Poll: Which Racial Label Do You Prefer?

[inesspanni]

"The MOST vile slur ever weaponized against us."
This right here, no matter how you slice it, sling it, spell it!!!

[Dumebi]

Nigerian here, I only got referred to as black when I moved to the United States. However, even in Nigeria, very few of us identified as Nigerians. They would be Igala, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Yoruba, Hausa, or in my case Igbo. Outsiders would refer to us as Nigerians and our government would refer to us as such to promote national unity, but we still identify as our ethnic groups especially because each ethnic group has its own language and culture.

[Azulakayes]

I am an African born on the continent in East Africa. I would rather be referred to by my nationality because I believe labels based on skin colour are idiotic. I always ask myself, if I am just black/African, what else do I have in common with a West African or an American? My culture, languages, experiences and everything else is different from another person to the west of the same continent I live in, leave alone another person who lives in another continent. I know it is a predominantly American problem but anytime I travel to Europe or Asia I am labelled in the same way yet even the people in those continents refer to themselves by their nationalities not as white or 'yellow'. Racial classification is the worst social construct ever invented.

[kevinhanson]

As brother James Brown would say - "I'm black and I'm proud!" ✊✌️

[GINYH]

As a Canadian, I'm very happy we don't use the term African Canadian, Black is fine with me

[monimuppet]

When people actually ask me "what are you?" I always answer with Black. I do it because Black is hated and I agree with my mother on her reasoning, "The day we're all equal, is the day I'll worry about making you comfortable with how I identify." I also know that no matter how I view myself or what I choose to be called, I am still subject to whatever treatment the dominant culture where I am sees fit for someone that looks like me. It makes no sense for me to walk around unaware of how other cultures interpret my physical appearance and way of speech. Knowing and understanding doesn't mean I now accept it, but just like learning customs and courtesies when you travel, it can only serves me to know how I'm seen so that I can navigate spaces in a way that is safe and beneficial for me. For everyone else, I'll refer to them however they want. I will not be argued with over referring to myself as Black, therefore I will not do anyone else the disrespect of arguing with them over their identity.

[shaunicejoseph]

Honestly I choose to call myself Afro-Indigenous because we are separated by language and tribes. Not race. We need to trash this Categorization system because it leaves us no true solution to our problems. It created more than what most people will ever know.

[MsMonte]

As for myself: Proudly African-American or Black. African-American: the African part invokes the ancestors from the motherland. American because every Black person that came before me earned that title through their blood and struggles. Black simply because it's beautiful. I am always beautifully human and am grateful to the creator that I was born into this world as a woman... I enjoy reflecting the power of the divine feminine, being one of the billions on this planet that was made in the feminine image of God.

[otakukaku]

I remember when I lived and worked in Japan. My Japanese co-worker asked what was the correct term to use for... someone descended from the people of Africa who currently live in America. Was it Black or African-American? I told him that the preferred term is too individualistic to put under a single label, and there was no definitive answer that I could give him.

[ElethuDuna]

As a South African black/African (African is actually classified as a race in our country) person, I am very please with the conversation of "Coloured" people in my country. Coloured people are a very diverse group of people: 1) mixed raced people during colonisation and apartheid; 2) former Malay slaves brought to SA from and 3) modern Khoi/San people. This conversation is long overdue. I'm interested to know how they want to be identified considering their different backgrounds of how they got to be classified as Coloured.

Also, the Coloured identifying people of our country need this win, let's not take it away from them.

[meonutube]

I prefer African American, Black American or Black. The first 2 bcuz a lot of non-american blacks tend to want to shame us for our lack of connection to our past even thought it's not our fault despite that we still fight for everyone

[denyshadials]

My culture is Black, specifically the African American variety. No, I don’t consider that to be the same as American because nationally and globally, African Americans are not treated/perceived the same as other Americans. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes it’s not. Facts are facts all the same.

[beardoodle]

I can't say anything on this, because I'm white. But, I love your videos so much, and I really do appreciate everything I've learned, especially linguistically. And as far as colonialist labels, I support rejecting them, because no matter which ones you choose, they're all respresentative of an oppresion against black people that's still going to this day. So, I will happily take my cues about it from you and yours. Much love, 🥰💛

[tflowers]

I prefer Black because the actual cost of goods and services are typically higher when African American is used. It’s like organic on fruits and vegetables, doesn’t always mean much but seems to cost a lot.

[chestchirecateyes]

All I've to say is we got schooled again by the Professor!

[vividao]

I prefer Black because it's the only label that matches my complex relationship with racial identity. I have come to realize just how diverse my racial makeup is. All the while, I want to divest from the myth of race to emphasize all that diversity.

[jacquie]

Dam Sunn! I mean dayum, this is deep.

[Odin]

I've been referring to myself as Black for quite a while now instead of African-American. Not that any of this makes sense, but African-American makes even less sense. I'm as African as a mass produced dashiki.

[piasteward]

Envisioning the terms given to us by the "Protagonist" society. In the making or creating of a social construct, I personally choose "Other"! Thanks!

[laurajarrell]

Sunn, I've asked both my age, (65) and younger, people, friends, and such what they prefer. I was told black in the 90s, and 2020s! And, for natives, American Indians! So, as I have never seen a 'black' or 'white' human being, only super dark or super light, (ok, a few pinkish, lol) shades of browns, I just use whatever I'm told. 👍💙💙💙🥰✌