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What's wrong with being <Country of parental/your origin>-American?

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>I think that "blacks" was once a pc way to not say "negro" which was a pc
>way to not say "colored" or something like that. Whatever....

I think it went:

negro
colored
black
african-american

I wonder what the next will be once african-american becomes offensive?

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>When you label someone a certain way, it just makes it harder for
>them to change, for good or bad.

Agreed. But we're not really talking about that. We're talking about people taking names for _themselves_, I think.



I think it certainly started that way. People labeled themselves to give distinction. However, I think nowadays it is REQUIRED by SOME that if you are part of their group, you should label yourself as such. And if you don't? Well, you better turn in your card.
Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

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That isnt right, I dont hear white people getting upset cause there called white, jeesh...They are black, or brown , I cant even begin to count how many times I have heard black people call each other the "N" word. Im the least polictually correct person I know, I once had a Golden Retriever named Honkey (its worse down here then being called white trash) and a chocolate lab called Niglet, lets just say when they would run away I wasnt the most liked person in the neighborhood.
Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

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I think it went:

negro
colored
black
african-american

I wonder what the next will be once african-american becomes offensive?



There was a segment on some comedy show where a black guy was using "African American" and one of the black "activists" (I think it was supposed to be Jessie Jackson) on the show told him that the new term was "Black" again.

The guy went off saying "When the hell did that happen? Why I am I the last to know, Damnit, I wish we could just stick to one damn name....ect"

Pretty damn funny.
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

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well we sure and the heck cant call them "them" that would be wrong, term black is easier, colored people isnt good, I hear black isnt technicually a color, and negro reminds me of a college fund....speaking of that how is it okay to name a whole fund that yet if I say anything regardless if its black brown colored negro etc its wrong? For once I agree with Jesse
Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

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>speaking of that how is it okay to name a whole fund that yet if I
>say anything regardless if its black brown colored negro etc its wrong?

I think there's a grandfather clause thing. The NAACP still includes the phrase "colored people" but they get grandfathered.

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well we sure and the heck cant call them "them" that would be wrong, term black is easier, colored people isnt good, I hear black isnt technicually a color, and negro reminds me of a college fund....speaking of that how is it okay to name a whole fund that yet if I say anything regardless if its black brown colored negro etc its wrong? For once I agree with Jesse



Well:
Negro: Whats wrong with that...Like you said they have the "United Negro College Fund"...so I don't see how they can find it offensive when they use it for a fund.

Colored: What about the NAACP? How can it be "bad" if the have a group dedicated to it?

Black: Well, they are not really black. But then again I am not really white either, and it seems they don't have a problem calling me white. I like the old Star Trek episode where the Andorians called Kirk "Pink Skin" (OK the fact I knew that scares even me).

Nigger: Well if they want that term to die....Maybe they should stop using it?

My Grandmother called Blacks "Darkies"...She was in no way racist, but in the small town she grew up in thats what they called black people. She was too old to change with the times and in the small farm town she lived in no one cared....But it made me laugh everytime she said it, and if we tried to correct her, she would just look confused. "Well, they are darker".
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

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I agree,

I love your grandma, my grandma wasnt so nice, she wasnt racist though cause she hated everyone. I cant even write some of the things but lets just say that no race was ever ignored, not even us pinkies... wait im more a pale olive...
Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

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My Grandmother called Blacks "Darkies"...She was in no way racist, but in the small town she grew up in thats what they called black people. She was too old to change with the times and in the small farm town she lived in no one cared....But it made me laugh everytime she said it, and if we tried to correct her, she would just look confused. "Well, they are darker".



Heh...your story reminds me of when I used to visit my family in Thailand as a kid--there was a toothpaste there called "DARKIE." Their logo was a black man in a top hat with a big, white toothy grin. The last time I visited (almost 10 years ago), they had changed the name to "DARLIE" but kept the logo! :D

_Pm
__
"Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

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Here it is! I guess they changed the logo to a white man...my bad. It's still funny, though.

http://www.sinosplice.com/weblog/archives/001456.php

_Pm



That's pretty funny....kept the logo, but changed the color.

But, on another note, when I was in high school (graduated in '84) my boyfriend and I stole the neon "colored" sign that still hung over the bathroom door of a local gas station. While the whole PC thing is a bit ridiculous, there are obvious reasons that people want to be spoken to and treated with respect.

Peace~
linz

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I'm American, but some people call me "McBack" and I'm okay with that



Cause you have a kickin caboose? Or cause you are part wet back?


I know the Irish in you will kick my butt once the Mexican in you takes a nap first.;)
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

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well, at least "african-american" is a little more accurate than "black". Problem is that its a whole bunch of syllables.

By the same reasoning, I'm not white, I'm a sort of peach-very light tan kinda color.
(edited to add: But I'm darker than Michael Jackson! ;)
:P
If you were a Pict, would you be called a "Blue"??
:P;);)
Speed Racer
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In practical terms, I think African American means you're a black American. Would a white immigrant from South Africa call himself an African American?



Damn right I would. And I'd be a million times more African than all those basketball heros you have over there - just as they'll be a million times more American than I'll ever be.

I'm sorry if the idea of 7th generation white Africans upsets some people, but as we said earlier - it's about where you're from - not what colour you are.

And I am from Africa.

t
It's the year of the Pig.

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But i thought by prefixing "-American" you are prefixing it with a country, not a race.



In practical terms, I think African American means you're a black American. Would a white immigrant from South Africa call himself an African American?



I believe Teresa Heinz-Kerry called herself an African American during the campaign.
For my part, I know nothing with any certainty,
But the sight of the stars makes me dream.
-Vincent Van Gogh

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It's actually kind of funny that African-American has become synonymous with Black. I work with this black guy at work- and he's real easy to talk to about this stuff- and I was aking him what he checks on forms. He told me African-American, because theres no where to check off black. Then he says, and I'm not even from Africa. But he's cool with it- on anything govt related (like the SAT's for school and college apps) he checks off other because he doesnt want any special treatment.


The sole intention, is learning to fly.Condition grounded, but determined to try.Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies.Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit.

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