I'm glad some other people are seeing the flaws in the term 'African American' as a synonym for black. I'm not American so thankfully I don't encounter it often, but every time I do I wonder what went through the inventor's head. I mean what about someone born to Africaaner parents in the USA? Surely he's an African American? Ditto Algerian, Morrocan Tunisian etc. Sure black isn't an accurate description of skin colour but neither is white.

Other terms that perplex me are ideas like that of a 'black culture' (or for that matter a white, asian, or whatever else culture but I don't hear these very often.) Which one? There are loads of different cultures in sub-saharan Africa. There are quite a few scattered around the carribean. I would guess that the aborigines in Australia vary culturally from area to area as well. If we're talking within a country like America or the UK people could come from any of these in addition to the more long standing post-colonial or slavery era populations.

Slightly off topic but I thought I'd voice my views while I was here.

On the subject of the IRA bombing etc being worse than 9/11, that's a tricky one. In terms of overall number of casualties etc. the IRA have done more damage, but that was over a period of time and in numerous different locations. I don't think there was a single event that was close to being as traumatic as 9/11 during the IRA campaigns. All the same, don't throw the author out because they were approaching the subject from a different angle.