Do you prefer/say African American or black?

Anonymous
Looking for opinions on what is apprpropriate and prefered...
Anonymous
I'm white, I say black. My black friends differ, some say one, some the other. If someone asked me to call them African-American I would happily.
Anonymous
It depends on the context and the audience. It is very situational to me.
Anonymous
Well, I'm black but not American. I prefer to be called black. I hate any variation on the theme (colored, of color, Negro) because it feels to me that the person is concentrating too much on the difference between us and over-thinking it. To me (may be different for others), black is more matter of fact and I prefer that.
What I do dislike is people assuming I am a particular nationality, whether African American, West Indian, or whatever, without asking, but that's a whole other thread.
Anonymous
I'm black. My parents are of African descent, not recent immigrants from Africa.
Anonymous
I prefer "of color" or "colored". Nobody I've ever met is black or white.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I prefer "of color" or "colored". Nobody I've ever met is black or white.


It has got to be hard making your way through the world if you are that literal.

Are you saying you call people colored to their faces? What happens next?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I prefer "of color" or "colored". Nobody I've ever met is black or white.


It has got to be hard making your way through the world if you are that literal.

Are you saying you call people colored to their faces? What happens next?


Do you think it is derogatory? Why? Seriously, I think it sounds much better than "black".
Anonymous
I only call people African American if, in the same context, I'd call people caucasian. If in the context white is appropriate, then black is, too.
Anonymous

I'm black. I do use the term African American, however, to distinguish between U.S. and Africa-based communities.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I prefer "of color" or "colored". Nobody I've ever met is black or white.


It has got to be hard making your way through the world if you are that literal.

Are you saying you call people colored to their faces? What happens next?


Do you think it is derogatory? Why? Seriously, I think it sounds much better than "black".


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colored

The history of the word "colored" in the U.S. overrides however it may sound to you. I think if you polled black Americans, 99.99% of them would rather be called black than colored.
Anonymous
From your wiki link:

Today it is generally no longer regarded as a politically correct term. However, even that is debatable, due to its continued accepted usage, most notably its use in the acronym NAACP. Carla Sims, communications director for the NAACP in Washington, D.C., said "The term 'colored' is not derogatory, [the NAACP] chose the word 'colored' because it was the most positive description commonly used at that time. It's outdated and antiquated but not offensive.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:From your wiki link:

Today it is generally no longer regarded as a politically correct term. However, even that is debatable, due to its continued accepted usage, most notably its use in the acronym NAACP. Carla Sims, communications director for the NAACP in Washington, D.C., said "The term 'colored' is not derogatory, [the NAACP] chose the word 'colored' because it was the most positive description commonly used at that time. It's outdated and antiquated but not offensive.


Well, go out in the streets and call someone colored. See what happens. You can show the person this quote after they slap you.
Anonymous
I'm white and I usually say black. So many black people I know are neither African nor American. Like PP, I would oblige if someone expressed a preference for an alternative.
Anonymous
I am black. Neither my parents nor I have immigrated from Africa. If you call me colored things will get ugly.
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