Azizi - You said, "I hope that my comments clarify that no insult was intended."

I know that it was not intentional. I also know that many people who use terms to describe 'others' do not mean to be insulting. I am one of those who believe that visual references to groups of people are misleading and contribute to misunderstandings. I especially dislike references to 'race'.

Having said that, I understand the importance of identifying African Americans as having a different cultural background than those currently from Somalia or the Sudan or Jamaica or... The commonality of slavery created a sub-culture in America that deserves to be recognized.

In fact, it is the richness of that sub-culture that I miss the most about the U.S. For years I wondered what was missing in B.C. It took awhile for me to realize that it was the contributions of African Americans. I still miss the sounds and textures of the U.S. Its not because of the White folks, its because of the Black folks that the U.S. is so culturally rich.