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- Go to The Correct Description Is BLACK; Not AFRICAN-AMERICAN
I met an African woman in the Wal-Mart yesterday. I had been feeling so tense the whole time I was shopping, and when I got the check-out, I just started chatting away. She had a real friendly disposition and an unusual accent, so I asked her if she was from Jamaica. She said, no, she is from Nigeria. I said, "Oh!" (I thought that was really neat). I told her I've never been to Africa, but I once met two boys from Liberia in Germany, as we were all exchange students.
She was very nice. And, I suppose she would actually be an African American still.
posted by
TARZANA
on May 6, 2005 at 6:59 AM
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mhw...
interesting post...i guess you're right: "Black" is the right description...it refers to a race, not to a nation.
posted by
Marshallengraved
on May 6, 2005 at 6:50 AM
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MHW,
Another well-written, well-thought out, and to-the-point post, my friend. Like I told you before, my boss of 10 years is black and he's like my own family to me. He never says "African American." He says "that black guy" or whatever. I've brought this topic up to him before and we've agreed that it is getting out of hand. Americans are Americans. If you were born here, your parents and grandparents were, too, then what does that make you? I'm sorry, but I can't f-ing stand Jesse Jackson and I think people like him are creating and rehashing segregation...on purpose. It sucks. But thankfully, there are people like you who see it like it is and are not afraid to tell it like it is. Damn, I wish you would forward some of your posts to Jesse Jackson and other so-called leaders. They need to hear this the most.
posted by
SpitFire70
on May 5, 2005 at 2:45 PM
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Finaly someone who wants to talk about this
I appreciate your candor and your message: which is, I believe, to put the past behind you and start becoming a self reliant community. I especially liked your comments regarding the liberal mindset of framing blacks as "helpless victims who are being dominated, abused, degraded..." I think most liberals have a Moses complex, and despite their rhetoric, need to feel that blacks, and other minorities, are victims so that they, the liberals, can go and save their poor black brethren.
I myself am a white 34 year old male who likewise feels no compulsion to apologize for the color of my skin. Never had a slave; never will. End of story.
Good posts. I'll be back
posted by
smartdog_670
on May 5, 2005 at 5:05 AM
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so you're in touch with some rappers?
That's actually cool...rap music can make things move. I am deeply convinced of it.
hip hop culture is a key to stopping racism, it is powerful, it can influence politics too...i love rap...this music has changed my life and made me realize what i really wanted to do in my life: music journalism!
posted by
Marshallengraved
on May 4, 2005 at 10:43 AM
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David1Spirit, I join you in saluting Talion.
posted by
Feenix
on May 4, 2005 at 10:31 AM
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About Talion's comment
posted by
David1Spirit
on May 4, 2005 at 10:29 AM
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Talion, terrific comment. You should've saved that for a post. Then again,
go ahead and use it for a post. You delivered a powerful and very important message that a lot of people need to see.
posted by
Feenix
on May 4, 2005 at 10:28 AM
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Reni, & technically, I'm an African-French-Spanish-Cherokee-American
posted by
Feenix
on May 4, 2005 at 10:25 AM
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Talion--That last sentence of your comment was very true, and very
well written.
posted by
Renigade
on May 4, 2005 at 10:18 AM
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mightyholywarrior
I find the whole African-American thing ridiculous. When I walk into a room, one can reasonably assume that at some point in the my past someone was a slave. Big deal. That was then, this is now, so let's get on with current business. However, I understand the reasoning behind "adopting" the label.
On St. Patrick's Day, the Irish come out of the woodwork, pub crawling, drinking green beer, the whole nine. Most of these people have never seen Ireland, yet being Irish is extremely important to their self-image. The same can be said for Italians, Asians, and other groups residing here. Yes, they are Americans in every sense of the word, but their origins, their pasts factor into their perceptions of the present.
Now look at Black people. As part of the slave trade, our customs, religions, heritage, etc. were stripped from us to prevent rebellions. Whether we want to embrace them in some form or not, we can't. The idea of calling oneself "African-American" is a lame, relatively meaningless attempt, but it's something. It's at least a starting point for those who wish to seek out more.
Furthermore, for every other culture that has become a part of this melting pot, they have a "label." There are Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Asian-Americans, etc. that signifies their heritage. Regardless if the members of these groups follow "old country" traditions or not, it's available to them. Black people have don't have that. Black is a color. Therefore, we are defined not by who we are, but simply by how we look. Considering it's how we look rather than the content of our character that's the root of racism, I can understand the idea of wanting to move away from that line of thinking, even if it really doesn't work.
I don't have much use for the African-American label. I'd much rather you call me by my name. If you don't know my name, "Sir" works just fine until I decide to give it to you. I'm lucky because I have a strong self-image ingrained from birth by my parents and grandparents, the same I'll pass on to my children if and when I have any. Not everyone is so fortunate. If being called African-American can help the self-esteem of someone who needs it (even though I don't see how it could), fine. It doesn't matter to me. What "they" call us or what we call ourselves is really beside the point because at the end of the day, to those with the wrong attitude, it's Nigger when our backs are turned.
posted by
Talion
on May 4, 2005 at 10:14 AM
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I'm a German Irish Cherokee African American. Really...
posted by
Renigade
on May 4, 2005 at 10:13 AM
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MarshallEngraved, I socialize with a lot of rappers and they all like my
style. In fact, my "way-out views" have inspired some of them to produce pieces in which they urge blacks to "liberate themselves."
posted by
Feenix
on May 4, 2005 at 8:36 AM
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No Black Americans
no rap music...would be a sad world for a rap lover like me lol
posted by
Marshallengraved
on May 4, 2005 at 8:28 AM
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MHW...
posted by
Offy
on May 4, 2005 at 8:25 AM
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Mightyholywarrior,
You and others here are really trying too hard to be cute! Your "no African-Americans" in America soliloquy is a cry for help! To make a point. Why do you continue to savage your own Race (still have my doubts of your Blackness)? Everything you write has two themes: that being Black is a great big problem in America. And if America were all White you would have a Utopia. There are a lot of "Peoples" in this Land of the Free, Home of the Brave!
That is your position but it is not supported by the facts! Trust me! No Diversity of Race in America! No America!
posted by
Glennb
on May 4, 2005 at 8:23 AM
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ReaderWriter, then you & I have a lot in common. When you come right down
to it, I love all human beings, regardless of what their national origin, religion or sexual-orientation is, and no matter what color they are.
posted by
Feenix
on May 4, 2005 at 7:49 AM
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Therefore, I am not sure I totally agree, but you know much more about that part of the world than I do, because I am white - in any case, my prayers are daily with all not matter what color, race or creed!
posted by
MountainClimber57
on May 4, 2005 at 7:39 AM
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Cantey 1975, thank you very much. I really appreciate the comment you made.
posted by
Feenix
on May 4, 2005 at 7:33 AM
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ReaderWriter, I don't say no hip-hop. I always mean what I say & say what I
mean.
posted by
Feenix
on May 4, 2005 at 7:31 AM
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INTELLIGENCE
posted by
calmcantey75
on May 4, 2005 at 7:27 AM
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MightyHolyWarrior - Quiet an exercise in judgment and discernment, are you sure you mean what you say!
posted by
MountainClimber57
on May 4, 2005 at 7:22 AM
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