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ArchivesRe: "african american"
in reply to a message by Don
To say that a name is "African American" shows its origin in that ethnic community. It certainly does not mean that all persons who are African American have names which are among those listed as such, any more than all people in Ireland have names which are listed as "Irish".
It also seems to me that your objection to not listing these names as "African American" because they come from "poor, uneducated areas in the ghetto" shows a bit of classism on your part. People who are poor and live in inner cities are just as much part of the Black community as those who are highly educated and middle class are. They do not deserve your contempt. I think you are perpetuating classist stereotypes more than this site is perpetuating racial ones.
It also seems to me that your objection to not listing these names as "African American" because they come from "poor, uneducated areas in the ghetto" shows a bit of classism on your part. People who are poor and live in inner cities are just as much part of the Black community as those who are highly educated and middle class are. They do not deserve your contempt. I think you are perpetuating classist stereotypes more than this site is perpetuating racial ones.
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Agreed. Many of these names were invented at the end of the Civil Rights era and during the Black Power movement of the 1970's, when many black Americans felt that the names they had were too connected with white people and were inspired to create new names for their children.
People of all races and ethnicities make up names, and some cultures have specific traditions and/or noticeable trends.
People of all races and ethnicities make up names, and some cultures have specific traditions and/or noticeable trends.
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