Who determines what is appropriate or inappropriate? The people who the term refers to, that's who.

That's why I asked.

And I was mainly asking Americans for their opinions - but it appears that you are telling us all what terms we must use.

For do you contend that Afican Americans are not American or that Non African Americans do not have a say in what term refers to them?

And if I still prefer not to make a distinction between Americans am I wrong or being racist? Do I not have a choice?

If the concept of all this political correctness is to try to avoid giving offence by the use of the wrong term - it is an understandable aim but do you not think that telling people (who have no intention of causing offence) what terms thay have to use is probably going to prove counter-productive?

Mainly as language is naturally evolving quicker than political correctness can catch up and even those who are in favour of political correctness cannot all agree on what are the correct terms.