NationStates Jolt Archive

'I have a problem with the term African American...The word negro is a perfectly good word. There is nothing wrong with that'

Andy Rooney on Imus 11/4/05, MSNBC, 8:45am ET

Andy, don't you think you're being politically incorrect? Is that allowed at CBS?

Negro? It's kind of old school, but how offensive can it be? United Negro College Fund still uses the term.

Negro? It's kind of old school, but how offensive can it be? United Negro College Fund still uses the term.

Try it in downtown Newark and let me know how it goes...

I don't like the term "African American" either. Does that make the white people of America "European American"?

I don't like the term "African American" either. Does that make the white people of America "European American"?

Well, I would rather that we all be called, "Americans", but that's just me.

I think "African American" is stupid. Are all Americans or Irish descent called "Irish Americans"? What about "German Americans" or "English Americans"? "Moldovan Americans"? How about about "Canadian American"?

It's moronic. They're all American, why not just call them "American"?

I always found the term "African American" somewhat odd. I guess because it's ok to call me "white", and I don't go around insisting that people call me a "European American".

Well, I would rather that we all be called, "Americans", but that's just me.
Yup :)

:confused:

I'll see your :confused: and raise you :eek: .

:confused:
Growing up in the US, I was first admonished to use the term, "black" and not "Negro", and especially not <you know>.

Later, I was admonished never to use the term "black", and only use the term, "African-American".

Well, Africa is a pretty big place. And I'm sure that people differ from country to country there (culture, language, etc).

I think it stemmed from the US government's ideas on race - everyone had to have a classification - and one broad enough to enable the Democratic Party to identify each one as a voting bloc.

Hence their dismay during the last census when people were allowed to mark multiple "races" and insert races of their own choosing as well. The Democrats protested, saying that the "African-American" vote and the "Hispanic" vote would be chopped into little pieces by doing the census this way.

I have only one thing to say to the Democrats on that subject - if you want racism to stop, you have to stop using racist terms - and stop using racist categorizations.

Try it in downtown Newark and let me know how it goes...
I don't own a bullet proof vest.

andy rooney is often politically incorrect. he has probably already caught a ration of shit over it.

no there is nothing WRONG with the word negro. as DCD said there is the united negro college fund, there is even the national association for the advancement of colored people.

i prefer to use whatever term is most favored by the members of a particular group. that seems to vary between black, afro-american and african american on fairly regular basis. the perferred term hasnt been negro in a long long time.

'I have a problem with the term African American...The word negro is a perfectly good word. There is nothing wrong with that'

Andy Rooney on Imus 11/4/05, MSNBC, 8:45am ET

Andy, don't you think you're being politically incorrect? Is that allowed at CBS?

To worry about what your race is called is a sign of racial insecurity. To me, it means that you either don't really like what you are, or that you feel your race is inferior. You'll notice that most white people don't care what they're called, because they are secure about, and comfortable with, their racial identity.

I'm sorry, but what is the point of this topic.

I'm sorry, but what is the point of this topic.

Point: Democrats in the US seem more preoccupied with labeling people according to race - and here steps out an old school Democrat who defies the current acceptable term to Democrats.

I wouldn't try this in Newark either.

http://www.alldumb.com/item/13968

Point: Democrats in the US seem more preoccupied with labeling people according to race - and here steps out an old school Democrat who defies the current acceptable term to Democrats.
Point: your topics are getting to be more pointless slander of any opposing ideaology than anything and I am tired of it.

Point: your topics are getting to be more pointless slander of any opposing ideaology than anything and I am tired of it.

It's not slander. All of the race catorgization efforts within the US census as well as on government contracting forms are the result of Democratic sponsored legislation. They are the only party up in arms about the new way the census was conducted - essentially disintegrating their ideas of "Hispanic" and "African-American".

