The term African-American.

[Utceforp]

You should be only be called "Latin American" if you primarly speak Latin.

*nodnod*

Most people who are considered "Latin American" are those who speak derivatives of Vulgar Latin, and therefore speak a variety of Latin.

Of course, that definition would include French Americans as "Latin Americans", so no matter how you slice it, calling people "Latin Americans" is just an arbitrary and perhaps subtly racist way to differentiate "furr'ners" from white people.

[Icamera]

You should be only be called "Latin American" if you primarly speak Latin.

*nodnod*

Most people who are considered "Latin American" are those who speak derivatives of Vulgar Latin, and therefore speak a variety of Latin.

Of course, that definition would include French Americans as "Latin Americans", so no matter how you slice it, calling people "Latin Americans" is just an arbitrary and perhaps subtly racist way to differentiate "furr'ners" from white people.

Actually, I think the concept of "Latin America" came about for the opposite reason. If I recall correctly, France created the term in an attempt to say "Hey, Mexico, we have so much in common. Let's be friends!" Arbitrary, yes; meant to differentiate, not so much.

[Great Zavi]

Most people who are considered "Latin American" are those who speak derivatives of Vulgar Latin, and therefore speak a variety of Latin.

Of course, that definition would include French Americans as "Latin Americans", so no matter how you slice it, calling people "Latin Americans" is just an arbitrary and perhaps subtly racist way to differentiate "furr'ners" from white people.

Actually, I think the concept of "Latin America" came about for the opposite reason. If I recall correctly, France created the term in an attempt to say "Hey, Mexico, we have so much in common. Let's be friends!" Arbitrary, yes; meant to differentiate, not so much.

This isnt the thread to be discussing this.

[Costa Fierro]

On surveys where they ask your ethnicity, as a description for White, they have European descent and North African.

I don't know what surveys you have seen where ethnicities are listed like such or why, but this is not the case. In any case, no one can really be called "North African" except for maybe the Berbers and other native inhabitants.

[God Kefka]

what's a chav?

The other ones are pretty close to my stereotypes too...

I can't think about Australia without thinking of the Crocodile Hunter. I'm sure the average person in Sydney doesn't go mucking around wrestling crocodiles, but that's still the first mental image that comes to mind.

You might be surprised

[Crimiea]

I don't understand why we use the term African-American when they are more American than African. American culture has a lot of "Black" influence, from our music to our history, followed by one of the most famous American dishes: Fried Chicken, Hashpuppies, and Cornbread.

They are no more or less American than a "Mixed Race" or a "White" American. The United States is a melting pot, so we should stop being obsessed with a person's race and instead actually act like we're a melting pot.

[Nazi Flower Power]

I can't think about Australia without thinking of the Crocodile Hunter. I'm sure the average person in Sydney doesn't go mucking around wrestling crocodiles, but that's still the first mental image that comes to mind.

You might be surprised

Well, someday I would like to visit Sydney and see for myself.

It will probably be a while, though.

[Cetacea]

I don't understand why we use the term African-American when they are more American than African. American culture has a lot of "Black" influence, from our music to our history, followed by one of the most famous American dishes: Fried Chicken, Hashpuppies, and Cornbread.

They are no more or less American than a "Mixed Race" or a "White" American. The United States is a melting pot, so we should stop being obsessed with a person's race and instead actually act like we're a melting pot.

Hashpuppies and cornbread are actually Native American foods which along with Hominy, grits boiled peanuts and hickory bbq (including bbq chicken) were adopted as Southern food by the later settlers both white and black. Corn is a clue....

[Libertarian California]

But Afrikaners are no more Dutch than Americans are British.

Except if your a WASP they are.

Boers are far more homogeneous than Americans.

Jesus Christ. Where the fuck have you been?

Anyways, that is a sad truth.

[Crimiea]

I don't understand why we use the term African-American when they are more American than African. American culture has a lot of "Black" influence, from our music to our history, followed by one of the most famous American dishes: Fried Chicken, Hashpuppies, and Cornbread.

