Oh here we go again (LOL).
Actually, Prince isn't total African American...that term is use so loosely!

African American means, parents who were born and raised in Africa and later relocated to America, where they both became citizens and had children in America, those kids would be considered African American at that point!

Both of Prince's Parents were American Born, there's no telling what his actual heritage is...thou we know Prince is a Black Man, which doesn't officially make him 'African American', he could be very well American Indian, African and European descent, just as more than 80% of Blacks in America are!

Ppl are so ignorant when it comes to Black and White in America!
His Nationality is AMERICAN...firstly, because he was born here in the USA!

His Race or Heritage is two different things in itself!
Like Myself, I'm AMERICAN, born and raised...my mother whose Black (born and raised in america aswell) was born to a family of mixed heritage...
My mothers family heritage is of African, Native American & French!
My father who wasn't born in the states, is a product of a Cuban father and Dominican mother.

Which means, my bloodline is all over the place, but it doesn't make me totally 'Afican American'.
I'm proud of my heritage and racial make up...so because of that, when ppl ask, I just say 'American', because I'm not one over the other.

I heard during an interview, Prince mentioned his roots varied from native american to italian...meaning his family was mixed black folk!
Not only 'African'.

So, just because the man is black, doesn't make him 'African American', lets keep that in mind!
When a person who appears 'White', doesn't mean he or she is only 'White', he or she could very well be...German, Italian, Irish, Polish, or etc.

So how come black ppl can't have the knowledge of who they truly are and where their ancestry comes from...besides soley 'Africa'...and we know it began there...plus there are tons of 'Whites' in Africa at this point, so I ask the question...does one who appears white skinned with blonde hair and blue eyes, born and raised in africa, have the right to claim 'African or African American'(if currently a citizen of the usa)?

I'd say so.
So lets just state: PRINCE IS AMERICAN!

We really don't know what his racial background is...thou we've seen his parents...doesn't mean we know their family history!

Redayh said:

Let Prince get pulled over by the police and arrested. The physical description on the police report would be as follow:

Race: Black
Sex: Male
Height: 5'2" without the heels
Eyes: Hazel


[Edited 12/31/04 10:02am]

Who cares. Why ask the question? What, are you going to stop listening to Prince if you find out he's got some ancestors who just happened to be of a race you're prejudiced against. if that's the case you should be seeing a shrink right now instead of reading this.

I'm sure you meant ethnicity (he is obviously America). Prince is Black, period...I'm Black.... All African Americas are mixed; it was all part of the slavery deal.. That's why we come in all hues and hair types....Don't believe me? There are pictures of his parents in the photo gallery.. they are Black. ... I really wonder, why are people going out of their way to claim he is something other than Black. What is that about? Would he be more appealing if he weren't?

Prince created confusion about his ethnicity to be provactive, just as he did regarding his own sexuality....


End of story (please).

Don't you guys know that nobody's black when they are famous.
They're only black when they're robbing your house.

Don't believe me?

Ever heard them describe a suspect on the news as mixed, a mulatto, or a child of many nations? No, they/we get described as a light-complexioned black male or female.

If Prince wasn't famous, this wouldn't even be up for discussion.

S

Don't you guys know that nobody's black when they are famous.
They're only black when they're robbing your house.

Don't believe me?

Ever heard them describe a suspect on the news as mixed, a mulatto, or a child of many nations? No, they/we get described as a light-complexioned black male or female.

If Prince wasn't famous, this wouldn't even be up for discussion.

S

Don't you guys know that nobody's black when they are famous.
They're only black when they're robbing your house.

Don't believe me?

Ever heard them describe a suspect on the news as mixed, a mulatto, or a child of many nations? No, they/we get described as a light-complexioned black male or female.

If Prince wasn't famous, this wouldn't even be up for discussion.

S

Soulchild82 said:

Wrong. Don't buy into that one drop of African makes you black nonsense. Black is a color, not a people. Derek Jeter's mother is what is considered white, thus it is lunacy to simply label him as black. You are right about "Blacks" in America. We are unique to this country due to the Native American, European, and other blood mixing in with the African.

Our cultural identification is not Black because that doesn't mean anything. That crap was fabricated to confuse and divide. Black begins with slavery and ends when that slavery mentality is left behind. We are American nationally, and ethnically we are the sum of all of our parts, European included.

It's fitting that the arguably greatest multi-instrumentalist is a man of multiple ethnicities. We can all celebrate him as ours-- whites, blacks, puerto-ricans....

Don't you guys know that nobody's black when they are famous.
They're only black when they're robbing your house.

Don't believe me?

