“African-American”? Chinese-American, Cuban-American: Those Are Countries, Not Continents! Why The Difference?

wow. Understood your points all too well, especially re: Ireland, though I just consider myself American, though sometimes I'm even embarrassed to say that. My parents weren't born here, but I was, and that's my lot in life.

It is a good point. I have used the term African-American instead of Black without even thinking about what it meant.

I have a question that might come across as naivety, but I'm asking you because I know you'll give me a straight-forward and honest answer.

I have an ex-boyfriend who is Black. When we went into a bar once, there was one other Black man there, sitting on the other side of the bar. They acknowledged each other from across the room. White people don't do that...ever. Not even if there were 2 Whites in a roomful of Blacks. They might notice each other, but wouldn't acknowledge each other. I think it's why I noticed this, and it happened often (I didn't ask him about it though). Do you think this was just an "individual" thing or do a lot of Blacks do this? Because my impression of it was a brotherhood thing.

Your post made me think about this too. Both Blacks & Whites with an American accent & American last name are never questioned about whether they are American. But when I meet someone who doesn't fit into the typical American category, the first thing that comes to mind is "where do you come from?" I ask Asians if they are Japanese, Chinese, etc. I ask people who look Middle-Eastern if they are Egyptian, Indian, etc. If they reply "I'm an American" I would still ask, "but where do you come from?" I had a Phillipino friend, and once when we were at a party, someone asked her: What are you?

Because I'm White without an accent, no one would ever ask where I'm from because it's pretty obvious I'm American. But anyone outside the Black, American Indian, & White categories are still considered outsiders (even Latinos). I don't even know if American Indians fit into the American category because people view them as separate from "typical" Americans. I think we should just get rid of ALL the hyphenated terms.

Tabacco:

One point at a time! I acknowledge other Blacks myself, especially in a situation where we are in a distinct minority. Don't ask me why. I just do it. When I pass people on the street, I acknowledge them, regardless of race, if they give me eye contact.

When I attend a function where Blacks are serving food or hotels where Blacks are cleaning up, I make a point of speaking to them. I know why I do this. My uncle, W. J. Scott, who raised me from the age of 2 months, was a dining car waiter on the Southern Railroad. When I speak to these service people, I feel that they are my equal, regardless of their job or status in society. Some other Blacks might never do that, but I do. I am not so "big" or "hoighty-toity" that I cannot speak to any person, particularly Blacks in service jobs.

I think other ethnic minorities might do likewise. Hispanics often speak to me in Spanish because they assume I am Hispanic. If Whites did it, they would have no time for anything else.

As to why Whites don't, it is understandable. They are the majority in this country. I doubt that Black Liberians acknowledge other Black Liberians on the streets of Liberia.

A White American in Europe or elsewhere abroad will definitely acknowledge another White American once they become aware of the fact.

In my profession, international recruiting, I come in contact with many foreign-born people. I always ask people, who have accents, where they come from. I usually make a mental assessment first, then ask to see how good my powers of observation are. I find all foreigners interesting because I already know Americans.

I was playing tennis once with a Black fellow. When I asked him where he was from, he said, "Canada". I don't know why I never considered that possibility. I knew about Ben Johnson, the Olympic 100 meter champion - also a Black Canadian. I am particularly proud when I spell their name correctly when it's a real tongue-twister!

Cher, for example, speaks English so well, she played an Italian in "Moonstruck". I think she's American Indian. I use that term because Americans didn't call them "Native Americans" when they were killing them off in the early days. Most American Indians speak English much better than other Americans. The Indians from India speak English better even than the Brits. I watched one on TV just the other day, whose English was very American, but still very superior to almost all Americans.

To be truthful, I really like people - all of them. I like Southern American drawls. I like Bostonian accents. I even like Brooklynese - and that's quite an admission. The older I get, the more often I speak to total strangers. I find that more Whites speak to me also. Gray hair seems to put everybody at ease.

My final comment is, "I wish everybody was either under 10 years of age or over 55. The world would be a much nicer place if that were the case." Just a fantasy.

Your observations are quite accurate. But there is one exception for me. If I see a Black male with a White female, I would initiate acknowledgement. If I see a White male with a Black female, I would not. I think it probably has something to do with not wanting to appear to be competing with the male. However, I must admit that I have started conversations with Black women in the grocery store, who were escorted by Black men. So nobody's totally without their hangups - even Tabacco.

Im going to start out by saying I am an american but my natinolaty is german. As far as I

know there was not menny germans bringing african slaves to this country but yet I am

gruped in with all whites that were all slave owners. Now that is rasist.

• I also have a good friend that moved to the U S 23 years ago from Zimbobawa aferica Is

he an american or aferican american ? Oh! I forgot hes white Does that mater?

• This friend also told me some aferican history what thay dont teach here in the U S

the history is that the more educated aferican would trick the non educated aferican into

going on the british boats while the more stubern afercan tribes were just taken and sold

by there own people. The blame should be put where it belongs.

• When the brits bought afericans to bring to america I think they were thinking they

would have it better off as slaves than what thay had in aferica. I cant say that i agree

with that but I cant change it eather all I know for a fact is that I wasent on any of them

boats and im posative none of my ansesters were there eather. but I am white so I

guess Im still to blame somehow!

• I have nothing agenst blacks outher than thay are the largest minority in this

country by far much more than german americans but thay cry about everything.

the hardist thing to understand Is how do the white people hold the blacks down?

