The label "African-American" really bothers me, at least how we use it here in the U.S. Let me share a story from my buddy Thomas that illustrates why the term ought to be radically altered in its meaning and use.
Thomas was in a class at
TCU in which the professor kept using the word "African-American." At the end of the lecture, a white student with a foreign accent stood up and asked the professor, "By African-American, do you mean
African-American, or do you mean
black? I wanted to know because I was actually born in Africa. My parents were driven out of their land in response to the apartheid. We lost our land, everything. So we had to come to the United States, where I am now a citizen. And I bet that in this class of about 250 students, not only am I the only
real African-American, I'm probably the only one that could name even 5 African countries. So the next time you want to refer to black people, just say
black: don't say
African-American, because when you do, you insult the true African-Americans." He sat down and the professor didn't respond.
So here's several reasons I don't like the meaning and usage of "African-American," and why I
never put my race on any sort of paperwork or survey that requests it if they have "African-American" as an option:
- My ancestors are from Germany, Ireland, America (native), and elsewhere, yet I am not referred to as German-Irish-Native-American. We should be consistent across the board. Until that day, I will rebel.
- Some black people are not descended directly from African blacks, but from Caribbean and/or South American blacks. They should not be referred to, then, as African-American. Calling them African-American blatantly ignores their heritage. (Some, I've found, get really irritated at being called African-American.)
- There are many (millions?) of people in the U.S. who were actually born in Africa. They are African-American. Joe Black who was born at Parkland Hospital in Dallas is not African. Consequently, he should not be referred to as African-American.
- African-American has nothing to do with race, as Thomas' story proves, yet we make it entirely about race.
- Special labels help perpetuate a society of victims and separationism.
- Finally, as an aside, do you know how Martin Luther King, Jr., referred to people of his own race? In his "I have a dream" speech in Washington D.C., he refers to them as "negro," "black," "God's children," "sons of former slaves," "judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"...not once does he refer to "African-Americans."
So here's to hoping for a future of equal labels for equal treatment.
