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.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker rejects the label African-American, emphasizing identity as black and American based on long-standing presence in the US.
- In plain terms
- She prefers being called black American rather than African-American because her family has been in America for centuries.
- What can you take from it?
- Identity labels should reflect personal history and lived experience.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What terms best describe your identity?
- How do labels impact our sense of belonging?
Another view
This view may conflict with broader social or political consensus on terminology.
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