Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
Blacks? Negroes? Who Are We?

By Tia Miller
Contributing Writer

Negro. Colored. People of Color. Black. Black-American. American-Blacks. Afro-American. African-American. Niggas.

Is it me, or do we as black people seem to get a new name about every 20 years?

What will we call ourselves next, African descendants living in America?
The U.S. Census made me think of the concept of black identity. Nowadays, blacks can check more than one box as an indicator of their racial ancestry, which ties in with the whole "multi-culturalism" movement that we are supposed to be in. But hasn't this country been multi-cultural since its inception? I can't think of any black family who doesn't have European-American ancestors. I wonder how many people will check black, white, and many other denominations to reflect their multi-cultural heritage, which is much to the dismay of many black political organizations who fear that the African-American population will decrease as a result of this year's census.

Also, I fully understand the dilemma people will have to face because they shouldn't have to deny any part of their heritage, but let's be honest here. If you look black, you are going to be treated in this society as a second class citizen, no matter how "Indian" you think you are. The term "African-American" is controversial to many black people. "I ain't never been to Africa, so don't call me an African," they say. I don't have all the answers, but I think we are African descendants living in America, who have been cut off from our original cultures.

Until we as a whole come to grips with this reality, we will always scramble through our family history, searching for some other culture to claim.

What do you call your fellow black people?
Tell Tia at miller.2399@osu.edu.