GetAwayFromMe said:

Lammastide said:

The short answer would be "Negroid," using a certain simplified 19th-century system of categorizing. But, as with any human classification, nothing's quite "neat," because history, politics, regionality, cultural meaning, self-identity, etc., come into play.

Most would probably not like being referred to as "Negro" today. Too much baggage. Moreover, there is not a consensus around what constitutes "Black" today, much less an overlap in what is widely considered Black and what historically has been considered Negroid or some other category. For example, the peoples of various parts of Northeast Africa -- Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, etc. -- probably would be considered Black in most of the Western world, but they may or may not consider themselves Black, especially relative to nations further South. Further, along certain 19th-century measurements, they were variably included in those humans said to be of a Caucasoid or mixed anthropological profile. Elsewhere, some Sub-Saharan peoples, whom in mixed circles roundly would be recognized as just "Black," are categorized in Negroid sub-races (e.g. Bantu or Pygmy) or in altogether discrete races (Capoid or Congoid) by some social scientists. And many would argue there are active sociopolitical interests at play in all of this variable logic.

The long and short of it is, all categorizations we use with regard to people are a cultural shorthand at best that shrink, grow and altogether transform based on context and, yes, intent. I think we should use them all with caution and qualification.

[Edited 4/13/11 8:28am]

Right, thank you. I guess I'm not really understanding the original question. The equivalent term would be Negroid, not African American. So neither is strong nor weak.

I agree with you.

ConsciousContact said:

psychodelicide said:

As Prince sings in the song, "Race":

Cut me, cut U

And both the blood is red

Yeah, a person doesn t need to educate themselves with history books to see that we are all the same inside and share the same conciousness. It requires a degree of self knowledge.

Exactly!

2elijah said:

Fauxie said:

Now, now. Are you willing to learn from 2elijah or not?

Oh hush, but gee...thanks for the flattery.

thank you 2e.

yep it's true. i always thought the name was like

swazilan or somethin from when i was very young

but no matter whut the name africa always bothered me.

all the orther names were subjective to who was speakin

the (sp) ee ree tree ans

the egyptian

the (sp) ee thee o pians

the samolians

zulus

whutevahs

they may have all had a different name for the land

as far as their eyes could see. but someone elses eyes

may have seen whut to them was another land all

together. but i have no doubt that NONE OF THEM

called it africa.

I DON'T LIKE THE TERM PUDDING!!!

ewwwwwwwwwwwwww

paintedlady said:

HotGritz said:

Twitter is crazy and you would not believe some of the stuff people tweet. I wish I could get paid to spy but then I'd have to work 18 hour days 7 days a week.

But to your point...yes we complain about how labels are used on us by others but we never educate ourselves enough to even understand why the label should offend or compliment. I'm thinking I don't even like the term "label" and would like to replace it with "description". If someone describes me, no problem. If they label me...mmm I might have to kiss them or kick their ass.

Agreed... 10000% you can label my ass "fine" anyday!

I went on twitter and tweeted for one day.. that was it. I went back a week later and had twenty or something odd requests for followers ... I guess I have none now because I haven't went back in a year damn near.

u disappeared from twitter earth

2elijah said:

chaosandisorder said:

I honestly don't like being called African American. I have never even been to Africa. I perfer the term black american. I belive it just describes me better because not everyone who is black has strictly African ancestors.

Everyone, black or not, has ancient African ancestors. It is where the first humas referred to as Homo Sapiens originated, lived, and travelled out of Africa, to populate the rest of the world.

Defining yourself as such doesn't mean you had to be born in Africa, but many who have more recent ancestors, especially those who are direct descendants of Africans brought to America/Caribbean, elsewhere, etc., technically are more closely related, even if they have no idea/knowledge or direct connection with the African ethnic group their recent ancestors were from, unless they do a geneology search.

Here's another example: One of Puerto Rican heritage who has never been to Puerto Rico or was born there, is still Puerto Rican through their parents' heritage, which is really a mixture of a few ethnic groups. Same as someone of Italian, Greek, Irish heritage. Doesn't mean one is necessarily forced to practice the culture of their parents, but they are still part of that particular heritage.

[Edited 4/12/11 8:55am]

THANK YOU!!! i consider myself an afrikan stuck in amerikkka (for now) though...

johnart said:

2elijah said:

Everyone, black or not, has ancient African ancestors. It is where the first humas referred to as Homo Sapiens originated, lived, and travelled out of Africa, to populate the rest of the world.

Defining yourself as such doesn't mean you had to be born there. Example: One of Puerto Rican heritage who has never been to Puerto Rico or was born there, are still Puerto Rican through their parents' heritage. Same as someone of Italian, Greek, Irish heritage. Does mean one necessarily is forced to practice the culture of their parents, but they are still part of that particular heritage.

And yet Ricans act the fool towards each other about what constitutes being a "true" Rican. Not to mention that just being of Rican heritage gives you African and Native (Taino) heritage as well. But Ricans, like everywhere else also get caught up on the white/black bullshit. The best is when someone who's all thinking themselves "white" has a much darker child and then are like . Told ya u dumb bitch.

yup. and i love that on the census, they straight up say that people from north africa (arab peoples, etc.) are considered 'white'. you got some arabs walkin' around as dark as me, and they are 'white'... this is why race is a fabrication. it is shaped to bring people that notion of ethnic superiority.

