it's Black History month and the debate is unfolding
I find myself using "Black American" a lot these days so I'll say that's what I prefer.
our ancestors were obviously from Africa but "Black" just really speaks to the amazing culture we've developed for ourselves here as descendants of slavery.
And things like "Black is beautiful." come to mind when I say "Black American". So many beautifully powerful statements that have been made over the past few decades with that word included.
but I do use "African-American" sometimes. And see nothing wrong with anyone using it all the time or preferring it over "Black American"
https://x.com/AfricanArchives/status/1756521626915463374
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Black American doesn't make sense to me because it's adding a race + nationality. It's either just Black or African American (and that's only because we don't have citizenship in a specific country in Africa) because it should be Kenyan/Nigerian/Tanzanian etc
Quote from: RAY7 on February 15, 2024, 10:14:38 PMBlack American doesn't make sense to me because it's adding a race + nationality. It's either just Black or African American (and that's only because we don't have citizenship in a specific country in Africa) because it should be Kenyan/Nigerian/Tanzanian etc
i guess the specificity of "Black American" makes sense to me cuz I know people who are from other places within the African diaspora (like Afro-Latino from example), who identify as "Black".
but their "Black" isn't Black American.
if I'm casually referring to myself or even another individual, I'd probably just say "Black" but if I'm having a conversation which involves other groups of people, where I need to be clear on which group of people I'm referring to and representing, I'll def say Black American.
Black American is simply a more formal way of saying Black to me.
Quote from: Children of Mongolia on February 15, 2024, 10:38:58 PMQuote from: RAY7 on February 15, 2024, 10:14:38 PMBlack American doesn't make sense to me because it's adding a race + nationality. It's either just Black or African American (and that's only because we don't have citizenship in a specific country in Africa) because it should be Kenyan/Nigerian/Tanzanian etc
i guess the specificity of "Black American" makes sense to me cuz I know people who are from other places within the African diaspora (like Afro-Latino from example), who identify as "Black".
but their "Black" isn't Black American.
if I'm casually referring to myself I'd def just say "Black" but if I'm having a conversation which involves other groups of people, where I need it to be clear on which group of people I'm referring to and representing, I'll def say Black American.
Black American is simply a more formal way of saying Black to me.
that's understandable. However I do think if you say "Black" ppl will likely know you meant American unless you say otherwise
Quote from: RAY7 on February 15, 2024, 10:47:57 PMQuote from: Children of Mongolia on February 15, 2024, 10:38:58 PMQuote from: RAY7 on February 15, 2024, 10:14:38 PMBlack American doesn't make sense to me because it's adding a race + nationality. It's either just Black or African American (and that's only because we don't have citizenship in a specific country in Africa) because it should be Kenyan/Nigerian/Tanzanian etc
i guess the specificity of "Black American" makes sense to me cuz I know people who are from other places within the African diaspora (like Afro-Latino from example), who identify as "Black".
but their "Black" isn't Black American.
if I'm casually referring to myself I'd def just say "Black" but if I'm having a conversation which involves other groups of people, where I need it to be clear on which group of people I'm referring to and representing, I'll def say Black American.
Black American is simply a more formal way of saying Black to me.
that's understandable. However I do think if you say "Black" ppl will likely know you meant American unless you say otherwise
that's understandable. however (https://media1.giphy.com/media/H7krZUw8p1XLG/200w.gif?cid=6c09b952pz8yxn5raqm6rijrk46cqopv0v4hl79oidpk36h6&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g)
Quote from: RAY7 on February 15, 2024, 10:47:57 PMQuote from: Children of Mongolia on February 15, 2024, 10:38:58 PMQuote from: RAY7 on February 15, 2024, 10:14:38 PMBlack American doesn't make sense to me because it's adding a race + nationality. It's either just Black or African American (and that's only because we don't have citizenship in a specific country in Africa) because it should be Kenyan/Nigerian/Tanzanian etc
i guess the specificity of "Black American" makes sense to me cuz I know people who are from other places within the African diaspora (like Afro-Latino from example), who identify as "Black".
but their "Black" isn't Black American.
if I'm casually referring to myself I'd def just say "Black" but if I'm having a conversation which involves other groups of people, where I need it to be clear on which group of people I'm referring to and representing, I'll def say Black American.
Black American is simply a more formal way of saying Black to me.
that's understandable. However I do think if you say "Black" ppl will likely know you meant American unless you say otherwise
!!!!! That's exactly it. I feel like "Black" is almost exclusive to Black people in America. I personally identity as Black American.
I use Black American. I work in HR and we just had this discussion in my office. Blacks get grouped in one category, but we are so diverse. I have a coworker that is from South Africa, but is of Indian decent, but during Apartheid, she was considered Black, but by American standards, she wouldn't be.
Quote from: BetterAngels on February 15, 2024, 11:06:19 PMI use Black American. I work in HR and we just had this discussion in my office. Blacks get grouped in one category, but we are so diverse. I have a coworker that is from South Africa, but is of Indian decent, but during Apartheid, she was considered Black, but by American standards, she wouldn't be.
exactly.
I think if I'm among a bunch of other Black American people ....me saying "Black" should be enough. we know what it is.
it's only when other groups of people are involved in some way is when I will def make distinctions and be very specific. especially if I'm ready to drag them for trying BA's. :wakemeupinsidebby: