Is it Black or African American?
Since we arrived here as slaves we have struggled with how to identify ourselves. We went from Nigger to African American over a span of over 400 years, being called so many different names. We eventually decided that since we were "clearly" descendants from Africa, that we should be African American. But for a race this still struggles with being able to identify ourselves with more than just a continent, how much does our name make sense? Many people argue that since we have no clue what countries we really came from, haven't been back in hundreds of years, and clearly were born here, that we are simply American, and should not identify ourselves as African Americans.
Some people much rather call themselves Black. Right around the time when the Black Power movement started, people decided to use Black to identify themselves, instead of the number of other names. Today, people rather identify themselves by the color of their skin, because they feel they cannot identify with America or Africa.
On the other hand, a lot of people take pride in calling themselves African American. They feel like we are clearly Americans, but need to keep our connection to the Motherland.
I cannot help but wonder how much does what we call ourselves effect how we feel about ourselves? Does our lack of identity truly effect why we cannot come together?
What do you think?
Do you call yourself Black or African American, and why?
How much does what we call ourselves effect how we come together and how we feel about ourselves?
or is it just a name?
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9 comments:
I call myself Black MOST of the time, but sometimes I say African-American. My mom hates the latter term, because she feels no connection with Africa. I guess I kind of feel the same way, but I wish it wasn't like that. Some day I hope to know which part of Africa my ancestors came from. But right now I don't know so I guess I also feel little connection to the continent. For me right now it's just a name because both I think don't really say much about me. "Black" in the dictionary sense often has negative connotations, so in a way, it's not a suitable word for me. But African-American doesn't say much about me either because I don't even know where in Africa I have a tie to.
I have heard that Africans in the US don't like that we say African-American because we don't even know where in Africa we're from. But since they do know and they are in the US, they feel the name better suits them. I don't know if that's true, but that's what I've heard...
I wrote a post similar to this
http://conjurethis.blogspot.com/2008/07/are-you-black-american-or-african.html
And I have to admit I refer to myself as Black. Although I know my roots are in Africa, I don't know anything about those roots. I know everything about my history as far as America is concerned, but not much about my African history. Truth be told, every race should be known as African-Something, since the first woman and man came from Africa, but that's a different story.
In a nutshell, I'm Black, I call myself Black, and that's it.
2 things...
#1. the Kanye/Condi Rice photo is ridiculous.
#2. its tough because I say black all the time, but even then i think you almost try to be PC and say african-american. its almost like by saying, "I'm black" that its more threatening to "non-blacks" lol...and I'm half puerto-rican so that makes it twice as fun!
I'm african-american and puertorican heritage OR I'm black and rican. Thanks.
-Ed.
www.edthesportsfan.com
I use both terms but I would have to say that I prefer African-American.
Well to many who ask, I say black. But In reality my skin isnt black, its brown. And I was not born in Africa, therefore I am not AFrican-American. I am american.
I have been thinking about this and actually I am writing something on this very topic. Nevertheless I consider myself an American whose skin color is Black. I think that we will forever be separated (all Americans) because we single each other out to make the other skin color superior. We do it in our own "race" (light skin vs dark skin).
Check out Smokey Robinson poem on Def Poetry Jam. I have it posted on my blog:
myquarter-life-crisis.blogspot.com
I think I am going with Black.
http://freemanpress.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/african-or-american-or-african-american-or-back-to-black/
It seems to be a issue of what we are collectively and who we are individually. It's tough to answer that.
I do use both terms.
I prefer Black. while my ancestry is of Africa I was born in America which makes me American. I don't hear whites being referred to as caucassian americans.
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