raymond Arroyo is the chief diversity officer of Aetna, one of DiversityInc's 25 Noteworthy Companies. This column was first published on Aetna's intranet ...

[jws3sticks]

I'm sure it has been said but I could not find it, but if all human culture came from Africa, then we are all African, be us African Americans and African Europeans and African Asians, etc.

So what's the fuss?

[Fresh Wind]

According to Tuh-ray-zuh, rich wife of the Haughty John Kerry, there is an important difference between “African American” and “African-American”. I can’t remember what the difference is, however.

[PistolPaknMama]

Goes to show that “African American” doesn’t describe a race. We have an “African American” friend who is of Irish/German descent. He immigrated here from South Africa some 30 years ago when he was 15.

[iowamark]

I hear it all the time on Adam-12!

[Liberal Bob]

So is Gay-American a race now?

[Clemenza]

Poor Marty Milner could never live down those "gay" rumors for some reason.

[eyedigress]

Adobe Corp= daily kos.

Hawaii will have to release this. If they refuse I believe a FIA order is in effect to prove eligibility. This is so stupid to think about. A ruse to show he was attacked all along comes to mind.

[eyedigress]

Usually, If it wasn’t a code three I didn’t place close attention.

[P8triot1]

Whats in a name.
I’m native American....I was born here.

[eyedigress]

OK. At least you don’t claim to be American Indian.

[the invisib1e hand]

Who Is an African American?

I am. I'm the first negro African American white boy with blonde (ish) hair and blue eyes.

I probably have more african blood in me than Barack Obama has American Black blood in him.

Blue-eyed soul. That's it. On that basis, I am black. I am a black American, on the basis of blue eyed soul. And yes, I can keep a beat. I can hit the high notes. When the mood strikes me -- granted it's rare -- I can dance.

I am the first black American white boy, and I deserve to be president, and if you don't think so, it's clearly because you're a racist.

[the invisib1e hand]

(Egyptian).

Hubba, hubba.

[BIGLOOK]

African huh?

Egyptians, Berbers and blue eyed Tuareg are Africans. In ancient times, Carthaginians and Phoenicians came from North Africa and there were Greeks and Romans all over the place. More recently, Diaz and the Portuguese went to Africa in 1488 and the Dutch Boers settled in South Africa in 1652. People from Madagascar don't look like or sound like the black Africans. The Hottentots and the Bushmen were distinctly different from the Zulu, the Masai, the Hutu as were the Pygmies of central Africa. It's a big place.

I'd read about a black woman in Brazil in South America who was a wealthy land owner. Whenever the locals there were asked to describe her, all, whether Black, Hispanic or Indian. said she was White.

Go figure.

[RexFamilia]

He’ll be in the same category as an “afrikaaner” from Bloemfontein, a “colored” from Kwazulu-Natal and a “black” from Johannesburg.

[BruceysMom]

Actually I own a Caucasian. HIs name is Bruce and you can see more of his race here-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H91m_lOiBzk

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Terms such as Caribbean American, Haitian American or Jamaican American are viewed as more descriptive names by certain segments of the population.

Yes added to Black Americans, Mexican Americans, as well as the whole panoply of other "Hyphenated Americans," is it any wonder that we have stopped being a melting pot where all assimilate and strive to become, just, AMERICANS?

Funny, both my parents emigrated to the US from Montreal as I'm sure many Freepers had parents/grand-parents who emigrated from other countries such as Germany, Italy, Greece, etc.

Why is it, they never thought of themselves as German-Americans, Italian Americans, etc.

I many be mistaken, but was it not blacks who first began this practice of hyphenation?

And while on the same subject, why don't we see many Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and other Orientals who choose to be called --------Americans?

There are many who are proud of their ancestry and heritage and if we wanted to take this to the a ridiculous extreme, every single one of us could refer themselves as ------- Americans.

Pray tell, in which other country does this ludicrous practice exists?

Has anyone ever heard someone referred to an Somalian-German, or an Egyptian-Italian, or a Turkis-Frenchman or even, an African-Canadian?

IMHO, however, either someone is American or they are not. Which is it going to be?

[Eternal_Bear]

Lot of “white” Americans refer to themselves as Italian-American, German-American or Irish-American.

[hosepipe]

Get ready for the KINGFISH becoming President..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDtqDWv2B-k

[knarf]

"Yet “whitey”, “Cracker” and “honky” are used almost everyday by “African Americans”...ain’t diversity great?"

We should examine closer the implications.
I've had comments of mine removed by the mod(s) for spelling out, what Jerry Wrong said from the pulpit ... except I directed the word to Obama ... Specifically, a remark I made regarding how dangerous he was to the American fabric because he was a n-word, better described the effect he has on black America than some PC fluff.

I've listened to blacks on the radio, TV and in public ... and I'm truly sorry to say that, IMO .. the word 'uppity' is as close to being an acceptable word for what I believe is a trend.

Sadly, if I'm correct, and Obama loses to McCain, we will find ourselves right back in the 60's all over again.

I'm glad I'm an old fart and on my way out.

[G.Mason]

Interesting that the word Africa came from the white races of men.