Race, lets make this serious! It is nearly 2013.

[Vrede too]

/s

For the record just in case

:?:

[O Really]

"Black" has always been subjective. As has "native American." Back in the day, only a little bit of "black" blood was necessary to be classified officially and socially as a "negro." It has never been necessary that both or either of ones parents actually be black to be called black. Not that I'm defending that, but really, we're mostly all mongrels. Why can't you identify socially and culturally as well as physiologically? And though it varies from tribe to tribe, generally one only has to be able to show direct descendace from somebody originally on tribal rolls to apply for tribal membership. If you look at a lot of people officially in a tribe, you'd never guess...but as long as their triple-great grandma or somebody was a real Indian, they're in.

Which brings up another interesting conundrum. Take Obama fr'intstance. One white parent, one black. Why is he black? Why is anyone with a black ancestor or parent black? Beyonce? All the beautiful women on "Bones?" I say let her be whatever she feels like.

[Mr.B]

"Rain makes corn, corn makes whisky, whisky makes me and my horse start feeling a bit frisky."

That's illegal in all 50 states.

[JTA]

/s

For the record just in case

:?:

What I wrote was sarcasm, I wasn't sure if it was evident. I didn't want to seem like a douche.

[Vrede too]

I'm not sure it's sarcasm , and don't think it's douchey.

[Mr.B]

[Colonel Taylor]

[JTA]

Come on man this is the year 2000 not 1953. Those terms aren't acceptable anymore,

*Native-American and African-American.

[Mr.B]

I can go along with the "Native-American" label, but not "African-American". If someone is born in the US, they are "American", regardless of their color or birth lineage. (even 'ol rstrong up in Canada is an American)

For instance, I'm of Irish, German, and Scotch lineage, but I'm not referred to as "Irish-German-Scotch American". This is the silliest thing I've ever heard of.

A few years back when this politically-correct "African-American" label came into popularity, I was in this Black lady's house doing my job, when Darcell Grimes (WLOS) said something about "African-Americans" on TV. This lady went into a tizzy.

Quote: "I ain't no damn 'Affgan-Uhmurcan', I am a Negro that's called a Black woman. I wutten born in Affgah, my Mama and Daddy wutten born in Affgah; we was all born here in North Cahlina, in the sovren nation of the United States of Uhmerca; I am a damn Uhmercan!" "They can take that "Affgan-Uhmercan" sh*t and shove it up their a*ses!"

Good point .... I've been in agreement ever since.

[rstrong]

I go with "black." "African-Canadian" seems insulting as it implies being only partially Canadian. Few would want to be called "European-Canadian." Race and nationality are two different things.

The flip-side of this is that I don't "Native-Canadian" for aboriginal North Americans. It's insulting to the rest of us, as it implies that we're not native Canadian. I was born and raised in Canada, to Canadian parents and grandparents. I'm 100% native Canadian.

(even 'ol rstrong up in Canada is an American)

The earliest known use of "America" for the New World was in 1507, referring to what is now known as South America.

But 275 years later some pretentious revolutionaries called their new country the "united States of America." They even created a "Continental Congress" expecting that the entire continent would rush to join. When that failed they used their "Continental Army" to invade Canada in 1775. That failed too, as did their invasion in 1812.

Canadians generally accept that "American" means "someone from the US." Imagine if a while back in what was already called Europe, one country renamed itself "The United States of Europe" or more commonly, "Europe." And started calling themselves "Europeans" as a nationality. And created a "Continental Congress" claiming to represent the entire continent. And then invaded the other countries with their "Continental Army" when they failed to join.

People in Europe would today would avoid calling themselves Europeans too.

[JTA]

I go with "black." "African-Canadian" seems insulting as it implies being only partially Canadian. Few would want to be called "European-Canadian." Race and nationality are two different things.

The flip-side of this is that I don't "Native-Canadian" for aboriginal North Americans. It's insulting to the rest of us, as it implies that we're not native Canadian. I was born and raised in Canada, to Canadian parents and grandparents. I'm 100% native Canadian.

(even 'ol rstrong up in Canada is an American)

The earliest known use of "America" for the New World was in 1507, referring to what is now known as South America.

But 275 years later some pretentious revolutionaries called their new country the "united States of America." They even created a "Continental Congress" expecting that the entire continent would rush to join. When that failed they used their "Continental Army" to invade Canada in 1775. That failed too, as did their invasion in 1812.

Canadians generally accept that "American" means "someone from the US." Imagine if a while back in what was already called Europe, one country renamed itself "The United States of Europe" or more commonly, "Europe." And started calling themselves "Europeans" as a nationality. And created a "Continental Congress" claiming to represent the entire continent. And then invaded the other countries with their "Continental Army" when they failed to join.

People in Europe would today would avoid calling themselves Europeans too.

Yeah I don't use the term African American either. I don't know of any black people that use it either. I think it's mostly used on TV and in college campuses in classes where students/teachers awkwardly use the term African American because they're unsure whether or not it's still PC to use the term "black".

[Colonel Taylor]

[Bungalow Bill]

African-American came late to the hyphenated name game. Terms like
Irish-Americans and Italian-Americans were already in use. Of course
there could be Swedish-Americans or Chilean-Americans, but it was
the most populous group of immigrants who had the hyphenated names.
African-American is somewhat unwieldy in everyday conversation, but
I don't see it as a big deal.

[JTA]

I know some African Americans that are white. I think it's kinda cool because it goes beyond racial barriers, like that lady that was a white NAACP president, or Michael Jackson. Transcending racial boundaries by showing us anybody can be white or black or Canadian.

[Vrede too]

You're living it, bro. It wasn't long ago that you were an Afro-American. I'm not sure what part of the rainbow your current avatar comes from.

[rstrong]

African-American came late to the hyphenated name game. Terms like Irish-Americans and Italian-Americans were already in use. Of course there could be Swedish-Americans or Chilean-Americans, but it was the most populous group of immigrants who had the hyphenated names. African-American is somewhat unwieldy in everyday conversation, but I don't see it as a big deal.

Someone can have Irish or Italian ancestry. But unless they speak with a stereotypical Irish or Italian accent or wear Irish or Italian flag shirts, no-one will refer to them as Irish-American and Italian-American. They're hyphenated-Americans typically only in the first or second generation. Or unless they choose and publicize that they're hyphenated-Americans, to demonstrate loyalty to the old country and it's sports team and beer.

On the other hand someone can be black, a tenth-generation American wearing business formal, and others will automatically declare them African-American.

[JTA]

You're living it, bro. It wasn't long ago that you were an Afro-American. I'm not sure what part of the rainbow your current avatar comes from.

Yessir

[Vrede too]

Yikes, these flashbacks are disturbing.

[Mr.B]

I think I saw this dude on Saturday night Sci-fi Theatre when I was a kid.

Some kinda title like "The Four-Eyed, Double-Lipped African-American that ate Cleveland" .... I think.

[Mr.B]

(even 'ol rstrong up in Canada is an American)

"The earliest known use of "America" for the New World was in 1507, referring to what is now known as South America."

It still amazes me that many still think that Americans only live in the USA ..... If you don't believe me, tell some redneck that Mexicans are Americans or that French-speaking Canadians are Americans, etc.

(French-speaking Cajuns is a whole 'nuther matter ...)