| Mar 18, 2007 @ 4:39 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it?
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Tibert
Posts: 198
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At a time when an “African American” might be seriously consider for a Democratic presidential election nomination is it time to find out what is an “African-American” and why the less African less American black are more likely to succeed and being recognize?
Before to be call name let me tell you what prompt my question. My second ex-wife told me yesterdays that our son has been recognize by some African-American organization as a high achieving student and was to receive an award during a public ceremony. Of course I was very proud but then thinking about it I was wondering, what make him “African-American”, his mom is black and I am French, half his genes are mine and I am neither African nor American.
I had to come to this country to learn that “Alexander Dumas” was an “African-French” writer, until then I thought of him as a French writer as I thought of his father as a French general in the Bonaparte Army, I knew they were blacks but the color of their skin was not relevant to their citizenship.
For a long time I did think that “White” American where eager to recognize the achievements of the “Blacks” out of guilt for what was done to the African slaves, I find surprising that “Black” seem to be as eager to claim as their own “African-American” people like my son who do not fit the classical “African-American” mold.
My son is 10 years old, I think it is fair to say that he was offended by the award, offended to be recognize not so much for his achievements than for his “African-American” achievement like if he was “good for a black”.
My son is the bright little boy with no self-esteem problem (I am French, French do not have self-esteem problem, we are French) I felt very sad to know that he did feel insulted and belittle by the honor. I felt that he was use by the “African-American” community for their own purpose with complete disregard for his welfare.
My son is not “African-American” or “French-American” or black or white he is all of the above, only a loving little boy who want to be appreciate for who he is with out cataloging his achievements.
Of course I am not American maybe I do not see things as I should, if so please tell me what is the point of cataloging people by color, religion, defects, etc.
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 4:45 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it? |
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MarysPlace
Posts: 2,930
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I'm afraid you'll have to consult the nearest PC manual for all that "African American" stuff. Or "Italian-American" for example, or, my fave, "gay-American" (according to ex NJ Gov. McGreedy). In short for any of the "-American" deal.
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 5:01 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it?
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,607
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am French, French do not have self-esteem problem, we are French)
 And Mary has no self-esteem problem, she is Mary...
My German-born and raised father (whose greatest pride was that he became an American and never looked back) always taught me to be color blind...but if your son can get a special interest scholarship by being Franco-African-American, by all means, good on him!
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 5:22 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it? |
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Tibert
Posts: 198
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I'm afraid you'll have to consult the nearest PC manual for all that "African American" stuff. Or "Italian-American" for example, or, my fave, "gay-American" (according to ex NJ Gov. McGreedy). In short for any of the "-American" deal.
I thought a gay American was an happy American
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 5:26 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it?
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Tibert
Posts: 198
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but if your son can get a special interest scholarship by being ranco-African-American, by all means, good on him!
My ex-wife told me the same but is it good for my son to have his effort value in function of his color?
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 5:41 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it? |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,607
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is it good for my son to have his effort value in function of his color
Special interest scholarships are available for a lot of reasons. He could be the son of a veteran, or the son of a Teamster, or the son of an employee of a major corporation, any of whom win special scholarships that would be denied to others. If he can qualify for a special scholarship, he'll still have earned it!
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 6:14 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it?
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JesterDrawers
Posts: 11,116
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Your question is a good one, and one that I, quite honestly, have been struggling with for quite some time, to no avail. I was born here, therefore am a United States citizen, so it always bothered me whenever I'd hear any of the "____-American" labels. I always wondered, when confronted by them (and "African-American" seems to be the one most widely used), if I should refer to myself as a "Euro-American". I wonder what kind of raised eyebrows and funny looks I'd get in return.
In short - it makes no sense to me. In this great melting pot of ours, I think we should have one title for all - that being simply "American". It was good enough for my ancestors; it's certainly MORE than good enough for me!
And from what you posted, it sounds to me like your son has more common sense than all the "politically correct" people combined!
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 6:34 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it? |
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BandTMom
Posts: 38,059
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Jester said:
In short - it makes no sense to me. In this great melting pot of ours, I think we should have one title for all - that being simply "American". It was good enough for my ancestors; it's certainly MORE than good enough for me!
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 6:38 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it?
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eastham
Posts: 7,907
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Very interesting perspective...I recently finished reading a book about France by two Canadian cultural anthropologists, Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow. In France, different cultures are absorbed rather than assimilated, and that I think is why you look at this differently. This approach has both its strengths and weaknesses as witnessed by the riots in the Parisian suburbs last year. For a country like the US, which was always disparate demographically it becomes less about absorption and more about assimilation.
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 6:39 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it? |
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lj450
Posts: 9,550
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Where exactly is Africa America?
Dont believe Ive ever been there.
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 6:48 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it?
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JesterDrawers
Posts: 11,116
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GREAT question!
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 7:08 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it? |
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LibidinistLady
Posts: 814
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I guess I'd have to be an Irish/German/English/Scots/Scots-Irish American. To me it just seems much easier to say I'm an American.
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 7:32 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it?
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MarysPlace
Posts: 2,930
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This approach has both its strengths and weaknesses as witnessed by the riots in the Parisian suburbs last year.
Except that said riots had NOTHING whatsoever to do with the French approach and everything with that of the rioting immigrants.
