African-American Like Me

An open letter to "people of color", and in fact, to ALL people:

I don’t talk much about race.

I grew up going to school with African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Asian-Americans, and white kids…

I had a great time, but there is something missing; can you guess what it is?

I, the Matt-Man, do not have a hyphen next to my group.

This issue has come to the forefront.

Since we are in an embattled Presidential election that involves a “Half-Black, Half-White, Half-Sure of What He Wants to Do…um…Black Man”, I felt the need to discuss this.

Schmoop and I were talking yesterday, and we agree…This label of “African-American” is silly.

Okay, certain folks went from being called, slave, to negro, to colored, to Afro-American, to Black, to African-American…

What the fuck do you people want to be called? What do you call yourselves?

I know, there are plenty of people with white guilt who are more than happy to say, that some of their best friends are, “African-Americans”, but c’mon, in silent social circles, what do you call yourselves?

I myself, use the term, “black”. You know why? Because you are!! Okay maybe not black, black. But I’m not white, white.

I’m more of a whiter shade of pale, while at the same time, Schmoop is nearly an alabaster color. And there are many more shades of whiteness that abound.

Yes, I know you may be brown, tan, sienna, whatever, but can’t we all just say “black“? Can’t we all just say, “white”?

Or better yet, can't we just say, "She's Lisa; he' s Greg." Without any color or ethnicity reference?

It makes life easier.

Philosophically, I am not a big, “life is black and life is white” person, but in this case, it makes sense.

Yes, we all use labels when it comes to ethnic pride, such as German-Americans, Italian-Americans, and in my case, Irish-Americans.

Our groups, however, harbor two distinct differences between us and many “African-Americans”.

First of all, we white folk, typically only refer to ourselves that way during an annual parade or a drunken festival once a year that benefits pedophile Priests and/or folks who want the trains to run on time.

Secondly, we do not claim an entire continent. I, for one, have NEVER called myself a European-American.

Claim all of Africa as your heritage, and you run the risk of being called, “uppity”.

I guess what I am saying is that Americans, of all races, creeds, and ethnicities have become uber-sensitive. It’s time to stop it.

If you want to be proud of your ethnicity, have at it. Be proud. I am of mine…

But please, you can be black, white, Oriental, Mexican, whatever…I just want you to be you.

Lose the labels…lose the assumptions…lose the stereotypes…just be you.

Cheers!!