Azizi, I think you *do* understand what I was driving at. For example, I've heard people of (distant) African descent and (more recent) Jamaican descent who live in the UK described as "African-American." How crazy is that? People are so scared of causing offense that logic is forgotten and clear communication takes a back seat to political correctness.

I definitely agree with you that "mixed-race" is a confusing and inaccurate category at this late date. There are very few "black" Americans who do *not* have some "white" ancestry, for a number of different reasons, and this is an important factor in US social history. While it is obviously important and positive for African-Americans to take pride in their African heritage, I believe that it is unfortunate and potentially harmful for the same people to deny and ignore the European component of what they are.

Anything that helps us all to understand that we are brothers and sisters, and that there is but one race, the human race, should be emphasized. Unfortunately, that isn't always the case.

One thing I do *not* understand is how and why the term "Afro-American" fell into disfavor so suddenly, in favor of the only-slightly-different "African-American." I remember when black people were glad to buy and read, for example, the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper, and no one was offended. Also, the terms "Afro-Cuban" and "Afro-Caribbean" seem to be inoffensive, while "Afro-American" recently became so "incorrect."

Hey, I'm glad to comply, and I certainly mean no offence. I just think some developments are so silly that *someone* needs to comment.

By the way, like many (if not most) Americans of European/Caucasian descent, I have *no* known Anglo-Saxon forebearers; they're all Irish and Alsatian. In many cases, during many historical eras, my people were enemies and/or victims of the English. But it would be poor form if I were to complain about being classified as "Anglo," now, wouldn't it? And it would be flat-out ignorant if I were to hold a grudge of any kind, at this late date, against Americans of English descent or, for that matter, against English people.