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Identification . . . More Than What Meets the Eye

3/20/2015

2 Comments

 
“I have no idea what to call Black Americans, African Americans, Blacks, but I don’t want to be that racist white guy or offend anyone and have to defend my ass.” – A “white” guy from a diversity workshop in 2012.


How do you identify yourself other than human:
Do you prefer the term African American, Black, both, or neither?


This is something I’ve struggled with a majority of my life. I went in and out of stages where I cared and I did not care. Coming up I heard members of my family say I’m Black or she’s Black we in the Black community, so I just went along with Black. However, I by color was not and am not Black. Heck, my genetic makeup isn’t just “Black.” As I grew older, in films I heard African American. In books I read “we” were labeled African Americans. On forms and applications it said African Americans. In history classes (which are so watered down when in comes to “Black” history), we are taught we are from Africa. Okay, so I guess I’m African American. Wait, hold up. I’ve never been to Africa, nor has my mother, or her mother, or her mother, or hers. So, how am I African American? I went back to Black. Then I was Black American. Then I was other. Then I was confused, again. Then I was like fuck labels!

So I pose this question to all of you, what do you ID yourself as? Mexican, Hispanic, Latino/a, Black, Belizean, White, Caucasian, European. . . Have you ever felt confused like the guy in the opening quote when referencing someone? Please feel free to add to the conversation below.

WRITTEN BY: VIOLA CONSTANCE | @Voila_its_Viola
2 Comments
Kimberly S.
3/22/2015 05:58:21 am

I've struggled with this too. I don't necessary like the term Black or African American either. I joke and say I'm Chocolate American, since color wise its more accurate. But in all seriousness, I would say I'm just "American." I, nor my mother, or grandmother etc. know if any of our family is from Africa either. We can only assume, since proper ancestry/genealogy is not readily available for most "Blacks/African Americans". Honestly if we really want to get historical, technical, or even scientific, didn't the first human beings originate in the center of the earth (now known as Africa) and if so, would we all be consider African- Something? Since all I know is America, that make me American. It's not like I'm ashamed or don't want to be someone of "African descent," I just don't like the assumption of descent. And I don't like the term "Black/Black American, because of all the connotations of the word "black." I feel it poses negative assumptions of character.

PS: I agree, labels suck!

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Viola Constance
3/22/2015 10:26:29 am

Yes girl! I love you're Chocolate American! I have definitely described myself as mocha on various occasions. Historically, technically, and scientifically you are right, but we know for various reasons many people of any color or whatever will not identify as African-Anything. In the same regard, I've met true Africans that would not call "African-American" African-Americans just Americans or Blacks.

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    LB and Vi, just two black girls from LA trying to navigate through life and offer positive news 2 black girls.

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