Why this silly phrase "African-American"?
86414
There is an interesting history of the names that African Americans have chosen for themselves in the last 100 years or so. This is associated with the linguistic phenomenon called "pejorization" (words develop negative connotations).\n\nAbout 100 years ago, AA wanted to call themselves "colored" (for example, consider the NAACP). \n\nBut that became tainted and seemed old fashioned, so they moved to using "negro" (remember the United Negro College Fund). \n\nBut that became tainted and seemed old fashioned, so they moved to using "black" (remember "black power" and "black is beautiful, baby").\n\nBut that became tainted and seemed old fashioned, so they moved to using "Afro-American" (it was the 70's, with platform shoes and bell bottoms and disco, what can I say?).\n\nBut that seemed old fashioned, so they moved to using "African American" (I think Jesse Jackson initiated that, to be parallel with Italian Americans, or Jewish Americans, or German Americans, or Hispanic Americans, or Japanese Americans, etc). \n\nNow you can still sometimes here "people of color" if the person wants to be hip and cool (back to the colored nomenclature). \n\nThe "N" word has evolved from being probably a mispronounciation of the word "negro" to being simultaneously:\n1. the worst curse word that currently exists in American English, worse than the "C" word (which is much less controversial in the UK, and in French just means "silly"). Broadcasters in the US that allow the "N" word on the air can be subject to immense fines by the FCC. \n2. a hip, cool word used by rappers and gang-bangers (most of color, but some caucasian imitators).
359596
Either is just fine with me! Black seems more comfortable...it seems like a lot of times when people say African American they are trying really hard to be respectful, which is appreciated, but its not necessary, especially if it makes them feel uncomfortable in referring to me.  As long as you don't call me the n word, we're cool!
948634
It's a slang word where I am from and in it's context does not mean anything close to what the white people meant when they said it.  But on the contrary I do not use that word and I don't take offense if a black or white person says it.  Come in we are in the year 2006 slavery days are over people need to lighten up and stop using philosophy on every little thing.
316248
African-American is a politically correct term for black people, you need to look back at the history on how black people were called before becoming P.C. term.\n\nGeneration ago, black people or black slave are capture in Africa and sold as slaves by the white people, they were called slave, but a degratory remarks or name were used to called these black people, there were called Negro, which is the earliest name used before Nxxxxr were derive from this.\n\nAs America become more civil with human right and equality laws, black protest and civil right movement, the term slowly evolve to African-America to denotes the black people came from African origin but are now American citizen.
77396
as an educated muliracial woman, i am offended by such comments.  i think comments like this are ignorant.\n\ndoes the person who says this mean to say that black is a behavior and that white is a behavior?  and if so, then that means that to be black is to be stupid and loud and to be white is to be intelligent and proper.\n\ndoes the person who says this mean to say that black people can't be smart, and that white people can't listen to rap if they want to?\n\ni think it's a disgusting comment and the people who say it have no imagination.  anyone can be whatever they want to be.
443638
I think blacks(African Americans) feel comfortable in using the word,because they have adapted an separate meaning from the word's original intent, but get mad when other races use it because it was used as an insult to our race for so long! But to be honest, some black people are offended when they word is used so carelessly and freely by other blacks, because it was a word to express the ultimate disgust and disrespect for a race that whites did not even consider human...we were considered 3/5 of a person!!! So actually, NONE of us should use "their" (not their meaning white people, but their meaning RACIST people) term of disrespect for us as a term of "brotherhood"...but it happens.  I don't know why its so comfortable for it to just slip out of our mouths!!! But when I think about how painful it must have been for our ancestors to be disrespected in such a way, it always makes me think more conciously about what come out of my mouth and not use the word freely as a slang term.\n\nBTW...I like your question because you were not a smart azz in asking it!!! And its something that Black people definitely should think about!!!
