NationStates Jolt Archive

who the hell came up with african-american. im sorry i think it's stupid. most of the black people in the U.S. aren't african, they may have african heritage but they're not african. black people are black and white people are white, but hey if we identify people by there heritage then people would have to call me an english-scottish-french-german-dutch-irish-italian-american.

P.S. sorry if i sound racist.

lol

black history month is better

sooooooooooo not racist :rolleyes:

I don't like calling anyone something-American.

I still don't get what the big deal is ...

I mean, if my name were Tim and I asked people to call me Tim, I would get pretty annoyed if people insisted on calling me Bob. Let people be called what they want to be called ... yeesh. Stop being afraid of adjectives!

All the black people I know don't care if they are called black. Its the same as calling a white man white, the only black people that really care are the ACLU card carrying, ultra liberal, anti-white, pro welfare, anti-work blacks.

"I have been to Africa. I have met and talked to many africans. I'm american."-Whoopi Goldberg.

I still don't get what the big deal is ...

I mean, if my name were Tim and I asked people to call me Tim, I would get pretty annoyed if people insisted on calling me Bob. Let people be called what they want to be called ... yeesh. Stop being afraid of adjectives!
But your name is Bob! Why shouuld we call you Tim!?

Is my friend Marcus an African-Canadian?

Black is fine. Most Black people in America haven't had contact with Africa for 4 generations or more. I'm the son of two Italian immigrants, and I don't insist on being labled Italian-American. I'm just an American. Like Blacks, I wouldn't fit in with the culture of my ancestors' homeland. I _do_ fit in here in my homeland.

Is my friend Marcus an African-Canadian?
Yes, yes he is. Eh?

it is polite to refer to people in whatever way they ask to be referred to as.
for a while it has been in dispute in the black community which term is "best" so i guess you can call use either term and be OK.

what about aboriginies? how can you know if an 'african american' isn't actually an australian american?

I actually think its more to call someone of a specific colour, African-American, because yuo're asuming that they're both American, and African, which alot of them aren't. Where as if you call them black, its kinda obvious they are. I have many black friends, and they don't mind beign called black at all, same how I don't care if you call me white,...course in both cases we mean it non derrogatoraly. PC has gone too far these days.

what about aboriginies? how can you know if an 'african american' isn't actually an australian american?

Its easy. You can tell because Australian Aboriginals....

*SNIP* Due to Political Correctness Issues.

Ok... you guys try telling a black man he is not associated in any way with Africa, because thats exactly what your complaining about here. The name "African-American" is more than just a label to the millions of black American people over the years. It has a history and legend, its an entity that you apparently either don't understand or just figured you'd get online and try to sound smart with an "observation". The fact that most black people are fine with being described as "black" instead of "African American" is neither an issue nor a valid point. The history and sense of association with the name African American is why the name still exists.

And in regard to the original question, "who the hell came up with African American"... uh... dude... the people who took Africans to America in the first place... the ones that really were African and not American... ya... think about that...

Reminds me of a news program I saw, covering a story in England, and the commentator called a group of black people "African-Americans" :p

See I propose we make a TV channel called WET(white entertainment Television). I don't understand why black people can sue companies for not including black people in TV commercials and such but white people can't. If you watch TV you will notice a complete lack of white people.

Reminds me of a news program I saw, covering a story in England, and the commentator called a group of black people "African-Americans" :p
:D

For the life of me I am trying to remeber if we have any polite terms in Britain. Most of the time they are either refered to as Black or their country of origin (ie Carribean, rather then Carribean-British).

I suppose you have hyphonated Americans because the word American fits so nicely (African-British just sounds weird).

Ok... you guys try telling a black man he is not associated in any way with Africa, because thats exactly what your complaining about here. The name "African-American" is more than just a label to the millions of black American people over the years. It has a history and legend, its an entity that you apparently either don't understand or just figured you'd get online and try to sound smart with an "observation". The fact that most black people are fine with being described as "black" instead of "African American" is neither an issue nor a valid point. The history and sense of association with the name African American is why the name still exists.

And in regard to the original question, "who the hell came up with African American"... uh... dude... the people who took Africans to America in the first place... the ones that really were African and not American... ya... think about that...

What if black people aren't American citizens? What if they're resident aliens or foreign students? And furthermore, once they're American, why do black people need to be associated with Africa? Nationality extends to whatever country you're currently a citizen of. And "African-American" is a relatively new term, it was not coined by anyone who spent time as a slave. :rolleyes:

See I propose we make a TV channel called WET(white entertainment Television). I don't understand why black people can sue companies for not including black people in TV commercials and such but white people can't. If you watch TV you will notice a complete lack of white people.
Like on Eastenders you mean?

Reminds of when the radio channel "One Xtra" was started. It was aimed at those who liked (and I quote) "Urban Black Music." Of coarse this raised a bit of protest in White middle England, however the main absurdity for me was that you could only hear it on Digital radio (which were quite expensive), and I didn't know why people who liked "Urban Black Music"would buy a £100 peice of equipment just so they could listen to one channel. Especially considering the amount of pirate Radio stations there are playing the same music (esp. in London) using radiowaves which required a much cheaper piece of equipment.

I would just like to know how many of you having this conversation are actually black and/or african american. Also instead of calling thtem black or african american how about you just refer to them as people; citizens of the world; human beings: and stop speaking about them as if they are aliens from another planet.

who the hell came up with african-american. im sorry i think it's stupid. most of the black people in the U.S. aren't african, they may have african heritage but they're not african. black people are black and white people are white, but hey if we identify people by there heritage then people would have to call me an english-scottish-french-german-dutch-irish-italian-american.

P.S. sorry if i sound racist.
Sorry about your long mix but I am NOT white.
I dont know what country WHITE comes from, I dont know what language WHITE speaks.
I dont what historical culture WHITE originates with.
And my skin color is NOT white.
I am Irish-American, a past term would be AngloIrish-American.
I was born in America making me American, My european ancesters were from Ireland.
Hence Irish-American.
Blacks are for the most part African-American, just like Italian-Americans, and so forth and so on.
I despise having my heritage homogenized to WHITE.
When that would lump me and my mine with those who in the past have our enemies.
I am not Italian(White)-French(WHITE)
I am Irish-American(not White).

Personally I think its dumb to call black's African-American's. Egyptians, Libyans, Madagasy and many more are African's so they could be called African-Americans but there not Black. So yes Blacks are African-American I guess but many "African-American's" aren't back becouse Arabs, whites, Guine's and many others are just as African as Blacks.

I would just like to know how many of you having this conversation are actually black and/or african american. Also instead of calling thtem black or african american how about you just refer to them as people; citizens of the world; human beings: and stop speaking about them as if they are aliens from another planet.

I am.

Sorry about your long mix but I am NOT white.
I dont know what country WHITE comes from, I dont what language WHITE speaks.
I dont what historical culture WHITE originates with.
And my skin color is NOT white.
I am Irish-American, a past term would be AngloIrish-American.
I was born in America making me American, My european ancesters were from Ireland.
Hence Irish-American.
Blacks are for the most part African-American, just like Italian-Americans, and so forth and so on.
I despise having my heritage homogenized to WHITE.
When that would lump me and my mine with those who in the past have our enemies.
I am not Italian(White)-French(WHITE)
I am Irish-American(not White).
Why Afrcan-American rather then, Libya-American or Nigerian-American.

Calling someone African American can be just as homogenising as White.

Personally I think its dumb to call black's African-American's. Egyptians, Libyans, Madagasy and many more are African's so they could be called African-Americans but there not Black. So yes Blacks are African-American I guess but many "African-American's" aren't back becouse Arabs, whites, Guine's and many others are just as African as Blacks.
I would call Arabs Africans except that Arabs CHOOSE to make a clear distinction.
Hence the term Arab-American which is very common where I live(largest Arabic community outside the middle-east).

Why Afrcan-American rather then, Libya-American or Nigerian-American.

Calling someone African American can be just as homogenising as White.
What continent does white denote?
Africa is an actual place.

Responding to the first post, I totally agree, especially since black people can get away with calling us white, but they demand we call them African American. blacks can allready get away with much more than we can. Racially that is.

Also instead of calling thtem black or african american how about you just refer to them as people; citizens of the world; human beings: and stop speaking about them as if they are aliens from another planet.

Perhaps because everyone is a citizen of the world? Perhaps because there are legitimate differences between races? When someone asks you to point out someone across the room, do you say "Oh, it's the person with the blue sweater" or, "Sure, it's that human being" ?


Sorry about your long mix but I am NOT white.
I dont know what country WHITE comes from, I dont know what language WHITE speaks.
I dont what historical culture WHITE originates with.
And my skin color is NOT white.
I am Irish-American, a past term would be AngloIrish-American.
I was born in America making me American, My european ancesters were from Ireland.
Hence Irish-American.
Blacks are for the most part African-American, just like Italian-Americans, and so forth and so on.
I despise having my heritage homogenized to WHITE.
When that would lump me and my mine with those who in the past have our enemies.
I am not Italian(White)-French(WHITE)
I am Irish-American(not White).

Whatever you say, caucasian boy...

Any African-American who asks me to call them black I will call them that.
However I have never been asked to that.
I work with a number of blacks and they refer to caucasians as "Europeans".
and Each other as Africans, these men all very in age, and social demographic one was raised in Detroit while another in Barbados and all the way Alabama, and New York.
I have often heard the phrase "DO I LOOK black to You?"
in response to being called that.
I must agree that I have never personally seen a BLack man, and I am friends with several West Africans, they are not black.
So no African-American is not Homogenizing, It is being specific to the greatest of my ability unless otherwise informed.
If I know someone was from NIgeria, I would indeed call them a Nigerian-American.

Sorry about your long mix but I am NOT white.
I dont know what country WHITE comes from, I dont know what language WHITE speaks.
I dont what historical culture WHITE originates with.
And my skin color is NOT white.
I am Irish-American, a past term would be AngloIrish-American.
I was born in America making me American, My european ancesters were from Ireland.
Hence Irish-American.
Blacks are for the most part African-American, just like Italian-Americans, and so forth and so on.
I despise having my heritage homogenized to WHITE.
When that would lump me and my mine with those who in the past have our enemies.
I am not Italian(White)-French(WHITE)
I am Irish-American(not White).


(Sorry I dont know how to make the little quote box thing)


Unless you wear a big sign that says Irish-American how should we know? And you are wrong because Irish are seen as white but Italians arent they are known as Italians.

What continent does white denote?
None. But it is usually indentified with Europe.
Africa is an actual place.
Yeah? And? So what?

Africa is a place, but it is a fucking big one.

It is like saying Asian-American is OK, because Asia is a place, despite the varied culture that exists in both places. Similarly you could say Earth-American.

The fact that Africa is a place doesn't mean that the phrase African-American is any less homogenising then 'White,' or 'European' or 'Asian' or anyother term that will put many different cultures in one Category.

Why Afrcan-American rather then, Libya-American or Nigerian-American.

Calling someone African American can be just as homogenising as White.


Well most "blacks" don't know what part of Africa they came from (that is if they even did come from Africa) because of a little thing called slavery

I always laugh when I hear americans trying to categorise themselves. You are American. It is not your fault that you live in a country that is less than 300 years old, which was created by others and thus lacks a defined cultural identity. I would suggest that a bit more time spent building an American identity, (BTW McDOnalds is not what i am talking about) and less time claiming to bit part Dutch, Irish, French etc etc etc, would go a long way
:rolleyes:

Whatever you say, caucasian boy...
Main Entry: Cau·ca·sian
Pronunciation: ko-'kA-zh&n, kä- also -'ka-zh&n
Function: adjective
1 : of or relating to the Caucasus or its inhabitants
I am not related to anyone from the Caucasus/ so I am not Caucasian.

Definition 2 of, constituting, or characteristic of a race of humankind native to Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia and classified according to physical features -- used especially in referring to persons of European descent having usually light skin pigmentation

Science in the twetieth century has determined that the concept of RACE is an Artificial classification(it doesnt actually exist biolgically)
Therefore the second definition cannot be correct by the rules of logic.
So no Bitch-boy I am not caucasian.

Any African-American who asks me to call them black I will call them that.
However I have never been asked to that.
I work with a number of blacks and they refer to caucasians as "Europeans".
and Each other as Africans, these men all very in age, and social demographic one was raised in Detroit while another in Barbados and all the way Alabama, and New York.
I have often heard the phrase "DO I LOOK black to You?"
in response to being called that.
I must agree that I have never personally seen a BLack man, and I am friends with several West Africans, they are not black.
So no African-American is not Homogenizing,

Whaaat?

You have shown that the term some use to label a part of the population is flawed. That does not mean that that the other term is not homogenising.
It is being specific to the greatest of my ability unless otherwise informed.
If I know someone was from NIgeria, I would indeed call them a Nigerian-American.
You are homogenising.

Well most "blacks" don't know what part of Africa they came from (that is if they even did come from Africa) because of a little thing called slavery
I understand and appreciate that.

I am not condemning the use of the term "African-America." But the belief that is less homogenising than black or white.

