What do you think of the term "African American"?

Isn’t the whole point that we don’t have to label each other? It is by this very streotypical grouping that discrimination is caused by drawing lines between one group of people and another. There should be no seperate groups of people,but instead all people should be just that…people! As far as lables go, perhaps you could let go of your western cultural paridigm programing for half a second and realize we don’t need lables to describe another human being. Be a little more creative and original!

well what the hell do you wanna be called then? thats the question. because calling you black is apparently rascist…and then saying african american is offensicve…so what? brown?

I think the term takes away from the pride in the many great things this nation has done and continues to do - we are ALL “Americans” - a richly blessed country…I agree to the 2nd point also but far less important - I’m called ‘white’ and that’s certainly not technically accurate but to me ‘no big deal’.

I think its a kind of sensitive issue, but if you despise the terms so much..what would you like to be called? and what’s wrong with the color black? that’s sort of like if I said, hey. I’m not white, I’m actually a pink-ish hue, white’s offensive. but dont get me wrong, I respect the fact that you dont like the labels people have put on you, I’m just wondering what you preferred to be called.

I like the question lvbobdylan posed as to what would you like to be called? It’s a much more pleasing name than others I can think of. If your ancestors have routes from Africa then you’re going to get that tag. It’s not supposed to be offensive although I can see why you would get that way. You hate the fact that your are given that label and everyone else is just “American”? As you too well know racism has dropped loads in the past century and it’s getting better so just be strong.

I think its pointless… people have become too sensitive…

damn, we are all got one root- GOD the almight

THAT is offensive.

lol @ captain

different races and categories are all socially dervied.. like they technically dont objectively exist… however, because people do see race, and it is a cause of a lot of social injustice, we cannot discount it… it also gives people a sense of belonging, history, and connection… now if you dont like it, it is simple, just use the term multiracial… but a lot of people do feel connected to their particular “race”, or they’re discriminated against because of their “race” and so we have to acknowledge that and deal with that… we cant get rid of something that is very real to a lot of people, just because some people dont like it…

In this country race is so highly valued, moreso than in other places. It’s impossible to break free from a label, just because it’s considered such a vital part of our identity. They call me “white” when I have roots in England, Scotland, Norway and the Netherlands, and a few generations ago immigrants from those countries (except for maybe England) were considered savages and to be “even lower” than blacks. Terrible, but those were the times.

I think as older generations die off race will become less and less of an issue, as people and society as a whole have become more tolerant. “African American” has arisen just out of an issue of political correctness.

I think if you are born in America, you should be called American. Not White, Black, African- American, Asian, or any of that.

Exactly, why does that even matter