Words Matter

What people are called definitely affects how they're viewed and treated. Labels and names play a huge roll in how people are perceived by those around them. The words that we use to describe individuals have an effect on themselves as well. One of my family's close friends is a black man. He refuses to be called African American and will actually get offended if called one. I had asked him about this since it's contrary to how most people feel but he claims that it is simply not who he is. He is not African, he is just American. The way he views it, he's black skinned but he's American. He doesn't need to be defined by where his family came from many many generations ago and wants to be defined by his own history. I have to agree with that statement. We don't call white people "British American" or anything like that, we simply call them white. While African American might be a proper way to define someones history, it is largely inaccurate. Some families that would be described as African American have been in the US since near its inception. For some of them, calling them African American is totally wrong as they have no family or cultural ties to Africa except for the colour of their skin. While I do agree that we need a better term, I do not feel African American is as encompassing or as appropriate as the article would suggest.