Are Afro-Americans Black or black?

The USA is known as a melting pot. We were inhabited by Native Americans and they apparently arrived from Asia long before. Then came the Spanish and the French and the British. Of course, there is evidence that Eric the Red made a Scandinavian presence on North American soil long before Chris Columbus began bopping around in the Caribbean.

Later, refugees and emigrants from Europe began filling the inner cities of the American East while still later Orientals were imported to work on the West coast and build railroads. Slaves, predominantly black and from Africa, were imported in large numbers. Natives of South and Central America settled largely in the Southwest. Here is a link for those who find the subject fascinating.

Prejudice has always been involved in the influx of emigrants. People had bad names for Irish, Italians, Hispanics, on and on. But no group suffered as much through slavery and prejudice than the Negro. Not even the most populous minority group in the USA now (Hispanics now hold that title), people of largely African descent would have to be the group that had the farthest to go and had to work the hardest to get to the place that they would be accepted by all.

Naturally there is always the idiot factor, and many people still hold prejudice against those of other skin tones or countries of origin. For society in general, however, the playing field has been largely leveled. To me, no one color or creed should have an advantage in the job market or in any other way.

Everyone knows not to use the "N-word" when talking to or referring to a person of dark hue. Yet amongst themselves they do refer to each other in that manner. I was close to a few darker friends when I lived in Washington, DC, and one of them actually would greet me with "What's up, N______?" Sometimes I would say that to him. It was clowning, it was friendly and it was only something done between friends. Even today I am aware that this word is sometimes used, but I would never use it. It has too many degrading connotations.

Fine. I do want to know what is safe to say if wishing to describe a person of color now? (Or should I even say it that way???)

Black: You can order a T-shirt that says "Please Don't Call Me Black" There was a time in the 1960's and 70's when many of those of darker hue rejected the word, "black" and opted for Afro-American. That is kind of a mouthful but, okay, why not?

Afro-American? A blogger I admire and whose link is on my friends blogroll is of darker hue. She says:

"One of the many reasons I don’t like the term “African American” is that I’m not African, and I doubt any African — black or white — would claim me as such.

Being of African descent doesn’t make one African. It’s strange that we use the word “African” as a nationality when I suspect that true Africans refer to their countries when referring to their nationality, and not the continent."


So, anyway, I will soon do a posting about Black or black or Afro-Americans in politics and government and I sure would like to know which adjective to use. Because I am just a white guy and I haven't spend a lot of time thinking about it until now.

By the way, I am part German and Austrian and English and Scot and Irish and American Indian. I am a mongrel. But society calls me white so there you go. I tend to use the term "black" for now, until someone says otherwise. To me, Condi Rice is a great American, very accomplished, and I would say that she is a black woman. But if it is important to say it another way, so be it.

Yes, I know, it would likely be better if we were all to the point that skin tones and origins were never used. Maybe. Of course, that means we'd have to cut out all the blonde jokes.