African American
In reply to the discussion: RE The term African American [View all]The Polack MSgt
(13,192 posts)With holding on to an identity. Usually a fondly remembered grandparent or other elder would tell stories of the Old Country, and when they did you could hear the capitalization of "Old Country".
So that became part of the ID you carry with you mentally.
Even though I'm mostly Irish, my last name is Polish, hence the Polack MSgt not the Irish MSgt.
Too many white people will say " we should just be Americans, I don't identify as a European American" but if you speak to them for more than a few minutes - They do name themselves ethnically.
Most white folks can break it down to suspiciously specific percentages as well - How the hell are you 20% Lithuanian again?
Me I'm mostly one kind of White (67.5%, I can explain it) with another brand of White and just a sliver (1 Great Grandmother) of an even different kind of White.
In my swim trunks I look like an 80s refrigerator - Glare protection is recommended