They are no more or less American than a "Mixed Race" or a "White" American. The United States is a melting pot, so we should stop being obsessed with a person's race and instead actually act like we're a melting pot.

Hashpuppies and cornbread are actually Native American foods which along with Hominy, grits boiled peanuts and hickory bbq (including bbq chicken) were adopted as Southern food by the later settlers both white and black. Corn is a clue....

I see.
I look at Cornbread as a part of Soul Food, which is associated with the cuisine of American slaves.

Also, just because it's corn doesn't mean it's entirely Native American, it could be a dish made up by later immigrants to the US who use Native American's crops for their newly made cuisine. However, given that I've looked into what you've said and actually proved you right, I have nothing to rebuttal since you're right.

Thanks for the info.

[Valica]

Personally, I think black people should just be called ebony, and white people should be called ivory.
It's much more verbally pleasing than black and white.
I think making the titles less of a contrast and more of a compliment could help dissolve racism.

But as of now, I will not use the term African-American unless they were born in Africa and came here.
If you were born in America, you are American. Your race is black, white, hispanic, asian, etc.
I won't call black people African-American until they call me European-American.

Even still, I deny that title.

[Great Zavi]

Personally, I think black people should just be called ebony, and white people should be called ivory.
It's much more verbally pleasing than black and white.
I think making the titles less of a contrast and more of a compliment could help dissolve racism.

But as of now, I will not use the term African-American unless they were born in Africa and came here.
If you were born in America, you are American. Your race is black, white, hispanic, asian, etc.
I won't call black people African-American until they call me European-American.

Even still, I deny that title.

I agree.

And I like the terms Ebony and Ivory; very pretty. However, interestingly enough, I'm half black (Look more black than anything though) and people have referred to my skin color as ivory before.

[Chinese Regions]

racism.

or whatever the real word would be when its ethnicism but of course Hispanics are not all of the same ethnicity.

we like to make a big deal out of whatever immigrant group is big right now in climbing numbers. we did it with various European groups in the past--irish, german, jewish, etc. now we are doing it with Spanish speaking people from the Americas.

its not a great fit as you already know for various reasons that you already know. but its what we do.

Last I heard applying the term 'Hispanic' to Latin Americans was considered politically incorrect in some circles, since many Latin Americans consider their connections to Spain rather minimal.

It's not a matter of racism or ethnicism, but recognition of the fact that Latin Americans are a mix of Hispanic and Native American, rather than being 'pure hispanic'.

I am aware some, maybe a majority have native American DNA, but not all of them.

[Great Zavi]

Hashpuppies and cornbread are actually Native American foods which along with Hominy, grits boiled peanuts and hickory bbq (including bbq chicken) were adopted as Southern food by the later settlers both white and black. Corn is a clue....

I see.
I look at Cornbread as a part of Soul Food, which is associated with the cuisine of American slaves.

Also, just because it's corn doesn't mean it's entirely Native American, it could be a dish made up by later immigrants to the US who use Native American's crops for their newly made cuisine. However, given that I've looked into what you've said and actually proved you right, I have nothing to rebuttal since you're right.

Thanks for the info.

despite one inconsistency, your original point was valid. I dont see a reason, or point to go into meticulous detail.

[Chinese Regions]

racism.

or whatever the real word would be when its ethnicism but of course Hispanics are not all of the same ethnicity.

we like to make a big deal out of whatever immigrant group is big right now in climbing numbers. we did it with various European groups in the past--irish, german, jewish, etc. now we are doing it with Spanish speaking people from the Americas.

its not a great fit as you already know for various reasons that you already know. but its what we do.

Whenever a large group of "furrners" of European descent moves into the US, people try to claim they're not white. It happened with the Irish, and it's happening with "Latinos".

Didn'y the Spanish come to the Americas (including what is now the USA) before the Irish did?

