Are Black People "PROUD" of their European names (the ones that have European names)?
960687
but blacks don't know where they came from in Africa and have no culture from there or language from there not even a recipe from there so how could they begin to know names that had meaning ?all the blacks here know is what the whites have taught them.that's why you use to hear names like Jefferson and Lincoln and what ever .These newer names that some have adopted are so different ,but you usually can tell if the person wearing the name is black.Although some say these names are a hold back and they may be,I understand the need   the people have to have something their own.That's why Hip-Hop and music is so important to them because they want to feel as if they are a part of some thing their own.I like my name and I can't think of a more Euro name than Regina,but hey my parents were here and all they knew of Africa was not enough to give me any thing else.
936179
i am a black person and proud of it, a white is white not racist just a reality, just do not call me colored or negro and technically i am a person african descent , but learn to read a few book with historically contents before coming on yahoo answers
91726
I’ve always thought they were trying to go back to their roots and were using names you would find typically in Africa.  Also many blacks have the last name of their ancestors slave owners, so they may be trying to offset their white name with an African name.
362829
Yes, if you're born in Africa you're African American. That's why some people prefer to be called black because African American classifies anyone born in Africa.
1010463
Certainly, but then all the people of african decent that were born in this country could not.  \n\nBut good question, it shows how silly this naming thing really is.
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.
692896
the reasoning behind using african american is that people of african descent across the globe are one of the only groups in the world (along with the gypsies) who really cant pinpoint a place where our ancestors derived from (true they came from africa, but africa is a continent, not a country).  so a couple of years ago in the us, in an attempt to say that we have a heritage too, the term african american was coined.  nowadays tho, most african americans call themselves black because not only does it connect us more with other people of african descent across the globe but it also distinguishes us from white africans.  hope this helped.  oh yea, i think you'd technically be african american.  i had a teacher in highschool from south africa and he said that he does have the option of checkin african american down on applications and what not but he usually puts white or other.
765895
i JUST REALIZED THAT WHEN i AM TALKING TO OTHER BLACK PEOPLE I SAY I'M LACK OR REFER TO OTHERS AS BEING BLACK. WHEN I AM TALKING TO OTHER RACES I SAY AFRICAN AMERICAN. I THINK I DO THIS BECAUSE OF ALL THE NEGATIVITY SURROUNDING BLACK PEOPLE IN THE FORM OF STEREOTYPES...AFRICAN AMERICAN MAKES IT SOUND LIKE WE ARE SUMEPNE SPECIAL TO THOSE WHO MAY THINK OTHERWISE.  ALSO I GREW UP IN CHICAGO AND IT IS MORE COMMONLY SAID THERE...
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.
501235
You may be right, but then again not all Europeans are purely "white", whatever that means.\n\nEuropeans do tend to look more like specific nationalities. For example, if you go to Germany most whites will look German, and most Italians will look Italian. In America you cannot easily identify a person's nationality, in part because there is no distinct national heritage and because America literally is a melting pot. Some have theorized that Americans will eventually look like a combination of all races- a sort of light tan color.\n\nI personally find it odd that if a person is 1/4 black and 3/4 white, they can be regarded as "black". It almost seems racist, because it is effectively saying "If you're not pure white, you're not white."  But what should we call a person like that? Black? White? Both? People probably feel more comfortable saying they are white (if they can get away with it) because it gives them certain social advantages, many of them racist in origin.  Most Anglo Americans desire to have some connection to Plymouth Rock and the Puritans (why I do not know).  They would rather not consider the very real possibility that they are not "pure bred" Puritans.\n\nThen again, would it really be so bad to not be pure bred Puritans? Have you seen paintings of some of those people? Not the most good-looking Europe had to offer.
191748
hm i really dont know, but Bantu is the name of a group of ppl derived from Africa, the word was also slang for blacks a couple decades back
887825
nope. you're right, not everyone is born in Africa. so just say black. great question!
308727
I agree with you!!! WHY are there African-Americans when a LOT of blacks never had any family who lived in Africa?? WHY do we say Native-American? I think Native should say it all! THEY were here first! They are the original natives! Why can't we say black or while? OK, yes, there are Asians & Arabs, etc. But really, would someone really WANT to call themselves a Lybian-American or Iraqi-American right now?? How about Israeli-American?? My dad's family was from Switzerland. Do I refer to myself as a Swiss-American? On Mom's side, her dad was part Polish & part Lithuanian. Her mom maybe German?? Dutch?? Name was Mittan. SO, am I Swiss-Polish-Lithuanian-maybeGerman-maybeDutch-American??? Damn! They don't make lines long enough for that! We're either Americans or we're foreigners! Right?
905653
the trend to name african-american children "creatively" originated with a trend to identify closely with african roots immediately after the civil rights movement in the seventies  by first actually naming children true african names...however this trend over time changed to parents naming their children with african "sounding" names to ultimately just making up names and sounds to give their child a name uniquely african-american.\n\nthis trend is in response to naming slaves during slavery time. when slaves were brought over directly from africa among other things, they were not allowed to worship their gods, speak in their language or use their giving names. they were giving american names and the last names of their masters.this was all a means of psychologically destroying the psyche of the slave thereby making them more amenable to servitude.\n\nnaming a child with an african name is one way to reclaim "lost" idenities and culture.\n\ni am an african american and while i do agree with the original intent behind this trend, i don't agree with naming your child corvette, laquesha, danata or anything else that sounds silly. but there were good intentions behind the trend. more recent generations have forgotten or just never knew the source of the trend.\n\nmy name and everyone in my family has "simple" \nAmerican names similar to Carolyn, Tom, Jim, etc. It is a generalization to say that all African-American's name their children in such a manner.\n\nand for the record: tamika is a name of japanese origin. many african "sounding" names like latifia, aaliyah, sharifa, etc are actually arabic.
1018914
Caucasians in Africa call themselves white or by the  country's name ex: South Afrikaner or Nigerian.  When whites migrate to America they realize it's more advantageous if they call themselves plain old white.  \n\nWon't you do the same thing? Unless you think  blacks have been given too much and need to be be worse off than they are and so you wish to take the tag for yourself just to compete with the - measly - edge you imagine we have. \n\nNo one in their right mind wants to be treated badly and unfairly. I would do the same if I were white too, just so I'll get the automatic privileges whites get.\n\nAfrican American is term reserved for all  blacks - with the option to call foreign blacks by their nationality.\n\nAffirmative Action is less than 40 years, slavery over 400 -you have not yet repaid us in full for those terrible years. Now live with it!!  And I hope when you drop on the floor you never get up!\n\n\nThis is a popular topic in this forum - I'm beginning to realize it's a code to incite.  The people who object to the term African American have no problem calling us the n* word.
481200
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.
1166028
You May Not Know Or Realize This But In The (Afro-American) Race There Are Many Shades of Colors,  So My Answer Is Afro-American People Are Proud Of Their Color No Mater What Shade Of Color They Are!......Most Afro-American People Was Wondering The Same Thing About Caucasion People,  Why Do Caucasion People Spend Lots Of Money On "Tanning Spa's And Tanning Lotions" Just To Become Shades Darker Like Afro-American People!....They Should Proud Of Their Color -White!