<p>Right. But the question is whether our considerations are grounded in any reality or not.</p>
<p>I agree with you nbachris. Muslims are anything but ethnically or "racially" unified, especially socially and politically, even more so today than in the past.</p>
<p>Tarhunt, Judaism is not a "race". Aside from the fact that today Jewish people come from a multitude of ethnic groups, males born of a Jewish mother have to be circumcised to be considered Jews as well. It is not entirely so simple.</p>
<p>Egyptians are considered Muslim more than anything else</p>
<p>
[quote]
For many years, Americans of sub-Saharn descent have searched for a designation that would make them comfortable in the US. Some terms that were once considered polite no longer are. The word "colored" gave way to "Negro," which gave way to "black," which gave way to "African-American."
[/quote]
It's just like: blind aren't blind, they are visually challenged. Short people aren't short, they are Vertically challenged; and fat people are horizontally empowered.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It's interesting to note how "Muslim" is usually regarded as a race, which only goes to show that race, in the social and political sense, has absolutely no basis in science. Instead, "race" is ultimately a form of limitation and marginalization imposed on groups that are deemed as incompatible threats to the dominant group.
[/quote]
Muslim is regarded as race by Muslims themselves(Arabs are considered to be superior than the rest pack of Muslims, although). It's an extension of the concept of universal brotherhood.</p>
<p>abhi:</p>
<p>The way I look at it, it's only good manners to call people whatever they want to be called.</p>
<p>On the issue of Islam/Muslim being race, I just called up an Indonesian friend of mine who is Muslim. He said this isn't true. Any comeback on that? Links or anything?</p>
<p>Religion can be changed, i.e. one can convert into it. Therefore I can become a Muslim.
Race cannot be changed. So i cannot become an Arab.
:)</p>
<p>Islam is a religion (more of a way of life) not a race... i am a Muslim. It is a religious minority in America not an ethnic or racial minority.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I figure I will call people whatever they want to be called and not call them whatever they don't want to be called. That's just common courtesy.</p>
<p>As for people being "too sensitive," that's a judgment on your part that implies you think you're superior to them because, apparently, you are not "too sensitive."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I agree. I never understand why people bother to get so worked up about having to deal with things that take absolutely no more effort anyway. And ironically enough, I don't personally know anyone who cares about the term "black", although I know plenty of dark skinned people. If they did care, then I would respect their wishes. I honestly just don't know anyone going around complaining about the term black, although I've heard a lot of people say "Why do we have to use "African-American"? <em>I</em> don't care when people call me white." My inclination is always to say "um, good for you?". I mean really, how is one supposed to respond to that? Do they want a gold star or something? </p>
<p>Also, black and white aren't really races, they're colors, so I imagine some search for terms that accurately capture something other than a color in order for say, academic work, was necessary at one point as well. In casual conversation, those are the terms we use. But there are a lot of colloquialisms that are considered inappropriate formally. I don't think this is necessarily an off-shoot of people whining about "white" and "black." Most people I know that aren't hung up on the issue really don't care. This may be good or bad, I don't know, but it's also reality.</p>
<p>No; according to the US census, you are white / Caucasian, just like Europeans and Middle Easterners.</p>
<p>I actually know a lot of black people who are offended by the term African American. I have friends from Panama, Antigua, Dominican Republic and Jamaica who say "I'm not African--I'm [insert country here]."</p>
<p>I just asked one of my friends her opinion and she said:</p>
<p>"I'm American, I've never been to Africa, and I have nothing to do with it except my skin color. Call me black. or better yet, call me Letoya. That is my name, after all."</p>
<p>Nobody calls White Americans "European-Americans", even though the first White and the first Black came to America around the same time. Just goes to show you that the internalized belief is that America is for the Whites, by the Whites, with some marginal contributions by people of colour here and there (which is why American History and Black History are considered separate things).</p>
<p>I would check the other box as others have mentioned. </p>
