African American or black—what's the right term to use?

Listening to Donald Trump this campaign season has been an education on how to not talk about race. Something always feels a bit off when Trump says, “the African Americans" or "the blacks."

So what is the right way to use those terms? And when do you use "black" instead of "African American"? Watch our video for some historical context and to find out: black or African American?

[bmcc]

I have no idea what to say cause if you say something wrong you get slammed

[shonan]

Why do they call us African Americans you don't have to be from Africa to be black

[kingandqueen]

I'll stick to human being, I'll label myself as God intended it to be.

[Iceman-xejo]

If you are black born in America you are NOT African American you are American. I have German/Irish decent but I am not German or Irish. I am American. My wife’s parents are from the Philippines and are Philippine Americans but my wife is from America. She is American not Philippine American.

[freedompeace]

Black people is not black. We are brownskin people

[Trouble]

Neither because they both put you in stateless person(s) category.

[criscerv]

Just say black, not everyone is African

[flatearth]

IM A WHITE AFRICAN AMERICAN ! NOT ALL ARE BLACK !!

[cameronpulliam]

Deuteronomy 28:37
And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee

[drqedar]

Indigenous Americans
"Aboriginals "

[lucyfannn]

I have Native American European and African within me so I like the term brown

[rj]

I'm black, but I'm not African-American.

[kaylapatton]

my cousins, who's mother is from Nigeria, are African Americans, they know what part of Africa they're from. Their moms people were born in Africa and came to America. Their father, who is my uncle, wasn't born in Africa, his mother, grandma, great grandma, basically all his family were born here in the united states. so to me it makes more sense that we would be just black Americans.

[mrenee]

I'm not no where near black maybe a Carmel brown sugar. But no where near black!
The spirit of a lot of Caucasians spirit is dark. They should be called black!

[thereccher]

If I'm referring to your race, I'll call you black. Just as I would call a Canadian, English, African, French or Latino black person, just black. If I'm referring to your nationality, I'll just call you where you were raised. I don't call black people where I live "Africa-Canadian" because they have never seen Africa. They're not African, they're Canadians who are black.

[MSMETALBABY]

I'm African American. My roots are African and I could never forget that. My nationality and upbringing is American.

[eternalnut]

Honestly, I think the term "black" sounds kind of racist, because it's a dramatic stereotype of what someone's skin color is. People who have dark brownish skin are called the darkest color, and people with bright peach skin are called the brightest color. Another thing I see wrong with these terms is that it's not politically correct (nowadays) to call certain Asian groups "yellow" and Hispanic groups "brown", which I agree with, but I feel the same towards "black" and "white". These term black also has a racist backgrounds, since the Africans were made to have pitch black skin in the old racist movies, plays and shows, and so did the other races have other drastic colors (yellow and brown to say some). It also just sounds weird to call a whole race a color instead of calling them something related to their country/continent, like "Chinese" and "Black" having the same descriptive meaning doesn't make any sense.

I'm not really offended when people say these terms, but they do sound kind of strange and personally I'm not comfortable saying them myself.

[mrexclusive]

Hebrews" children of the most high.

[jarvinator]

One of my favourite moments regarding this was when an American journalist called a black British athlete "African American" and he pointed out he was neither African nor American and the journalist looked really awkward.

[maymonjax]

Im indigenous black is a color african american is a misnomer, people need to read