"You Know You're Black When…"

captainbryce wrote:I think Canadians who feel "offended" by being called the 51st state are a little too sensitive and probably more "American" than they'd care to admit...

The more Canadians try single themselves out for their "national pride" the more I see them as Americans (which is kind of ironic).

TSJFan4Ever wrote:

captainbryce wrote:I think Canadians who feel "offended" by being called the 51st state are a little too sensitive and probably more "American" than they'd care to admit...

The more Canadians try single themselves out for their "national pride" the more I see them as Americans (which is kind of ironic).

I think what you've said here perfectly illustrates why America has such a bad image overseas - the arrogance and sense of superiority in your post is what gives Americans that bad image.

TSJFan4Ever wrote:If you see us as Americans, maybe you should just correct your COs when they tell you to masquerade as Canadians in certain situations - tell them that there's no need to claim to be Canadian, because Canadians are just Americans. We're clearly not going to agree and I have no interest in seeing my country attacked at the expense of pumping up American. I'll be back out of this now, but than k you for reminding me why I'm glad to be Canadian and to live where I do, not south of the border.

captainbryce wrote:

Nystyle709 wrote:
He sure can identify himself as African-American because that's exactly what he is! LOL, that example of yours just shows how much you (and everybody else) totally and ignorantly forgets the fact that Africa is a continent. Not a damn country. It has many countries and Africa is so vast that it shouldn't just be associated with black people. Don't even try and dispute that.

I'm not disputing that. I don't think Africa being a continent (which I am fully aware of thank you) is relevant to the discussion. Asia is ALSO a continent but that's completely besides the point. The term "African American" in the US is commonly associated with black people born, raised in or residing in the United States. A South African immigrant may come here and call himself an African American if he/she wants to and that's fine. But that doesn't mean that it is incorrect for a black American to also call themselves African American if they choose to.

Nystyle709 wrote:LOL. Ya know, if you planned on using a 'reputable' source to back up your claim, then I'd strongly suggest you stay away from Wikipedia.

There is so much WRONG with what you just said I don't even know where to begin! First of all, wikipedia itself is NOT the source that I am referencing, so whether you consider wikipedia "reputable" or not doesn't really matter. The fact is, the definition of "African American" posted on wikipedia has a source that backs it up from the US CENSUS BUREAU (which is why I posted that link). Wikipedia is actually one of the BEST reference tools because it actually sites other sources that are easily verifiable and because it's also easy to tell when a source is not cited.

Nystyle709 wrote:Hmmm, let's see. Both definitions clearly describes a person who voluntarily leaves their country to come to another, for whatever reason. It is a fact that did not volunteer to come here, it is a fact that we are not indigenous here. Yeah, the fact that we didn't voluntarily come here is extremely relevant. Makes all the difference. Since by that definition, we are not immigrants, then it's a fact that we are not from Africa.

We are not debating the definition of IMMIGRANT. That was never in dispute! I know what an immigrant is, I simply contend that whether or not a person is an "immigrant" or not is irrelevant with respect to the term African American. YOU are the one trying to make one thing relate to the other. I never said that African Americans were immigrants. I in fact said quote: One need not be an immigrant to be considered "African American".. YOU are the one who is saying that a person has to be an immigrant to be considered an African American and I am saying that you are wrong. African American is a term that means different things to different people, but MOST people in the US don't consider it to be "immigrants" from the CONTINENT of Africa. And as a matter of coincedence, neither does the US Census! So you may intepret the term however you please, but you cannot say that it is WRONG to refer to a black American as an African American just because they are NOT an immigrant. And like I said before, a 4th generation Chinese person is NOT an immigrant either, but they may still refer to themselves as ASIAN AMERICAN (associating themselves with the continent of Asia) or CHINESE AMERICAN (associating themselves with the country of China). Whether a person is an immigrant from a certain country or continent has no bearing on how that person views their cultural significance as it relates to that region. Black Americans who view themselves has having a connection to Africa due to their ethnicity and culture refer to themselves as African American. Who are you to say that they are WRONG?

Nystyle709 wrote:

captainbryce wrote:
I'm not disputing that. I don't think Africa being a continent (which I am fully aware of thank you) is relevant to the discussion. Asia is ALSO a continent but that's completely besides the point. The term "African American" in the US is commonly associated with black people born, raised in or residing in the United States. A South African immigrant may come here and call himself an African American if he/she wants to and that's fine. But that doesn't mean that it is incorrect for a black American to also call themselves African American if they choose to.


