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5, 2009
Black American vs. African American
Posted by Hollis333 under 2009, Opinion, United States | Tags: 2009, African American, america, Black American, Ethnicity, Race, race pride, United States, White American |
[4] Comments
By Luther Hollis
In the age of political correctness, the title of black American was replaced with African American. Plain and simple, I’m black. That in no way takes from the family culture and history that hails from Africa; it simply affords me the self-identity that represents reality.
White folks aren’t addressed as European-Americans; no, they say they are American. So why should we be alienated just as foreigners are?
And don’t think it’s about taking pride in cultural roots. There’s the saying that goes, “It’s not where you’re from, but where you’re at.” I was born in Inglewood, California, and I’ve lived in America my entire life. Even going through my family tree, I have Choctaw Indian, French Canadian and an unknown African affiliation. But to the passerby I see on the street, I’m black at first sight, and black American when heard.
My great, great grandfather, Dennis Hollis was one of the founders of Grambling State University. My grandfather, Tee Hollis was kidnapped around the Hugo, Oklahoma area by Bonnie and Clyde, and released once across the Red River that divides Oklahoma and Texas. I’m an American who happens to be black, with deeps root in America.
After a few generations, in my opinion, one becomes American. Whether Russian, Chinese, Israeli, Colombian, Australian or any other ethnicity. Again, this doesn’t mean people forget their roots and history.
Living in South Florida, I interact with many “Haitian-Americans.” Many of them identify themselves as Haitian because they are from Haiti – born there Haitian. The same goes for Cubans, Guatemalans, Jamaicans, and other Caribbean/central America natives.
The point is, that I refuse to be corralled into a subcategory of “American”; it seems to continue the divisiveness that separates America at its core. When American citizens travel to foreign countries, they are Americans; not black, brown, yellow, or white – Americans.
Anyway, that’s just my two pennies. Black American pennies.
Black American vs. African American
Posted by Hollis333 under 2009, Opinion, United States | Tags: 2009, African American, america, Black American, Ethnicity, Race, race pride, United States, White American |
[4] Comments
By Luther Hollis
In the age of political correctness, the title of black American was replaced with African American. Plain and simple, I’m black. That in no way takes from the family culture and history that hails from Africa; it simply affords me the self-identity that represents reality.
White folks aren’t addressed as European-Americans; no, they say they are American. So why should we be alienated just as foreigners are?
And don’t think it’s about taking pride in cultural roots. There’s the saying that goes, “It’s not where you’re from, but where you’re at.” I was born in Inglewood, California, and I’ve lived in America my entire life. Even going through my family tree, I have Choctaw Indian, French Canadian and an unknown African affiliation. But to the passerby I see on the street, I’m black at first sight, and black American when heard.
My great, great grandfather, Dennis Hollis was one of the founders of Grambling State University. My grandfather, Tee Hollis was kidnapped around the Hugo, Oklahoma area by Bonnie and Clyde, and released once across the Red River that divides Oklahoma and Texas. I’m an American who happens to be black, with deeps root in America.
After a few generations, in my opinion, one becomes American. Whether Russian, Chinese, Israeli, Colombian, Australian or any other ethnicity. Again, this doesn’t mean people forget their roots and history.
Living in South Florida, I interact with many “Haitian-Americans.” Many of them identify themselves as Haitian because they are from Haiti – born there Haitian. The same goes for Cubans, Guatemalans, Jamaicans, and other Caribbean/central America natives.
The point is, that I refuse to be corralled into a subcategory of “American”; it seems to continue the divisiveness that separates America at its core. When American citizens travel to foreign countries, they are Americans; not black, brown, yellow, or white – Americans.
Anyway, that’s just my two pennies. Black American pennies.
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