'African American': a racist term?
Greg Hirshorn
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Opinion
In 1988 Jessie Jackson urged that the term 'African American' be used over the term 'black,' which emerged in the 1960s as a derivative of the term 'blacky.' Before 1988 there has been an evolution of terms which have been used to describe black people. There are some terms that are derogatory and have never been appropriate, like blacky, boogie, buck, coon, jigaboo, spade and tar baby. Then there are terms that were used at one point in time but may be considered inappropriate if used today, like colored and negro. In 1997 the NAACP mounted an effort to have the word 'nigger' removed from the Merriam-Webster dictionary. This past summer in New York there was even a ceremonial burying of 'the n word.'
There is much debate among people for the correct term that should be used when speaking about 'black' people. I use the word black but some say that even that word should not be used. The issue is a very complex one because it deals with race, and race is always a touchy topic when being dealt with. There is a word that is used frequently to describe black people that I feel is inaccurate and used to cover up racist feelings; the term is African American.
What frustrates me about the use of the term African American is said very well by the online site Urban Dictionary: "What white people say when they afraid to say black especially when a black person is in the room." I feel many people who use this term are thinking other things in the back of their mind, which are derogatory towards black people.
It frustrates me even further when these people say that they are only being respectful by saying 'African American.' If you ask me, it has nothing to do with being respectful but instead attempting to cover up the racist thoughts that are going through the person's head.
My second largest pet peeve is a person covering themselves to avoid criticism for the way that they truly feel, the first being indecisiveness. If people are dumb enough to have racist views in regards to blacks then they should express them in their choice of words so that they can be identified as the ignorant people that they are.
There is much debate among people for the correct term that should be used when speaking about 'black' people. I use the word black but some say that even that word should not be used. The issue is a very complex one because it deals with race, and race is always a touchy topic when being dealt with. There is a word that is used frequently to describe black people that I feel is inaccurate and used to cover up racist feelings; the term is African American.
What frustrates me about the use of the term African American is said very well by the online site Urban Dictionary: "What white people say when they afraid to say black especially when a black person is in the room." I feel many people who use this term are thinking other things in the back of their mind, which are derogatory towards black people.
It frustrates me even further when these people say that they are only being respectful by saying 'African American.' If you ask me, it has nothing to do with being respectful but instead attempting to cover up the racist thoughts that are going through the person's head.
My second largest pet peeve is a person covering themselves to avoid criticism for the way that they truly feel, the first being indecisiveness. If people are dumb enough to have racist views in regards to blacks then they should express them in their choice of words so that they can be identified as the ignorant people that they are.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
Lorenzo Thompson
posted 8/20/08 @ 6:12 PM EST
I totally agree with this article. I would say we are American first and Black Americans if race or ethnicity matters at all. Most of us who this article speaks to or about have never been to Africa, so how could I ever be an African American. (Continued…)
Baraboo Student
posted 9/30/08 @ 9:40 PM EST
I AM SO GLAD I FOUND THIS ARTICLE!
I am a student taking a racial and ethnic diversity class at a small college. My professor has several doctorates and considers herself to be quite the authority in this matter. (Continued…)
Andrew
posted 10/07/08 @ 3:26 PM EST
"When a white person uses the term African American with a black person in the room a lot of times the moment that person exits the room the white person will have a racist comment to make. (Continued…)
Jerry
posted 11/14/08 @ 4:15 PM EST
Greg Hirshorn
Mr Hirshorn it would seem to me sir that you are more racist than anyone using the term negro. It depends on what time period you grew up in as to what you will call a person. (Continued…)
Joe
posted 3/22/09 @ 9:46 PM EST
The term "African American" is at the very least divisive. It's meant to be so. It's a deliberate attempt to, ironically, undermine what MLK stood for. (Continued…)
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