I always laugh when I hear americans trying to categorise themselves. You are American. It is not your fault that you live in a country that is less than 300 years old, which was created by others and thus lacks a defined cultural identity. I would suggest that a bit more time spent building an American identity, (BTW McDOnalds is not what i am talking about) and less time claiming to bit part Dutch, Irish, French etc etc etc, would go a long way
:rolleyes:
That is human nature, and I am quite certain your line is notthe indeginous people of the region in which you currently reside.
Americans because the Nation it self is not Homogenized(I mean having a shallow genepool like the back water you are obviously from) we take our lineage seriously.
The simpleminded thinking that comes from citizens of a nation which contain a staggering majority of one ethnic demographic being amuzed about how a nonhomogenius cuture relates to world is really the more amuzing of the two.

Whaaat?

You have shown that the term some use to label a part of the population is flawed. That does not mean that that the other term is not homogenising.

You are homogenising.
...Your right, I didnt really consider it .
How then does one NOT?
I still dont recognize the term White, I do see your point though.

Yeah, "African-American" is pretty stupid. So, what do you call a black that lives in The Netherlands? African-Dutch? Has anyone ever heard someone referred to as "African-German"? I picked up on this watching the Olympics. Black Americans are referred to as "African-Americans", but blacks from other countries are just referred to as black.

Black, African-American, colored, negroes. That way you always got at least something right.

...Your right, I didnt really consider it .
How then does one NOT?
I still dont recognize the term White, I do see your point though.
Meh neighter do I.

I have actually just realised we both probably agree with each other, but it is a case of six of one half a dozen of the other.

Main Entry: Cau·ca·sian
Pronunciation: ko-'kA-zh&n, kä- also -'ka-zh&n
Function: adjective
1 : of or relating to the Caucasus or its inhabitants
I am not related to anyone from the Caucasus/ so I am not Caucasian.

Definition 2 of, constituting, or characteristic of a race of humankind native to Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia and classified according to physical features -- used especially in referring to persons of European descent having usually light skin pigmentation

Science in the twetieth century has determined that the concept of RACE is an Artificial classification(it doesnt actually exist biolgically)
Therefore the second definition cannot be correct by the rules of logic.
So no Bitch-boy I am not caucasian.

Science has not "determined the concept of RACE is an artificial classification."

but I guess you read a lot of scientific journals, right? (http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=0002A353-C027-1E1C-8B3B809EC588EEDF&sc=I100322)

If you're black, you're more likely to get rickets if you live in northern latitudes. If you're white, you're more likely to develop skin cancer living in tropical regions. You're caucasian, and forensic scientists could tell you that just by looking at your skeletal structure. How's that for an artificial classification? :rolleyes:

Yeah, "African-American" is pretty stupid. So, what do you call a black that lives in The Netherlands? African-Dutch?
We mostly call them anti's, antillians, swa's. There are probably other names for them I am not familiar with.

Black, African-American, colored, negroes.
This has reminded me of something else. I used to think that negro was the correct term for a person of African descent. However last semester I was told by my Social History Professor that negro is an offensive term, and if we used it in our essays we would lose marks.

Anyone have anymore information?

We mostly call them anti's, antillians, swa's. There are probably other names for them I am not familiar with.
Are you Dutch?

Meh neighter do I.

I have actually just realised we both probably agree with each other, but it is a case of six of one half a dozen of the other.
Those are the best debates.

Are you Dutch?
German. But I've lived in the Netehrlands for almost 20 years now.

Those are the best debates.
Ha, you haven't seen the arguements I get into with one of my sisters friends.

We could create a new sport "Xtreme Hair Splitting"

German. But I've lived in the Netehrlands for almost 20 years now.
German uh?
Then what do you call Turks?

German uh?
Then what do you call Turks?
Turks.

I say black, because, as George Carlin pointed out, you can call racist white people from South Africa who move to the U.S. "African-American." Heck, if Kerry wins, Teresa Heinz-Kerry will be the first African-American first lady.

I always laugh when I hear americans trying to categorise themselves. You are American. It is not your fault that you live in a country that is less than 300 years old, which was created by others and thus lacks a defined cultural identity. I would suggest that a bit more time spent building an American identity, (BTW McDOnalds is not what i am talking about) and less time claiming to bit part Dutch, Irish, French etc etc etc, would go a long way
:rolleyes:

I'm sick of idiots like you spouting this bullshit that America has no culture.

Have you ever heard of John Keats, J.D. Salinger, F. Scott Fitzgerald, or Ernest Hemingway?

How about Jackson Pollack, Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, or Ansel Adams?

