Why are we called african american?, Why Are we caled black? were brown

In the late 1980’s it was settled that African American was the best term for “blacks”. I’m a “black” but I don’t get how I’m African American. I’m American, I was born here so were my parents. Ancestors however I’m not sure? Say they were slaves from Africa..I was still born in America. Isn’t that one way how you become an American? Whats really crazy is a “black” person born in the UK is still at times call a African American? What? Their not even from America. The term is just switched up so much.

Thats why I just say I’m American. The term “black” doesn’t fit any human in this world. We should be called if any color brown. We are different shades of brown. “Brown American” has a ring to it? But that’s what we really are. Does the term “white” fit too? Everyone is a “colored” Right?

A white, yellow or “brown” man and their parents are born in Africa so they are African. No way around that. But say that white man comes to America with a white woman also a African and they have children. What are his children then? They should be what we are called right? But no its not like that.

Whites aren’t called European-Americans? On test at school when we have to mark our race (which is so silly…why does that even matter) the only option for whites is “white”, while “browns” have “black/African American”

I just don’t get how other humans can say what people are and it settled. while it doesn’t apply to all.

African-American vs. American-- youtube.

Please leave any feedback.

-Thanks Travarus.

Tags: Are, Why, african, american?, are, black?, brown, caled, called, we, More…were

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Permalink Reply by AfroCuban on June 20, 2010 at 8:34am

I agree. I'm half-cuban and half-african american, but now, I say my mom was Cuban and my dad was American.
Once in a while someone will say, "american? you're dad is white?", while looking at my deep complexion. We have more right to just to be American than anyone else here, both from the past and in current circumstances. "American" should be assumed white as if it's some right anymore than Latino should be assumed pale and mexican. I think most latinos are "black" though they are called mulatto. B.S.

Madamoiselle De Sade said:

I resent being called "African American" when no one blood related to me was born in Africa. Why can't I just be an American, my folks have certainly been here much longer than the folks of whites who get to be "Americans". Racism.

America is a melting pot, most cowboys were Mexican, black or Native- so many lies are out there about the very basics of what is American.

I am the people and the places that birthed me and other people like me and all of that happened in this country.

I hate being forced to (ironically) identify with another people rather than my own. through a misnomer.

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Permalink Reply by Madamoiselle De Sade on June 24, 2010 at 8:48pm

Right on. I want everyone, every American citizen of every race to embrace the title "American". That'll really piss the racist right wing off when we identify with "their" exclusive title.

afrocuban said:

I agree. I'm half-cuban and half-african american, but now, I say my mom was Cuban and my dad was American.
Once in a while someone will say, "american? you're dad is white?", while looking at my deep complexion. We have more right to just to be American than anyone else here, both from the past and in current circumstances. "American" should be assumed white as if it's some right anymore than Latino should be assumed pale and mexican. I think most latinos are "black" though they are called mulatto. B.S.

Madamoiselle De Sade said:
I resent being called "African American" when no one blood related to me was born in Africa. Why can't I just be an American, my folks have certainly been here much longer than the folks of whites who get to be "Americans". Racism.

America is a melting pot, most cowboys were Mexican, black or Native- so many lies are out there about the very basics of what is American.

I am the people and the places that birthed me and other people like me and all of that happened in this country.

I hate being forced to (ironically) identify with another people rather than my own. through a misnomer.

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Permalink Reply by AfroCuban on June 24, 2010 at 8:58pm

Shame of it is, they DO get pissed don't they? Hostile sometimes, like you just said you slept with their mother and sister in threesome - and THEY liked it. Some people get confused like you're speaking Chinese.

AMERICAN, AMERICAN, AMERICAN. I'm going to buy a t-shirt that says American on it and wear it. Of maybe just the American flag and alternate wearing it with my Cuban flag shirt.

If I had the inspiration, I'd rewrite The Hacker's Manifesto to the American Manifesto.

Madamoiselle De Sade said:

Right on. I want everyone, every American citizen of every race to embrace the title "American". That'll really piss the racist right wing off when we identify with "their" exclusive title.

afrocuban said:
I agree. I'm half-cuban and half-african american, but now, I say my mom was Cuban and my dad was American.
Once in a while someone will say, "american? you're dad is white?", while looking at my deep complexion. We have more right to just to be American than anyone else here, both from the past and in current circumstances. "American" should be assumed white as if it's some right anymore than Latino should be assumed pale and mexican. I think most latinos are "black" though they are called mulatto. B.S.

Madamoiselle De Sade said:
I resent being called "African American" when no one blood related to me was born in Africa. Why can't I just be an American, my folks have certainly been here much longer than the folks of whites who get to be "Americans". Racism.

America is a melting pot, most cowboys were Mexican, black or Native- so many lies are out there about the very basics of what is American.

I am the people and the places that birthed me and other people like me and all of that happened in this country.

I hate being forced to (ironically) identify with another people rather than my own. through a misnomer.

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Permalink Reply by Q.A.Bradford on June 25, 2010 at 3:25am

Black intellectual sub-culturalists fighting racism moved toward the term African-American... even supported DNA testing to validate it.

White anti-intellectual nationalists supporting racism cower from the term European-American and trump DNA to creationism.

Everyone is a [insert geopolitical origin adjective here] + [insert nationality noun here]. Not an [insert color here].

America's party system isn't donkeys and elephants. Its Reds, Whites, Blacks, Yellows and Browns.
Racism is socio political code. Do you use it?

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Permalink Reply by LaVieBohemeAri on June 28, 2010 at 12:10am

race is a social construct

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Permalink Reply by AfroCuban on June 28, 2010 at 5:53am

I agree, but I'd say a Socio-Political-Economic construct.

Arielle said:

race is a social construct

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Permalink Reply by Q.A.Bradford on June 28, 2010 at 9:16am

id say its pureley a geo-politcal construct. now racism, thats a social reality.

afrocuban said:

I agree, but I'd say a Socio-Political-Economic construct.

Arielle said:
race is a social construct

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Permalink Reply by Mouktar Albert on July 24, 2010 at 6:41pm

Yep the Greeks started it Aethiop's (Burnt Face People).

NICO in YOUR face!! said:

we are called "black" since white men started to do so - what were we called before that, mmm?? what WERE we before that, yeah THATs the question!! // mr. malcolm X asked about the same thing when it came to the word "negro" in one of his speeches, who are you??:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63OHMLf9wUc