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

[O Really]

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.

The "African" part isn't really about recent origin - it's just a way to distinguish between black people and white people. I don't know that it's necessary to do so, but apparently a lot of people - of both races - think so. So you could say, "he's Black" which I don't object to, or, you could reference his historical genesis, which would be African. I think African-American is cumbersome and there are better descriptors of such a person. But "negroid" used in the same manner as "caucasian" has long been unacceptable and isn't coming back.

[Mr.B]

Here's a whole 'nother bag of worms ... "Transracial" ! :-0?>

Rachel Dolezal lends credence to that old joke about the zebra that died and met St. Peter at the pearly gates. The zebra asked St. Peter the age-old question, "Am I black with white stripes or am I white with black stripes?" St. Peter replied he didn't know, but The Lord was over on the next cloud; the zebra could go over and ask Him. The zebra trotted over and asked The Lord the same question. The Lord replied "you are what you are", then He turned and left.

More puzzled than ever, the zebra returned to St. Peter and told him what The Lord said.

St. Peter said, "That settles it; you're white with black stripes. If you were black with white stripes, The Lord would have said
"You is what you is"

[Mr.B]

On its Facebook page, the NAACP wrote that members “are not concerned with the racial identity of our leadership but the institutional integrity of our advocacy.”

Despite she's lied about her race, I can't see why her lie is such a big issue if NAACP is happy with her performance. It's not comparable to Bruce Jenner now peeing in the ladies room.

[Bungalow Bill]

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.

Sure, there is not as much identification with where they came from as
there was years ago, but quite a few people think of themselves as
Irish or Italian Americans, even if they don't call themselves that. If
not, there would be no market for Kiss Me I'm Irish tee shirts.

[Bungalow Bill]

El Jeb. Could be our first Hispanic president.

I never got the thing about Americans. Sure, technically everyone
who lives in North, Central, and South America can call themselves
that, but they don't. People from Panama call themselves Panamanians,
people from Mexico call themselves Mexicans, etc.

[rstrong]

Those who like the British are called Anglophiles.
Those who like the French are called Francophiles.
Those who like the Germans are called Collaborators.

[Vrede too]

Passing as Irish is way more fun than being British, French or German. Nobody bought my being Jamaican .

Now, about banni's racist emojis. Lots of white ones, a gay one :gayhappy: , a Native American one :cussing: , some Asian ones , and even a few Martian ones , but no blacks.

Weekend Update: Sasheer Zamata

[Wneglia]

[Mr.B]

"Despite she's lied about her race, I can't see why her lie is such a big issue if NAACP is happy with her performance. It's not comparable to Bruce Jenner now peeing in the ladies room."

So much for that thought .... she done tucked her tail and ran .....

[Wneglia]

[Mr.B]

[Boatrocker]

So. She might be related to John Boehner.

[Colonel Taylor]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Didn't know Boner said he was black? Hummmm!!!!

[rstrong]

Dunno if I'd joke about this issue. A lot of people are upset.

Especially her white friends who thought they had at least one black friend.

[Vrede too]

So. She might be related to John Boehner.

One for each of you . . . and both of them.

[GoCubsGo]

El Jeb. Could be our first Hispanic president.

I never got the thing about Americans. Sure, technically everyone
who lives in North, Central, and South America can call themselves
that, but they don't. People from Panama call themselves Panamanians,
people from Mexico call themselves Mexicans, etc.

Does that make me a Stater?

[rstrong]

El Jeb. Could be our first Hispanic president.

Jeb is a seventh-generation Establishment-American.

[Vrede too]

To be fair, for all his mountain of faults I think his Hispanicity is about as longstanding and sincere as is possible for an Anglo preppie. It'll be interesting to see how GOP Hispanics decide between him, Cruz and Rubio in the primaries.

[O Really]

To be fair, for all his mountain of faults I think his Hispanicity is about as longstanding and sincere as is possible for an Anglo preppie. It'll be interesting to see how GOP Hispanics decide between him, Cruz and Rubio in the primaries.

I'd say it'll be evenly split among the 7 of them.

[Vrede too]

14 :!: , not counting Bobby Jindal, Chris Christie, John Kasich and Scott Walker.