Do you know who Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, and Charlie Parker were?

This bullshit idea that McDonalds constitutes the extent of American culture is just ingnorance on the part of arrogant EUros, or elitist liberal snobs.

i use the term black because i would not like to be refered to as a European-American. Also, what would you call a black man from Canada?

We mostly call them anti's, antillians, swa's. There are probably other names for them I am not familiar with.

What is the origin of the words you give here?

Really I would think that they would use a German word.
Especially since my German Cousin Giesila insists that Turks suffer huge amounts of Discrimination in Germany.
But hey what ever.

This bullshit idea that McDonalds constitutes the extent of American culture is just ingnorance on the part of arrogant EUros, or elitist liberal snobs.
It is an idea with lots of subscribers this side of the pond.

I think it is due to the fact that our culture eclipses a lot of yours, and for many people the extent of American Culture seen is pop music, sitcoms and shit movies.

Also, for some, arrogance does play a part, but for most I would say it is ignorance.

This bullshit idea that McDonalds constitutes the extent of American culture is just ingnorance.
Your right. Theres more to America then McDonalds. Theres also Disneyland.

i use the term black because i would not like to be refered to as a European-American. Also, what would you call a black man from Canada?

African-Canadian?

What is the origin of the words you give here?
Antilles were the Dutch name for the West Indies iirc.

No idea about swa though.

What is the origin of the words you give here?
Anti. Short for Antillian.
Antillian. Cause most negroes in the Netherlands come from the Antille islands. Mostly Curacao. Swa, some word from their language. Means something like pal, mate or something. Sort of like the brothas.

I'm sick of idiots like you spouting this bullshit that America has no culture.

Have you ever heard of John Keats, J.D. Salinger, F. Scott Fitzgerald, or Ernest Hemingway?

How about Jackson Pollack, Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, or Ansel Adams?

Do you know who Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, and Charlie Parker were?

This bullshit idea that McDonalds constitutes the extent of American culture is just ingnorance on the part of arrogant EUros, or elitist liberal snobs.

I think Europeans are just mad that even the culture embodied by McDonalds is so pervasive. Europeans just hate the way that they like to wear nikes and levis, listen to 50 cent, watch American movies, and eat American food. :p

Your right. Theres more to America then McDonalds. Theres also Disneyland.

Can you tell me about the accomplishments of any of the persons I named?

Do you know who Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Owen Gehry were?

I think Europeans are just mad that even the culture embodied by McDonalds is so pervasive. Europeans just hate the way that they like to wear nikes and levis, listen to 50 cent, watch American movies, and eat American food. :p
Quiet child.

Generally those that listen to 50 Cent, blah, blah, blah, aren't the same people who complain about American 'Culturelessness'

I think Europeans are just mad that even the culture embodied by McDonalds is so pervasive. Europeans just hate the way that they like to wear nikes and levis, listen to 50 cent, watch American movies, and eat American food. :p

It must just kill them, ya think?

Quiet child.

Generally those that listen to 50 Cent, blah, blah, blah, aren't the same people who complain about American 'Culturelessness'

This, I agree, is probably true.

"I have been to Africa. I have met and talked to many africans. I'm american."-Whoopi Goldberg.

Lol, that's 1 funny quote!

Quiet child.

Generally those that listen to 50 Cent, blah, blah, blah, aren't the same people who complain about American 'Culturelessness'

Are you saying that you don't wear jeans? That you've never eaten fast food or watched an American movie? I find that extremely hard to believe. At any rate, such critics are no doubt jealous that such worthless American culture is so appealing to the youth of their own country. I don't see why they're surprised though, because Europeans in general have been eating up American culture with a spoon, ever since GIs handed out Hershey bars and chewing gum back in WWII.

Can you tell me about the accomplishments of any of the persons I named?

Do you know who Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Owen Gehry were?

John Keats, Poet? Not too good on poetry.

J.D. Salinger, Fantastic writer who's most famous book is probably "Catcher in the Rye"

F. Scott Fitzgerald, American novelist who wrote the Great Gatsby and the Last Tycoon. I don't rate him much, but many love him (even outside the States)

Ernest Hemingway, The man.

Jackson Pollack, Painter, I know about as much about painters as I do about poetry

Winslow Homer ???

Edward Hopper, ???

Ansel Adams ???

Woody Guthrie, Artist

Robert Johnson, Fantastic musician.

Charlie Parker ???

I hope I've got them right.

I'm surprised you didn't mention Arthur Miller, Bob Dylan, John Steinbeck and Mark Twain (especially Twain).

