Black or African-American?

[blueerica]

I'm not sure if this belongs here, or where it will go. I figure that we're a respectful group of people who can discuss this calmly, and I really just need an opinion generated by tonight, so I can change the wording on a paper I'm writing (if necessary.)

I'm writing about Toronto, Ontario, for a business project. For our research section we needed to include information on race, percentages, etc... and as the Canadian statistical website put it, "Black - 8.3%." Clearly, there is no option to call them African-American, but should we refer to them as African-Canadian?

In some instances, I've known people to want to be referred to as African-American, while others have met the description with disdain. As one friend put it, "I'm not from Africa, I was born in Georgia, and that makes it sound like I'm less American." Of course, that was only one friend. To that extent, we have an organization on campus called the Black Business Students Association. It's not African-American Business Students Association. Since neither is difficult to say, I'm assuming there was a preference made, but.. I'm just not sure.

What would you guys do?

[3894]

According to Wikipedia

Black Canadians are black people who reside in Canada. The term African Canadian or Black Canadian is generally used for those of Sub-Saharan African and/or Caribbean ancestory.

Double-checking the usage, Black Canadian seems to be it, per this Canadian gov't. site.

[Strangler Lewis]

Since it sounds like you're dealing with government statistical data, I would use the terms the government uses with any particular definition that they give. If the statistical terminology deviates from recognizable cultural pattersns, e.g., Latinos are deemed Caucasian, then note that.

[Disneyphile]

I'd just use "Black". I think the world is a little too PC. I don't mind being called "White". It's better than "Caucasian", because I've always wondered where "Caucasia" actually is.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

I'd just use "Black". I think the world is a little too PC. I don't mind being called "White". It's better than "Caucasian", because I've always wondered where "Caucasia" actually is.

Ask and ye shall receive: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Ask and ye shall receive: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus

Holy hell. Well, I'm not from that region either.

So, from now on, I'm checking off "other", if Caucasian is the only "white" option.

[RStar]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

I'll have a Black Canadian:

1 oz. Black Label
1 oz. Canadian Club
4 oz. Molson
Rim a glass with bacon fat, then salt.
Mix and pour.

As much as I like Bacon, the thought of licking greasy bacon fat off the rim of my drinking glass makes me ill.

Originally Posted by Jughead P. Jones

Well, since I am from Canada, I'd probably go with the term Black Canadian, if writing from a research perspective.

(And, EH1812...technically, you're right, as in we're part of NORTH AMERICA, but we're individuals, darn it. We say EH! EH!!!)

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

Holy hell. Well, I'm not from that region either.

So, from now on, I'm checking off "other", if Caucasian is the only "white" option.

I think the term Caucasian is a niceity that is trying to describe a race without using a "color" term the same way "African American" is avoiding the lable of "Black'. Frankly, I prefer the "Black" "White" Lables just because they are simple.

But if Latinos don't like brown, and American Indians don't like red, then what? And if the American Indians drop the first part, they may be confused with those from India.

And if the Black Canadians don't know they are in Canada, all is lost anyway! So why bother?

That said, I have no problem with any group or race prefering a lable, of which I would gladly use. I just wish someone would standardize, and all agree on. But making 100% of any one happy is impossible, now isn't it?

[Ghoulish Delight]

I believe, it being Canada, the correct term is, "Flanneled Africans".

[innerSpaceman]

Oh, sheesh, just use Black. Are black people everywhere going to have to be hyphenated? BlackFinlandians and BlackKasicstanians? Where will it end?


And, yeah, while we're at it ... what the hell is Caucasion anyway???



Also ... I wish the Asians would get off their high horse and let themselves be labeled Orientals without getting so upset. Or pick something else, because people of Japanese, Korean, Chinese or other such ancestry who were born and live in America (or other places outside of Asia) are not Asian.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I wonder if I had distant relatives that were black, that I could refer to my self at Black/White or Gray American.