4 ms·

It is nitpicky but not so trivial. As I understand it, once upon a time you would have German Americans and Italian Americans as distinctive subgroups in the Un

It is nitpicky but not so trivial. As I understand it, once upon a time you would have German Americans and Italian Americans as distinctive subgroups in the United States with their own unique cultures. But Negroes couldn't really say they were Nigerian-American or Angolan-American, largely because most colored people did not know exactly where in Africa they came from. In a historical context it makes sense that a subgroup defined by both culture and appearance would be intentional in adopting a name. This is especially true when the names given to them: negroes, colored folk, and even black had racist baggage associated with them. I personally don't mind African American for the same reasons I don't mind Asian American. Both subnational groups are comfortable with their designation I believe. Speaking of Asian Americans, are you peeved with the term "Asian American"? Would you rather them self-identify as "yellow"? I ask because I like consistency.

komali2 10y ago
Hm, good point regarding Asian American. Using "yellow" seems ridiculous but is value-wise the same as saying "black." And I can't just claim "just get rid of it all and call'm people!" because there are very useful reasons to be able to define general race (for example, when reporting a crime, you give gender, race, hair, clothing, approximate height). Even that though will become trickier as the genetic pool equalizes. Dunno man, good point. I hadn't thought of it because all of my "Asian-American" friends have very distinguishable country-specific characteristics that they can identify because their family migrated more recently than your average Black family's, and they don't have a history of slavery obfuscating their origins. EDIT: Thinking more on it, I believe I'm used to hearing "Asian" to describe race, as opposed to "Asian-American" to describe heritage or nationality. EDIT2: And also thinking more, I believe my friends use "FOB" to describe an actual Asian, i.e. someone born in Asia. Which probably will be a horribly offensive slur one day and I'll be the 2060 equivalent of "the grandpa that says 'negro' way too much."
- uncletaco 10y ago
  I've been told that FOB is offensive and is rarely used in a positive, or even neutral, manner. I mean it hasn't become taboo like nigger has but I've been told its not a polite thing to call someone. But my larger point is African American "works". Its not offensive, speaks to a unique identity the same way Italian/Jewish/German American does, and for the most post is accepted by the black American community. Also the genetic pool won't equalize anytime soon. Admixture leading to a near homogenous population of humans outside of small sparsely populated areas is millenia away.

komali2 10y ago

Hm, good point regarding Asian American. Using "yellow" seems ridiculous but is value-wise the same as saying "black." And I can't just claim "just get rid of it all and call'm people!" because there are very useful reasons to be able to define general race (for example, when reporting a crime, you give gender, race, hair, clothing, approximate height). Even that though will become trickier as the genetic pool equalizes. Dunno man, good point. I hadn't thought of it because all of my "Asian-American" friends have very distinguishable country-specific characteristics that they can identify because their family migrated more recently than your average Black family's, and they don't have a history of slavery obfuscating their origins. EDIT: Thinking more on it, I believe I'm used to hearing "Asian" to describe race, as opposed to "Asian-American" to describe heritage or nationality. EDIT2: And also thinking more, I believe my friends use "FOB" to describe an actual Asian, i.e. someone born in Asia. Which probably will be a horribly offensive slur one day and I'll be the 2060 equivalent of "the grandpa that says 'negro' way too much."

uncletaco 10y ago
I've been told that FOB is offensive and is rarely used in a positive, or even neutral, manner. I mean it hasn't become taboo like nigger has but I've been told its not a polite thing to call someone. But my larger point is African American "works". Its not offensive, speaks to a unique identity the same way Italian/Jewish/German American does, and for the most post is accepted by the black American community. Also the genetic pool won't equalize anytime soon. Admixture leading to a near homogenous population of humans outside of small sparsely populated areas is millenia away.