African-American

I annoy a lot of people because I am often very frank about things that I don't like. I don't like a lot of things, many of them trivial to most people--maybe I am too picky or obsessive. But my dislikes are rational--I can prove their merit. I don't just dislike something for the sake of disliking it (except for subjective things like aversions to certain tastes--I hate spicy food--or artistic styles, which I try to clearly label as baseless personal preference.) An example:

I don't like the term "African-American." Much in the same way I don't like the term "Asian-American," or "European-American," and so on. These are terms that are generally regarded as "politically correct," which in itself is a principle that I think is downright ridiculous. I choose "African-American" specifically because it is a term that is used heavily in the United States, by politicians, teachers, students, and just about everyone--in fact, you can major in African-American Studies to get a Bachelor of the Arts. But I don't like the word one bit. Not because I don't like "African-Americans," but because when you really analyze the word (or phrase or whatever it is,) it doesn't make any sense. Firstly, the vast majority of "African-Americans" are not African. Sure, their ancestry may be African (or in many cases partially African or "mulatto" to use an archaic and unfriendly term,) but I have a heavy German ancestry and nobody calls me "German-American" or the more general "European-American." They assume that I have European ancestry, because I'm white. They see a man who is obviously of Asian descent, but do not need to call him "Asian-American" because it is stupidly blatant. Why is this obvious fact not assumed for black people--that they have some black African ancestry (which may not even be the majority of their phenotype?) "African-American" is unnecessarily and falsely used.

The second reason I take issue with "African-American" as it is used by society is that it is a label. Certainly in studying black history in America it would be necessary to consider aspects of developing black American culture to have African roots or nuances (even some modern cultural aspects have African influence.) But now, for those whose families have been in the United States for generations, sometimes for untraceable lengths of time--the label isn't really that correct. They are American. They are black, but completely American regardless. "American" itself denotes the presence of blended culture--there is no "original" American culture that blended with an "original" African culture to create a third, clearly defined culture. "American" is one term to define many cultures--like how "trees" is the umbrella term to a huge number of species and cross-breeds. Aside from those who have recently moved to the U.S. from Africa, (who would probably be called "African" rather than "African-American" anyway,) black people in this country are simply American.

One final reason I don't like "African-American" is that it is seven syllables long, and it takes longer to say than "black." For the record, I don't even like the use of the terms "white" and "black" because they categorize. From the age that I first discovered the term "black," I wondered why on Earth anyone would say that because "black" people aren't black, they're more brown; brown is also a softer word that doesn't sound as abrupt and oppressive. Also, where is the line between "black" and "white?" I say it's too much of a continuum for it to be fair to make it a solid categorization. No, I don't like labels at all, but for the sake of description we have to use them. In a true egalitarian society, which may be possible but will take centuries to achieve, the terms "black" and white" wouldn't need to be used much. People are people.

Current Mood: N/A

Listening To: N/A

No Change

I was walking across the street to get to Diridon Station in downtown San Jose. A black guy approached me when I got to the corner and said something that I couldn't quite make out. Now, on the way to the station I had already been approached by three homeless men (two of whom were black and yes, this is relevant) who had asked if I had any spare change on me. I didn't, nor did I have any cash. Continuing--I assumed that this fourth guy was also requesting change, given that we were in a somewhat seedy area and he appeared to be waiting on the corner for an opportunity to ask someone. I said, "Sorry man but I don't have any change on me--I'd give you some if I..." and then he cut me off. "No no no!" he quickly said, "I'm not asking for change dude, I come in peace. I thought you were my friend Scott, you look just like him." I found this hard to believe at first because I was wearing bright red pants and a neon T-shirt, not your average combination. It occurred to me at that moment though that he was wearing a nice polo shirt, more expensive than the one I had on, and the hobo-looking backpack he had slung over his shoulder was a "distressed" pattern with the Oakley logo on it. I apologized profusely for assuming he wanted change and talked to him for a few minutes before bidding him good day and finishing my walk to the train station.

I realized as soon as I walked away that I had probably assumed he wanted change because he looked similar to others who have approached me for the same reason--specifically because he was black. I did not consciously think "this guy is black, he must want money," because that would be what society refers to as "racist." Bur unconscious racism is not better--that is something that social evolution has produced. This is what society has done. Exclusivity is the enemy--BET, the not-so-suble white, blonde-haired blue-eyed Fox news crew--exclusivity on either side is anti-progressive. It establishes clear separations, unconsciously as well as overtly. It is disgusting.

In death there is no race. There is no separation of ethnicity, nor sexuality, nor religious ideas, nor even separation of genus and species. Why do we force such constraints and separations upon ourselves in life?



Current Mood: Embarrassed
Listening To: N/A

Processed Nature

Nature is all around us. We can immerse ourselves in nature in city parks as well as national parks. The difference is that the nature in cities is processed. It is a pet nature, a wolf of the wild tamed to the equivalent of the tamed dogs we take for walks in this domesticated nature. It is still real, and beautiful, as nature is, but it is at least partially processed. It is set up, designed for our desires to experience nature while retaining our industrialized ways. Much in the manner that canned cheese spray is cheese, but isn't really cheese. The manufactured feel is perceivable. Perhaps it is something to lament, the detachment from a true, wild nature. But perhaps our desire to hold on to nature in the form of parks and twiggy trees stuck in parking lots offers at least a little hope that we aren't completely disillusioned.

Current Mood: Inquizzitive

Listening To: "Kathy's Song" by Eva Cassidy

So Little Time

We may diversify our life experience portfolios but really we only follow one path. Some change careers, but only once or twice. We only have so much time. They say you can do anything, but you cannot do everything. That is the disclaimer to the encouragement. I want to win the Superbowl as a quarterback. I want to drive through the finish as a winner at Le Mans. I want to be a rock and roll star. So many things I can never be, so many things I can never do. These things take a lifetime of effort and focus, entities that are as finite as our time in this world. There are so many parts of history that I wish I could have been a part of. Things that have happened that I would want to have witnessed. You are in one place at one time. No more.

Current Mood: Calm

Listening To: "Off I Go" by Greg Laswell