Cain: I'm not an African American I'm a Black American

[bigdarryl]

OK Herman if you say so LOL LOL LOL!!!!

[oberliner]

1. I think Whoopi Goldberg made a similar comment at one point

I'll try to find the exact reference - I could be wrong.

[Supersedeas]

26. Different context, I think

[oberliner]

34. Here's a citation

Most of all, I dislike this idea nowadays that if you're a black person in America, then you must be called African-American. Listen, I've visited Africa, and I've got news for everyone: I'm not an African. The Africans know I'm not an African. I'm an American. This is my country. My people helped to build it and we've been here for centuries. Just call me black, if you want to call me anything.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Whoopi_Goldberg

[Supersedeas]

54. thank you and thanks for the link

[Mz Pip]

2. Whatever

:eyes:

[Ian David]

3. He's a Chocolate Walnut. n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Didn't I see something on Keith last week where

it was reported that Haagen Daz "Black Walnut" was his favorite ice cream flavor and that someone had to tell him that they had discontinued it and he was recorded whining about it and why it was considered a "limited edition" flavor?

Of course no one apparently told him that black walnut trees are deadly to just about every living thing planted near one. :rofl:

[thelordofhell]

43. Minus the wal

[Drale]

4. Wrong Mr. Cain

Your no kind of American.

[itsrobert]

5. We are all Americans

n/t

[Deus_Eternidad]

16. I agree

For my first post. I guess I could call myself an Irish-American but what would be the point?

I'm an American,.... first and last.

[boppers]

23. Welcome to DU!

I'm a Polish-Ukranian-Irish-English-German-Scottish-American.

Or, as I like to call it, Mutt-American.

[stevenleser]

27. Enjoy your stay... for as long as it lasts!

:rofl:

[golfguru]

32. I am with you...enough of hyphenating Americans

America is the world's largest melting pot,
and no need to divide us with hyphens.

[EffieBlack]

33. Why does this only ever seem to be a problem when black people call themselves "African American?"

This issue never seems to come up on St. Patrick's Day or Columbus Day or during Octoberfest . . .

[1StrongBlackMan]

38. But ...

that's different!

[Empowerer]

39. Reminds me of an observation a friend made -

When black people get drunk, run through the streets, destroying property, breaking windows and torching cars, it's a riot.

When white people do it, it's Homecoming.

:rofl:

[golfguru]

42. It comes up for many people, not just A-A

References to gov's of LA & SC are ubiquitous as Indian-Americans. Japanese-Americans, Chinese-Americans are common terms. Only Americans of European origin are spared hyphenation.

[Empowerer]

45. They may be spared "hyphenation" but that's because it's assumed they're American

So the "-American" at the end of their ethnic identification is not considered necessary. But white folks all the time call themselves and are identified as "Italian," or "Irish," etc. - and usually they self-identify as such with great pride and no criticism from others for being "divisive."

[butterfly77]

47. +2

[rapturedbyrobots]

44. no it isn't

there's very little 'melting' in this pot. if you want to see the results of widespread miscegenation look towards brazil.

[Empowerer]

46. Often when people refer to a "melting pot," they really mean that it's white and everyone else

should just "blend in."

[golfguru]

53. You may want to Google "inter-racial marriages in USA"

[rapturedbyrobots]

55. take your own advice

and you'll find that only 2.9% of the U.S. population is inter-racial. soooo much melting going on there.

vs. 43% in brazil.

your point was what exactly?

[rug]

6. He's a Corporate American.

[The Wielding Truth]

7. Best answer.

[Ikonoklast]

9. Hey, they are People, too!

But then again, so is Soylent Green.

[wizstars]

18. pity you can't make soylent green out of 'em...

who the he!! would eat it if you could?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. Good one

[movonne]

13. He is a kockroach...

[yurbud]

14. a Rwanda reference?

[demosincebirth]

8. I agree with him on that point.

[TheKentuckian]

12. I don't use it either, what is so funny?

[onpatrol98]

22. I missed the joke as well...

I know lots of black people who prefer the term black American instead of African American. I saw an old license that belonged to my grandfather that said colored.

[EffieBlack]

30. Some black people prefer to call themselves black rather than African American

but a black politician who goes around making a big deal about it makes me question where he's really coming from.

[onpatrol98]

40. I guess it bugs me that people care...

The guy is wrong on so much politically, why should we care what he calls himself...its almost like black people shouldn't have a choice...like Herman Cain should just be a good little fellow and behave like he should...like to be accepted he has to fit into an approved little black man mold. But, if he deviates...he's suspect. I don't think he's in danger of becoming President. But, as a free black man, he can call himself dimples as far as I'm concerned.

I tend to use both black American and African American out of habit. But, when my American friend had a baby by an African student, I started to wonder about it. Her child is truly African American. I thought that was the coolest thing. But, both of my parents are simply American. And, that's cool with me too. So, I try not to hassle people about what they choose to call themselves.

