Why do most African-Americans get offended when they are reffered to as blacks or negores-when they are black?
493261
I refer to my self as white.  and when I am talking about a black guy I say, that black dude.  It just sounds too touchy feely to say African American,   and hey what if they are cuban!!!    just grow up poeple, these are not insults!  Blacks are black, whites are white, and asians, um ok their just asian. and all latinos, sorry Im from california your all mexicans!
773424
You have to go back in time a little. Pre slavery days. Before there were any black people in North America. There were the Native Americans. We called them "red man" They called the invaders "pale face" "white man". But you have to remember. That the black man coined the term themselves. They didn't like being called Negro. So they insisted themselves that they were "black". There's your origin of the black man. The white man didn't give him that name. He did it to himself. \n.
135888
They have gone through the same struggle for racial equality  and are making fun of a degrading word. Others that have not experienced the same history of racism, discrimination,and degradation have no right to use that word.\n Especially from people that was doing most of the degradation  in the first place.
854218
I agree with you somewhat....its confusing of how white people should address them: black, colored or african american? All the political correctness is really confusing.
825121
I would be offended.I admit I find it funny,and sometimes I cringe.We shouldn't support it.If it was my race I would feel like everyone was laughing at me.It would feel the same as being bullied.
1020606
Many people are instantly offended when this question is asked, even in the most respectful way from a curious mind.  So now instead of getting information on your question people are attacking you for asking the question.  This is why this question and the word in fact remains a taboo, because most people will not talk about it openly with another race and automatically take offense to the inquiry.  \n\nI don't know why any race would refer to themselves with an offensive word or term.  But in the same sense a word only has the power to offend you when you allow it.  And in reference to this word it carries so much meaning historically, and not in a good sense, that Americans as a culture should make the decision to omit the word from our vocabularies.
631419
I prefer to be called Black. I am not African. I have traces of African in me, but that does not mean that I am of African nationality. People who are from Africa who become American citizens should be called African-American. I don't care to be called a Black-American because (and don't take this the wrong way) I am not exactly WANTED here in America (or anywhere else for that matter). Afro American is dated and Negro is just unnecessary given the Latin meaning of the term. I think the term Black American is a little offensive. Black is the least offensive to me.\n\nAt this point, there is no appropriate way to describe what I am. My great-great-great Grandmother passed for white for many years (she was the descendant of slaves). There are some Mexicans in the blood-line as well. Since the blood-line is no longer purely African, I cannot associate myself with a race of people. I am nothing but a Black person in America.
236396
First not all African Americans are offended when he/she is called black. Some people are sensitive and some people are not. Realizing that some people have a problem with that shouldn't be the first thing that is noticeable. There are some Caucasians that have a problem being called White Breed. Everyone has there reasons and no matter what that's the way some people are. \nThe biggest question is will racisim every be concored? That's a never ending thing because yet again everyone thinks different, the thing about that is don't take it so personal.
1076218
Well As an African Americam Women/ BLACK, I will say you are right to think that we are one sided on some issues. I myself wonder why we have such double standards with other races but don't see the lack of respect that we have for ourselves and other races. But it is all a part of our education and surroundings. You can't judge all blacks as one and that is why many of us get offended because we are usually judge off what leroy or tasha down the street said. Just like with all races we have our bad seeds and we have our good seeds. Don't try to figure out the ways of my black people because we haven't figured it out yet. But it is not to different from whites and so on. Just get to know us and people in general as individuals and you will respect and understand that person much more.
186350
alright people listen up..i've read a couple of the responses to this question and i came to this conclusion.  the word "nigger" only has negitive meaning because we give it this meaning,  not to say it is ever accepable to use this word for it's originally intended purpose(to degrade, insult and characterize based on skin color)it's not "your" word if your black just like cracker isn't a white people only word.  THEY ARE JUST WORDS and until our society can get passed these words of ignorance there will always be problems with race.  i'm a "nigger" & a "cracker" and so are all of us.  so i urge all of you to quit using these old words and lets think of a word that discribes us all...\n.....maybe something like "human"\n\nP.S. I think its real funny that the word nigger won't show up on the board but "cracker" will.(thats a double standard)
1179095
I think this is a good question that cannot be answered broadly.. It's not fair to say "a lot of african americans are racist toward white people" Just like it isn't fair to say "a lot of white people are racist toward african americans" .. granted it is easier to "name call" racism stemming from "white people" but from what I know about history african american people were opressed by whites for a very long time..\n\nContinue to open your mind and be friendly with people of all cultures, backgrounds, skin color, etc.  The world is a more interesting place with diversity, you can't change other peoples' minds, so do the best you can with your own.
90173
the term african american is one problem.  why use a prefix?  trying to divide us into little groups instead of just all being americans is stupid. Besides, what ties do you have to africa besides ancestors from 600 years ago.  Enough already. the only ignorance is those who cant take a joke, are hurt by words, who are so insecure about their own race they cant live with the fact someone else may have a problem with you.  So what?  - stereo-type?  can you blame anyone for them? open your eyes and you wouldnt and shouldnt wonder why...
930744
like, i call myself a cracker all the time.  yeah, i know, it's a bad word, but so is the n word.  but see, if a black person who i ddin't know called me a cracker, i'd feel half insulted, half about to laugh.  it'd depend on how he/she said it and what they said afterwards.  if it was someone i knew tho, they could hella call me a crakka anytime and i'd totally laugh along with it.  but even if they called me that, i'd still be apprehensive to call them the n word, just b/c of how other folk might react to it.  unless he called me a cracker immediately before or after and others around could see that it's all in good fun....and i wouldn't do it around kids, don't wanna set a bad example to them.
975109
No, it certainly would not. White people or should I say Euro-Americans really don't seem to care what they are called. As a matter of fact the black people who live in my area(A mixed population) really don't care much either. A point raised to me was those who seem the most offended are living in all or mostly black neighborhoods.This tends to create a "Sub-culture" outside main stream thinking.I don't approve of Richards outburst,but I dont see it as national news either.My mom told me when I was little"Sticks and stones....."
833692
Ignorance.  I live in a community with a large black population and I never hear educated blacks use the word.  The whole "term of endearment" is BS.  Why would anyone refer to themselves in a negative way?  Its a learned response from a household that is probably poor and uneducated.  The truth is that there are many such households in our country.
114479
Yes to black sensitive. If African Americans want to be treated equal it should be all around, and go both ways.
75028
firstly, not all black people alienate those who "act white". There are just some people who believe that there is a certain way to act and when they think that ur not acting like how they think u should act, u will be ridiculed. our society likes to label and categorize people, and we tend to just follow right along, and I think that its time that we develop our own opinions and stop allowing society to tell us how to define others and ourselves.