My initial answer to that is that we will all be Americans when all are treated as equals regardless of race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation and not before. So just calling ourselves American will be cosmetic and nothing more. If you like cosmetic changes I'll go paint a 20 year old car and sell it to you as is for $2000. No. Didn't think so.
Now after making that statement I often wonder about the people that seem to get upset at the term African-American. Are they as upset by Italian- American or Irish-American? Do they hate Columbus Day parades or have problems with Saint Patricks Day?
Just who the hell do they think they are that they get to question what someone else calls themselves? Are they that arrogant that they think that they are so much better than others that they can even tell them what to call themselves?
Look I call my self African American not to be separatist but because I take pride in my heritage. I call myself African American to honor my African ancestors that came before me.
I also take pride in my country which is why I served in the US Army and now serve as an elected member of my local school board.
I'm just as patriotic as anyone else. Now I'm not going to go to a baseball game and cry and blubber like an idiot every time I hear the National Anthem and then start chanting USA, USA, USA, at the end of the song. I take that back if Christina Aguilera sings the National Anthem I just might cry.
Really if this is an issue to you I suggest you get a hobby. Maybe model trains or crochet.
If I or other African-Americans start to call ourselves African Iraqi or African Afghani then you might have an legit issue. But as long as the "American" is there everything is good to go.
The United States is a great country. The greatest in the world. But it will never be as great as it can be until we are all treated like Americans with equality and respect by all. All of us just calling ourselves Americans will not accomplish that.
God Bless America!
George Cook AAreports.com. Author of the Kindle book Let's Talk Honestly: One Black Man's Thoughts $1.50
1 comments:
Funny that a month ago I host a African that has never been on a plane before coming straight to me and he said this retribution and "us vs. them" attitude is foolish talk. You have electricity, running water and opportunity. Not so much today in most of Africa.
And, Yea, Ive been to Cape Coast and seen the sacrifice.
I see the term "black" as more patriotic in that it does not separate "us" as Americans!
God bless.
P.S. BTW, Mr Cook, all credibility was lost when you wrote that about Christina Aguilera. Shudder...
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