Is it time we stop classifying ourselves as African-American, Latin-American, Asian-American etc.?
967672
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..
540119
no because it doesn't matter what you do and just because some races may act a certain thing or things, doesn't necessarily mean its because of their race that their acting like that. it may mean that its just how the person is. if you are teased, tell people to stop and just ignore them. u should'nt listen to them because they are wrong. u should like you for who you are and don't let insults bring you down. i know this because people make fun of me because my dad is 100 percent african (also american), my mom is a spaniard, chines, and filipino. i am considered black and my skin tone can go from light skin to dark skin, depending if its hot or something like that. my natural color is light skinned, a mixture of yellow and brown because i'm mixed with asian, european, and black. i'm european becaue my mom's grandma's grandpa is a spaniard (100 percent) and my mom's dad is a spaniard and mixed with something else or something. i get over the teasing but its hard, i've been made fun alot because i'm asian more than being called the N word but i strongly dislike being called the N word and other racist stuff when it comes for Black people insults than being asian. be strong, you can do it! hope this helps!
1050285
I think the world has become too politically correct.  I'm not literally white, but I don't care if people call me white.  I don't care if people thank Jesus or Buddha, or whomever they worship.  Our country, in all its freedoms, is becoming very strict.
806088
there is "some" truth to all stereo types, thats why they are stereotypes. but it is wrong to judge everybody based on them because even though a large enough cross section of a certain group may in fact fit the stereotype, not all do. we need to evaluate every body based upon their own individual identity
388875
Well to be fair, I'm Asian and I tried fitting in the predominately "white" community of my hometown....but I just wasn't taken seriously as a friend. It's hard to fit in w/ people outside your race b/c there are all these barriers and such.  I mean it's easy for you to say we seclude ourselves, but we don't have a role amongst a group of "whites" except as a token, a mascot if you will. But I think after a few more generations, Asians will be considered Americans instead foreigners.
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!
195273
I don't like the whole PC nomenclature because it's all based on physical characteristics anyway. Someone else mentioned white South Africans and alluded to the fact that they aren't truly African. Is that just because whites immigrated there from Europe or are descendants of those Europeans who claimed the land as their own? Well then, if those old "land bridge" theories are correct, then instead of referring to anyone as "Native Americans," we need to understand that technically, they are probably "Asian-Americans." Just how far back in one's ancestry do we need to go? And why isn't "European-American" as widely accepted and used as the other "(continent)-American" forms? And if I become a citizen of Berlin, will I be a "North American-German" or just "American-German"? "American-European"? And why aren't Middle Eastern natives referred to as "Asian-Americans"? Why are they often called "Muslims" and "Hindus" instead? Why aren't the rest of us referred to by our religious affiliations (if applicable)?\n\nThere are no perfect "labels" we can use - not everyone will be satisfied. What we need to remember is that the *intent* of someone's writing/speech is the important thing. Some black comedians have ridiculed the whole "African-American" terminology since it didn't magically make everything better. Furthermore, if someone says something such as, "That's just typical African-American behavior," is that person suddenly "sensitive" for using the proper PC term? How about "Hey, you know how those Asian-Americans are"?\n\nJust my two cents - we need to try to respect each other and accept our differences before we can really become color-blind.\n\n(EDIT: Hey gogo, does that mean Margaret Thatcher is "African-American"? What about Vladimir Putin? Osama bin Laden? Saddam Hussein? Ichiro Suzuki? We're *all* "African-American"?)\n\n(EDIT 2: My point is that we shouldn't be "concerned" *only* with the "hyphenated American" labels - that's a rather nationalistic viewpoint, don't you think? If we *in the United States* are *all* "African-Americans," then those in other countries are thus "African-[insert country.....or continent.....or something]." I wanted to extend this beyond our borders since not all of the world's 6.5 billion people ["humanity"] are living within the United States and/or the rest of the American continents.)
140503
they should drop the "African-American" because I'm just American, but if you must use, then say Black., but for the people who are actually African and came to America to be citizens should keep the name...  same should apply to everyone...
764884
Blacks do not call themselves Afro-Americans. That's what white people started putting on apps. I don't consider myself an Afro-American nor do I consider myself and African- American. I was not born or raised in Africa nor have I ever been. My mother or father has never been nor have their parents or the ones before them. That's just another way to let others know  they are referring to a dark skinned person.
189857
No, those are 2 totally opposite ends of the spectrum.  What does being straight or gay have to do with being black, white, asian, or latino?
258349
No. Me and my other ethnic group friends do that a lot. Which made us learn more about ourselves.
209497
i think it is not in race of a woman or of any person for that matter. i think it will all boil down to each individual's personality, perception of life, views on things and manner of carrynig herself or himself around. i am asiam and i will always refuse to be judged according to some stereotype or to be judged based on my race alone.
568618
I agree that it sounds kind of racist...as does the census.  I think that we should break down racial barriers and stop identifying people on the basis of their skin color.  Granted, having a heritage is important, but when it comes right down to it, would you not rather simply say that you are an American, instead of trying to separate yourself from the country that you inhabit?  I also believe that calling people [or yourself] "African-American" is designed as a racist term, as about half of the people that I know who came to the U.S. directly from Africa are white and from South Africa.  Yet, this term is generally used to refer to skin color and a history of slavery [which ended about 140 years ago].  In short, multiculturalism is not bad, as long as people remember where it is that they live, and the freedoms granted to them by the government where they live.  Although heritage is important, you should always remember that you define who you are, not whether your ancestors were refugees from Russia, or slaves from Sierra Leon, or immigrants from Italy.  So, perhaps the next time someone asks you what you are, if you have dual citizenship, then say both country names.  But, if you are American, then answer with "I am American."  If they want more details, then say "I am of ____ heritage."
721624
America IS a multi-cultural nation like it or not and you can't write off the whole country as being either racist or non-racist, that's just simplistic thinking.\n\nYou're going to have people who believe what they will and you can't change that in any society.  So there will always be people who discriminate against one or more groups for some reason...if not for race, then socio-economic level, because they're too fat or too thin, because they don't look a certain way, because they're male or because they're female...the list goes on.\n\nIf you'd read a paper lately, you'd see that minorities are working their way up the corporate and political ladders at a remarkable pace.  Does that mean we'll see an African-American or Latino President or even a woman President in the next 20 years?  Perhaps not, but the fact that it is a possibility speaks a lot for progress.
274317
You should never *have* to separate yourself, whether you look similar to others or different. People just need to learn to get past their prejudices, but it'll be easier if differences aren't forced on them. Just go on with your daily routine as if nothing about your life is different, and deal with what comes. Be honest with yourself.
223543
I have heard many white/Caucasian Americans call themselves Irish-American, or Italian-American etc.  It's just the fact that as the "Melting pot" we feel like we have to have an extra identifier.\n\nBecause of the negative connotation with the word Black I preferred African American, until I went to Africa.  That experience taught me how truly American I am.  African American is a huge misnomer.\n\nSo I prefer American, but if you must be specific Black or Brown.
1074331
Nothing! Why don't people just stop labeling other people? Seriously. It's really immature not to see past the "stereotype" and see we're all different and special in our own way. grow up people.