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Termyn8or -> RE: "African American" (11/17/2008 1:22:14 AM)
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When I first saw this I said to myself "Not with a ten foot pole", that I would most likely get kicked off here for good. But now that I see the subject I see what you mean.
First of all America is a continent, not a country. US Citizens and those of Canada and Mexico, or Bolivia for that matter are just as much American as us true red white and blue scourges of the Earth. As has been pointed out, Africa is also a continent. Europe is another.
Now folks, boats were invented a very long time ago and people used to get on them and travel. I knew a guy who had two African Parents and was totally white as a sheet. I know a Woman from Hungary (she is quite old now) with skin as black as coal, I mean blacker than most Black people. Notice the capitalisation of the word in relation to when it was used.
I know that's not the main poiont so I shall now segue into the next part. I guess I would be called a Euro-American, but that tells you nothing. Am I Polak, Italian, German or what ? You might know from my other posts but not right here and now. Similarly is a Black person of African descent a Kenyan-American or a Rwandan-American or what ? I work (or worked) with a guy who is West African, actually from West Africa. However there is no such country as West Africa. He certainly exists though. His skin happens to be dark, and his first language was French.
Most of us, if we are not Native American descent our ancestors came here for a better life. Those whos' ancestors were brought here as slaves may be a different story, but really most are better off here than if they had been left alone. In fact there were White slaves, and at one time part of this country was a penal colony, somewhat like Guyana used to be.
I think it a good thing to know one's heritage. Those whos' ancestors were brought here as slaves are at a terrible disadvantage in that respect. Tell you one guy I'd like to meet is Alex Haley. I don't see how the hell he found out all that about his heritage. The Man obviously has something between the ears, and I watched Roots enthusiastically.
I know people who put Euro-American on job applications, and they got queried about it. They also got the job but that is beside the point. I can call myself a Euro-American because it is true, but what does that tell you ? Pretty much nothing.
I consider myself lucky to know my heritage, learning about it from Parents and Grandparents, but some are not so lucky. Descendants of slaves, adoptees and orphans could have a very tough time finding out. It was interesting to hear about the "old country".
I would like to help everyone find out about their heritage, but it is completely out of my field of expertise. I can do nothing.
If you cut out everything and just get down to it, we are Americans (over here I mean, I know we got people from other countries in CM). What's more, the US means the United States Of America, and we tend to bandy the term "American" about like it is going out of style. The President is going to save "American" jobs. That means Mexico and Canada as well as Venezuela and a bunch of others.
I am an American, born in the USA in the country/territory of Ohio. The fact that Ohio is not a state is not a debate that I wish to revisit at this time. But the fact that I was born in the US is really all that matters now.
Of course we are not equal. Never were, equality is a myth. We all should get the same chances though, equal application of law, opportunities based solely on merit, all that. But I am not equal to a crackhead living under a bridge of any race.
So call yourself an American, that others may know that is the first and foremost in your mind. Call yourself a US Citizen (note the capitalisation) and even with these tough times ahead, that is still what I am and many others.
Actually, something that I have not mentioned before is that I am descendant from royalty. The point is, what does that do for me ? Absolutley nothing. It doesn't matter if my ancestors sucked pond scum or played polo, it is what I do that counts.
So Americans, Europeans, Africans, Asians, Antarcicans whatever, welcome to Earth, third rock from the sun.
T
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