But I am a rarity in Britain, in that I think America has a lot to be proud of.

Are you saying that you don't wear jeans? That you've never eaten fast food or watched an American movie?

Am I saying that I don't like American Culture (hint: see above post). Don't assume that because I am non-American I am therefore Anti-American.

But I don't eat fast food.

Are you saying that you don't wear jeans?
Not usualy.
That you've never eaten fast food
Not often
or watched an American movie?
Well, Europe, or at least Germany spends billions financing movies like Chicago, the Matrix, Lord of the Rings etc...So I do watch it. It's my money too.

Am I saying that I don't like American Culture (hint: see above post). Don't assume that because I am non-American I am therefore Anti-American.

But I don't eat fast food.

I was simply questioning the ability of anyone, even the rabid anti-americans in Europe, to escape the rather pervasive nature of America's cultural dominance. That, in fact, the reason they hate the culture is not because American culture is inferior, only that it is not European.

I was simply questioning the ability of anyone, even the rabid anti-americans in Europe, to escape the rather pervasive nature of America's cultural dominance. That, in fact, the reason they hate the culture is not because American culture is inferior, only that it is not European.
And like I said, those most likely to critisise American culture are those that will not wear jeans, eat MacDonalds etc.

But I do agree that it is because it is non-European rather then American that they think it is inferior. Bloody Little Englander syndrome.

i use the term balck because i use it mainly to describe the physical charactrisitic of skin color, the same way i would say blonde, brunette, tall, short, whatever. for the same reason i have no problem being called white. as far as specific ethnic background and being homogenized, my ancestors first came to america around 1650, so i have no problem being refered to as american without a specific european country in front because i'm certainly a mix and proud of it. i don't see that as being some sort of homogenized stereotype, thats just what i am. culturally i identify with where i am from in america, which is south louisiana, whose culture has primarily french and african roots. i think the culture you are brought up in is most important and where your ancestors came from largely irrevelant.

I'm sick of idiots like you spouting this bullshit that America has no culture.

Have you ever heard of John Keats...?


As in the poet John Keats (1795-1821), the englishman famed for works such as Ode To A Grecian Urn, who never went near the American continent, or are you referring to a different chap called John Keats of American origin?

damn, i took a long time to write that and now it doesn't fit. i'm not really sure how this turned into an america vs europe discussion, but anyway, i hate mcdonalds and especially wal-mart, dislike country except for johnny cash, willie nelson, hank williams, etc, but i'm still proud of american culture because of people like twain, hemingway, thomas wolfe, etc. all that other crap is just rampant consumerism and materialism, and doesn't really fit under the label culture, american or otherwise.

who the hell came up with african-american. im sorry i think it's stupid. most of the black people in the U.S. aren't african, they may have african heritage but they're not african. black people are black and white people are white, but hey if we identify people by there heritage then people would have to call me an english-scottish-french-german-dutch-irish-italian-american.

P.S. sorry if i sound racist.

They're trying to introduce this into England to encourage racism and give the Race Relations Board a job after they nearly wiped out racism a decade ago.

This bullshit idea that McDonalds constitutes the extent of American culture is just ingnorance on the part of arrogant EUros, or elitist liberal snobs.

Most EUs don't like to remember Blues, Jazz, Rock and Roll, the Hippy movement, the Beatnik scene, and the true spirit of rebellion (a la Hemingway) came out of the US.

*shrug*

Most EUs don't like to remember Blues, Jazz, Rock and Roll, the Hippy movement, the Beatnik scene, and the true spirit of rebellion (a la Hemingway) came out of the US.

*shrug*

Which is a damned shame imo.

who the hell came up with african-american. im sorry i think it's stupid. most of the black people in the U.S. aren't african, they may have african heritage but they're not african. black people are black and white people are white, but hey if we identify people by there heritage then people would have to call me an english-scottish-french-german-dutch-irish-italian-american.

P.S. sorry if i sound racist.

tru dat nigga

Most EUs don't like to remember Blues, Jazz, Rock and Roll, the Hippy movement, the Beatnik scene, and the true spirit of rebellion (a la Hemingway) came out of the US.

*shrug*

Not to mention potatoes and armadillos.

My suggestion would just be to ask which they prefer or if you dont know a person and are just saying something like "the pears are next to the black guy" and they take offense to that ask them why. Everyone is going to be calling "them" different things based on where you live(not only just what country but also it can go down to city or neighborhood). "They" generally know what they want to be called if you just ask, but every person is different