I am not an African-American. Don't call me an African ?American. I'm an American plain and simple. I was born here as were my parents and grandparents and you would have to search many a generation back before you found anyone in my family who originated from the continent of Africa. It's time black people in this country stop trying to identify with a land whose culture is not their own. It's time we stand up and say "This land is our land" and let everyone know we have a right to this country as much as anyone.
I understand the need for black people in America to find an identity all their own. We are as displaced as a people can be. Brought here in the early seventeenth century, first as indentured servants then as slaves the richness of culture these individuals brought from their various tribes was systematically ripped away from them. Maybe in calling ourselves African-American we feel we can retrieve some of that richness that is lost to us and was stolen from our people so long ago. However the atrocities of the past are just that, the past and trying to identify with lost cultures isn't going to help us achieve the respect and prosperity that has alluded us for so long in a country that is still hostile to those of African descent.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm in no way suggesting we forget about the past. It's important to study and learn from your forefathers' triumphs, mistakes and pain. Continuously changing our identification however, is not the best way to use that knowledge. We've had several "identities:" from Colored to Negro, Black and now African-American. How can we expect anyone else to know who we are if we're not sure of our own identity? How can we expect to come together as a people if we can't agree on something as simple as to what to call ourselves? Hell the government is not even sure who we are if the census form was any indication with their Black, Negro, African-American non-hispanic category.
I say dispense with all of the confusion. We're American. The sweat of our brow helped build this country. Benjamin Banneker a black man, helped design the white house. Something as simple as the traffic light and as life saving as the blood transfusion were created by black people. Americans. From music, to dance, to literature we have given much more to this country then it has have ever given to us. We can be proud in simply calling ourselves Americans because we have more then earned that right. It's time we make use of it.
I was once asked if I viewed myself as an American first and black second. The answer is as long as America views me as black first then I'll always be American second. But I'll never be anything other then American, plain and simple.
Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and editor and chief of Prologue, the best arts and entertainment online community the web has to offer. To read more articles by Tamika and to receive FREE tips on how to be a successful writer visit http://www.prologuezine.com
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareUser BaseThe non-US and non-English Web segments have been boosted... Read More
In an effort to assist our political leadership it would... Read More
The US Dollar has been falling continuously in last year.... Read More
Policemen in many US cities are taking their new authority... Read More
Most modern day media stories containing fear, controversy and chaos... Read More
Utah introduced a bill designed to limit the use of... Read More
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people. Ask an... Read More
The Palestinian Fatah Movement is doing whatever it can to... Read More
I am an incurably ill American male forced to leave... Read More
In what the Americans love to describe as the war... Read More
When North Americans discuss Cuba, they always focus the intense... Read More
Here are some miscellaneous thoughts on issues many of which... Read More
Recently a friend insisted that I read a book by... Read More
Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, has... Read More
One way to increase evaporation in the ocean might be... Read More
De-classification of official documents have been a routine practice in... Read More
There is debate about the methodology of forestry and also... Read More
An idea to defend oil infrastructure in the Middle East... Read More
The paper industry in the US is hurting. Due to... Read More
What has really changed in the housing market with regards... Read More
Few understand the Franchising Format and even fewer have correlated... Read More
It never fails to amaze me. HM Customs and Excise... Read More
A few hours ago, Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, the... Read More
I read an interesting article in foreign Affairs magazine last... Read More
Guides for RetailersThe regulations about marketing pearls are listed in... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..The CBR taxes the Pakistani source income of nonresident individuals... Read More
The United States has enemies, which call the country the... Read More
So you are ready to run for public office are... Read More
Just as everyone has breathed a sigh of relief at... Read More
History repeats itself, goes the cliche. It does so, perhaps,... Read More
De-classification of official documents have been a routine practice in... Read More
Perhaps we should have printers with ink which has metallic... Read More
I'm getting a little tired of being lectured by that... Read More
For many years now, I have been the proud holder... Read More
The recent scathing remarks by High Court Judge Richard Mawrey... Read More
Well many have complained that the FBI and CIA dropped... Read More
Why President Bush should have his second term? The arguments... Read More
When organising a country or a group of people in... Read More
Most modern day media stories containing fear, controversy and chaos... Read More
Dust from Deserts and Particulate ControlThe greatest contributor to particulate... Read More
"When you are right you cannot be too radical; when... Read More
America has some monetary issues, which need to be addressed.... Read More
The great leader and Senator from New York and wife... Read More
Perhaps a silent revolution is taking place, this time more... Read More
If a farmer plants the same crop three seasons in... Read More
The RSS is getting feedback from its 140 pracharaks or... Read More
WE MUST PUT A STOP TO THE EVER-INCREASING PRICE OF... Read More
This is the third in a short series of four... Read More
You have in front of you two buttons, one is... Read More
1) IS HAVING A DEMOCRACY MORE EFFECTIVE IN ADDRESSING POLITICAL... Read More
Political |