Discussions About Being Bald > General Discussion

An Americanism

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Chavster:
I've been speaking to a friend of mine, and there's a phrase neither of us sure we understand, at least from an American's point of view (generally speaking obviously).

Oprah Winfrey is African American. Barack Obama is African American (I think). Whoopi Goldberg is African American. Condolotsateetha Rice is African American.

What does 'African American' actually mean, de facto rather than de jure? I can look this up on Wikipedia, but I'm interested in the de facto, and Wikipedia will probably only give me the de jure.

Chavster:
p.s. i'll tell you why I'm asking, because I'm going to bed shortly. I cant get the internet to work properly tonight, I'm not feeling well, and there's nothing on tv.

A friend of mine works for the government (UK rather than US) and he just got back from a 3-day trip to Washington DC. He said that on two occasions, he was referred to as 'African American', in spite of the fact that he's neither African or American. He said he pointed these two facts out to the people concerned, but they said they wouldnt know what else to refer to him as, because 'thats what he is...African American'. He said he once again pointed out that he isnt African (his family is from Oman), that he isnt American (he's British). One of them retorted that 'everyone with your skin colour is African American'. He said he felt quite upset and insulted by that (he's quite proudly British, and his heritage is Asian)

How can someone who is neither African or American be referred to African American? Was he just talking to two particularly stupid people? Is African American the only term used for those of us with a darker skin colour?

I'm not trying to start a debate, I'm just trying to understand what the phrase means in reality.

TheSlyBear:
Well, US citizens of color are referred to a African Americans as they are Americans, and can (mostly) trace their heritage to Africa at some point in their lineage.

However, it seems to have become the "term du jour" as other terms such as black, negro, and others that I'm too polite to use have fallen out of favor. And "person of color" seems too pretentious and awkward.

So I'm sure that their was no intent to insult your friend -- it's just that there doesn't seem to be another currently acceptable term.

I know we have some bald brethren who are "of color" ... it'd be interesting to hear your take on the whole thing.

D.A.L.U.I.:
Just to add to Sly Bear's explanation, they adopted what had long before been used for American's of different national backgrounds, Italian-American, Irish-American, etc.  It's just lingo.  And as with all lingo, it morphs into a general description--that's what your friend experienced nothing more. 

Laser Man:
Yes, the term is used to denote American of African ancestry.  In the same vein, an Asian American is an American of Asian ancestry, although I know many people from the Indian subcontinent that bristle at being called Asian American because the term in their view means east Asian.

I would hope the people your friend dealt with weren't intending to insult him, although the way they put it sounds rather clumsy. 

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