People's reaction to this term, IMO, tells a lot about them, how they think and the degree of respect they have for others.

Long and short, while terms like Nigerian-American (or terms like Japenese-American or French American, for that matter) exist, people take swipes at African-American because there are Whites, e.g., from African countries.


Did you catch that? There are terms like Nigerian-American. That's a clue.

A favorite actress of mine is African-American. Charlize Theron.

Thanks for adding this, Xibit, it's not a thought I had considered before, but it's an enlightening one.

I'm not trying to start a fight or anything, so don't take this the wrong way. I'm not sure how you could, but I've been wrong before, but I can't wait until we are all just Americans. I think we could use some solidarity.

__________________
Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish. I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on their altars. ... I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask no one to live for me, nor do I live for others. I covet no mans soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet.

Ayn Rand, Anthem.

She would be South African American, the same as there are Nigerian Americans, etc.

Funny thing. Until the John Kerry's wife's national origin-identity made the news, few people pointed out a Nigerian, e.g., and used that as an argument against the descendant of Africans taken as 'slaves' and brought here to America.

There's another clue.

Mankind will never ignore differences. It's just not in the nature of human beings. There will always be that politely, enquiring question when an accent is heard: "Where are you from?" Or, "How long have you been here?" Even if that accent is just the difference between the northern and southern United States.

So, while I agree with you that it will be a great day when we are seen as all the same (not even just Americans, but humans living on the same planet) as it pertains to valuing life and equality over what makes us different--the possibility that this could happen is so slim, (though I haven't given up hope) we must find ways to get as close to justice and equality as possible, despite any inherent obstacles.

This is why I appreciated Xibit's fine point.

Solidarity based on what? The total disrespect of a people's right to observe/preserve as much of their history and identity as possible?


Solidarity based on what? On-going "racial" inequality?


Beyond that, there's been plenty of solidarity. African-Americans/Blacks have fought in "AMERICAN" wars since the country was founded. So the question is: what is this concept of "solidarity" you're talking about?

Solidarity based on what? Some ill-conceived pretense?

Geeze, I knew I shouldn't have even tried.

__________________
Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish. I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on their altars. ... I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask no one to live for me, nor do I live for others. I covet no mans soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet.

Ayn Rand, Anthem.

Thanks for the clarifiaction My most difficult subject in school was always geography. For some reason, my mind doesn't function well when it comes to recalling place locations. The best I can do is N/S/W/E and a few combinations thereof. While I am getting better as I try to study (in my very limited spare time) world events, I'm stilling battling my way up hill on this one.

In a strictly "black/white" perspective here, I think where solidarity fails more often then not is that white people fail to see they are equal to blacks.

I'm sure it's not on purpose, but the mythology of white supremacy has been so subtley and deeply embedded in everything we do in the United States, it's truly like a subliminal message that very few could escape completely.

Whites are equal to blacks.

I find it highly interesting that a white person can easily say, "blacks are equal to whites" but feel uncomfortable when someone suggests that "whites are equal to blacks."

It's as if "blacks equal to whites" is a magnanimous position to hold, as if through sheer genoristy and a "do-gooder" position, this is acceptable. Yet "whites equal to blacks" stirs up the subliminal knowledge that blacks ARE discriminated against, and if whites are equal to blacks, whites could suffer that same discrimination, racism and oppression--a frightening thing to any person.

Just some thoughts.

Tried what?
To say something vague and amorphous without being able to elaborate on what you were talking about and the basis of this solidarity you speak of?


Let's try this: what does it mean to be American?

There is, of course, North America, South America and even Central America. Beyond that, people in the USA have different views regarding what it means to be "American." So this "solidarity" you speak of is lacking even when we all are just "American."

The different views regarding the Iraq war is but one example of this.
There is an obvious political divide as to what constitutes patriotism or the lack thereof and, by extension, what it means to be American.


So your reference to the idea(l) of "solidarity" based on an American identity is problematic in and of itself.