New Jersey student suspended for calling himself white, African, American

[DeadPoolX 9]

You mean there are white people in Africa? noooo seriously

I thought that the only people who should be identified as "African American" are those who have been separated from the continent for a few hundred years now. 6 or 7 generations that is.

Scratches head. I need to go back to my: "Dummies guide to PC Yank logic".

Ironically I have actually been to South Africa. How many "African Americans" can say that?

interesting you put "African Americans" in quotes. Do you put "Irish Americans" in quotes? Because I know many, many Americans who have been separated from Ireland for several hundred years, who have never been there who don't speak Gaelic, yet no one seems to have a problem with them calling themselves Irish Americans. Hell we even have a parade here in New York, where the streets run green with the Irish and yet no one questions their attempts to tie themeselves to a continent they have been separated from or try to dimish them, with little quotes, as if they don't really exist.

All he's saying is that people who've been born in the U.S. and are several generations removed from their home country are less "hyphenated-Americans" than pure, plain "Americans." Look at African Americans. If someone is labled an African American, but is several generations removed from Africa, was born in the U.S. and has no intention of ever setting foot in Africa, why are they an African American? More to the point, how would they be anymore of an African American that someone who's white, born in Africa and becomes a U.S. citizen?

I don't call myself a "European American." I consider myself an "American" and that's it. Did my ancestors come from Europe? Yes. I was not, however, born in Europe and neither were several generations before me.

I don't think we'll ever achieve racial or cultural equality so long as we segregate people into different groups. Why African American or Hispanic American or Asian American? If we called everyone living here an "American" and nothing else, we'd truly be on equal footing. That won't happen, however. If society did that, we'd put numerous racial and cultural activist organizations out of business.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

(almost) similar case in Omaha area (16-year old Jo'berg-born student, immigrated to US 6 years ago):

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=...mp;pageId=22929

(most of the students at Westside are caucasian).

[mrsjohnsonscat 7]

All he's saying is that people who've been born in the U.S. and are several generations removed from their home country are less "hyphenated-Americans" than pure, plain "Americans." Look at African Americans. If someone is labled an African American, but is several generations removed from Africa, was born in the U.S. and has no intention of ever setting foot in Africa, why are they an African American? More to the point, how would they be anymore of an African American that someone who's white, born in Africa and becomes a U.S. citizen?

I don't call myself a "European American." I consider myself an "American" and that's it. Did my ancestors come from Europe? Yes. I was not, however, born in Europe and neither were several generations before me.

I don't think we'll ever achieve racial or cultural equality so long as we segregate people into different groups. Why African American or Hispanic American or Asian American? If we called everyone living here an "American" and nothing else, we'd truly be on equal footing. That won't happen, however. If society did that, we'd put numerous racial and cultural activist organizations out of business.

Again, why only look at African Americans? We have whole groups of Americans who have no problems calling themselves Irish-Americans, German-Americans, Italian-Americans and so on. We have parades based on Irish, Italian, Polish etc, and no one seems to have a problem with it. These people, just like the African Americans have not, nor will even touch foot on the lands of their fore-fathers; yet again, i notice that you do not include them in your grouping. You note Asians, you note Africans, you note Hispanics; but not the Eurpoeans who do still hypehenate their americanism.

I've explained this once, I'll try it again. African-American is an American term; people from Africa do not call themselves that, because they know which part of Africa they come from. Africa like Europe is not one country, it is made up of many countries, each of which has it's own nationality.

Because we have such a diverse country, we have made racial and generic short-cuts for entire groups, Asian-Americans, Hispanic, African and we never cared enough to recognize their individuality.

If your family originality came from Ireland and I called you a European-American, you would correct me and say, no I'm Irish-American; because you know what part of Europe you come from. This is the same for people from Africa, if you came from South Africa, and I called you African-American, you would correct me and say no, I'm South-African; because you know where you come from. If you were Korean and I called you Asian-American, you would correct me and say no, I'm Korean-American.

It has nothing to do with separation and everything to do with being in touch with your cultural identity and there's nothing wrong with that; no matter how many generations have passed. Now YOU may chose not to and that's ok, but this country is build on people who are able to call themselves American and still hold their traditions.

The reason why black people in American, that are decended from the Slave class use the generic African-American is because they don't know where in Africa they came from; that knowledge was taken from them. They don't have the luxury to say, "I'm a Somalli-American, the way a European American would say, "I'm an Irish-American", even if they both have been in the US the same amount of time.

