Should we really put labels on Americans? - Political Forum

Bill225 · 10-15-2007, 10:43 PM

Now before anyone spouts off that I am a racist, I assure you that I am not a racist. I've had this topic of thought on my mind for a very long time now, and I want to know what others think in a mature and intellectual setting.

No doubt the African American culture in America has had their uphill battles for the majority of the modern Era in this country, but we are at a point with minorities that you have to tip-toe around a topic so selectively and so quietly that I believe most people are not allowed, or are in fear of voicing what they truely wish to say for fear of being called a racist or insensitive.

So here is my question.
A person who is born in America, Black, Brown, White, it doesn't matter. Why do we have to refer to them as African Americans, or Mexican Americans.

On my campus there is a huge debate of this topic of African American vs. Black. I want to know if you think this labeling of people is really nessicary or not.

I think, and again i must profess that I am in no way a racist, that labeling people of other races who live in this country as anything other than American does only damage to further the divide of racial lines. How are we suppose to put the past behind us if we must refer to someone born in Chicago IL as an African American when in fact they have no relation to Africa. This would be the same as calling me an Irish American as my Great Grandfather was from ireland.

I would like to have an intellectual discussion on this topic of labeling people in America today. If you disagree with this topic, or are just one of those people who are easily offended and want to flame, please keep your comments to yourself because you are those who seek to further the gap between intelligence and ignorance.

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 10-15-2007, 10:53 PM

People should use common sense. I use African-American when I'm speaking in a formal setting (i.e. at my job) and politicians should too. When in a more casual setting, just say black, white, Latino, etc.

WEB

Bill225 · 10-15-2007, 10:57 PM

I can agree with that statement 100%. The only thing that bothers me is the fact that we have to do that. When will we develop completely as a society when we can call each person an American, without the worry or need to put labels on people for their different color or accent. That is truely when we will abolish racial lines in my opinion, when we can put aside lingo and definitions and come together as one.

Bradgriff · 10-15-2007, 11:04 PM

Hey Du Bois......

I think labeling is a consequence of cultural pride which people are allowed to have and we should not restrict. So Italians have a Columbus Day parade, and the Greeks have the Greek food festival. The Mexican community here makes a huge deal out of Cinco De Mayo. Now there......you got labels, and nothing bad has happened yet and it opens the door for everyone to be labeled something. The bad part comes in the obvious form of someone who makes generalizations about any group.....the rest of this we all have seen.

Inconclusion I think we don't want to deny people pride in thier culture, so labels will appear. We can't stop the poisoned minds that make generalizations about cultures, so labels....present or not, will not stop the ill behavior is some

Just what this old hippy thinks

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 10-15-2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill225

I can agree with that statement 100%. The only thing that bothers me is the fact that we have to do that. When will we develop completely as a society when we can call each person an American, without the worry or need to put labels on people for their different color or accent. That is truely when we will abolish racial lines in my opinion, when we can put aside lingo and definitions and come together as one.

That happens one American at a time. Honestly, I don't think American people are ready for it yet. The US is a segregated country. We don't live next to each other, we rarely socialize with each other (racially) and we don't go to school next to each other. As such, more formality is required at public functions and elsewhere.

When we are less segregated, maybe it can be tried then.

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 10-15-2007, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bradgriff

Hey Du Bois......

I think labeling is a consequence of cultural pride which people are allowed to have and we should not restrict. So Italians have a Columbus Day parade, and the Greeks have the Greek food festival. The Mexican community here makes a huge deal out of Cinco De Mayo. Now there......you got labels, and nothing bad has happened yet and it opens the door for everyone to be labeled something. The bad part comes in the obvious form of someone who makes generalizations about any group.....the rest of this we all have seen.

Inconclusion I think we don't want to deny people pride in thier culture, so labels will appear. We can't stop the poisoned minds that make generalizations about cultures, so labels....present or not, will not stop the ill behavior is some

Just what this old hippy thinks

Hey Brad,

I think the OP is talking more about "hyphenated Americans" (i.e. African-American, Latin-American, Asian-American, etc). He's not so much talking about black, white, Chinese, etc, at least so far as I can tell.

iTaliAN_ICe · 10-15-2007, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill225

How are we suppose to put the past behind us if we must refer to someone born in Chicago IL as an African American when in fact they have no relation to Africa.

This is an interesting topic I've thought about a few times. I think that a person is only "African-American" if they're from Africa (making the term non-race specific.) Americans who don't fall into this category are just black. Insistence on clinging to a separate nationality can't be good for American society, and I don't really understand why people can't just embrace "black" and "white" rather than pushing them aside in favor of more politically correct terms. Calling some black Americans African-Americans is like calling me an Italian-Scotch-Irish-Hungarian-American. I think white and black do a good enough job of getting the message across...

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 10-15-2007, 11:27 PM

I think white folks should stick to hyphenated Americans for now. I definitely prefer it that way. There's still a real racial barrier in this country and as such, I don't feel that people who have a barrier between themselves and black people should be allowed to address black people in a way that could be insulting. It's a trust issue, and I don't trust people who have a barrier in between them and the race they are talking about.

LessGovMrPrez · 10-15-2007, 11:32 PM

I never use the prefix wording when tlaking to my black friends and co-workers.

I am German/Scotish/Irish. I have never been to any of those countries and have no ties to them. So why would I be considered a Scot? Or a German? They would laugh at me if I went there and told them that. I am just a plain old American.

Izzibeth · 10-16-2007, 09:54 AM

I am also just a plain ol' American. Actually, I think I would be pretty upset if someone generalized me as an "African-American" based on my skin color (although most people can't tell what the hell I am so I have never run into that issue). I am not African-American. I think I would be what could be called a "true" American. I'm a mixture of like.. 8-10 different things. And that's what America is all about, right? Melting pot and all that?

^_^

Right, so I've just decided that my hyphen is True-American.