There is so much WRONG with what you just said I don't even know where to begin! First of all, wikipedia itself is NOT the source that I am referencing, so whether you consider wikipedia "reputable" or not doesn't really matter. The fact is, the definition of "African American" posted on wikipedia has a source that backs it up from the US CENSUS BUREAU (which is why I posted that link). Wikipedia is actually one of the BEST reference tools because it actually sites other sources that are easily verifiable and because it's also easy to tell when a source is not cited.


We are not debating the definition of IMMIGRANT. That was never in dispute! I know what an immigrant is, I simply contend that whether or not a person is an "immigrant" or not is irrelevant with respect to the term African American. YOU are the one trying to make one thing relate to the other. I never said that African Americans were immigrants. I in fact said quote: One need not be an immigrant to be considered "African American".. YOU are the one who is saying that a person has to be an immigrant to be considered an African American and I am saying that you are wrong. African American is a term that means different things to different people, but MOST people in the US don't consider it to be "immigrants" from the CONTINENT of Africa. And as a matter of coincedence, neither does the US Census! So you may intepret the term however you please, but you cannot say that it is WRONG to refer to a black American as an African American just because they are NOT an immigrant. And like I said before, a 4th generation Chinese person is NOT an immigrant either, but they may still refer to themselves as ASIAN AMERICAN (associating themselves with the continent of Asia) or CHINESE AMERICAN (associating themselves with the country of China). Whether a person is an immigrant from a certain country or continent has no bearing on how that person views their cultural significance as it relates to that region. Black Americans who view themselves has having a connection to Africa due to their ethnicity and culture refer to themselves as African American. Who are you to say that they are WRONG?

. Listen man, if you............you know what? Nevermind.

Shale wrote:

captainbryce wrote: ... Canada is basically only the 51st state anyways!

TSJFan4Ever wrote:
I guess that would explain why some Americas sew our maple leaf flag on their backpacks or jackets when travelling in Europe.

captainbryce wrote: ... I am merely pointing out its common usage among the majority of black people in the US (which is a more general definition). Colloquially, "African American" refers to black people (of African descent) born/raised in the United States. Whether or not the colloquial usage is the "proper" terminology is of course a matter of debate. In principle, I agree with the first part of what you said however but disagree about the "Afro American" bit. Such an expression is pretty much a relic of 1977! One need not be an immigrant to be considered "African American" anymore than one needs to be an immigrant to be considered "Asian American" or "Irish American". Most 4th generation Chinese people living in Manhattan would still identify as "Asian American".

My wife was black and American. She did not go for the designation "African American" because she was from Chicago. Makes sense. Even tho my family can be traced to France in the 18th Century, I was born in California and don't consider myself French American.

The irony is that a true "African-American" immigrant was prevented from using that designation as a descriptive, even tho it was correct for the blond, blue eyed Afrikaaner who moved here from South Africa.

Shale wrote:

captainbryce wrote: ... I am merely pointing out its common usage among the majority of black people in the US (which is a more general definition). Colloquially, "African American" refers to black people (of African descent) born/raised in the United States. Whether or not the colloquial usage is the "proper" terminology is of course a matter of debate. In principle, I agree with the first part of what you said however but disagree about the "Afro American" bit. Such an expression is pretty much a relic of 1977! One need not be an immigrant to be considered "African American" anymore than one needs to be an immigrant to be considered "Asian American" or "Irish American". Most 4th generation Chinese people living in Manhattan would still identify as "Asian American".

My wife was black and American. She did not go for the designation "African American" because she was from Chicago. Makes sense. Even tho my family can be traced to France in the 18th Century, I was born in California and don't consider myself French American.

The irony is that a true "African-American" immigrant was prevented from using that designation as a descriptive, even tho it was correct for the blond, blue eyed Afrikaaner who moved here from South Africa.

Shale wrote:

Shale wrote:

TSJFan4Ever wrote:
I guess that would explain why some Americas sew our maple leaf flag on their backpacks or jackets when travelling in Europe.

Jeez did this thread hijack go south real fast.

When Capt. made the comment, knowing there are active Canucks on this board, I thot he was doing an obvious little jab that FRIENDS do. Which is why my comment was just one of "Uh Oh, Now You've Done It!"

I never considered a Canadian would take it seriously as disrespect or insult. Guess IDK the seriousness of national pride. Fact is, IDK Canadians. They have infiltrated our American culture, especially in the Northeastern cities like Chicago and NY. They are the supposed "American" actors on popular TV shows and even Hollywood who, when you read their biography you learn are actually Canadian. (At least on the Internet you can sometimes spot them for the colourful way they spell certain words - but so do the Brits and Aussies.)

So, getting back to the "You Know Ur Black" thread, let me quote a black man who was beaten up for no reason by American Pigs - "Can't we all get along?"