Why I will never tick the "Black-African" box again and you shouldn't either

[JahFocus CS]

I prefer the term "New Afrikan."

 

[KOOL_G_TRAP]

We are the real jews we aint african

 

[factnotopinion]

I feel that the Black brown distinction is semantics. I like the term Black and Black is my favorite color. I do not feel Caribbean, I am Jamaican. There are many Caribbean cultures and Jamaica describes my specific culture. I am not Trinni or Haitian, or Bajan, if I was I would rep them proudly. I would reply to them that a lie is a lie and to distinguish degrees of untruth is a cop-out. If you are telling a lie embrace it and take responsibility for it. I have ingested plenty of anti-Black sentiment in America but I am fortunate enough to have a great combination of luck, family, genes, opportunity, intelligence etc, that enabled me to overcome them. However, I feel that people of color focus on small things like the term Black vs African-American, vs African, when they should be organizing to vote and to become business owners and job creators.

 

[Larry Lobster]

That's the thing, no one made "black" a bad word, my point of view is that it is a word with naturally occurring negative connotations. We were born African, that's our birth-right. Black is a word used as a tool for psychological abuse of a people. Or maybe it's just me, it's always sounded unnatural having come from a place where we all were more or less the same colour.

First you say no one made the word black a bad word, but then you say it is being used as a tool for psychological abuse. That makes no sense.
If it's being used for an agenda it's obvious someone had this in mind. Black humor, black magic, black sheep, etc.

 

[karim]

I get what you're saying, the problem is that by rejecting the Word Black you accept it's negative connotation. And regardless of wheher or not you check the black box or not, others will identify you as black and at will at the same time associate those negative things with you.

Another approach you can take is to embrace the word black and rejects it's negative connotations. After all, if you ask white people, they probably have negative associations with the word african too. Personally, that would be my approach, but i don't know if it is the better one. In the end, both are about other's (white people) defining your identity without your consent and how you can defend yourself against that.

 

[Mr Rager]

I thought this was about job applications....

 

[TELL ME YA CHEESIN FAM?]

yo who the girl with the dumb-bell?
fukk all that other shyt

 

[Oceanicpuppy]

I think Black people should get together troll the census for a year and pick other on all there forms.

 

[Ms.CuriousCat]

I feel that people of color focus on small things like the term Black vs African-American, vs African, when they should be organizing to vote and to become business owners and job creators.

True, those are some of the issues that need solutions, how can we achieve these if we can't keep our arms lifted?

First you say no one made the word black a bad word, but then you say it is being used as a tool for psychological abuse. That makes no sense.
If it's being used for an agenda it's obvious someone had this in mind. Black humor, black magic, black sheep, etc.

The word black having negative connotations is natural, we fear the dark for example. However calling Africans black is by design same thing with Aboriginals or any other group of people who others seek to harm on a psychological level. That's what I'm saying.

 

[All Knowledge]

If you can't get with this, you are a lost soul.

 

[K.O.N.Y]

I've had a problem with the "black" label previously, it just seemed very dismissive of heritage but I shrugged it off and carried on.

But over this past weekend I have come to the conclusion that continued classification using this word, amongst other things, wilfully diminishes African sense of worth and self.

If you don't believe me do this:

You need one other person.

You will look into the distance then say these 3 words, loudly and like you mean it, you will put your arm out to the side parallel to the floor (dumbbell not necessary :p)

So say these words: "Strong. Powerful. Firm" say it loud like you mean it. Keep looking ahead and let the other person try to push your arm down while you resist.

Now do this, say the words with just as much strength and conviction, repeat it loud: "Weak. Miserable. Poor". Now let them try to push your arm down.

It will go down, you won't be able to resist their force. Trust me, if you don't believe me, try it. But before you do, remember not to leave it at that, repeat the Strong. Powerful. Firm. Never ever leave anyone in the weak position.

But that makes my point. Why oh Why, would we be classified as "black". Black by definition is the unknown, the dangerous, the dirty, the evil, it is language, it is linked with out emotion, it's natural even to use that word to mean those things.

We are African or of African descent. It is offensive to classify an entire people on a colour that creates and has the connotation of such negativity. It shouts at us constantly: Weak. Miserable. Poor.

From now and until I die I will tick "Other" and be what I have always been, African.

judging by your spelling of the word "color"(colour) im guessing you are not African American

For us the word "black" was used as a cultural and social identifier. Preferred over negroe or colored. And a term we collectively embraced as a people. If you are not AA I don't expect you to embrace this term

 

[Ms.CuriousCat]

I get what you're saying, the problem is that by rejecting the Word Black you accept it's negative connotation. And regardless of wheher or not you check the black box or not, others will identify you as black and at will at the same time associate those negative things with you.

Another approach you can take is to embrace the word black and rejects it's negative connotations. After all, if you ask white people, they probably have negative associations with the word african too. Personally, that would be my approach, but i don't know if it is the better one. In the end, both are about other's (white people) defining your identity without your consent and how you can defend yourself against that.

Agree with you till the end, it's not about other people. It's about your personal connection with the word. How you view it and how its linguistic use on a daily basis affects you.

Did you read my question about a well meaning white lie becoming a grey one and then black? How would that affect you and even if you it's just the tiniest of imperceptible tremors, how would a life time of such mini shocks affect you? Is it reasonable to say that it will have no effect on you?

I like the colour black on my gadgets and coats etc it is a different thing calling a human being black.

I think Black people should get together troll the census for a year and pick other on all there forms.

I think we should do this but there's no trolling, it's an honest sense of awareness. What do you identify with ethnically?

 

[ahdsend]

This semantics shyt is how they trick many black women and men. White supremacy is a bytch.

Hair Salon/Beauty Parlor

 

[Ms.CuriousCat]

judging by your spelling of the word "color"(colour) im guessing you are not African American

For us the word "black" was used as a cultural and social identifier. Preferred over negroe or colored. And a term we collectively embraced as a people. If you are not AA I don't expect you to embrace this term

Yes, I can appreciate that there is a cultural context which needs to be taken into account. That said what do you think of the views I've shared when you look at it in its entirety.

Do you think it is inaccurate for me to suggest that this term has had a negative impact on the psyche of everyone who has been labelled as such? Again take the example of the white lie becoming black. I was insulted. Someone said "blacks" and again I was insulted, it felt dismissive and I felt diminished as a human. Is it simply because I am not AA and so I don't get it or is it a fresh pair of eyes, that you've been in it for so long you no longer see it.

 

[observe]

I didn't put black when I voted for Obama the first time cuz I was skeptical about how they might try to maneuver the polls