Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are Sub Saharan Africans. I do not identify as AAs, but then I do not think I am an "other" either. The official definition of Black or African American makes me tick the box.

My kids will of course self identify as African Americans on any forms, without sharing my reticence.

The box usually has Black or African American (as you state). So, it's not a matter of being both, but rather are you one of the other.

Is your husband AA? If not, why would your kids be AA?

Because her kids are presumably born in America and the will be raised in America(I'm also assuming) so this will sufficiently make them African Americans. Just like 2nd generation Asian, Italians, Mexicans born and bred in America all add "-American"

Not true. Unless her husband is African American (the descendent of US black slaves), her children are not African American. Being 2, 3, 4 etc generation does not convert you into being an African American. You either have ancestors who were slaves in America (and are thereby African American) or you didn't (and thereby you aren't African American). You can't have one without the other. Her children will be (whatever country she's from)-American or simply "Black".

Really? who made this rule exactly because I've never heard of it. Can you show me where it's written in the United States Code?

In that case, my neighbors will be "South-African-American", doesn't quite flow well. "Cameroonian-American", "Ugandan-American" "Senegalese-American". I think all these would probably garner a eye-roll from people, followed by -what, you think you're too good to be African-American?-

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are Sub Saharan Africans. I do not identify as AAs, but then I do not think I am an "other" either. The official definition of Black or African American makes me tick the box.

My kids will of course self identify as African Americans on any forms, without sharing my reticence.

The box usually has Black or African American (as you state). So, it's not a matter of being both, but rather are you one of the other.

Is your husband AA? If not, why would your kids be AA?

Because her kids are presumably born in America and the will be raised in America(I'm also assuming) so this will sufficiently make them African Americans. Just like 2nd generation Asian, Italians, Mexicans born and bred in America all add "-American"

Not true. Unless her husband is African American (the descendent of US black slaves), her children are not African American. Being 2, 3, 4 etc generation does not convert you into being an African American. You either have ancestors who were slaves in America (and are thereby African American) or you didn't (and thereby you aren't African American). You can't have one without the other. Her children will be (whatever country she's from)-American or simply "Black".

The children are of African descent, and therefore African-Americans.

Anonymous wrote:
My husband is also Sub Saharan African. My children feel they are African American. That is enough for me. I am not into splitting hairs and I do not really care. I did not know being African American implied having ancestors who were slaves in America. First time I hear of this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are Sub Saharan Africans. I do not identify as AAs, but then I do not think I am an "other" either. The official definition of Black or African American makes me tick the box.

My kids will of course self identify as African Americans on any forms, without sharing my reticence.

The box usually has Black or African American (as you state). So, it's not a matter of being both, but rather are you one of the other.

Is your husband AA? If not, why would your kids be AA?

Because her kids are presumably born in America and the will be raised in America(I'm also assuming) so this will sufficiently make them African Americans. Just like 2nd generation Asian, Italians, Mexicans born and bred in America all add "-American"

Not true. Unless her husband is African American (the descendent of US black slaves), her children are not African American. Being 2, 3, 4 etc generation does not convert you into being an African American. You either have ancestors who were slaves in America (and are thereby African American) or you didn't (and thereby you aren't African American). You can't have one without the other. Her children will be (whatever country she's from)-American or simply "Black".

My husband is also Sub Saharan African. My children feel they are African American. That is enough for me. I am not into splitting hairs and I do not really care. I did not know being African American implied having ancestors who were slaves in America. First time I hear of this.

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line is people should be allowed to self-identify. It's downright creepy if you demand someone call themselves black or AA or fill-in-the-blank if they don't want to do so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The more interesting question is, "Do they consider themselves African?"

It made my (African) husband C R A Z Y that Ethiopians generally don't identify as "African" but as "Ethiopian."

It's a fascinating dynamic, really.

Politically, some Libyans may identify as "African." I can't see Tunisians or non-Berber Moroccans doing the same thing. And, I'm kind of tickled when I think of their reactions should you ever pose the question directly.

My DH is Nigerian. He does not want to be identified or associated with AAs. He has strong opinions in the matter.

Anonymous wrote:African American is a term that applies to US blacks whose ancestors were brought over during slavery. We don't have a reliable way to trace our exact country of origin in Africa, so African America is a nod/tribute to our ancestors who toiled in the US.

African American does not apply to: African immigrants, Jamaicans, Haitians, Bahamians, white people from Africa, etc. It ONLY applies to US blacks whose ancestors were enslaved in the US.

Where did this rule come from. It seems another way to divide. The African slavery trade ran heavily through the Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, Anquilla, etc. I know it is called the Carribbean, but are they not also a part of the Americas. If they are also considered a part of the Americas, why are they not African Americans. Again, I just think it is another way to divide. And the people from these countries can know more pinpoint the exact origin in Africa from which they hailed than you can. But those slave ships put all those people on the same ships until they overflowed to capacity and then did drop offs up and down the Atlantic Ocean coast.