Goodness knows Tiger Woods...well, you know...I'm going to dog the politics...not the man. And, as for using the denigrating term...Uncle Tom used by some...that's just a no go with me. I remember how poorly Maya Angelou was treated in some corners for supporting Hilary Clinton instead of Candidate Obama. A national treasure in my opinion, but she dared to think for herself. I've got friends who basically disowned her.

I just get tired of it, I guess. I'll think we've progressed, when it's okay for black people to do whatever the heck we want...and, not have to pay a penalty because we didn't dance to someone else's approved tune.

[Empowerer]

41. I really don't care what he calls himself. But I think it's interesting that HE thinks it's a big

enough deal that he has to announce what he thinks he is.

One of the problems I have with Herman Cain is that he trades on his race - and spends a great deal of time talking about his blackness, other people's blackness, other black people, etc. He does it in very disparaging ways that sound good to white folk and give them great comfort and satisfaction. He talks about race constantly, using it as leverage and protection in the circles he's traveling in.

When most black folks even mention race, we're smacked down with accusations that we're "playing the race card." But Herman Cain has several decks full of nothing but race cards and he's playing them all at one time.

[onpatrol98]

48. Good points...

Excellent point, I don't listen to Herman Cain much. I assumed he talked about black people when asked about black people, because I know he's asked in terms of whether black people will vote for him as a republican. But, as for what gives his crowd satisfaction, then they should love President Obama. He never mentions race. And, whenever he finds himself in a room full of black folk what I often see on the camera is his chastisement. Heck, they should love that...and, they generally do. If that doesn't sound good to those kinds of white people, I'd be surprised.I don't want Herman Cain to use race as a weapon. Then again, if he was a democrat, would we still view what he does and says the same way. I don't want the fact that he happens to be a black man who's a republican to be used as an excuse to denigrate him. White people get no extra heat for being white republicans. Hispanics get no extra heat, as far as I can tell, for being republican. Oh, but that brother must think he's uppity, trying to be white. How dare he not stay in his place. You didn't say things, and probably wouldn't. But, these are conversations I've been in and it makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't like defending Herman Cain. I think his policies are wrong for our country. That's enough for me.

[Empowerer]

50. I don't agree with your assessment of President Obama, at all

If what you see on camera "whenever he finds himself in a room full of black folk . . . is his chastisement," that may be because that's what the news media cherry picks. But that is not true at all. I have often been one of the ones in the room with him at such times and "chastisement" is RARELY in the mix.

A good example is the President's speech to the CBC. The media - and many folks on DU and other sites - pulled out a couple of sentences from the speech to make it seem as if he was castigating his audience when he was doing nothing of the kind. He gave a long, substantive and inspirational speech that was VERY well received by the audience. Yet, if you didn't hear the speech and only caught the press coverage of it, you would have thought that he had walked into the room, strolled up to the mic and said, "Y'all is some trifling" and walked off.

As for Cain, I think you are completely mischaracterizing the objections to him. Black people don't think he's "uppity" or "trying to be white." We think that he is advocating against the interests of our community and doing so in a way that can be very damaging, not just to minorities, but to everyone in the 99%.

I don't have a problem with Cain being black or being a black Republican. I DO have a problem with him capitalizing on his blackness to help advance an agenda that is very damaging to my people.

[Hutzpa]

15. He is a SELLOUT AMERICAN

a new category for his type.

[EffieBlack]

17. That's ok - I don't think the Continent is all that eager to claim you . . .

[Empowerer]

19. You are NOT a good girl

:spank:

[MrMickeysMom]

20. THAT, and 9.99 percent will get you a Happy Meal...

... Meanwhile, please go fuck yourself.

[treestar]

21. WTF does he mean by that?

:wtf:

I'm not a German-Irish-English American, I'm a white American. :rofl:

[boppers]

24. It's a dog whistle.

"I don't identify with historical racial issues".

[applegrove]

25. Yup.

[onenote]

28. which may explain why Cain didn't attend any Columbus Day parades

Wouldn't want to be seen with folks who claim to be Italian Americans.

Probably endearing himself to Irish Americans as well. Not.

[EffieBlack]

29. Didn't you know? Only white people can refer to their heritage without being "divisive" n/t

[RandomKoolzip]

31. Nah - you're just a dick, Hermie.

[cherokeeprogressive]

35. I have some news for Mr. Cain

There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America.

[MadMaddie]

36. Whatever you are still Black Herman and the Republicons hate you!

[rury]

37. He's a bald-headed, Uncle Tom, unpatriotic, ignorant, thoughtless

corporate shill.
He hates working Americans of ALL colors!!!!!!!!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

49. Black Americans/African Americans...whatever we want to call ourselves...

The bottom line is that no other culture or ethnicity is ever asked to choose or even to spend time on this nonsensical matter.

It's only a big deal with us knee-grows!! :eyes:

[Empowerer]

51. SO true!

Nor does any other group have to put up with another group telling them how they should define themselves.

[WI_DEM]

52. If that is how he wants to refer to himself that's up to him.