NationStates Jolt Archive

If a black person was to say “I am proud to be black!”, most people in the U.S. today would probably think “That’s cool.” However, if a white person said “I am proud to be white!”, people might think “That guy’s weird” or possibly “What’s wrong with you?”

Non-whites in the U.S. are encouraged by society to learn about their history and heritage. For example, February has been dubbed “Black History Month.” When similar topics are brought up about European history, it is frowned on and called Eurocentrism. So I ask: why the double-standard?

Society teaches us to call black people “African Americans.” In school, teachers correct children by telling them to say this term instead of black. I have never once heard anyone call me “Caucasian American,” so why should I call black people African American, asian people as Asian American, etc.?

The whole “African American” term has come from people wishing for more political correctness. The political correctness movement supposedly wants to keep people from getting their feelings hurt, when in reality, there is nothing more condescending about calling someone black than there is about calling someone white. I am not saying by this post that we should start calling white people Caucasian Americans. I am also not trying to say that black people should not study African culture because it would be considered Afrocentrism, the African equivalent of Eurocentrism. That is just stupid. I am saying that there is nothing wrong with taking off the popular “American” suffix to a lot of the names of ethnic groups. The term turns a simple word into a long and tedious phrase, and there really is no meaning for it. I am also saying that if white people want to study European topics, then that is also okay.

So am I right or am I just an insensitive jerk?

So am I right or am I just an insensitive jerk?

You're someone who seems to either have a very poor, or very selective, grasp of the last 300 years or so of history, not to mention civics and social sciences.

It's a valid point. in th elast Uk census you had all different varieties of race and origin to choose from but not Scots- British.

There are Afrikaaner (read White of Dutch descent) "African-Americans", so let that be an indicator of how inaccurate that load of PC horseshit is. Truth be told, the average Black person in the US is no more African than I am.

There's a Black History Month and not a White History Month (which is what you implied without typing it) because Whites had no struggle for things like the right to vote, work, live, walk down the damn street, and so forth. And to shut the other side up, it's February NOT because it's the shortest month, as I've heard some mindless yammering infer. Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two very important figures in Black history, were born in that month.

There are Afrikaaner (read White of Dutch descent) "African-Americans", so let that be an indicator of how inaccurate that load of PC horseshit is. Truth be told, the average Black person in the US is no more African than I am.
Really? I find that hilarious. :)

White people DO study European topics. How's about "world" history? Economics? Hell, even Music History is just chock full of Europeans. Get the point yet?

Really? I find that hilarious. :)
Why? They're White, and were born in Africa. Thus, legitimately African-American if they came to the US and attained citizenship.

Why? They're White, and were born in Africa. Thus, legitimately African-American if they came to the US and attained citizenship.
Oh please...these useless labels you attach. So I am a white repatriated Euro-African European? Umm...yeah, talk about superfluous and redundant words. I'll stick with South African born European.

Personally, I like the label "person." It works so very well.

You are right.

I don't like the term "Native" American either.
I am native american: I was born here. My parents were born here, my grandparents were born here, my great-garandparents were born here.....

American Indians didn't evolve as a species of human on the American continent, they immigrated also.

My son is Chippewa-Cree. I share my German heritage with him. We are both "native" to America having been born here.

BTW, for all you ethnic justice folks, when is American Indian History Month?

You are right.

I don't like the term "Native" American either.
I am native american: I was born here. My parents were born here, my grandparents were born here, my great-garandparents were born here.....

American Indians didn't evolve as a species of human on the American continent, they immigrated also.

My son is Chippewa-Cree. We are both "native" to America having been born here.

That's probably the one that's bothered me the most, actually. If we're going to have terms, they should at least be accurate.

Oh please...these useless labels you attach. So I am a white repatriated Euro-African European? Umm...yeah, talk about superfluous and redundant words. I'll stick with South African born European.
HEY -- read the whole thread before you post. I said "African-American" was INACCURATE because it includes some Whites. I say Black when I mean Black and White when I mean White.

As for Native American, it works for me when I don't know the tribal affiliation of the individual. I ask as soon as it's polite.

Oh please...these useless labels you attach. So I am a white repatriated Euro-African European? Umm...yeah, talk about superfluous and redundant words. I'll stick with South African born European.

I believe the correct term would be Euronatal Australo-Albafrican*. Anything else is just plain offensive.

*Not to be confused with Australian-Albafrican

I believe the correct term would be Euronatal Australo-Albafrican*. Anything else is just plain offensive.

*Not to be confused with Australian-Albafrican
I'll stick to what I said.

I believe the correct term would be Euronatal Australo-Albafrican*. Anything else is just plain offensive.

*Not to be confused with Australian-Albafrican
Say what?

Jesus, who cares what his extraction is, I just wanna know if he's holdin' weed, man!

I'll stick with South African born European.

Does this mean I can't call you apartheidist anymore?

It goes against everything I was taught.

Does this mean I can't call you apartheidist anymore?

It goes against everything I was taught.
Sorry to disappoint. ;)

Say what?

Jesus, who cares what his extraction is, I just wanna know if he's holdin' weed, man!
Heh...you'd expect that from the Dutch in me...but again, sorry to disappoint. :)

Sorry to disappoint. ;)

Well, white South African is sort of like Nazi, and Nazis were mostly German, so by inference and guilt by association, I can call you "boche!" Yay! :fluffle:

Well, white South African is sort of like Nazi, and Nazis were mostly German, so by inference and guilt by association, I can call you "boche!" Yay! :fluffle:
Hmmm, or even a Kraut if you're feeling particularly Anglo.

Hmmm, or even a Kraut if you're feeling particularly Anglo.

http://images.quizilla.com/J/jackee/1037956530_ench-guard.jpg

Choose an English insult over a French one? That's just silly.

Heh...you'd expect that from the Dutch in me...but again, sorry to disappoint. :)
Aw, dammit. And with jet fuel prices rising, I'll NEVER get to Amsterdam!

Aw, dammit. And with jet fuel prices rising, I'll NEVER get to Amsterdam!
You break my heart... :)

http://images.quizilla.com/J/jackee/1037956530_ench-guard.jpg

Choose an English insult over a French one? That's just silly.
Sort of like choosing crème brûlée over crumpets as a dessert. Both get the job done, but the French one just does it so much better, and so much more artfully.

Sort of like choosing crème brûlée over crumpets as a dessert. Both get the job done, but the French one just does it so much better, and so much more artfully.

Ew... crème brûlée... gross...

Choose the crumpets!

Ew... crème brûlée... gross...

Choose the crumpets!
Silly girl. :p

Silly girl. :p

I'm one of those, ahem, intelligent people who dislike custard, pudding, tapioca, etc.

I'm one of those, ahem, intelligent people who dislike custard, pudding, tapioca, etc.
Ah, one of those cases where intelligence is double-bladed; both boon and affliction.

Ah, one of those cases where intelligence is double-bladed; both boon and affliction.

Yup, 'fraid so! Which is a pity, 'cause otherwise I REALLY like princess cakes... REALLY like them.

Being proud or ashamed of your race is ludicrous no matter what you are.
You did nothing to deserve it.