This phrase is in common usage by pretty much everyone in the US, including blacks describing themselves. As a pinkish skinned person, am I not also "a person of color?" In the UK this phrase would be seen as racist. I'm just interested in what people think.
210686
I think anytime you are singling out a persons skin color it is racist.  Everyone is human, we all have red blood, and and a beating heart.
51052
The word you are referring to was a place people were from. Thats how at that time they were labeled, by where they had been taken from. It didn't originate with 2 G's but one as in Niger. But over time thats how all african americans became reffered to. In all honesty, it might not mean as much as it does had it not been used the way it was. But because it was said with such hate and disgust it became a new curse word. And I think the reason that african americans can use to word on each other without being offended is this. Not all of us are like them and we can't say that we know how it is to be them. So for someone of a different race to say it to them is to be discriminated against.
185364
It's one of the most racist and hateful terms ever invented. Imaging coming to this world, and being hated just because of your brown skin with people trying to deny you the rights that you have as a human being... that is just cruel, and I hope that as long as we have civilized people in this country, we will never deny a baby of the right of having a nationality...
79217
This is one of the great flaws in labeling people, especially using politically correct terms.\n\nLogically, if someone with Irish ancestors is an "Irish-American", and someone with Italian ancestors is "Italian-American", then someone with white ancestors from South Africa is "African-American".\n\nMy friend Janus is very dark skinned, but was born in England to family from the carribean. Nothing sets her off like calling her an African-American. She'll tell you quite properly that she's English!!\n\nI have no idea what to call my friend who was born in India, raised in Tanzania, Toronto and New Jersey, and now lives in San Francisco. Perhaps "Well travelled" is the best description!
123747
I've always thought it was a derogatory term. The only time I feel comfortable hearing the reference is when I hear a Latino refer to themselves as one.
381776
I think racism is classified as any derogatory remark towards a person because of skin color, nationality, or ethnic background. If you discriminate against a person because of their background or make harsh remarks regarding their ethnic background, it is racist.
475446
1)Yes, we still live in a racist country.  I am a 46 year old Black woman who has experienced quite a bit of racism bcos of the color of my skin (caramel) without any knowledge of who I really am.  I have traveled quite a bit within the states as well as other countries & honestly cannot see much of a difference.  Point in case...I've even traveled to Africa & have been faced with questions like "what are you?".  I think that I offended the one asking the question bcos I said "I'm an American".  They responded "do you mean African-American?" to which I responded "sure if thats how you would like to phrase it".  2) Yes my parents had a hard time but they "dealt with it" by being active in the civil rights movement.  My great-grandmother would never let me work in the fields when I visited saying " no way, your Mom & Grandmama would have a fit & besides those days are over for your generation".  She was right, however there are others here who seem to forget that.  With regards to "us guys" still living in this country...this is our country & we'll fight for the right to live here....in peace.
612937
It's a personal choice.  If you don't want to be called African-American, then tell them so.  I myself am Black and I also use the term African-American.  I may be wrong, but I don't think the politicians came up with this term.  I believe we started using this term as a way to honor our ancestors.  Check on wikipedia.com for the origin of the term African American.
218791
The word itself is a Latin derivative of "ignorance", (though most people believe that it refers to Niger - which unfortunately happens to be in Africa - however, they are called Nigerians).  To answer your questions...\n\n1) I am PROUDLY Multi-Ethnic and a "true" American.  My heritage spans 5 of the 7 continents - from Northern Africa, to most of Western Europe, to Asia, to both North and South Native America's.  (You should see our family gatherings!)  There's no Aborigine or Penguin yet - but I'm working on the latter - LOL!\n\n2) Never!  It's nasty and only proves your ignorance for using it - either colloquially or in hatred.\n\n3) It pisses me off!  Especially when used by African-American youth or other Black people in so-called "friendly" conversation.\n\n4) Most definitely!  See above.\n\n5) Even more so - I am not, have never been and never will be racist.  I judge people on their character - not the colour of their skin, their race, ethnicity, religeon, sex, level of intelligence or sexulaity.\n\n6) Only this.  I am not a religeous person, but I am very spiritual.  I just respect myself and above all, respect other people and nature the exact same way I want to be respected.  \n\nI was raised 1/2 Jewish and 1/2 Catholic, (I should have twice the guilt - LOL!), I believe that god - whatever he, she or it may be, created us to love each other respect each other and help each other in times of need.\n\n7) Besides - everyone's blood is red, (when it hits oxygen - in our bodies it is actually blue!), everyone's s**t stinks and finally - we will all die.\n\nThat's all - hope this helps.
