Why are black people, called African American? Options

[Kontroll]

I never really liked the term African American, first of all because its just an easy way out instead of calling a person black. Because saying some one is black is closely related to racism, some how.

Technically all people who come from Africa aren't black. If you're Egyptian and you live in America, what are you?

Another problem is that if you're born in the US and you're black, then you're not at all African American. That term only denotes that you previously resided in Africa and moved to the US.

Please discuss to further my knowledge and understanding. Thank you. Oh, and if there is already a topic about this, then close this one. Thank you.

[*mishyerr*]

Hmm, you may see it that way, but others don't.

I remember this video we watched in English about how a lot of the black community was against reading Huck Finn, even though that book is AGAINST slavery. The important thing about that film (no matter how stupid) was that there were people who were still hurt by the use of nigger in the book.

By using Af. Am., people can avoid tense feelings.

I agree, it would be nice if we could all just shrug off our skin color and not give a shit. I don't care if people call me 'chink' or whatever. shrug*

[Kontroll]

Hmm, you may see it that way, but others don't.

I remember this video we watched in English about how a lot of the black community was against reading Huck Finn, even though that book is AGAINST slavery. The important thing about that film (no matter how stupid) was that there were people who were still hurt by the use of nigger in the book.

By using Af. Am., people can avoid tense feelings.

I agree, it would be nice if we could all just shrug off our skin color and not give a shit. I don't care if people call me 'chink' or whatever. shrug*

But by creating new words and definitions aren't we just segregating them more?

The problem is that we are so offended by things. I'm not saying the solution is to get rid of the term 'African American' but we need to stop being so afraid to say what we want, as long as it's not hurtful. If I call some one 'black' is that being hurtful? No. Then why is it politically incorrect for me to say it?