[QUOTE]Originally posted by soul_fly

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Patdeisa
I do not think, however, that the school should have reprimanded him as such, since they are at fault for the inaccuracy of the award- it should read Distinguished Black Student Award if they want to consider all blacks or make it required to show proof of descendency from slaves for it to be African-American.

 

The terms "African-American" and "black" have become so synonymous these days that it's not a point-and-shoot pick for me with this poll. No, it's not PC, but it has developed that connotation.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Octane-Girl

 

Yep, it's "exclusionary". Funny how it's perfectly acceptable to concoct an award that is for blacks only , BUT as soon as an award that would be for whites, there is an immediate backlash of "racism". Being a white MALE now persona non grata. According to people like Spike Lee and Al Sharpton, only whites can be racists. . . .not blacks. Blacks can't be racist because "they lack institutional power".
Archie Bunker of "All In The Family" never used the term "nigger", but George Jefferson used the term "honky". Other shows have used the term "cracker" with no backlash. Why? Why is it OK and funny to use a racially derogatory term for one race while it's totally unaccaptable to use another term for another race? It's OK to insult whites but totally unaccecptable to refer to blacks with a slangy racially epithet. Whites have become so scared to defend themselves for fear that they will be labeled "racist", that they won't even speak up for the simplest of racist comments from blacks. Give me a break. I demand a break!!! I'm at the point where I don't care one iota about being politically correct.

 

I currently live in sub-saharan Africa (Nigeria). I can tell you there are alot of countries in the continent that have large numbers of non-black citizens. SA, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana. I think, the bottom line SHOULD be if the kid is an immigrant from an african country he should be eligible for the award. Here's why. There are slightly different rules for non-immigration visas for citizens of different countries. All Nigerians who apply for a nonimmigrant visa to the U.S. are considered to be intending immigrants (meaning they say they'll come back but really, they won't). I know, it may not be right but that's the way it is. Now, there are alot people of Lebanese desent that hold Nigerian passports and as such are subject to the same scrutiny, why because they're Nigerians.

I wonder if this will lead us to the equality that should already exist? Why should there be special awards due to the color of one's skin?

 

Oh...and what about kids born of inter-racial relationships? Do they get to compete?

 

My parents are from South Africa and I am white. I was born here in Florida though. I don't know how I feel about all this. Awards should be given out based on performance and not by race. That to me is just flat out stupid. Anyway, I will say that on every item that I had to mark my nationality throughout school, I always put down African-American since that seemed to fit me the best.

 

Someone was telling me recently about an acquaintance of his who is white and from South Africa. He had become a US citizen and was registering to vote. He checked "African-American" as his race and the clerk, a black woman, nearly ripped up his registration form she was so incensed. It might be funny if it weren't so tragic.

 

Do you know how many years / generations of your ancestors lived in South Africa?