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 7:34 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it? |
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blueyes101
Posts: 12,080
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I once remember hearing John Wayne read an essay, I wish I could remember all of it. The main theme is a Hyphenated-American is a divided American. I'll start out by saying I am not politically correct, and for the most part refuse to be. If they (the PC crowd ) want us not to see color as a difference, why are they the ones pointing it out. I feel the same way as the dreaded "N " word, I can't help but think this word would have fallen by the wayside long ago in most of this country, if it were not for the African-Americans who chose to call each other the "N" word, and put it in most rap songs. But, they say it is a term of endearment, but any White American uses this term and all hell beaks loose, this whole country is full of double standards, Women's lib taught us to treat women no differently than a man, but yet we are different in many many ways, so the standards have been lowered. And unfortunately, the Democrats in this country have embraced every minority this country has to offer to help the "garnish " the votes. The whole thing makes me sick, they exploit the minorities then claim they are there to protect them. For some reason it is wrong to have English the official language of the United States, and it is wrong to have an American flag on our firetrucks, and we must have a Harvest festival, because Halloween is paganistic, and we have to say happy holidays instead of Merry Christmas, and of this because we should become more tolerant? HUH>.............I mean F*CKING HUH ?????? Doesn't anyone listen to what is being said???? It has just become one sided dribble from the liberal press, get your emotions all stirred up, divide us up amongst ourselves, and then have political leaders, or black leaders, or whoever, state how we must pull together to become one..........Well I for one was TRYING to do that all along, except, now I"M PISSED !!!!!!!!!!!!!! bad time to ask me to be politically correct.
As for the OP I think you are right for your son to accept the award, but perhaps, long after the award is accepted, have him write a note to the powers that be about this , and see what if anything is done, perhaps a good lesson of what to expect the rest of his life. But most importantly, he has the support of two loving parents, and means more to him than the award anyways.....And I think I better get off my soapbox now, because, I could keep going for a long long time..........BTW>>>>>JMHO
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 7:58 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it?
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JesterDrawers
Posts: 11,116
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No, Blu - DON'T get off your soapbox. I think what we need is a BIGGER soapbox, so we can ALL get on it with you!
...and of this because we should become more tolerant?
The thing that bugs me more than any other is simply WHEN IS THE MINORITY GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO BECOME MORE TOLERANT OF THE MAJORITY?
I am SOOOO sick of this stooopid PC baloney I can't see straight. And the sooner we quit worrying about being so darned "politically correct" the sooner we can go back to living as we were meant to - as Americans, as ONE PEOPLE!!!!! And not as a bunch of different ethnic groups doing all we can do make ourselves different from one another, and then wondering why people look at us differently, rather than as simply "one nation, under God, indivisible".....
Grrrrrrrrrr......don't get off that soapbox, Blu - just move over a bit so I can get up there with you, okay?!?!?!?!??! 
[Edited on 3/18/2007 8:04 PM]
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 8:01 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it? |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,607
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Heck, I'm not a Christian but I celebrate Christmas and even put up a creche, just because it's beautiful. We have a Nativity scene at work as well as the menorah for Hannukah. And my company's as politically correct as they come.
I have no problem at all with people remembering where they came from, and I feel a sneaking bit of pride that Slovenia's managed to go from being a debtor nation to a creditor nation in their first ten years of history, even though it was contributed to by cousins that I'll never meet.
As for Tibert's son, I think it has more to do with consciousness raising (sorry to sound politically correct, but self-esteem really IS important), and while the boy obviously has no problem in that area, I'd think it's less about his self-esteem than about other boys', for whom I'm sure they're trying to present him as a role model. You could say that he's a role model for kids of any color and I won't argue with that, either. I'm an American and proud to be one, The thing is, that when you go on a rant, you're closing communications. I'd love to hear that Tibert's son gives an acceptance speech that says exactly what he seems to think - he's an American and proud to be one, and while he's proud of his heritage, that's not the most important thing to him.
[Edited on 3/18/2007 8:05 PM]
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 8:03 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it?
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spongebob777
Posts: 7,904
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I prefer the term "American". My family came from Germany but I don't run around calling myself "German American".
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 8:06 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it? |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,607
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Sponge - my father was born in Germany, so technically I think he WOULD be called German-American as he was a naturalized citizen...but he would have made damned sure nobody ever called him that to his face. He was an AMERICAN!
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 8:10 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it?
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blueyes101
Posts: 12,080
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I saw an interview with a gentleman named Bill Lester, he was the first African-American to qualify for a NASCAR race in.........20+ yrs or so. Durring the media frenzy, some a**hole journalist asks him When you start the race tomorrow, who do you represent? And his answer is, myself.....................and my team, as well as my sponcer.
In other words he wants nothing more than to be judged as a fellow driver, not the " token black driver ". and I couldn't agree more, if he QUALIFIES the car into a race, why should it matter what color he is.........To anybody................EVER !!!!!
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| Mar 18, 2007 @ 8:10 PM |
“African American” good? Bad? What is it? |
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spongebob777
Posts: 7,904
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My great grandparents all spoke a bit of german but all were discouraged from speaking it at home by the parents who brought them here. It was a matter of really wanting to become American.
Personally I think it's good for children to speak other languages but American children should speak english first and foremost.
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