Any blacks on this forum?

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I’m not sure that this was meant to be a discussion about terms used to describe racial and ethnic origins as much as it was an earnest inquiry into whether or not there is anyone on the forum who shares the background in question with the OP (assuming that the OP is of the same background). Similar to the groups that we have here at CAF where people belong based on their heritage (e.g.- Irish, Polish, Filipino, etc.). Yes, African American or, more broadly speaking, Black is a valid designation considering the shared history of people descended from enslaved peoples and/or free immigrants of mixed ethnic origin who may not be able to describe the precise origins of their ancestors or speak a common language but do share a common history. There are African American Catholic saints (St. Josephine Bakhita) and those with causes for canonization (Fr. Augustus Tolton). There are many African Americans who are practicing Catholics. Because there are not as many as there are other ethnic groups in the typical American parish, however, one must be proactive in seeking out these histories and narratives-- hence casting a wider net and asking a question on an online forum.

I’ve interacted with people from many different backgrounds, have lived and traveled abroad, and sincerely believe that all human beings are of equal value and worth. But the fact of the matter is, as long as we live on this planet, we will have different experiences based on how we are perceived by others. Because others with similar attributes (whether saints, historical figures, etc.) to ourselves may share some of these unique challenges and experiences, learning from how they overcame those circumstances/stay strong in the face of opposition can be a source of strength and inspiration, ultimately leading to the continued edification of the Church. If this is the case, I think that, whoever we are, if we’re called to seek out others who may face similar struggles, we should do so; and if we see one of our brothers or sisters working to do this, we should be supportive in any way that we can. If you were a man and your sister wanted to reach out to other Catholic women to talk about things that she maybe cannot discuss with you, how would you respond? Would you tell her that her experiences don’t matter and that you’re the same as her or joke that you wear pink socks? Or would you do what you can to help your sister?

A final thought: Many of us fall into categories that the world does not love-- but Who loves that which is unloved by the world?

P.S.- This is a bit of an aside, but for anyone who would like to learn more about the history of African Americans in the U.S., I highly recommend the film Selma (2014). I think that the portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr.‘s faith and the manner in which he allows God to work through him in the face of oppression and violence will be of particular interest to all Christians, including Catholics. Especially if you like saints’ life-type films. 👍👍
 
To clear any doubts, I was genuinely curious about whether or not there were any black Catholics on this forum. I’m the kind of person who likes to know where people are from and their backgrounds. I do not mean anything offensive by asking so. And I am pleased to know there are blacks on this forum! God bless you all 👍
 
KendraDZ1902 said:
My husband feels that if you need to distinguish him, he would be more comfortable with African American. He won’t pitch a hissy fit over black, but doesn’t care for it. I understand, I like Caucasian better than white. He isn’t black as coal and I’m not white as a sheet of paper. 😉

Just curious, but those of African decent in Canada are they African Canadians, or what?
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I don’t know how black people feel in general (I suppose it’s probably an individual thing) but “black” is preferred over African-American by the media because not all black people are African-American. Race doesn’t come up a lot except when the police are trying to locate somebody, so I don’t mean this example as a stereotype but just as sort of a fact of life: If police are looking for a “black” guy who robbed a store, let’s say, he could be African-American, he could be Caribbean-American, he could be actually African or a black Muslim visiting from France … who knows. So the rule of thumb is to just say black.
 
KendraDZ1902 said:
I grew up in a small town that is practically 50% African American and 50% Caucasian. There was one Hispanic girl in school and I never heard her speak.
I hung out with the athletes, because I was one. That would include both races. My husband grew up in a very predominant Caucasian area and he ended up joining a “white” fraternity in college. I had more African American guests at our wedding than he did. Lol.
Yes, there were and still are people who willfully segregate themselves. There were kids who hated the fact that both races hung out, but they were the minority, in high school and college.

So, if you are a Canadian citizen, for census purposes you just say Canadian? Race isn’t put on birth certificates? Heck, our marriage license had a spot for race. We had the options of black, white, Hispanic, etc.
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That’s right - here’s the last census questions: www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb-bmdi/pub/instrument/3901_Q1_V3-eng.pdf
 
They are interested in language rights in Canada, since English, French and First Nations languages are all the official languages of Canada, so they asked about which language was spoken at home…
 
KendraDZ1902 said:
My husband feels that if you need to distinguish him, he would be more comfortable with African American. He won’t pitch a hissy fit over black, but doesn’t care for it. I understand, I like Caucasian better than white. He isn’t black as coal and I’m not white as a sheet of paper. 😉

Just curious, but those of African decent in Canada are they African Canadians, or what?
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Interesting. I like white better than caucasian because I’ve never been to Caucasia, wherever that is, that—heck, I love language, the word “white” is just a much better descriptor.

