He Is Black, Born in Africa, An American Citizen, But Not African American?
I don't get it.
Black Africans who become American citizens are not "African Americans"?
I can understand people being dismayed that Teresa Heinz Kerry claims to be African American as she was born in Mozambique and is an American citizen. But the following New York Times article says: "Many argued that the term African-American should refer to the descendents of slaves brought to the United States centuries ago, not to newcomers who have not inherited the legacy of bondage, segregation and legal discrimination."
What is this? Do we Blacks in America have a corner on victimhood? Is the term "African American" now an elite badge of honor to say "My ancestors were victims. Yours were not"?
If the immigrants who are naturalized U.S. citizens are not African Americans, what are they? Why do we say to them "You are not one of us"? Yet we claim they are our "brothers and sisters."
The report says: "Bobby Austin, an administrator at the University of the District of Columbia who attended the meeting in Washington, said he understood why some blacks were offended when Mr. Kamus claimed an African-American identity. Dr. Austin said some people feared that black immigrants and their children would snatch up the hard-won opportunities made possible by the civil rights movement."
Just say to me "It's a victim's thing. You wouldn't understand."
Read http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/29/national/29african.html?ex=1095825600&en=f5d2be7383717e0c&ei=5070&hp.
Black Africans who become American citizens are not "African Americans"?
I can understand people being dismayed that Teresa Heinz Kerry claims to be African American as she was born in Mozambique and is an American citizen. But the following New York Times article says: "Many argued that the term African-American should refer to the descendents of slaves brought to the United States centuries ago, not to newcomers who have not inherited the legacy of bondage, segregation and legal discrimination."
What is this? Do we Blacks in America have a corner on victimhood? Is the term "African American" now an elite badge of honor to say "My ancestors were victims. Yours were not"?
If the immigrants who are naturalized U.S. citizens are not African Americans, what are they? Why do we say to them "You are not one of us"? Yet we claim they are our "brothers and sisters."
The report says: "Bobby Austin, an administrator at the University of the District of Columbia who attended the meeting in Washington, said he understood why some blacks were offended when Mr. Kamus claimed an African-American identity. Dr. Austin said some people feared that black immigrants and their children would snatch up the hard-won opportunities made possible by the civil rights movement."
Just say to me "It's a victim's thing. You wouldn't understand."
Read http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/29/national/29african.html?ex=1095825600&en=f5d2be7383717e0c&ei=5070&hp.
posted by Robert at 5:44 PM
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