Evidence of the term "African American" dates back to 1782

[RobertZ]

Interesting, from today's NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/21/arts/use-of-african-american-dates-to-nations-early-days.html?ref=arts&_r=0

[soulster]

Apparently, the term is falling out of favor, possibly in part of the reaction to the birthers' claim that President Obama was really born in Kenya.

[Jerry Oz]

Ultimately, labels are determined by others and not ourselves. No matter what name you proudly apply to yourself, it takes one ignorant or nasty person to strip you of your humanity with one word to let the world objectify you without even knowing anything about you. Tiger Woods was so distressed over his heritage in high school that he considered himself to be 'caublinasian'. Whatever works for you, I guess. However, when he wasn't correcting people, they took one look at him and called him 'Black', 'colored', 'negro', or worse.

I'll accept 'Black' or 'African-American' since the context of my place in society is beyond my control. But it's too bad that nearly 50 years after Dr. King told the world about his dream, the only label on the U.S. Census form to describe citizens isn't 'American'.

[arr&bee]

1782? Interesting,we[blacks]were barely thought of as human in those slaveholding days.