I get a kick or bit of pleasure seeing blacks in church, as well as folks from around the globe. It just reminds me of the universality of the church.
 
Captain_America said:
Interesting. I like white better than caucasian because I’ve never been to Caucasia, wherever that is, that—heck, I love language, the word “white” is just a much better descriptor.

I get a kick or bit of pleasure seeing blacks in church, as well as folks from around the globe. It just reminds me of the universality of the church.
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I’m Italian, so I don’t classify myself as “white,” but I really don’t like the word. It sounds as though “whites” are nothings. No special nationality. Albinos are white. I don’t think I would like to be called “black” either. Again, it just sounds like you’re nothing but a color. To each his own. We’re all a “color”, really, just varying shades. I haven’t seen many African Americans at church, but I don’t know if many of them are Catholic. My church is mostly filled with Hispanics.
 
Are their any Siberians from Pevek here ? They stand about 4 feet tall, Grey in color and answer to the name Rusky ?
 
I think many of us are too sensitive about being called certain names. My one daughter was called Ghost etc. when she was in junior and high school because we lived in an area of mostly Hispanics. These were her friends. Our children were raised without any prejudice towards others and it has followed them into adulthood.

We used to laugh when our “Ghost” would tell people she was Mexican as she has very blonde hair and light blue eyes.

Besides racial names many children and sometimes adults are told they are too skinny, fat or another description that does not flatter them. It appears that today many kids are bullies and I do wonder if this comes from their home life and what their parents say.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette
 
I’m a Canadian of Filipino origin, and here in the Calgary area, we generally have no trouble using easy terms like black or white; we know exactly what’s being referred to. And I’m glad because if a need arises to describe the ethnicity of a person of African ancestry, we typically don’t say “African” (which makes sense because it’s more than likely that this African-looking fellow was actually born and raised in Canada, in which case, he’s as Canadian as they come). “Black” in this case works just fine.

As for myself, I’m generally brown, but apparently, “brown” is more associated with those of Indian origin (and I mean India, not First Nations), and even the Indian guys good-naturedly told me to my face when I tried to insinuate myself as brown, "“You’re not brown! We are!” So now, I don’t know what I am. I guess tan, because I’m obviously not white either.
 
BernadetteM said:
I think many of us are too sensitive about being called certain names. My one daughter was called Ghost etc. when she was in junior and high school because we lived in an area of mostly Hispanics. These were her friends. Our children were raised without any prejudice towards others and it has followed them into adulthood.

We used to laugh when our “Ghost” would tell people she was Mexican as she has very blonde hair and light blue eyes.

Besides racial names many children and sometimes adults are told they are too skinny, fat or another description that does not flatter them. It appears that today many kids are bullies and I do wonder if this comes from their home life and what their parents say.
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You are so right. Insults are inevitable, but offense is optional. 🙂

Honestly I don’t care what someone calls me, for my own ego. They call me things to convey ideas they want to convey. And I am either important enough, or annoying enough, or defective enough, or whatever, that they take precious moments of their lives to call me something. Then as long as they aren’t hurting me or my homies or taking or wrecking our stuff or reducing freedoms, then let them say what comes to their desire. I have the option of not listening, but if it’s personal against me I like to let them have me attention all the way, as far as I know how to listen and understand.

I want to hear what they are saying. I want to watch black and white comedians both, making fun of both n-ers, and “cracker” and whatever else there is to be called.

None of it hurts, unless I have an ego that hadn’t died. And according to Jesus’s three step formula, I have to die to my (egoic false) self first, THEN I can take up my cross and follow Him.

I cannot choose whether others insult me either intentionally or indirectly somehow, but I can choose whether I spend my life energy running “offended” routines that do no good for my immune systems – physical, mental, emotional, they all work together – or whether I “turn the other cheek” and let them go and have their say. When someone insults me, I want to know the depth of it – how they really felt and what it may have triggered in their memory that was even worse and what exactly I said that made the difference etc. These are the “cheat sheets” for a Better Me of tomorrow. :cool:

Because what is more rewarding? To be understood, or to understand? :confused:

I say they both are important; I try to get better at both.

To someone who talks in a way that I don’t understand: let it be understood that I understand you have your style of communicating. If you either learn my language, or help me understand yours, then we can communicate. If you really do wish to hurt my feelings, then please go for it, because if you do, you do me the favor of finding another weakness and “vaccinating” me against it. Thus I become stronger, and maybe it will do you good for me to “feel your pain” a little. 👍

MS
 
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