ZVar wrote:How about the main thing first. Stop calling them African-American!
Maybe 3 in total are from Africa. Call them what they are. Americans. They want to be identified as a separate population, but when they are treated differently it's racism?
"Them?" That's a much worse transgression than you propose. You cannot put the cart before the horse. When African Americans are treated as Americans, then you can rightly call African Americans, Americans.
You do not demand the same of other cultures who come to this country. German Americans are readily accepted and treated as Americans. Irish Americans are readily accepted and treated as Americans. Italian Americans are readily accepted and treated as Americans ...
And each of those groups get to keep their heritage, without discrimination and genocide.
If you wish to go there...where, "How African Americans, Blacks, Negroes, or Colored People should be properly addressed?," then you must do it from a specific podium. Are you speaking as a White man who doesn't understand all of the subtleties? Are you speaking as a white man who doesn't understand, may understand, but really don't care? Are you speaking as a Black man who doesn't understand the sacrifices of his predecessors?
Or, are you simply speaking as someone who doesn't understand that what Black people like to be called is dependent on the era, the individual, and the battle being fought.
"Black" isn't acceptable, because it carries a negative connotation for some "Blacks" because of many reasons owed to the White race. It also inherently discriminates against all Black people who are brown, white, and all shades in-between.
Yet, why did Black people all over America sing it loudly along with James Brown "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud."
It is because that was the particular rock that Plymouth landed on "them" AT THE TIME. And... you've got to crawl before you can walk. One march at a time. One cause at a time. The cause then was to unify Black people everywhere and get them to proudly embrace their heritage to prepare for a long, uphill battle.
Why do some Colored people resent being called Colored? Even though it is incorporated and accepted by Colored people who founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)?
It is because THAT was the rock that Plymouth landed on their heads at the time, and they had to work with the hand they were dealt... at the time.
"COLORED RESTROOMS."
"COLORED WATER FOUNTAINS."
"COLORED SCHOOLS."
"COLORED SECTIONS."
"COLORED BUSSES."
"COLORED NEIGHBORHOODS."
"COLORED JUSTICE."
African American is gaining ground because the blood is traced back to Africa. The term incorporates and encompasses all of black history and Black ancestry. And, it, prevents the plight from being buried in the noise, until the noise becomes music.
Zvar, respectfully, from which podium do you speak?