233560
There's no getting around the fact that people from different geographic locations sound differently.\n\nThere's no getting around the fact that people with higher education typically have a better vocabulary.\n\nI would never presume to attach a skin color to these statements, nor should anyone else.\n\nPS. Every time I open my mouth people ask me if I'm from NY and if my family is in the mafia.
462522
You have just pointed out and responded to one of the most popular and solicited questions of the century!  It goes to show you what kind of nation of people we are, and how really confused we can be. There really is no such thing as "acting black or white" - the reference is only made toward races when it seems each has somehow consumed and metamorphised the ways and actions of the other.  It's like saying that a person's character or personality has to be all or nothing....not true.  The accusation is what people try to limit each other to. No other race or culture of people display such silliness as we do.  You just do you,.
541232
Im offended by it\n\nYou should either be American, or not.\n\nIm British by the way, and that silly naming convention has been trying to find its way into our culture.\n\nIf you love your country and "race doesn't matter" then why highlight your ethnicity? \n\nIt's total bolox..
386921
OK, well as for a sensible answer, as one person has said, 'people of colour' is a term often used in the West to descibe anyone of non-white ethnic heritage.  It is used by those people as a term to unify them around particular causes, such as racial discrimination.  \n\nPeople can be called 'coloured', but it is often a bit of an antiquated and frowned upon racial label from pre-policial correctness days (e.g. 'that nice coloured chap').  \n\nHowever, in some places, like South Africa, it is a legitimate ethnic category.  Thousands of people identify themselves there as 'coloured' (neither totally black, totally white or of asian descent).  They're mostly in the Cape provinces.\n\nI don't know about the changing colour.  I don't change colour when I'm happy?
633132
Yes, You are racist. And who cares about the word??? If they want to use it , let them. It is derogatory for a white person to use it...And ,in my mind, It's derogatory for a black person to use it too. but, like I said...If they do...Who fucking cares? People say a lot of things I don't like...I don't lose any sleep over it.
199191
I think blacks(African Americans) feel comfortable in using the word,because they have adapted an separate meaning from the word's original intent, but get mad when other races use it because it was used as an insult to our race for so long! But to be honest, some black people are offended when they word is used so carelessly and freely by other blacks, because it was a word to express the ultimate disgust and disrespect for a race that whites did not even consider human...we were considered 3/5 of a person!!! So actually, NONE of us should use "their" (not their meaning white people, but their meaning RACIST people) term of disrespect for us as a term of "brotherhood"...but it happens.  I don't know why its so comfortable for it to just slip out of our mouths!!! But when I think about how painful it must have been for our ancestors to be disrespected in such a way, it always makes me think more conciously about what come out of my mouth and not use the word freely as a slang term.\n\nBTW...I like your question because you were not a smart azz in asking it!!! And its something that Black people definitely should think about!!!
549885
You shouldn't, if you don't identify with the term! I am also tan and dark haired and always put "other" under the race designation. Somehow, I don't feel "White" describes me and thus never adopted the term!!!
468187
Not to be too la-di-da or flippant, but we're all African.  It's the cradle of the human race.\n\nNothing wrong with acknowledging the shared experiences of people who share your skin color, though.  Especially when there's still so much racism, explicit and implicit, in the world.