Ever heard them describe a suspect on the news as mixed, a mulatto, or a child of many nations? No, they/we get described as a light-complexioned black male or female.

If Prince wasn't famous, this wouldn't even be up for discussion.

S

In the words of Paul Mooney from the Chapelle Show "Everyboby wanna be a nigga but nobody wanna be a nigga."

Don't you guys know that nobody's black when they are famous.
They're only black when they're robbing your house.

Don't believe me?

Ever heard them describe a suspect on the news as mixed, a mulatto, or a child of many nations? No, they/we get described as a light-complexioned black male or female.

If Prince wasn't famous, this wouldn't even be up for discussion.

S

Oh here we go again (LOL).
Actually, Prince isn't total African American...that term is use so loosely!

African American means, parents who were born and raised in Africa and later relocated to America, where they both became citizens and had children in America, those kids would be considered African American at that point!

Both of Prince's Parents were American Born, there's no telling what his actual heritage is...thou we know Prince is a Black Man, which doesn't officially make him 'African American', he could be very well American Indian, African and European descent, just as more than 80% of Blacks in America are!

Ppl are so ignorant when it comes to Black and White in America!
His Nationality is AMERICAN...firstly, because he was born here in the USA!

His Race or Heritage is two different things in itself!
Like Myself, I'm AMERICAN, born and raised...my mother whose Black (born and raised in america aswell) was born to a family of mixed heritage...
My mothers family heritage is of African, Native American & French!
My father who wasn't born in the states, is a product of a Cuban father and Dominican mother.

Which means, my bloodline is all over the place, but it doesn't make me totally 'Afican American'.
I'm proud of my heritage and racial make up...so because of that, when ppl ask, I just say 'American', because I'm not one over the other.

I heard during an interview, Prince mentioned his roots varied from native american to italian...meaning his family was mixed black folk!
Not only 'African'.

So, just because the man is black, doesn't make him 'African American', lets keep that in mind!
When a person who appears 'White', doesn't mean he or she is only 'White', he or she could very well be...German, Italian, Irish, Polish, or etc.

So how come black ppl can't have the knowledge of who they truly are and where their ancestry comes from...besides soley 'Africa'...and we know it began there...plus there are tons of 'Whites' in Africa at this point, so I ask the question...does one who appears white skinned with blonde hair and blue eyes, born and raised in africa, have the right to claim 'African or African American'(if currently a citizen of the usa)?

I'd say so.
So lets just state: PRINCE IS AMERICAN!

We really don't know what his racial background is...thou we've seen his parents...doesn't mean we know their family history!

Don't you guys know that nobody's black when they are famous.
They're only black when they're robbing your house.

Don't believe me?

Ever heard them describe a suspect on the news as mixed, a mulatto, or a child of many nations? No, they/we get described as a light-complexioned black male or female.

If Prince wasn't famous, this wouldn't even be up for discussion.

S

Redayh said:

This is the best response I've read in a long time. You summed it up perfectly. This Prince isn't black debate reminds me of that scene in Do The Right Thing where Mookie is questioning the son in the Pizzeria about his love/fascination with Prince, Magic Johnson etc., while harboring the belief that blacks are inferior. John Turturro's character responds that Prince and Magic are more than/better than black, or something to that affect. I agree, if Prince was just some random brother there would be no debate. But once you get famous then you are "accepted" as being something more than just black. Because a man that talented could not just be black or what we describe as black for everyone else in America and throughout the world. That is until you step outside of those safe boundaries or your popularity declines; then they put u right back into that category. Race in America is one of the saddest plagues in the history of humanity. It's unfortunate that complete and utter bullshit keeps people so brainwashed and unaware; all the while separating the masses that are being fucked over by the status quo.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

ur right about the whole do the right thing "more than black"..but 4 some people it has nothin 2 do with that...4 some people it has 2 do with the fact that they genuinely think that prince is mixed...and this is mostly cuz of the confusion that he created...everyone at first doesn't go and do all the research to hear what he said LATER...so its like what they hear is what they know...some people (like me b4 i found otherwise) heard one thing from the dude and thought it was true cuz he said it..it has nothing to do with not wanting a man that talented to be just black..far from it as far as i'm concerned..i'm a black chick myself and would want nothin more than for another one of the most talented brothas in showbusiness to be actually be a brotha...it just all goes back to prince and the confusion he created. don't get mad @ someone just askin a question

Moonwalkbjrain said:

I agree... I mean he has a light complexion and in PR and other times he has portrayed himself as mixed so it makes people wonder. I don't think it is about a black man not being talented. Look at all of the rappers and hip hop stars now. They are all black, talented, and no one questions that. Also people like Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye...were they ever questioned and they were talented beyond belief!