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Recursion

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4. "African American" is a complex concept

Mon Jan 21, 2019, 02:24 PM

Jan 2019

You probably wouldn't call an immigrant from Morocco or Egypt "African American", even though it was literally true. (For that matter, some people do not call recent immigrants from any part of Africa "African American".)

Even more counter-intuitively, many South Asian immigrants blended into the African American community over the course of three centuries, particularly Tamils, Bengalis, and Odishans.

Who is and isn't African American, and who gets to decide that, is a fraught and complicated question. But there's nothing about Harris's background that precludes that identification. It will be interesting to see the response of the broader African American community on this question.

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58 replies

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Highlight:

Kamala Harris, African American??? [View all] Towlie Jan 2019 OP

Personally I don't think it is an important factor. redstatebluegirl Jan 2019 #1

More talking points. grumpyduck Jan 2019 #34

Well it was the same with Obama. nt UniteFightBack Jan 2019 #2

a Jamaican could be described as such treestar Jan 2019 #3

Oakland is as African American as you can get. Plus her father is... brush Jan 2019 #39

African/Asian/Caribbean/ American pangaia Jan 2019 #53

"African American" is a complex concept Recursion Jan 2019 #4

According to the Oxford Dictionary: Shell_Seas Jan 2019 #5

"I like her, but... " WeekiWater Jan 2019 #6

Whatever that means... Towlie Jan 2019 #10

It means you're quibbling. maxsolomon Jan 2019 #25

She was born in California, which last time I checked was in America. You sure you wanna do this? emulatorloo Jan 2019 #7

If she's not African-American... ADX Jan 2019 #8

She describes herself as a "proud American." She just said so 10 seconds ago. Towlie Jan 2019 #13

Nice I was going to say how about just an american. Isn't that enough? Joe941 Jan 2019 #32

Um... ADX Jan 2019 #42

Yeah, that's what she said TODAY... ADX Jan 2019 #40

Jamaican-Indian? at140 Sep 2019 #58

If she considers herself African American, marybourg Jan 2019 #9

Many people of Jamaican heritage are African American. yardwork Jan 2019 #11

She has described herself AA and Asian African American. rogue emissary Jan 2019 #12

Cool Story, Bro , ! stonecutter357 Jan 2019 #14

What A Thoughtful Way To Celebrate MLK Day! JimGinPA Jan 2019 #15

Right? SunSeeker Jan 2019 #23

You could, at least, spell her name right. blue neen Jan 2019 #16

Fixed, thanks. Towlie Jan 2019 #19

why is that a problem? bigtree Jan 2019 #17

Her dad is black, like Obama's was. SunSeeker Jan 2019 #18

Not that her ethnic hereitage is of extreme importance... MontanaMama Jan 2019 #20

Most blacks from Jamaica can be traced back slaves brought from Africa. George II Jan 2019 #21

I like her a lot. TruckFump Jan 2019 #22

Wow. Are you sure you want to leave this OP up? MrsCoffee Jan 2019 #24

Oh, cool!? mr_lebowski Jan 2019 #26

"We are All Africans" Eliot Rosewater Jan 2019 #27

Wow, this is a terrible idea. yewberry Jan 2019 #28

hmm , thread trashed. TeamPooka Jan 2019 #29

Should she have to submit to a DNA test? tenderfoot Jan 2019 #30

So she gets "ancestry swift-boated" like Elizabeth Warren? bullwinkle428 Jan 2019 #31

IKR!! InAbLuEsTaTe Jan 2019 #56

Are we going to do the is s(he) black enough - as in 2008? karynnj Jan 2019 #33

it's irrelevant but I think she often referes to herself as black american AlexSFCA Jan 2019 #35

I was just asking the same question... SAID NO ONE EVER!!! So glad you like her, ...but winstars Jan 2019 #36

"I've sent investigators to Jamaica, and you wouldn't believe oasis Jan 2019 #37

She appears to be Caucasian with olive skin coloring tavernier Jan 2019 #38

P/S.... LovingA2andMI Jan 2019 #45

So why don't you tell us who she really is since clearly MaryMagdaline Jan 2019 #41

WTH is with the ??? LovingA2andMI Jan 2019 #43

The same bullshit some tried to play with President Obama still_one Jan 2019 #44

And Obama's mother was white, yet he is still considered black, not "half-white," tblue37 Jan 2019 #46

MSM can't deal with people who don't fit into neat boxes Retrograde Jan 2019 #47

this is a serious wtf ... are you suggesting she's a liar? fishwax Jan 2019 #48

Policing Sen. Harris' racial identification is Trumpian bullshit Bryan Jan 2019 #49

Since human origins have been traced to Africa, we are at140 Jan 2019 #50

We are all from Africa. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #51

I Could Scream Me. Jan 2019 #52

+1 Jarqui Jan 2019 #54

+1 fleabiscuit Jan 2019 #55

Good question. InAbLuEsTaTe Jan 2019 #57