Life on the Hyphen (part 1)
As you can see from my profile, I describe myself as "on the hyphen between African and American."
Let's do a quick survey...
Are you an American or a hyphenated-American? Why?
posted by jazztheo at 10/09/2005 05:15:00 PM
21 Comments:
(a note for lightskinned negro--come correct on this one or don't come at all!)
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Neither, I'm a disciple which btw is not synonimous with being a church member or a patriot...
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definetely hyphenated,
bicultural, two realities everyday.
angevoix,
You've told me your a Celt, what role does that play in your identity?
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So Pete,
What was your answer? How do you describe yourself? American?
jt
I'm American and have always considered myself one without modification. I'm also Caucasian, but I generally don't think about that part of me. Not because it's not part of my identity, but it just isn't an issue.
However, more and more, I find myself identifying with disciple of Jesus more than American, and in fact I'm finding some aspects of American society inconsistent with the call of Christ.
What role does being a Celt play in my identity? Well, I think perhaps the historical fact that Celts are all too familiar with oppression... both the Scots and the Irish, but they rarely if ever gave up without a fight. Heck, they are still fighting! I know that most people are under the impression that the conflict in Northern Ireland is over religion, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is a remnant of British colonization. Also I love the story of Boaddica, which if you know me is ironic because I am a pacifist... the Celts also knew oppression under the Romans as well. Also equality for women was a given among the Celts. The Celts fought right along side the men and were known as fierce warriors. They were particularly hated by the Romans who would do hideously barbaric things to them if the were captured.
Angevoix,
If you had to choose between "American" or "hyphenated-American,"...which would you choose?
i haven't felt "hyphenated" because i don't have a grasp on my heritage. i know my ancestors were german, irish, french, and native american. but i don't hyphenate any of those in terms of my identity because i feel so far away from all of them. they don't seem to define me. i have envied people who are part of a "culture" because that sense of belonging, that playing a part in a larger whole seems so appealing. i think it would be cool to live in a big city with a cultural "district" where you knew you were one of many of a certain group. but out here in denver, i'm just a white girl. a white american girl.
yeah, that digital jane has a way of making statements and not accepting feedback...She'd make a great preacher!
Right now the term American doesn't leave a very good taste in my mouth, so I would guess hyphenated... Although you know that the Celts originally came from Egypt... so perhaps that hyphen I would choose wouldn't be the one you had in mind! Ha!
thank you, pete. point taken, jt. i'm now open for comment. :-)
angevoix - are you saying that since africa is the cradle of civilization that if you go back far enough, we all have some heritage there? maybe some of our ancestors just left sooner than others...
Yup -- we are all African-Americans... Just think what a different view of things we might hold if we all thought of ourselves that way...How would it change our society? Would it change our society at all? Even within the community I live in it seems that so many of my children are wrestling with identity issues. Some of my light skinned children think they are white and are called White by the other students, there are constant battles over hair... it seems endless. So I wonder if it would change things, or just cause the human community to find yet other ways to disparage and divide one another... One of the most surprising things I have ever read was an account of a concentration camp by a holocaust survivor. she stated that even within the camp there were deep divisions among the Hungarian prisoners and the Polish prisoners. i found it remarkable that even under those circumstances such prejudice could still flourish.
But just a disclaimer... even though I stated the above, I would not lay claim to the title African-American because I wouldn't feel right laying claim to the heritage of slavery and suffering that they have endured in this nation.
the middle east is part of asia, not africa.
you lost me anonymous, what are you referring to? Egypt? last time I checked that was on the dark continent...
tigres and euphrates.
iraq.
asia.
Very interesting. I meant also, but forgot to state in my last comment that I have heard it said that you can tell a lot about a person's views on race by whether they relegate Egypt to Africa or the Middle East.
I’m Black.
I struggle with being called African – American because while some say its intention is to acknowledge our roots in Africa, it seems so politically correct. It rubs me the wrong way at times, almost as if someone American decided to coin that phrase to say, “Hey, I guess it’s ok to say you are a part of this country.” I wonder if in the hub-bub of deciding what to call one another, if we don’t lose sight of the bigger picture with regard to how we should treat one another, love and respect each other.
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