It's not slander. All of the race catorgization efforts within the US census as well as on government contracting forms are the result of Democratic sponsored legislation. They are the only party up in arms about the new way the census was conducted - essentially disintegrating their ideas of "Hispanic" and "African-American".
This is the last time I will say this. I got tired of this bullshit with Eutrusca and I am getting tired of it with you.

This is the last time I will say this. I got tired of this bullshit with Eutrusca and I am getting tired of it with you.
Then use the ignore feature. I am not flaming, nor am I violating any NS rules or policies by posting these threads.

As I note, you are the one with the extreme language at this point in time. I suppose that is what you revert to when you are at a loss for words.

Point: Democrats in the US seem more preoccupied with labeling people according to race - and here steps out an old school Democrat who defies the current acceptable term to Democrats.
for god's sake, andy rooney is 86 years old. when he was young negro WAS the polite term to use.

I don't like the term "African American" either. Does that make the white people of America "European American"?
It is amazing how mad some people can get when you use the term and they happen to be african africans rather then african americans

I think "African American" is stupid. Are all Americans or Irish descent called "Irish Americans"?
Well, yes, actually, we are.

What about "German Americans" or "English Americans"? "Moldovan Americans"?
We have those, too, though "English-American" isn't used much - English ancestry is assumed to be the default. Where it is used, it tends to be "Anglo-American".

How about about "Canadian American"?
Not used too often - a US citizen of Canadian ancestry would probably be labelled according to the ethnicity of their European ancestors - hence an Irish-Canadian would probably become an Irish-American.

It's moronic. They're all American, why not just call them "American"?
We do that, too. Or we could all go a step further and just call them "humans".

And before anyone flames me over this, bear in mind that I'm not defending the use of such labels. I am merely observing that they are, in fact, used.

:rolleyes:

Point: Democrats in the US seem more preoccupied with labeling people according to race - and here steps out an old school Democrat who defies the current acceptable term to Democrats.

Yeah, it is kinda odd. The only thing that weirds me out about it is that though I definitely know what NOT to call them as a group, I rarely know what IS acceptable to them.

Negro - out
Black - out, apparently
African-American - never even was "in", really....

Most of the black friends I have seem to like "dawg" pretty well, as in "whassup, dawg?". But then I felt weird about that too, like I was attempting to impersonate a black man, or something. That's a little bit weird for someone of my age to be acting like he thought was a "homie". Then I had an epiphany. I'll just call them by their name. That seems to work pretty well for me and them. As for groups, start with "black" and if they have a problem with that, they'll tell you. In that case, ask them what they DO like. Only problem is that you may even get a different term than all the ones I have already listed.

Andy Rooney is from a different generation, back when the word "negro" was an accepted term, even among "people of color". I doubt the blacks/negroes/African-Americans even care what Andy Rooney thinks or says. Sort of a moot point really. The really interesting part will come when the liberal Caucasians in charge at C.B.S. decide what to do with the drooling imbecile before he gets them in even more trouble.


Peace out, dawg.

Andy Rooney is a liberal?

Andy Rooney is a liberal?

Only when it serves the NeoCon Fundie Right's mudslinging parties on liberals :D

"I don't call myself 'African American'. I've been to Africa. I have met and talked with many africans. I'm an American." -Whoopi Goldberg.

What Sierra doesn't realize is that his constant fixation on the Democrats'/Liberals' fixation on race is just as detrimental to race relations as the original fixation. Oops. Sorry. It's not like Sierra is mentioning race to make some kind of political point.

I dont like the term "African American" either.

I think a better term would be "American African"

Remember: Your in our country, You pay our taxes, You pledge alliegence to OUR flag. We come first.

What Sierra doesn't realize is that his constant fixation on the Democrats'/Liberals' fixation on race is just as detrimental to race relations as the original fixation. Oops. Sorry. It's not like Sierra is mentioning race to make some kind of political point.

Other than "Democrat/Liberals are hypocrites and therefore should be driven to extinction"? No point at all :D