2elijah said:

Very true. But you can blame that on brainwashing techniques and colonization from the past, so that does not surprise me. I find many Puerto Ricans who can pass for White, kind of have that mentality. I have Black/Puerto Rican cousins, and my parents were born right next door to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, VI, where around the time they were growing up there, was a large, Puerto Rican influence. There are still quite a number of Puerto Ricans living in the VI. Both Puerto Rico and the U.S. V.I. celebrate the same holidays, different than on the mainland (the states). Much has changed in the V.I., now with other islanders coming in and taking over, so-to-speak, so the culture there has changed a lot.

The food/cuisine, are similar, and about the same between the two islands. I was raised on so much salsa and calypso music at family reunions, which is why I love that music to this day. Not to mention the food-peas and rice, baccalao (?sp), (cod fish), cassava, plantains, collaloo, etc., The liquored fruitcakes relatives sent during the holidays, was a trip.

Both islands, historically have the same ancestors African/Arawak/Taino/European (of various ethnic groups). My mom lived in Puerto Rico for about a year with her cousin, when she was 19 years old. She left, and moved back to the VI, but her cousin stayed in Puerto Rico and got married. My mom's sister, lived and also worked in Puerto Rico at one time when she was alive. One of my sisters, born in the USVI, speaks Spanish fluently, and so do some of my first/second cousins. Although I'm born in the states, I embrace my Caribbean culture. 4 siblings of mine were born there, and the rest of us here in the states. My aunts and mom have/had Spanish names --Esmeralda Bianca(mom);Inez(aunt), and my maternal grandfather--Edwardo(still trying to search for his birthplace-rumors he was born either in Virgin Gorda or Cuba.He's buried in Cuba.

Some folks need to take the time to research their history, and embrace it without shame. My family has a beautiful culture. Ther is a Puerto Rican poet who wrote "Who is your grandmother?" Forgot his name. It references Puerto Ricans who hide the black ancestry or dark skin of many of their Black grandmothers in shame.

[Edited 4/12/11 9:31am]

amazing stuff...

KingBAD said:

2elijah said:

Oh hush, but gee...thanks for the flattery.

thank you 2e.

yep it's true. i always thought the name was like

swazilan or somethin from when i was very young

but no matter whut the name africa always bothered me.

all the orther names were subjective to who was speakin

the (sp) ee ree tree ans

the egyptian

the (sp) ee thee o pians

the samolians

zulus

whutevahs

they may have all had a different name for the land

as far as their eyes could see. but someone elses eyes

may have seen whut to them was another land all

together. but i have no doubt that NONE OF THEM

called it africa.

I DON'T LIKE THE TERM PUDDING!!!

ewwwwwwwwwwwwww

Cool. Yes, I agree. I think each ethnic group, before it was given the name Africa, referred to it by other names as they travelled throughout it.

MJJstudent said:

2elijah said:

Very true. But you can blame that on brainwashing techniques and colonization from the past, so that does not surprise me. I find many Puerto Ricans who can pass for White, kind of have that mentality. I have Black/Puerto Rican cousins, and my parents were born right next door to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, VI, where around the time they were growing up there, was a large, Puerto Rican influence. There are still quite a number of Puerto Ricans living in the VI. Both Puerto Rico and the U.S. V.I. celebrate the same holidays, different than on the mainland (the states). Much has changed in the V.I., now with other islanders coming in and taking over, so-to-speak, so the culture there has changed a lot.

The food/cuisine, are similar, and about the same between the two islands. I was raised on so much salsa and calypso music at family reunions, which is why I love that music to this day. Not to mention the food-peas and rice, baccalao (?sp), (cod fish), cassava, plantains, collaloo, etc., The liquored fruitcakes relatives sent during the holidays, was a trip.

Both islands, historically have the same ancestors African/Arawak/Taino/European (of various ethnic groups). My mom lived in Puerto Rico for about a year with her cousin, when she was 19 years old. She left, and moved back to the VI, but her cousin stayed in Puerto Rico and got married. My mom's sister, lived and also worked in Puerto Rico at one time when she was alive. One of my sisters, born in the USVI, speaks Spanish fluently, and so do some of my first/second cousins. Although I'm born in the states, I embrace my Caribbean culture. 4 siblings of mine were born there, and the rest of us here in the states. My aunts and mom have/had Spanish names --Esmeralda Bianca(mom);Inez(aunt), and my maternal grandfather--Edwardo(still trying to search for his birthplace-rumors he was born either in Virgin Gorda or Cuba.He's buried in Cuba.

Some folks need to take the time to research their history, and embrace it without shame. My family has a beautiful culture. Ther is a Puerto Rican poet who wrote "Who is your grandmother?" Forgot his name. It references Puerto Ricans who hide the black ancestry or dark skin of many of their Black grandmothers in shame.