<p>"African-American" is being utilized as a euphenism for "Black." The application is trying hard to be politically-correct, and not offend anyone.</p>
<p>The keyword is trying.</p>
<p>They are called whites instead of the unwieldy Euro-americans because nobody got upset about it. AA's leaders wanted the change from negroe to black to AA.</p>
<p>Most of you are just plain wrong. Especially folks who define themselves purely by GOVERNMENT designations.</p>
<p>As I said in another post, 'African-American' is a largely cultural designation, not a geographical one. It was a word adopted by Black Americans not so long ago. As a term that describes history/culture, in the United States it is meant to include the descendants of the enslaved and oppressed people who were subject to legal and traditional discrimination through the Jim Crow era up until fairly recently, in THE UNITED STATES.</p>
<p>Contemporary immigrants from Africa are not in this group. Neither are immigrants from the Caribeean. And please stop reiterating that ignorant joke about Afrikanners and other such 'colonial' immigrants from that continent calling themselves African-American. Most whites in South Africa never referred to themselves even as Africans. That was reserved for the native people, whom they despised and mistreated.</p>
<p>
[quote]
As a term that describes history/culture, in the United States it is meant to include the descendants of the enslaved and oppressed people who were subject to legal and traditional discrimination through the Jim Crow era up until fairly recently, in THE UNITED STATES.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I have a problem with the notion that Blacks who are descended from slaves face more discrimination than Blacks who are from the Carribean, Africa, or are the descendants of Carribeans or Africans. I agree that there is discrimination against Blacks in America, but I disagree with the notion that just because your great-great-grandfather was a slave, that somehow separates you from Blacks of other origins. Racist eyes don't distinguish between nuances of Blackness; it'd be great if it did! Then there'd be less racial profiling.</p>
<p>Racist attitudes aren't formed after careful examination and judgment; it's formed by instantaneously-formed prejudices that's wholly based on appearance. Therefore, a person like Barack Obama, regardless of his father's birthplace or even mother's race, is a Black, at least in the eyes of America. Anybody who denies this is either trying to distort normal societal definitions for personal gain (i.e. a White racist who tries to rationalize Obama's success and popularity by over-emphasizing his White heritage, or a Black racist who relies upon the anger of slave-descended Blacks in order to maintain political relevance).</p>
<p>i agree with nbachris...people that will judge based on skin color will not care to ask if you are a descendant of a slave just so he can make sure that hes not being racist by accident...but regardless, im egyptian and after all this argument i would honestly like to know what i should mark down on my college app...i dont feel white, i dont feel black although i am "african american", and so do i put down other..?</p>
<p>you would put down other and explain your situation because you are not black/african american and you don't want ot identify with being caucasian</p>
<p>If he puts African American and gets accepted can the college rescind their offer. I mean technically he is from Africa and he is from America so it could be an honest mistake.... will he get kicked out if he puts African American?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Nobody calls White Americans "European-Americans",
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's because whites aren't just Europeans.</p>
<p>"You are African-American. Part of why the term African-American meaning black is ridiculous."</p>
<p>well first off, Brad Pepsi might not be an American citizen, so he could be just African...
and second</p>
<p>I agree with you about African-American title is stupid.
It is said to be politically correct, but the problem is,
any black man in america isnt necesarily an american.</p>
<p>Just as could be any white,asian, or hispanic man...
I dont get why American-nationality titles are given and claimed as correct, because for all we know, we have canadians and european whites, africans, mexicans, and asians living in america who arent even citizens.</p>
<p>Why should i ever call and asian man, asian american just because its "politically correct", when i am positive that there are hundreds of thousands of legal, and illegal immigrants in California (which is where i live).</p>
<p>i sure hope im not coming about seemingly rude...but basically, i hate being corrected for being "politically incorrect".</p>
<p>And Brad
Im pretty sure you do classify as African, i dont know why you wouldnt considering egypt is part of africa.</p>