The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #98442   Message #2023623
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
12-Apr-07 - 06:26 PM
Thread Name: BS: The term Afro American?
Subject: RE: BS: The term Afro American?
In Canada, Blacks seem mostly to use that term as an overall designation, but they prefer, at least in my experience, a name denoting their national origin; Somali, Nigerian, Kenyan, Ethiopian, Haitian, etc. Jamaicans are always Jamaican. As Bee notes, coloured is heard among Blacks in parts of eastern Canada where escaped slaves settled.
North Africans (Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, etc.) in many cases lack black blood; they go by their nationality but some call themselves Muslims.
In other words, Little Hawk's usage would work here. Considering the great difference in origins as well as race, 'African Canadian' would not be acceptable to most of them. Our Governor-General is Haitian-Canadian.

Some Latin-Americans who have settled here who have Negro blood mostly have Indian and white blood as well; hispanic is commonly used, since their language is Spanish mostly, but many say Mexican or whatever country of origin.

Looking at the usage in the New York Times, 'black' often appears, not capitalized (nor do they capitalize white).