Playing with Words: Black or White

Recently, Paulo Serodio, a naturalized American citizen claimed the right to be called "African American." And subsequently was suspended from college.

Paulo was born in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique, which is in fact located in Africa, right next to South Africa. He was white, not black. Which would technically give him the right to call himself a "Mozambican American" or a "Portuguese American", or actually I believe he also has the right to call himself plain "American".

Now "African American" is another story. This is one of the terms which has been used by the US census since 1997 to refer to black people who are Americans. It does not necessarily mean they must be born in Africa, in fact almost zero percent are born in Africa, or have ever seen Africa. It generally means born in America (The United States of America), but having a racial heritage originating from the black people of Africa.

"African" when used to describe people, refers to a racial group, not a place of birth, very similar to the common usage of the terms "Asian" and "European". These terms are for people who, regardless of their birth place, have racial characteristics originating on that continent. Anyone who was actually born in either of those continents would not refer to themselves as European Americans, or Asian Americans if they were not of that race. For example, a black person born in England, emigrated to America and became an American citizen would not call themselves "European American". I suppose they might get away with calling themselves "English American", or "British American", but more likely, "African American".

"African American" is a name which evolved in the eighties by black people to describe themselves. I think Jesse Jackson may have coined the term or popularized it. It is now accepted by a large majority of White Americans, and you hardly ever hear the term negro used any more. This is simply a part of the ever evolving race relations in America.

Paulo is a immigrant who is from the privileged side of a colonial regime in Mozambique. While he was a child he was in a situation probably less enlightened than the segregationist southern USA of the fifties. Now he shows a most singular lack of respect for the more progressive race relations in his adopted country. If he could not figure out for himself that he was not "African American" according to his adopted country's definition, his professor took the time to explain the situation to him. He disregarded the advice to stop calling himself African American. He was not officially suspended for his use of the term African American, but for “conduct unbecoming” a student. I can't say any more about it because I have not seen any reports of what this conduct might have been. But Paulo is obviously not a sensitive guy culturally speaking, and he is in New Jersey. You do the math. I'm pretty sure the answer is not "because he called himself African American".

In any case, I'm sure Paulo would know enough to not put African American on an employment application or resume.

By the way, none of these racial/ethnic terms are factual, all are based on accepted usage. Canadians and Mexicans are both in fact "Americans", as we live in North America. For some reason the USA has grabbed the moniker and we let them have it. Even the South Americans and Central Americans tacitly agree to give up the name American. Canadians are not stupid enough to go to the USA and start fights about whether or not we are American. OK maybe we are stupid enough, but I have never heard about it on the news.

The racial terms "White" and "Black" are obviously also made up. Try googling an image of an albino African. Are they white or black? When I was in Sierra Leone, I never heard them called "white", although I know a black Peace Corps volunteer who was routinely called "white man" by the people in his village. Actually nobody is white according to accepted colour charts - it would be more like beige/pink. Even the shade of colour changes when exposed to the sun. This is not about facts, it's about the meaning of the words. And you would have to be very pig headed indeed to start picking fights with southerners in Alabama about whether or not they were white or pink.

I'm not going to make any suggestions to Paulo, as he has ignored good advice already. But I'm sure the African Americans are not going to let Paulo choose their name for them even if he pretends to need the term African American for himself.