Thay have the same writes as every one else. If you act geto you get treated geto!

just becouse you tive in the getto dont mean you have to act getto. I live in the getto

but i dont act getto. Im a high school drop out but got my ged never went to

collage but i work and make an honest liveing. I respect my nabors pay my bills buy

food then im broke but this is the path i chose when i was young. If I would have applied

my self in school things would have been difrent. But I dident and I take responsabilty for

that. If I cant earn it I dont need it. Now If black people were to apply them selves in

school they would beable to get out of the getto and stop acting getto. IM not

saying all blacks are getto just the ones that act getto. there are whites that act

getto but that dont make them any better.

You show me a black person that applied them self in school in life that dident get

what thay want. I bet you cant find one can you????????

IM sick of it quit crying and apply your self. make an effort

• lets hear it I know you have something to say!! I cant wate to see what crying this will couse.

John:

I am an executive recruiter. My real name is very Anglo-Saxon. I used to work for an employment agency in NYC. Twice candidates came to see me, one white South African and the other German, and when they saw I was black, they immediately determined they had no shot - that I would discriminate against them. Both registered shock at my being black. I don't think it was racism on their parts, just the feeling that I would have reverse racism. They were wrong of course, but their perceptions were incorrigible.

As a recruiter, I have seen thousands of resumes. But only 2 listed themselves as "Caucasian" - both were Cuban males. I did have a problem with that. If someone advertises himself as "Caucasian", he suggests, rather emphatically, that being Caucasian is in itself a valid reason for bragging. However being German, even though the Caucasian thing is usually implied, is not offensive. Now if you declared yourself a Nazi, then someone might think twice. But other than the fear I had when East and West Germany were finally reunited, I have no problems with Germany now. Historically, Germans have been very warlike. Now that mantle seems to have been taken over by the United States. I am now more afraid of America than I am of any other country or group!

Nobody groups you in with slave owners unless there is documentation to verify your ancestors were slave owners. I don't consider you a Nazi either unless you say you are. However Germany does have a long history of anti-Jewish sentiment and is equally as racist as the United States. However even in America, I evaluate all people, white or black, on an individual basis, not a group pejorative.

When I use "white" in my blog in a pejorative sense, it applies to those to whom it applies. Those, to whom it does not apply, should not take umbrage. If I had to say every time I criticized white racists, "I'm only referring to white racists, not fair whites", it would be ridiculous the 3rd time I did it. Let's just say, "If the shoe fits, wear it!" The guilty ones know who they are.

There does seem to be some guilt in your comment. Anyone, who apologizes for the guilt of others, has some inner guilt himself. I think it probably has more to do with anti-Jewish sentiment in Germany more than anti-black. I am aware of "niggerkinder" and the racial tension after WWII because of mixed-race German children resulting from black US soldiers there during the war. However, again, I evaluate each person on an individual basis, although if I were to leave the USA, Germany would not be at the top of my alternative list. However, I do not consider a person a "racist" simply because he hails from Germany anymore than I consider a person my friend simply because he is an American "Negro". That would be silly.

Your African-American's race is certainly significant in relating the story. If one assumed he were black, that person would miss the point entirely. Now I must admit I do have a problem with Caucasians, who lived in Africa because Europeans had no right to steal the continent. I don't like Imperialists regardless of who they are or from whence they came - particularly American Imperialists!

The "more educated African versus the less educated African" is disingenuous. The Africans, sold into slavery by other Africans, were no more "their own people" than Frenchmen and Germans are "their own people". CUT THE CRAP! The real story is that some tribes made deals with whites to catch and turn over members of enemy tribes. This to them was merely a form of war. It's like when lions kill cheetah cubs to eliminate the competition. No war or genocide is laudable or justifiable, but it is understandable. However those black Africans did NOT go to Rotterdam or Antwerp to make those deals! The Europeans went to Africa to "corrupt" the Africans. Let's speak the truth and not a sanitized, revisionary version of the truth! Nuance is terribly important! While the gist of your comments are accurate, the nuance is skewed to make it appear that Africans, not Europeans, were to blame! That is FALSE! And you know better!

If you are sincere, you have been deliberately misinformed. If your self-description is FALSE (I am not at all certain you are either German or that your related tales are valid - I must assume both points. Your misspellings arouse my doubting genes. I have known other Germans, whose literacy in English was impeccable, so I am a "Doubting Thomas" on that point!), then you are both a Liar and a Racist. You know which applies to you.

"When the brits bought afericans to bring to america I think they were thinking they would have it better off as slaves than what thay had in aferica. I cant say that i agree" - but you didn't say, "I disagree"! Obviously the "White mans's burden" concept is self-serving and disingenuous! All Imperialists attempt to justify their aggressions with ethical or humane sounding excuses. No one has the right to make a slave out of anyone else, especially using such a flimsy excuse as that.

"But they cry about everything" - Finally, I have conclusive proof as to which category you belong. You are "probably" lying about yourself. It would not surprise me at all if your misspellings were contrived and you have never even been to Germany. If so, shame on you! I think you are American - 100%! And I think you are a bigot, who has probably commented here before! Your use of the misspelled "ghetto" as "geto" makes me very suspicious. You obviously know English. Germans would never be taught to misspell so many words! Only a tricky American would do that, attempting to authenticate his foreign origins. You are too clever by half! Any academic institution, which granted you a GED, would have to be insane!

Even though you are a FRAUD, I publish your bilge because I want to answer it. This is one "Nigger" you did NOT fool! You are NOT as clever as you think you are. Go back to school and major in "ETHICS"!

Tabacco