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lord of the mark
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FUKCOV - Former United Kingdom Colony of Virginia
Dec 2000
time: 00:36
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several points
1. guevera is being a mencsh - congrats
2. Names evolve in relation to social reality. Groups for whom their name has developed negative connotations want to change it. Example - for decades Jews in the West wanted to escape the connotations of "jew" - poor, backward, weak, superstitious, unWestern. They tried to become Hebrews, Israelites, and "people of the Mosaic persuasion" With the establishment of Israel, the assimilation of Jews in the West, and the disappearance of the Jews of Eastern Europe, the word Jew became less threatening and reemerged. Colored People became Negroes, who became Blacks, who became African Americans. When their real social situation completely changes, they will stop playing with names. That many have retained black may be a sign that some improvement has taken place.
3. The counterpart to black is white (both quite artificial constructs, by the way) The counterpart ot African american is Italian american, Irish american, etc. Thus the term AA is a sign of "normalization" of seeing blacks as one other group in our national mosaic - a good thing.
4. Use of a term like Italian American does not indicate a completly seperate identity. Most Italian Americans in many contexts think of themselves as just Americans (or just women, or gays, or human beings, or 'polytubbies, or whatever) They are Italian Americans only in those contexts where that is relevant. Similarly for Irish Americans, etc. These contexts are generally more common and more salient than for, say Scandinavian Americans - and probably less common and less salient than for African Americans.
5. There is considerable evidence of a distinctive African American culture, with considerable roots in West Africa. OTOH there are certainly at least some african americans who have no participation in that culture. For example, african american churches may have certain worship styles with african roots - OTOH some African Americans are Episcopalians. Or muslims. Or Orthodox Jews Culture != race, or even origin.
6. Yup, Moroccans are native Africans. But in an American context its not unreasonable to understand African American to indicate a connection with the millions of sub saharan africans who were enslaved and brought over in the middle passage. If it is extended to West Indians and others who have to some degree joined this community, thats simply a fact of history.
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Caligastia
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Culture and race are linked...
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Tingkai
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To find the Northwest Passage
Aug 2001
time: 13:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Lorizael
If someone asks you to describe a person with the skin color of an African, do you say black or African American? |
The problem with using the term "black" is that a lot of so-called blacks are not black. My cousin's husband's skin colour is more kind of dark brown.
If people are going to whine about how the term "African-American" isn't accurate, then why aren't they whining about the inaccuracy of the term "black"?
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13-06-2004 18:24
I find the food issue the most silly thing. Who gives a rats ass what food one eats, truly religion had no intent on making food choices, especially ones hundreds of years later. Funny with all the combinations of oils and add ins to food that no one complains when they eat a byproduct of pork as long as they don't know about it.
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