[Edited 4/12/11 9:31am]

amazing stuff...

Thanks!

MJJstudent said:

2elijah said:

Everyone, black or not, has ancient African ancestors. It is where the first humas referred to as Homo Sapiens originated, lived, and travelled out of Africa, to populate the rest of the world.

Defining yourself as such doesn't mean you had to be born in Africa, but many who have more recent ancestors, especially those who are direct descendants of Africans brought to America/Caribbean, elsewhere, etc., technically are more closely related, even if they have no idea/knowledge or direct connection with the African ethnic group their recent ancestors were from, unless they do a geneology search.

Here's another example: One of Puerto Rican heritage who has never been to Puerto Rico or was born there, is still Puerto Rican through their parents' heritage, which is really a mixture of a few ethnic groups. Same as someone of Italian, Greek, Irish heritage. Doesn't mean one is necessarily forced to practice the culture of their parents, but they are still part of that particular heritage.

[Edited 4/12/11 8:55am]

THANK YOU!!! i consider myself an afrikan stuck in amerikkka (for now) though...

That identification must limit your ability to relate to Americans who aren t Africans.

ConsciousContact said:

MJJstudent said:

THANK YOU!!! i consider myself an afrikan stuck in amerikkka (for now) though...

That identification must limit your ability to relate to Americans who aren t Africans.

no not at all... i deal with a lot of people of varying cultures and interests, from the u.s. or otherwise. because i call myself this does not define my expereince as limited at all. and again, we are all africans. i just acknowledge it. for all intents and purposes (so i don't have to explain what 'an afrikan stuck in amerikka' means), i do call myself 'black'.

MJJstudent said:

ConsciousContact said:

That identification must limit your ability to relate to Americans who aren t Africans.

no not at all... i deal with a lot of people of varying cultures and interests, from the u.s. or otherwise. because i call myself this does not define my expereince as limited at all. and again, we are all africans. i just acknowledge it. for all intents and purposes (so i don't have to explain what 'an afrikan stuck in amerikka' means), i do call myself 'black'.

By relating I mean "being" with people, not just interacting with people. Seeing people for who or what they really are, which is limited by any identification a person makes with what they think they are.

I don t think that I am African.

caucasian is a dorky term, that's about as clear as I can get.

My ancestors may have shit in the Caucaus mountains, but I aint going back!

I prefer caucazoid

NDRU said:

I prefer caucazoid

i prefer icecream

KingBAD said:

NDRU said:

I prefer caucazoid

i prefer icecream

tighty whiteys

NDRU said:

KingBAD said:

i prefer icecream

tighty whiteys

ooooo,

that just rolls off the tounge

2freaky4church1 said:

My ancestors may have shit in the Caucaus mountains, but I aint going back!

HA!

ConsciousContact said:

MJJstudent said:

no not at all... i deal with a lot of people of varying cultures and interests, from the u.s. or otherwise. because i call myself this does not define my expereince as limited at all. and again, we are all africans. i just acknowledge it. for all intents and purposes (so i don't have to explain what 'an afrikan stuck in amerikka' means), i do call myself 'black'.

By relating I mean "being" with people, not just interacting with people. Seeing people for who or what they really are, which is limited by any identification a person makes with what they think they are.

I don t think that I am African.

uuuuum... okay. i'm not exactly sure what you mean. isn't interacting with people being with them? there's different levels of that interaction, depending on the energy someone gives.

i happen to agree with paul mooney though, when he states 'i love my white people white'... i don't see anything with being proud of your heritage or ethnicity. pride is not synonymous with hate. i think we've been too conditioned to think that being proud of your ethnicity/culture means that it's at the expense of other people. i could roll with the chinese folks just like i can the philipinos. and i know some folks VERY proud of their british, german, etc. heritage. i say go for that! shouldn't be any shame there.

everybody is deserving of a cultural space of their own, where they get to be with people they identify with, be it language, food, etc. that is one of my favourite things about being from new york. i hung out with so many nationalities it wasn't even funny. and in the end we all had our distinct communities. when a 'melting pot' or total cultural assimilation exists, this makes it virtually impossible to celebrate difference and learn from each other.

yes indeed we are all humans, but i like that we are all different. and that we each have different/individual communities we can relate to, outside of the primary, mixed culture.

chaosandisorder said:

I honestly don't like being called African American. I have never even been to Africa. I perfer the term black american. I belive it just describes me better because not everyone who is black has strictly African ancestors.

Yeah I dont like the term neither, half black myself. I just consider myself *Other*

NDRU said:

I prefer caucazoid

THAT^ sound like something from a classic episode of Power Rangers!

TonyVanDam said:

NDRU said:

I prefer caucazoid

THAT^ sound like something from a classic episode of Power Rangers!

I think "come on and wind me up!"

NDRU said:

TonyVanDam said:

THAT^ sound like something from a classic episode of Power Rangers!

I think "come on and wind me up!"

i feel a song comin' on...

NDRU said:

TonyVanDam said:

THAT^ sound like something from a classic episode of Power Rangers!

I think "come on and wind me up!"