Non-White/Asian/Hispanic/American Indian/Other

[Icarus]

I was wondering, which term do you prefer, and why?

[TriezGamer]

Well, I'm a fan of simplicity ... and I prefer 'human' or 'person', myself, but if I absolutely need to use a descriptor when referring to someone, I usually just choose whichever term comes to mind first.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Well, I'm a fan of simplicity ... and I prefer 'human' or 'person', myself, but if I absolutely need to use a descriptor when referring to someone, I usually just choose whichever term comes to mind first.

Couldnt of said it better myself

[mitsuki lover]

Since the only two options you have up are either African-American or Black I suppose you want us to vote on one or other of them.Being White myself I have always perferred the word Black to describe Americans of African descent.The reason is not only is it simpler to remember but it is also a bit more logical.You see not all people of dark skin are descended from people from Africa.For instance the
Aborigines of Australia are also dark skinned.So saying someone who is an American and has dark complexion is an African-American is a misnomer on that point.
Also what do we mean by African-American?
Wouldn't a White person born in Pretoria who immigrants to the States and becomes an American citizen be more logically referred to as an African-American than a Black who was born in Detroit?
We need to clear up our meaning there.

[MPX42]

I'm white BTW.

I voted African-American because I think the term black can offend some people.

[Tarnish]

I say black because "African-American" takes too long to say. >__>
No one seems to mind.

[chibiphonebooth]

I say black because "African-American" takes too long to say. >__>
No one seems to mind.

same here. XD

even african-americans refer to themselves as black. :p

and plus, i dont call myself caucasian.

i cant even spell it. XD
i refer to myself as white.

[Sammy Boy]

I prefer to say black because it's easier to say, easier to spell.

[Kiba-kun]

i use a different more offensive word than either of those. not because i'm racist but because I hear it so much at school (mostly by the blacks) and i've been shoved into a locker door more than once for trying to be polite and use the nicer term.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

i use a different more offensive word than either of those. not because i'm racist but because I hear it so much at school (mostly by the blacks) and i've been shoved into a locker door more than once for trying to be polite and use the nicer term.

I'm sorry but.... isn't it usually the opposite that should occur?

[FadedOne]

er...i say black. same as other people.....it's faster! i feel weird saying 'african american'. I'm not sure which is more PC....or if there's even another more PC option? actually if i can help it i dont really ID people by skin color(unless joking..."white girl" etc) b/c it's easy to offend someone w/o realizing. *shrug*

[meboeck]

I say black because it's what most of my black friends have said they prefer. As one of my friends put it, "I'm not from Africa, so why would I want to be called African-American?"

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I say black because it's what most of my black friends have said they prefer. As one of my friends put it, "I'm not from Africa, so why would I want to be called African-American?"

But then again. What am I? Yellow? I'm Asian but I'm not from asia... Plus people don't call me "Korean American" or "Asian American"

[Allegro]

I don't think it really matters. We're all pink on the inside.

[Kiba-kun]

I'm sorry but.... isn't it usually the opposite that should occur?

no. the ppl in my school are very messed up. a girl in my class bumped into my arm and she grabbed my arm and apologized repeatidly. it was scary. but on topic, the blacks in my school prefer to be called the N word.

[Maverick]

I would say that it is usually best to use the term African-American first with somebody, and then after you get to know them better, or they tell you they prefer otherwise, then use the term Black. It is a formality thing that has been adapted into our culture. Sort of like saying Mr. or Mrs. before you get to know an older person/teacher/etc. I know it sounds funny because white people don't like to be called Caucasians... but it is basically a cultural thing that you just deal with. Even though it makes sense to just call black people black, we can't oversimplify the issue because we call white people white.

On the student who sayes the black people in his school prefer to be called "Ni****".. I would say still avoid using that word. I can assure you that the students at your school are very much a minority. That word is still considered very offensive, and as Christians we have a responsibiltiy to not create any unneeded tension.

[Yumie]

but on topic, the blacks in my school prefer to be called the N word.

Wha--??. . .

[Steeltemplar]

A lot of black/african-american people that I have known seem to refer to themselves as "black". To be honest, I like it better too. I generally call myself "white". Terms like "African-American" have a certain ring of political correctness to them, so I prefer not to follow along that path. There is nothing disrespectful about the term "black" just as there is none in "white".

As to the question of if racial description is important, I should say that it has a certain importance. Not in the sense of one race being better than another. However, I should say that it is a part of describing someone's physical characteristics.

[ShiroiHikari]

I say "black", just because that's the way I've always said it. Plus, like others have mentioned, "African-American" sounds too PC for me, and I hate PC-speak. Don't you think that term would be better suited for like...Africans that have recently become citizens of the USA? Not families who have been living here for generations?

I call myself "white", even though I'm technically not. I'm Mexican/Chickasaw/Caucasian, so it's easier to say "white", haha. (Plus my skin is really pale o.O) I don't consider myself "Mexican-American" or "Native American". I'm just an American.

