what's in a name

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Why do people find the term African American offensive. When did this happened? I thought I was being politically correct.

― James Madison, Sunday, 7 November 2004 10:14 (twenty-one years ago)

what are we supposed to say instead?

― MarkH (MarkH), Sunday, 7 November 2004 10:34 (twenty-one years ago)

You may think I'm being unhelpful in answering a question with a question, but finding out what the new term is might enable us to find out why African American is no longer politically correct.

― MarkH (MarkH), Sunday, 7 November 2004 10:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Is it offensive? I'm out of date. I can't see how it could possibly be offensive.

― Cathy (Cathy), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Bleck.

― Adamdrome Crankypants (Autumn Almanac), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't it just offensive when used wrongly? There was another thread about this, when people (not people here) were saying things like "Othello was African-American"?

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Ailsa, I didn't seen that thread, but that is very funny. All words are offensive in the mouths of very stupid people.

I think African-American is fine when used properly, although I would probably say "black Americans", but maybe I'm behind the times.

When is James Madison coming back to tell us where he got this idea from?

― Cathy (Cathy), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I suspect James has been told 'African-American' is considered offensive by some racist trying to mock political correctness ("Ha ha - they change what's 'offensive' every five minutes, we might as well just call 'em niggers!" kind of thing).

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I suspect so too.

― Cathy (Cathy), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmmm...I always say African-American. Now I don't know what to say.

― papa november (papa november), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:50 (twenty-one years ago)

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