'Slang' for African-Americans is disrespectful

Athens Banner-Herald ^ | 03/09/2003 | Patrice Dean

[honeygrl]

I am a senior at Clarke Central High School, and I am writing in response to the (March 3) article ''Clarke Co. schools seeking to increase minority teachers.'' I was very disappointed when I read this article. There was a slang term used in referring to African Americans, the word was ''black.'' The other minority groups were classified as Latino, Asian and Native American. I thought this was very inappropriate, especially for a newspaper that is sent to a school where more than half of its population is indeed African-American. I believe that African Americans deserve the same respect as the other ethnic groups listed.

[honeygrl]

I think I will now insist on being called "English-Irish-Native-American.

[LWalk18]

I'm sure that Ms. Dean uses the term Caucasian-American, and never the offensive slang term "white", right?

[rdb3]

Just avoid the use of hyphens altogether. It's "American" or nothing.

[Normal4me]

She's right. Negro is better. </sarcasm>

[TSgt]

Doesn't a Caucasian who immigrated from South Africa to the U.S. qualify as an African-American?

SLANG? If that isn't the pot calling the kettle…African?

[clintonh8r]

Yo, Patrice! Put some ice on it, honey.

[RipSawyer]

I think I will now insist on being called "English-Irish-Native-American.


I will insist on being referred to as English-American descended from Norman invaders with a spattering of who knows what but don't you dare to call me "white".

[NautiNurse]

Black, Hispanic, Oriental, and Indian. Any questions?

[Semper Paratus]

Is a hispanic more disrespectful to say negro in spanish or black in english?

[The Old Hoosier]

Aw, sup gee? Don' be gettin' all wack.

[rdb3]

I know a better word, but teacher won't let me use it.

And just what "better word" would you use?

[HEY4QDEMS]

I have no problem using the term African by itself.

African-American sounds like a cross between African and Native-American or at the very least, it presumes citizenship.

What if Ms. Dean lived in England or Germany, would she wish to be Identified as African-European which would make her Molado.

[KellyAdmirer]

The author thinks "Black" is slang, and "African-American" is not? They better raise the educational standards at that school.

Btw, I find it amusing that she uses the term "minority" to describe the blacks at this school where they represent the majority. Poor Patrice is seriously challenged by the English language.

[CatoRenasci]

Please. We are not in the business of catering to the hyper-sensitivities of callow youth. The term 'black' is hardly offensive and was, in fact, the term preferred my members of that minority group for much of the past 35 years or so. When I was young, in the 1950's, those who were thoughtful used the word "negro" rather than the offensive epithet "nigger" or one of the other offensive terms then current. Before that, I'm told the term "colored" was considered polite and not offensive (as in NAACP-National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). Then, in the '60s, we were told to say African-American or Afro-american (remember the so-called "Afro" hairstyle), and then, in short order, the term 'black' was requested by 'black' leaders. The a decade or so ago, people of color (but not colored people -- go figure) had a vogue, and we seem to be back to "African-American'. Tell the boy to take a chill pill.

[FreePaul]

When Patrice takes up residence in Africa I'll be happy to refer to her as African-American or American African. Until then she is a victim of the racist poverty pimps who thrive on dividing people by color and race. Patrice, get used to it or get active to rid this country of the poverty pimps and race baiters.

[IVote2]

In the dim recesses of what's left of my mind, I seem to recall that the term "Black" was intended to replace the then ugly word, "Negro". This was the term that Afro-American's asked be used. Of course this young woman doesn't know that because I'm sure it isn't being taught in schools.

Personally, I will be happy when we are all just considered "Americans".

Jen

[duckbutt]

Exactly, Mike. My grandmother came over here as a young girl. She was an Egyptian Coptic Christian. I "had" to attend a diversity class and when I announced I was African-American, you should have heard the rumble! (I'm auburn haired, blue eyed, pale white skin). I said yes, indeed I'm second generation A-A. While Blacks may consider themselves African-American, not all African-Americans are black; look at South Africa, Lybia, Egypt. Shut them right up.....

But I'm like all of you - - I'm just an American - - I did that just to get under the skin of the diversity instructor :-)

[majordivit]

What hyphen should be used for Colin Powell?..Jamaican-American..lol..

I'm a third generation cauc...er..russo-hungarian-german american..lol

[Liberal Classic]

I now demand to be referred to as a Person of Paleness.