What sort of term is AFRO-AMERICAN?!

Well, following the whole idea of accepting differences and not pointing them out while accepting them - and being tolerant, it makes much more sense to tell everybody 'we are simply Americans'. I actually don't mind it if someone labels THEMSELVES but I take offense of certain people labeling OTHERS or delegating them to part of a group which they might NOT associate themselves with. The resistance to me seems more in peoples' minds than real, especially now unless you live in an area where people are still split via social class and a lot of underhanded segregation still goes on. I have heard of places like this, where they still have separate dances and school functions and people don't mix. I don't understand that at all, I think it is asss-backwards and the only way it will stop is if those people are FORCED to integrate or be incarcerated.

I don't see the need in pointing out the fact that people may look different, don't we all look different with the exception of identical twins or triplets? Maybe it was the way I was raised, which I feel is much better than people who go about calling everybody around them 'race' or 'ethnic' names rather than the person's given name... For instance, my daughter does not differentiate any person due to race. That is not what we teach her and she is around all sorts of different people. She thinks some people tan better than others and that is about it. Some people speak different languages, celebrate different holidays, and she thinks that is cool, but she doesn't use any defining terms for it and neither do I. I never did growing up. 'David' was not 'the black kid', he was DAVID. Or maybe he was wearing a baseball cap and a red shirt. Most CHILDREN - as far as I am concerned - are not riding on that 'culture pride' wagon and they never would if it weren't taught to them by parents or other adults, which is where part of the problem begins. I hope that doesn't sound mean to you, it's not meant meanly, it's just that kids don't consider all the political crap that adults enforce on them as they get older. This appears to be one of those things.

I'm having trouble following you mommyboo, what do you mean by accepting differences while not pointing them out?

It was meant to be a joke. I bombed didn't I? LOL.

LOL. For ages I thought that you avatar was a polar bear! I just looked close up. I apologise if the baby is yours. I hope that she won't be too damaged by my erroneous interpretation!!

Oh Pikey, even if I had an afro, nobody would call me an afro-american. At least I hope not lol. It is examples like this that made me post this to begin with.

I have no problem with black and white, they are just colors ..... and in every large box of crayons lol. I vote with not being so uberly creative with this. We have created 5i568796 shades and names in a situation where we only needed two to begin with.

Works for me!

A hairstyle... lol! To me you're just Dawn . And since you live in America I'd probably call you an American.

It was a poll someone posted on facebook but it really rubbed me wrong when I saw it. I doubt the person was trying to be PC, but to me that doesn't seem PC anyway. PC to ME means not grouping people according to things like that.

Darn, I already gave out my best response but you should get one too... lol! Sometimes I wonder if that's why people like to draw attention to themselves by showcasing 'what they are'. I spend so much time stating 'I am JUST American' and there they are waving signs and balloons. Weird.

they are also always different. some are incredibly long lists of options and it can get very confusing. also there is never a blue rabbit option

Nor an owl option

see comment in box above

I really liked this response.... I'm glad you understood. That's exactly it, 'otherwise they are just Americans who happen to be black'. I couldn't agree more. Same thing goes for any other ethnicity.

yes there are - although its usually more specific so you have irish-americans, italian-americans, greek-americans,etc etc i know they are all, well, americans but they seem to like doing this so shouldn't they?

High fens. Is that in Lincolnshire?

-- pah

The Afro-American term I believe was first adopted in the sixties or seventies and is related to the popular style of the time. Generally people say African-American nowadays, but heck their are still people who say colored, negro, and the other n word.

Well see, I am of the opinion that someone is American unless they say otherwise (if they live here, generally speak English, and interact socially within accepted boundaries - not having to explain anything they do) and I have also NEVER called anybody 'afro-american' or 'african american'... lol! I tend to use names or descriptions which include height, hair color/style, or clothing to describe somebody, I wouldn't call them (insert name here) - american. I would be offended if someone did that to me, honestly, because I am not (insert name here) - american and likely neither are most people! lol One of my friends even pointed out that although he had VISITED Africa, it did not mean it made him 'from Africa' even though he IS black. He says that he is Bryan if you know him, Mr. Jones if you don't, and he is not 'african american' heh. I mean heck, I have lived in Germany, does that make me GERMAN?

My exact thoughts and understanding…it refers more to the genes than anything else. If the genes are purely African and the person is born and brought up in USA then of course that person is a black American. Its people who have a mixture of African black and American white genes who are called Afro-Americans. Just the way in India we had the Anglo-Indians…people having genes of the British and Indians. I am sure there are such genetic hybrids in every country…in fact, I was reading somewhere the other day that its no longer possible to find pure genes anywhere in the world.

Well that being said, the majority of people I know do not have any real first generation African heritage though. Their parents were born here, their grandparents were born here, they were born here. They speak english, they are culturally american. To me they are american. NOT african. So... someone calling them 'african-american' is untrue and very strange lol. The only reason I would call someone 'african-american' is if they truly came here FROM Africa and brought their African culture and continued to live that way here. Then I might consider them such, and if they wanted me to call them that, I would. Otherwise, I'd probably just use their name like a normal person would.