Posted on 06/18/2012 9:13:49 PM PDT by nickcarraway
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AFRICAN AMERICAN? SHAHIDA MUHAMMAD SAYS THE 'POLITICALLY CORRECT' TERM DOESN'T SAY ENOUGH
What does it mean to be African American? This is a question that is quietly resurfacing in Black discourse, due to the fact that many of our people are rejecting the term as a means of identification. While African American still manages to be socially accepted, it seems many privately take issue with the term. I’ll admit, I’m one of those people. I have never truly felt connected to 'African American,' yet have never felt compelled to argue my standpoint publicly because our discussions on identity tend to be dividing and non-productive. However, I believe it’s a topic worth re-examining, as the term has been the questionable dashiki in the room for quite some time.
I have never been offended by the use of 'African American,' but personally there a few reasons I don’t particularly like the term. I have used it in my writing when making efforts to be politically correct, or as an alternative reference to Black people. Yet I have always viewed it as just that: a politically correct alternative to Black. Never something I whole-heartedly embraced. I have checked it on applications, but never used it to self-identify in real-life. It has always felt forced, redundant, and quite frankly, inaccurate. Using the term 'African American' feels like using Kente cloth made in China trying desperately to authenticate myself. In theory I know where I'm from, but in actuality I wasn’t made there.
I’m very much aware that my ancestors were from Africa, and in no way would I want to distance myself from that fact. From an early age my family taught me the painful context of our history in this country, and also that our history as a people did not begin solely with slavery. We come from great peoples and civilizations, and it’s something that has always given me a sense of pride and dignity. However, knowing all of this, there is still no way to pinpoint exactly where my African ancestors came from. Therefore, I have no direct lineage, specific heritage, language or traditions to lay claim to. I see 'African American' as both ambiguous and limiting at the same time. It’s an ethno-cultural term that has become synonymous with race and “regular Black folks.” It’s used exclusively in reference to Black people in the U.S. who are descendants of the Transatlantic slave trade, yet excludes anyone who is an African immigrant or first-generation citizen--who in my opinion would be most fitting of the title. African American is also very vague and simplified. Africa is a vast continent, made up of various nations, cultures, languages, traditions, etc. So to associate myself namely with the continent, without a specific point of reference, doesn’t bring me any closer to my roots, yet it subtly reinforces the misconception that Africa is a simplistic, homogeneous land.
as Black in terms of race, American (by default) in terms of nationality; always keeping in mind that my ancestry ties me to Africa and the original peoples of this earth. To me, Black unites us beyond our various geographic locations, nationalities or cultures; whereas we can all say we are Black, connected and proud.
We have a blond haired, blue eyed, 96.875% Caucasian daughter (plus 1/64th Cherokee & 1/64th Blackfoot), born in Nairobi. We introduce her as our African-American daughter, just to confuse PC people.
they’d be Rhodesian-American. I knew a bloke from Zimbabwe once in england — his accent was british, yet not quite.
You are right, my FRiend. In a world where all is an illusion nothing could be more superficial than the pigmentation of one’s skin.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Yes, and many of us are way to quick to buy the Obama movements race based propaganda, dividing us.
Americans really do like each other, regardless of race and sometimes because of it.Both are going on at the same time.
Obama and his race mongering idiots are full of shite.
I guess he’d be a British-Rhodesian-American with a British-Rhodesian accent.
It's old. Very old. 0bozo is picking at scabs that were mostly healed over. He'll pay for it.
You might like this guy's videos. He lays some great smackdown on the race hustlers and pinheads in general.
He would have been better served if his parents had taught him math instead. Starting with grievances and pity is an ugly way to see the world. Then again, no one but blacks have ever suffered... /s
The person who wrote this piece was NEVER a slave, neither were his parents, grandparents or great grandparents.
Most of us - if we go back a few hundred years will find family members who suffered. The gift our parents gave us is NOT to wallow in it...
The author would have been better served if his parents had taught him math instead - true of many black children... Starting out life with grievances and self-pity? It's an ugly way to enter the world. Then again, no one but blacks have ever suffered. Ask the Jews. Or North Koreans... Nope, just blacks - over a hundred years ago...
The man who wrote this was NEVER a slave. His parents, grandparents and great grandparents were never slaves. He was born in a country that people of the world dream of getting to... He's much better off than the average African - as our his children. Something he's seems to have forgotten...
Most of us - if we go back a few hundred years will find family members who suffered. The gift our parents gave us is NOT to wallow in family suffering from hundreds of years ago...
There no ‘nation’ called Africa either...
Its so very old and as you say scabrous.
Just lets talk about how Ameericans see each other. In general Americans confirm who they are by interacting with other Americans, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR RACE IS. The very ego structure of Americans has a multi racial/ multi ethnic component at the most basic levels of the process of the American psyche. We share each others music, food, dialects,clothing,sports,both fictional and factual writings,academic research and the lists go on.
Obama seeks to destroy this basic process. His failure is not only predicted but assured.As Amereicans we will keep on grooving each other and enjoying each other, no matter what the liberal fascists of the Obama administration attempt in their initiatives to tear America apart based on race based politics and ethnic based politics.
People are sick of it.
The Jews had no love of the Catholic kings and did aid the Turks. Part of this was the long attachment to places like Toledo, which was a kind of second Jerusalem to the Jews of Spain. Henry Kamin’s book on the Inquisition is probably the best secondary source, as he had access to the files of the Court, and is very thorough.
I'm a color...no matter what I look like.
People forget that Africa is the second largest continent and its peoples are culturally and even racially diverse. Most American blacks came from West Africa, and their ancesters and present-day kinsmen have little in common with Kenyans such as Obama’s father. They are as different as a Finn is from a Hungarian , for an Englishman from and Italian.
thanks, will check on that book
On Amazon: And it’s “Kamen.” my mistake.
“spanish inquisition henry kamen”
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The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision by Henry Kamen (Paperback - Jul 11, 1999)
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Excerpt – “... THE SPANISH INQUISITION accepted the need to live together. ...” Read More
Mexicans weren’t welcome to use white facilities either.
“”colored” is just ignorant.”
___________________________________________
Keep in mind, we are talking about per-integration days.
99 percent of the population was either Negro or Caucasian.
“Negro” was considered to be more condescending then “colored”. What we now call African-Americans (stupid term)
would refer to themselves as “colored”, and race signs
listed “white” or “colored”.
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