Monday, August 18, 2008

Controversial

I don't call myself an Italian American.
I don't call myself an Irish American.
I haven't been to either country.
If I had to, I guess I would call myself a white American, maybe a Caucasian American.
When asked to put 'race' on forms, I write 'human.'

So why do people call themselves African American?

How can anyone move forward to the future if you have to go back generations to define who you are?

Am I missing something?

Seriously, weigh in please.

Love, Not Labels.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the Human race item. I now have a new answer for that question that I despise. I agree with you totally 100%. I love your site and wish more people responded and took advantage.

Reign on Queen Linda!!

Anonymous said...

people often ask me where I'm from. I tell them Los Angeles (knowing full well what exactly their asking. They want to know what my ancestry is) which frustrates them and prompts them to clarify. What country are you from. Let's see, America. Now they know I'm being a Smarty Pants. Determined to get a satisfactory answer they clarify further. What Nationality are you? American. Then they start throwing examples at me and speak slowly thinking that perhaps I didn't understand the question. LOVE it. Frankly I don't know what to say. I'm 4th generation. This is the only country I've ever known. English is my only language. My Great Grandparents came when they were super young (back when it would take a week to travel 30 miles in a horse drawn carriage). What do I say?