137729
African American Dumbass
944845
In the last form I filled out I was referred to as               Non-Hispanic White. How's that for racism?\nAn implication that I am lacking as I am not a member of this group or that group. I have Black friends who also have problems with the hyphenated Americanism implying they are not "fully" American.\n\n I am Irish,\nNorwegian,\nEnglish,\nFrench,\nScottish,\nGerman-American :)\nThey would not let me hyphenate the whole way, they kept cutting it off at French, even when I used commas instead of hyphens
278545
I know many inspirational quote links but why only African'American?
606218
It came from the word "Negro" which is Spanish (I think) for the word black. In slavery times and for a while afterword, it was a more polite way to refer to black people (if polite can be used in this context at all). The 'n' word was a more derogatory, more crass derivative of the word "Negro".
928129
don't be mad at the use of a word, be mad at what their intention was behind the word. racism towards "african americans" is still here just as racism towards all the other races is still alive. And I am caucasion and have not heard the "N" word used by non "people of color" in probably 20 years.
959259
Very good question, I don't know why black people are called African Americans. Some black people have never even been to Africa. But it everyone wants to get technical we are all African Americans. when life frist started we all came from Africa. When all the contenients were together it was call something like( shit I forgot the name ) but africa was the center of it all . even in biblicul times, it said we all came from that region. So again we are all African american in a way
789851
What a pun! I know it's not your fault the show is called "The Amazing Race." Some people who have never seen the show may be confused here. lol. \n\nI watched the show but haven't seen this one. So I'm not sure how well they get along. If they were able to say it to the "sistas" faces then it is okay. \n\nIf they say it secretly and laugh that doesn't even necessarily mean it's racist.Maybe it just sounds funny..."sistas." They could be using it to be racist but I can't assume. \n\nAs a black person I honestly don't find anything wrong with other races using the term at all. It all depends on the context in which is was used.
992850
The "n" word is derogatory. People may use it as a term of endearment because they are ignorant - which further supports the fact that the "n" word is derogatory and negative in meaning. Those who choose to use it are foolish and fool themselves into thinking that it's a cool thing to say. For all of the hundreds of years of abuse that black people endured, it seems to me to be a slap in the face our black ancestors, for people, especially blacks, to now support the use of the word amongst themselves.
773895
You asked a rhetorical question here - what do you want answered?  The African-American community as a whole is hypocritical on the use of this word - that's all.\n\nGood Luck!!!
536869
First of all, there are 2 problems here:\n\n    1. In typical ethnocentric American fashion, most people who answered earlier didn't even notice that you wrote "African", and not "African American".\n\n    2. Your question uses vague words like "top". What does that mean? Best-known? Most important?...\n\n    Learn to ask precise questions. This is done by striving to use precise words.
21614
It is such a hot-button topic, however, here's my take on it. First, for the black people who use it, I feel that they are seriously disrespecting their cultural history, their elders, & so forth. As for the whites who use the term...well...I think they are nothing more than ignorant bigots  who give the rest of us a bad name.\n\nAn interesting story for you regarding this & my reactions to the word's usage. I was in a store earlier this year & this young black man was shopping with his grandmother. He sees a friend a few aisles away & yells the word to him in greeting. I took a quick look at the grandmother's reaction & just LOST it..yeah, me, possibly the most white-bred woman on the planet :) I reamed that poor boy out & embarassed him so badly in front of everyone that he was practically on his knees apologizing to his grandmother. Still irritated, I turned to her before leaving & asked her why she didn't care enough about her heritage or the struggles she went through to impress them upon her grandson. I was so hot I had to leave the store in order to calm down. While outside, the boy comes out & actually apologized TO ME! He said that, until that point in time, he'd never thought that him using the word could upset a white person so badly & had never thought about it disrespecting his grandmother. Turns out, the woman had raised him most of his life & he couldn't believe he'd been doing something that could hurt her feelings.\n\nThe point here is that, if more people would have the nerve to react, whether black or white, we might have a chance of making this generation realize that they can't have it both ways; if they are going to use the word, they can't then get upset if others do the same & they also can't use it & then sit back & talk about being kept down or treated with bias by others. Usage of the word denotes acceptance or it's context, yet I feel that this is totally lost on most of this generation.