RE The term African American

[Iris]

84. I love this thread and this response as well.

I try to use the term individuals prefer, and what I've noticed is most black people I know call themselves black. And they call white people white. But since I work in higher education, I use the term AA at work, mostly around other white people, many of whom do not interact with a lot of black people, so I guess I'm doing that to make them feel comfortable. I've also noticed the Director of our Office of Diversity, uses the terms African-American and Caucasian, so now I use Caucasian in that setting to describe white people.

I also became aware that AA isn't a blanket statement for all people of color* when a friend pointed that out to me and told me that's why she calls herself black.

It feels like a funny game with the white folks. But I'm serious about honoring the wishes of what black people prefer.

*"people of color" is also a term I've noticed a lot lately, but in particular "women of color" when I am reading something in feminist studies or critical theory. It seems like that's a term used in academia but I usually never use it and felt odd writing it in that 2nd paragraph.


This thread has been great. Very educational and so respectful. (Except I see one post that was self-deleted)