BLACK or AFRICAN-AMERICAN?

February 09, 2012 | Daily Republic
Is it ‘black’ or ‘African-American?’
by Kelvin Wade

A couple of months ago, my then-6-year-old grandson Kawika told me his sister Lauryn was black. I told him that both he and she were half-black. He looked at his skin and proclaimed he was “brown.” We left it at that.

Looking at him, one would think he was a Pacific Islander, especially since his name is Hawaiian. He has a black father and a mother who is half-white and half-Japanese.

I like his youthful simplicity. Maybe that’s why I bristle when I hear the term “African-American.” The black intelligentsia, especially the Rev. Jesse Jackson, popularized the term in the 1980s. Someone determined that “black” wasn’t good enough. There’s no question that most blacks reject “colored,” “Negro” and the old “Afro-American” labels. But I don’t recall taking a vote to change from black to African-American.

A recent Facebook page titled “Don’t Call Me African-American” received national media attention. There is a difference of opinion within the black community. In an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll taken last year, 45 percent of respondents preferred “black,” 35 percent chose “African-American” and 13 percent said it didn’t matter.

Some see a rejection of the term African-American as a rejection of one’s “blackness.” That’s ridiculous because no matter what we’re called, at the end of the day we’re still black.

It’s not a rejection of my African roots. I grew up with a father who revered Martin Luther King Jr., listened to Elijah Muhammad on the radio, was one of the Navy’s first Special Assistants for Minority Affairs, had a library of black history books and, for a short time, ran an art gallery selling black art. So I respect where my ancestors came from.

But the term African-American is too distancing for me. I’ve been able to trace my family’s roots back to slaves in Texas and Tennessee. My family has been in this country most likely since its inception. Those ancestors earned the right to be Americans.

I’ve never had a conversation among just black folks where we’ve used the term “African-American.” And I’ve never met a black person offended by the term “black.” That’s not to say they don’t exist. I believe there’s a wide comfort level with the term.

I’ve sometimes used the term “African-American” in columns but it’s only been to break up the monotony of writing “black” again and again. Or I’ve used it simply because people come to expect it in print.

The term is cumbersome. My younger brother lives in Canada and has dual citizenship. Is he an African-American Canadian or Canadian African-American?

Sometimes when I hear white people use the term “African-American,” I can hear the nervousness in their voice. They’re not sure if it’s the right term. We’re all constantly going through a mental checklist to make sure we use the politically correct term. Disabled, not handicapped. Asian, not Oriental. Native American, not Indian. Is it Hispanic or Latino?

As Kawika grows older I hope he embraces his blackness, whiteness and Japanese heritage equally and without mental hand-wringing in a world where labels will hopefully mean less and less. Right now I just want him to be a kid. If he has to focus on any color I hope it’s green, the color of the army men we battle with at the dining room table. Peace.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES: I'm not offended by the term 'African-American' but it just seems like more than needs to be said. Like I said, I've used the term in my writing. I don't use it when I speak about Blacks, though. If someone refers to me as Black, I think people get it. The "African" part goes without saying because anyone with a brain in their head knows that my ancestors came from Africa. So from that perspective calling myself African-American doesn't really add anything. It's just easier to say Black. That's unambiguous. After all, John Kerry's wife and Dave Matthews from the eponymous band are "African-Americans" and they're white.

I'm not trying to start a fight with the Soul Patrol, those self-appointed guardians of true Blackness. If a Black person wants to call himself or herself or other Blacks "African-American" then have at it. As for me, Black is cool.