Why I choose African-American Over Black
I was recently in a conversation with a fellow Christian who wanted to know why I use the term African-American. “We are all Americans” he said. “Terms like that just divide us.”
The further conversation that followed led me to deeper reflection and thru this blog post, explantation on why I choose African-American over Black and over simply the title, American.
One, I’ve come to the belief that race is unbiblical, so for a theological foundation around my identity, Black doesn’t work. Now at the same time, I honor the history of the identification Black. The Black power movement of the 1960′s and 70′s was about bringing honor, dignity, and empowerment to a racial label that made a people less than human. The definition of Black up until that point was rooted in the systems of slavery and Jim Crow segregation. The Black power movement redefined Black and reinvented a people group. I get this and honor it. But this still doesn’t take away from race being not only unbiblical, but unsubstantiated scientifically as well. Skin color and physical features alone are not enough to bring about major differences among people. The categories of race only bring about stereotypes leading to power and privilege for some and second-class status for others.
Culture, ethnicity, and covenant are biblical though. These are places thru which Christians can find identity. I’m an American, I have a lost history in Africa, but my primary identity is in Christ Jesus. I also have Irish and Native American in my family tree as well. But, more importantly, I am found in the family tree laid out in Matthew 1. This is the family tree of Jesus.
I also call myself African-American because I’ve actually been to Africa. Both times that I’ve been on this continent, I’ve been greeted with the words, “Welcome Home.” Recently, while in Kenya, I was made an honorary elder of a church. I was so honored by this experience that I couldn’t stop tears from flowing. I’m African, I’m American, I’m the beloved of God thru Christ Jesus (1 John 3:1). This is why I choose African-American over Black, but over all of that I choose to live as the Beloved.
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Boxes, boxes, boxes…I thought we were getting out of them. I got the Irish, Native, and African as well but there really is no accurate label. The good thing is I don’t need an earthly identity, I know where my home is. For now you can call me “other”.
Thank you for this post. I teach at an school that calls itself an African school. Almost all (99%) of our students are African-American and we celebrate the principles of the Nguzo Saba, make African connections to all of our lessons, and dive deep into the contributions of African-American persons in history.
At the beginning of the school year, my principal told us to say, “Black,” when we needed to refer to African-Americans and, as a person who is not African-American, I struggled a lot with using the term. Never once did I want to be offensive, and I just wasn’t comfortable.
I love identifying with both. I want my students to do the same. I want them to understand their African roots and history, as well as their place in America. Thank you again; I really appreciate your perspective.
I recently did a post on this same topic as well. And maybe it’s a generational thing…I prefer the term Black (capital B) as opposed to African American for a a number of reasons.
1) The term Black was not one given TO us like African American (BTW is that with a hyphen or without?)
2) Africans have largely immigrated this country and are truly African…culturally.
3) I don’t share a deep cultural experience with Africa as much as I do America. I’ve been to Africa (Kenya and Uganda) three times and felt very at home. I loved my time with the people and certainly there are similarities between my Black cutlure and their African culture. I don’t deny the historical connection.
4) I have a full-blooded Sioux Indian grandmother. I’m more Native American than I am Black, right? I struggle with honoring her with my personal ID
5) Black is the cultural experience solidified in the 40′s, 50′s and 60′s. It the period that has largely shaped Black cutlure what it is today. It’s also the cultural experience I indentify with the most. Black is synoymous (sp?) with pride.
6) Now, if we’re speaking ethnicity then we’re in a whole new conversation and that would be another list.
Thanks for opening the conversation.
the other reason you might not want to simply characterize yourself is as black, is because today in much of our sociological research, black has become a “lumping” category that includes folks from haiti, jamaica, and other caribbean places. African-American allows for a distinction that is important culturally and ethnically.
And for folks who think it’s about boxes, I’d challenge you to think about culture. I’m an american citizen, my parents are from India. I consider myself and Indian American, it helps mark and identify the CULTURE that I resonate with. It’s not just about skin color it’s about culture. To be able to identify the culture that we most resonate with is valuable and important and to me doesn’t make it so I’m defining myself by “earthly” terms.
I respect what you’re saying, but here is my point-
1.) Race is a man-made social construct that has no strong biological foundation. Black is a race label or description.
2.) Theologically, I would argue race is unbiblical and ungodly. It only leads to the sin and evil of racism.
3.) There is no blackness without the original oppressive system of whiteness.
4.) Ethnicity is a more biblical form of identity. So is nationality. With this in mind African-American make more social and theological sense than race labels.
Efrem Smith
I forgot to say I would gladly call you European-American
Efrem