[Great Zavi]

Last I heard applying the term 'Hispanic' to Latin Americans was considered politically incorrect in some circles, since many Latin Americans consider their connections to Spain rather minimal.

It's not a matter of racism or ethnicism, but recognition of the fact that Latin Americans are a mix of Hispanic and Native American, rather than being 'pure hispanic'.

I am aware some, maybe a majority have native American DNA, but not all of them.

It's safe to say that every Hispanic/Latino person has some degree of Native American and African blood in them. There's no pure Hispanic because Hispanic in itself is a mix.

[Alimprad]

why do people always have to see some sort of racist, prejudice in anything that hints at differences in people? the term african-american clearly describes someone who is american (speaks with the accent, lives there, and is used to there customs), but is also of african origin (has different skin colour and family history), where's the racist attack in that?

[Great Zavi]

why do people always have to see some sort of racist, prejudice in anything that hints at differences in people? the term african-american clearly describes someone who is american (speaks with the accent, lives there, and is used to there customs), but is also of african origin (has different skin colour and family history), where's the racist attack in that?

When did I ever describe it as racist? I'm only saying it isn't accurate.

[Chinese Regions]

I am aware some, maybe a majority have native American DNA, but not all of them.

It's safe to say that every Hispanic/Latino person has some degree of Native American and African blood in them. There's no pure Hispanic because Hispanic in itself is a mix.

Even "Hispanic" people with the least Melanin are not considered one with Americans of Irish or German descent because of their language and/or name.

[Great Zavi]

It's safe to say that every Hispanic/Latino person has some degree of Native American and African blood in them. There's no pure Hispanic because Hispanic in itself is a mix.

Even "Hispanic" people with the least Melanin are not considered one with Americans of Irish or German descent because of their language and/or name.

What are you trying to prove?

[Breadknife]

Even "Hispanic" people with the least Melanin are not considered one with Americans of Irish or German descent because of their language and/or name.

What are you trying to prove?

I initially read it as akin to saying "If you pronounce your first name along the lines of 'Hay-suus', you've probably not got the surname 'O'Flaherty' or 'Schmitt', no matter how much your suntan matches that of someone who has". But I may have have missed some connotation or other, along the way.

[Utceforp]

Whenever a large group of "furrners" of European descent moves into the US, people try to claim they're not white. It happened with the Irish, and it's happening with "Latinos".

Didn'y the Spanish come to the Americas (including what is now the USA) before the Irish did?

And that's the real irony. Most Latinos are a mixture of Native American and Spanish. The southwestern US was in the hands of the natives first, the Spanish second and the USA third, and yet when Latinos try to immigrate into the southwestern US, they're deemed foreigners or invaders.

[Shaggai]

I don't understand why we use the term African-American when they are more American than African. American culture has a lot of "Black" influence, from our music to our history, followed by one of the most famous American dishes: Fried Chicken, Hashpuppies, and Cornbread.

They are no more or less American than a "Mixed Race" or a "White" American. The United States is a melting pot, so we should stop being obsessed with a person's race and instead actually act like we're a melting pot.

The reason the term exists is because it's actually politically important. They're the largest minority in the US, and the one with the most history of being oppressed. And since racism still exists, ignoring it wouldn't work. If everyone ignored race, that would be great. Unfortunately, racists don't.

[SD_Film Artists]

It's a tad presumtious, as the person in question could be British born and of Jamaican decent.

[Tekania]

Eh you're thing about some of the others are a bit off too.... many who have been born here, even multiple generations get called or billed as "Mexican American" for example. Gabriel Iglesias even had to joke about it saying he had to travel all the way to the middle east to get called an "American" comedian as opposed to a "Mexican American" Comedian.

It pretty much seems that if you're not white you tend to get a hyphenated (whatever)-American.

I dislike it myself. If you were not born somewhere else and immigrated here, then you're American".... Or we can just all start doing it:
I'm a Native-French-Irish-English-American