Now if you agree that all those Americans who call themselves Italian-Americans, Irish-Americans, German-Americans, Polish-Americans who have been here for generations are also guilty of adding to a society that keeps the numerous racial and cultural activist organizations in business, then we a agree.

Do we agree?

Edited May 13, 2009 by mrsjohnsonscat

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You mean there are white people in Africa? noooo seriously

I thought that the only people who should be identified as "African American" are those who have been separated from the continent for a few hundred years now. 6 or 7 generations that is.

Scratches head. I need to go back to my: "Dummies guide to PC Yank logic".

Ironically I have actually been to South Africa. How many "African Americans" can say that?

interesting you put "African Americans" in quotes. Do you put "Irish Americans" in quotes? Because I know many, many Americans who have been separated from Ireland for several hundred years, who have never been there who don't speak Gaelic, yet no one seems to have a problem with them calling themselves Irish Americans. Hell we even have a parade here in New York, where the streets run green with the Irish and yet no one questions their attempts to tie themeselves to a continent they have been separated from or try to dimish them, with little quotes, as if they don't really exist.

All he's saying is that people who've been born in the U.S. and are several generations removed from their home country are less "hyphenated-Americans" than pure, plain "Americans." Look at African Americans. If someone is labled an African American, but is several generations removed from Africa, was born in the U.S. and has no intention of ever setting foot in Africa, why are they an African American? More to the point, how would they be anymore of an African American that someone who's white, born in Africa and becomes a U.S. citizen?

I don't call myself a "European American." I consider myself an "American" and that's it. Did my ancestors come from Europe? Yes. I was not, however, born in Europe and neither were several generations before me.

I don't think we'll ever achieve racial or cultural equality so long as we segregate people into different groups. Why African American or Hispanic American or Asian American? If we called everyone living here an "American" and nothing else, we'd truly be on equal footing. That won't happen, however. If society did that, we'd put numerous racial and cultural activist organizations out of business.

Does it really matter whether or not the labels are accurate though?

A label of identity is arbitrary and ultimately meaningless for the individual, and is pretty useless insofar as defining that person.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Again, why only look at African Americans? We have whole groups of Americans who have no problems calling themselves Irish-Americans, German-Americans, Italian-Americans and so on. We have parades based on Irish, Italian, Polish etc, and no one seems to have a problem with it. These people, just like the African Americans have not, nor will even touch foot on the lands of their fore-fathers; yet again, i notice that you do not include them in your grouping. You note Asians, you note Africans, you note Hispanics; but not the Eurpoeans who do still hypehenate their americanism.

I've explained this once, I'll try it again. African-American is an American term; people from Africa do not call themselves that, because they know which part of Africa they come from. Africa like Europe is not one country, it is made up of many countries, each of which has it's own nationality.

Because we have such a diverse country, we have made racial and generic short-cuts for entire groups, Asian-Americans, Hispanic, African and we never cared enough to recognize their individuality.

If your family originality came from Ireland and I called you a European-American, you would correct me and say, no I'm Irish-American; because you know what part of Europe you come from. This is the same for people from Africa, if you came from South Africa, and I called you African-American, you would correct me and say no, I'm South-African; because you know where you come from. If you were Korean and I called you Asian-American, you would correct me and say no, I'm Korean-American.

It has nothing to do with separation and everything to do with being in touch with your cultural identity and there's nothing wrong with that; no matter how many generations have passed. Now YOU may chose not to and that's ok, but this country is build on people who are able to call themselves American and still hold their traditions.

The reason why black people in American, that are decended from the Slave class use the generic African-American is because they don't know where in Africa they came from; that knowledge was taken from them. They don't have the luxury to say, "I'm a Somalli-American, the way a European American would say, "I'm an Irish-American", even if they both have been in the US the same amount of time.

Now if you agree that all those Americans who call themselves Italian-Americans, Irish-Americans, German-Americans, Polish-Americans who have been here for generations are also guilty of adding to a society that keeps the numerous racial and cultural activist organizations in business, then we a agree.

Do we agree?

Yes, we agree. I merely used African American, Asian American and Hispanic American as examples. That's all.

Does it really matter whether or not the labels are accurate though?

A label of identity is arbitrary and ultimately meaningless for the individual, and is pretty useless insofar as defining that person.