[Rev. Doc]

As a pastor of a church in a small town that is relatively over 60% African American in population, that is generally the term I use. While I hear other terms, some offensive and others more accepted, I find this term is more readily respected as a community leader.

[Doe Johnson]

the blacks in my school prefer to be called the N word.

Wait a second, you have blacks at your school!? Sorry...couldn't help it...you only live a couple hours away but I can count all the black people I knew in my entire county on one hand (adding up every year too, two were adopted), though there is supposedly a black family who lives in the town fifteen minutes from mine.
Is this the ni**** word or "negro"? (And if you take offense at that second term, you live in a somewhat different part of the country than me) Because I can see the second one being used fairly easily. Most of the "country" side of my family uses that word. It's kind of weird when I think that I grew up within an hour of most of them and we use different vocabulary. The other term I've only heard used by about one family around here.

[Puritan]

I'm European-American! While I would agree that African-American tends to be too PC, I actually tend to use both "black" and "African-American" depending on who I'm talking to. If I don't know someone I tend to say "African-American" to try to avoid offending someone. It may seem silly, but I would rather take the extra time to avoid a possible misunderstanding, and I am doubly careful because many people in my area are militant about this type of thing. Among friends I tend to use "black." Honestly, I think that there's nothing wrong with using either so long as you are being polite, and I think that the amount of concern about how to refer to a person's descent is pretty silly.

And the word "negro" is sometimes considered offensive today, Doe. Although it was greatly used in yesteryear it tends to be viewed with negative connotations. I am surprised that it is so commonly used in your area.

[Doe Johnson]

And the word "negro" is sometimes considered offensive today, Doe. Although it was greatly used in yesteryear it tends to be viewed with negative connotations. I am surprised that it is so commonly used in your area.

Yeah, I know, even I find it rather offensive, but since my dad will use it on occasion (not most of the time, but sometimes when talking with his family - aka the "country" side of my family) I tend to let it pass as just being a cultural thing. He used to act rather racist too, but I think mostly out of television/cultural stereotypes. Once when I was in elementary or middle school he actually told me I couldn't marry a black guy. The funny thing is, my sister-in-law is black!! I've never heard him say one bad thing about her.

(and if you can't tell by my writing, I use the term black, rarely will I use African-American)

[TurkishMonky]

i use African-american or Dark-skinned when needing to give a description of someone's race or skin color. i live in about a 40/60 dark skinned/white city.

[Shao Feng-Li]

In description I'd say black (or white, or yellow, or what ever color the person happens to be). Citizens are simply American to me, not Something- American. Race seems only skin deep, we all bleed the same color.

[mitsuki lover]

My dad still uses the word Colored,then again his father was from the South(Virginia)and he also grew up in the Depression when it was less PC so people weren't afraid to use terms like Colored.And btw:What is wrong with using the word
Colored in the first place may I ask since the largest Black civil rights group calls itself the National Association for the Advancement of COLORED People?If they're allowed to use Colored in their name can't the rest of us use it as well?

[Kiba-kun]

Wait a second, you have blacks at your school!? Sorry...couldn't help it...you only live a couple hours away but I can count all the black people I knew in my entire county on one hand (adding up every year too, two were adopted), though there is supposedly a black family who lives in the town fifteen minutes from mine.
Is this the ni**** word or "negro"? (And if you take offense at that second term, you live in a somewhat different part of the country than me) Because I can see the second one being used fairly easily. Most of the "country" side of my family uses that word. It's kind of weird when I think that I grew up within an hour of most of them and we use different vocabulary. The other term I've only heard used by about one family around here.

the ni**** word. i have no clue why they prefer that word but they do *shrugs*

[Mave]

African-American....it may be longer but I'd rather err to the safer side. No one from their side has complained to me so far so I think I made a good choice.

[RubyJewelStone]

I prefer just simply black. I would certainly lose my mind if I had to say "European-American" all the time.
African-American just sounds awkward to me, bonus points if there's a stutter.
BTW, If you haven't guessed by reading this post, I'm black.
Anyways, I'm not African. I'm mixed with East Indian, Latino, and a lot of stuff I don't know.
I'm not a fan of the terms "negro" or "colored" myself. I use "ni**a" sometimes. (I have yet to really hear any black person pronounce it with -er at the end) For some reason that's always been popular among the black community. I wouldn't want to be called it by a white person, though, since I'm pretty sure that news has reached far enough for them to know not to use that because of the connotation.

Anyways, aside from "n***er" I probably wouldn't jump you for what ever you chose to use.

But that's my opinion.

*MOD EDIT: I understand what you were trying to say, but it's probably best if we use asterisks for some of the letters in those words above. I went ahead and changed them for you. Oh, and welcome to the boards!

[Radical Dreamer]

I just say black, for the reason most people have already given, haha. African American takes too long to say, and if someone were to say to me, "Oh, so you're British-Irish-Scottish-American, then?" ...Well, I would probably laugh at them. XD So yes, I use the term black.