This is what I don't understand - if Devyn is six generations away from being born in Africa, why does she call herself African-American? I'm Hispanic and my great-great grandparents were born in Mexico, but I don't call myself Mexican-American. Why? Because I've never lived in Mexico. Just like Devyn never lived in Africa.

I agree with Katelynn. If you were born in America, you're an American.

Most people I talk to say they are so many things they don't use a category. I think Katelyn is making too big of a deal of the order words.

Whites don't call themselves European-American because they consider themselves to be the normative standard "American". Meanwhile, whites consider everyone else "ethnic", requiring people of color to have ethnic labels that differentiate them from being white. The term "American" only denotes a person's nationality while "African", "Asian", and "Hispanic" denotes a person's racial membership. Many blacks, myself included, are proud of their African ancestry and like to be identified as Africans living in America. It's silly that someone who's confused about her gender identity would feel so compelled to question someone else about their racial identity.

she was born in the good ol' USA, so she is AMERICAN, not a (dash)American. You never see a white person, who was born here, calling themselves a European-American or Caucasian-American, they would get laughed out of town; so, how about some equality here (that is what they are all after, right?), lets see how long it takes me to get a funny look or a laugh when I call myself a British-American! I'd be willing to bet it would be the very first time I say it.

you meant Baya

katelynn sounds dumb as rocks...i agree with bama

Katelynn is wrong... the "American" part of the term should not come first. American is the noun, and African is the adjective. In English, the adjective comes before the noun.

Katelynn is wrong... the "American" part of the term should not come first. American is the noun, and African is the adjective. In English, the adjective comes before the noun.

Correction, Haute_Danielle. I just viewed your pic and saw that you're the chubby black chick hugged up with the transgender. Sorry for thinking you were a white girl! lol.

Haute_Danielle, if you're black, I'm confused as to why you have a picture of a white girl up. Anyhow, I digress. There are many things in today's African American cultural value system and cultural structure that come from Africa. If you knew about African culture, this would be evident to you. And the fact that you don't know shows how little time you've invested in learning about pre-slavery African origins, son. But I'll share some things with you. First, the African family system is an extended one, meaning we look at family as more than just our immediate family members and give important roles to roles like the grandmother, aunt, uncle, cousins, etc. That's why we are more apt to have family reunions, and/or be raised by our grandmothers (i.e., big mama). We also hold our elders in high esteem, which isn't an American tradition (because whites culture just puts their elders in nursing homes and forgets about them). Our value system also includes principles such as: interdependence, communal bonds, and "We" before "I", which is contradictory to Anglo-America's emphasis on dependence, individuality, and selfishness. By the way, you don't have a choice but to listen to another "man" speech. The only way you can stop it is if you log off, or stop reading my post. Deal with it, son.

Honestly it was an interesting thing to talk about. I don't mind Devyn's attitude. It was a dumb topic. One, people ALWAYS say African American not American African. It doesn't sound right at all. And, what difference does it make? Everyone will always be equipped to say African American. It's never gonna change. And, I find it a little rude for Kat to bring it up. I think she knew what the roommates reactions were going to be like. Why even bother?

Race and nationality are two different things! Jesus-age-Christ! Seriously, get it together. Connected to Africa indeed.... I'm Black "MasterLearner", tell me one fucking thing "we" do in our day to day lives that is connected to African culture. Don't worry, I'll wait. I cannot sit here and listen to another "the man" speech. Rise above it! This is a petty argument.

African American is a label whites created, not blacks. First whites called us *******, then negroes, then colored, then black, African American, and now American (as if they see us as their "American brothers", yeah right!). Why is it that we're supposed adhere to every label whites create to us without argument? Whites never stop to think that maybe blacks don't call themselves American because of the historical and contemporary hardships they endure in America? Did the Jews in Nazi Germany call themselves Jewish Germans? Hell no, they called themselves Jews! In the same token, blacks would rather call themselves African than call themselves American because we never chose America as the white and European immigrant settlers did. In the same token, native Americans didn't choose America either, it was forced upon them. So why should they see themselves as Americans?

If i were devynn i wouldnt even get into that arguement, katlynn you are a dunmshit, end of conversation!
Why are you dictating to a BLACK person the politically correct way to say BLACK.
she didnt make up african american... white people did, remember?

just because you are black doesn't mean your automatically african-american, there are white/caucasian people who are african-american

Katelynn... So what are you trans-american or just american?

Ok, Sherlock (Katelynn)

They are arguing on different platforms and perspectives. It's not that hard to understand. Devyn is taking the literal definition of her skin color and physical attributes to be black. Katelynn is taking the ethnic definition and yeah you can't really argue from different viewpoints. Overall though, making this conversation into an argument was stupid oh both parts. WHO CARES!

It is a stupid argument. I call myself "American". I never say any ethnicity before it. Native Americans would not call themselves "Americans" because they didn't call this place America.

devyn is obviously insecure sbout something