I'd like to think whatever someone labels themselves as is at least somewhat accurate. If a label is meaningless, why do we stick to hyphenated-American terms?

[mrsjohnsonscat 7]

Yes, we agree. I merely used African American, Asian American and Hispanic American as examples. That's all.

Cool, usually when I have these types of discussions, people are unwilling or unable to view ALL hypehenated americans as guilty of the same thing, which is why I questioned why you left out Eurpoeans in your list.

[panamania79 2]

That's f'd up!

And totally RIDICULOUS !

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Again, why only look at African Americans? We have whole groups of Americans who have no problems calling themselves Irish-Americans, German-Americans, Italian-Americans and so on. We have parades based on Irish, Italian, Polish etc, and no one seems to have a problem with it. These people, just like the African Americans have not, nor will even touch foot on the lands of their fore-fathers; yet again, i notice that you do not include them in your grouping. You note Asians, you note Africans, you note Hispanics; but not the Eurpoeans who do still hypehenate their americanism.

I've explained this once, I'll try it again. African-American is an American term; people from Africa do not call themselves that, because they know which part of Africa they come from. Africa like Europe is not one country, it is made up of many countries, each of which has it's own nationality.

Because we have such a diverse country, we have made racial and generic short-cuts for entire groups, Asian-Americans, Hispanic, African and we never cared enough to recognize their individuality.

If your family originality came from Ireland and I called you a European-American, you would correct me and say, no I'm Irish-American; because you know what part of Europe you come from. This is the same for people from Africa, if you came from South Africa, and I called you African-American, you would correct me and say no, I'm South-African; because you know where you come from. If you were Korean and I called you Asian-American, you would correct me and say no, I'm Korean-American.

It has nothing to do with separation and everything to do with being in touch with your cultural identity and there's nothing wrong with that; no matter how many generations have passed. Now YOU may chose not to and that's ok, but this country is build on people who are able to call themselves American and still hold their traditions.

The reason why black people in American, that are decended from the Slave class use the generic African-American is because they don't know where in Africa they came from; that knowledge was taken from them. They don't have the luxury to say, "I'm a Somalli-American, the way a European American would say, "I'm an Irish-American", even if they both have been in the US the same amount of time.

Now if you agree that all those Americans who call themselves Italian-Americans, Irish-Americans, German-Americans, Polish-Americans who have been here for generations are also guilty of adding to a society that keeps the numerous racial and cultural activist organizations in business, then we a agree.

Do we agree?

Yes, we agree. I merely used African American, Asian American and Hispanic American as examples. That's all.

Does it really matter whether or not the labels are accurate though?

A label of identity is arbitrary and ultimately meaningless for the individual, and is pretty useless insofar as defining that person.

I'd like to think whatever someone labels themselves as is at least somewhat accurate. If a label is meaningless, why do we stick to hyphenated-American terms?

I'm saying that they are meaningless artificial descriptors created for mainly bureaucratic reasonsthat say nothing about an individual is.

I don't derive anything from being "white caucasian". It doesn't tell me anything about who I am, nor do I draw anything from it.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Without labels, how would we stereotype? Clearly, they serve a valuable purpose.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

We over-rely on them (and that) IMO.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Don't you have a cup of tea to sip and some natives to torment?

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't know, it's very useful to know which ethnicity is burdened by a smaller than average #######...

[mrsjohnsonscat 7]

Without labels, how would we stereotype? Clearly, they serve a valuable purpose.

That's not true. If know that people in West Virginia that call themselves appalachian, are suffering from say a certain form of Cancer than the general population in West Virginia, that is sign that something is wrong with their environment. It doesn't have to be a judgement call on them as a group, but provides us with a means to isolate and locate what's different about their lifestyles; be it nature or nuture.

Labels, like guns or cars are just a tool; it's only as good or bad as the person using it.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't know, it's very useful to know which ethnicity is burdened by a smaller than average #######...

Or if intellectual potential can be measured by a pair of callipers

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Without labels, how would we stereotype? Clearly, they serve a valuable purpose.

That's not true. If know that people in West Virginia that call themselves appalachian, are suffering from say a certain form of Cancer than the general population in West Virginia, that is sign that something is wrong with their environment. It doesn't have to be a judgement call on them as a group, but provides us with a means to isolate and locate what's different about their lifestyles; be it nature or nuture.

Labels, like guns or cars are just a tool; it's only as good or bad as the person using it.

god-damn, who let you outta the crazy house?