The other day I was standing in the hallway talking with one of our Communication Majors and she mentioned that she gets offended when people call her "African American". In this case, the student was talking about how an older woman who identifies as African American tried to correct the student when she identified herself as Black. I've heard this scenario shared by a lot of students since 2008. I say 2008 because I noticed the beginning of a shift from "African American" to "Black" in the terms Black TV pundits used when talking about themselves and about, then presidential candidate, Barack Obama. When students mention their preference for "Black" I always ask these students what they see as the difference between "Black" and "African American". The student I was talking with in the hallway had clearly spent some time thinking about her own identity and she shared the most clear and concise answer I have ever heard. Here is what she said:
"African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa. They're very connected with Africa. They're focused on African Heritage. I'm not. I'm Black."
"African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa. They're very connected with Africa. They're focused on African Heritage. I'm not. I'm Black."