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I was rather taken aback by the photo on the Jan. 16 home page of the Rocky Mountain News Web site. It showed a horseback rider at the stock show carrying an “African-American flag.”
Excuse my ignorance and lack of political correctness, but just what the heck is an “African-American flag”?
Funny, I thought we were all Americans, with just one flag.
Mark Lieberman
Littleton

READER COMMENTS

What's the matter Mark? Little intimidated by diversity? I love how you conservatives get worked up over any symbol other than your flag. But of course, you likely don't want any of those immigrants carrying your American flag either.

Which is it?

Mike, I appreciate diversity and don't mind anyone carrying the American flag. What the picture showed, however, was NOT the American flag, and that is what I have a problem with.
And no, I am pretty far from conservative

Why isn't the red, white, and blue American Flag adequate for blacks too? It was and has been adequate for every other minority and ethnic group that has come to America - except maybe the Mexicans. What country did that awful black and green abomination represent? Is there a separate "black" country that I am not aware of? As I have always said, until ALL the people in America drop the hyphens from the description of their ethnic background, they are not Americans. They are something else, but not Americans. And now on top of being some hybrid American, they want a separate flag too. How nice. Take a look around around the globe and tell me what this type of tribalism has wrought wherever it is practiced? What has made America great is the fact that we have not been tribal. We have all been Americans first, with a respect for our individual heritage. That flag was an insult. I would like to hear how the defenders of that flag would respond to the Confederate Stars and Bars? I would bet not so open mindedly.

Wow, Michael. I hope you feel better now that you have gotten that out of your system. A few points.

First, your comment that the American Flag "was and has been adequate for every other minority and ethnic group..." is just plain wrong. Remember those immigrants from places such as Italy and Ireland? Yea, they tend to show just a bit of pride in their homeland by waving flags other than Old Glory. Or did you forget that as you sat passed out in the bar all dressed in green on St. Patty's day?

Second, the ancestors of African-Americans did not just "come" to America, they were brought here on things called slave ships from many different countries. If they want to wave a flag that they feel represents them, when they don't really have a homeland to celebrate, who are you to criticize?

Finally, I notice the only two groups you call out are Mexicans and African-Americans. Anyone else see a trend? Perhaps you should retire Old Glory and hang the Stars and Bars proudly.

Karl - Blacks (I cannot bring myself to use the hyphenated term) DO have a homeland to celebrate...America! Just like the rest of us.

Mark - Are you telling me you take no pride in wherever your ancestors immigrated from? Why should African-Americans be deprived of the the same pride?

Karl, it is not the same thing. There is nothing wrong with taking pride in wherever you and your ancestors came from. So if Blacks want to wave the flag of Kenya or Somalia or wherever (just like the Irish do on St. Pats day, Italians on Columbus Day, etc.) then that's ok. The problem is that they have bastardized the American flag. You don't see any other ethnic group (except for Hispanics) doing that.

Furthermore, what other country in the world (with the exception of French-Canadiens in Canada) has hyphenated citizens? Michael is right...it only leads to divisiveness.

Mark - What other country has 8 percent (roughly) of its population comprised by descendants of slaves? Many African-Americans do not know where their ancestors came from, so picking a random African country would be pointless.

The American flag is a symbol of our country and its history. Put in simple terms, it represents the people who live in our country and THEIR history. If African-Americans feel the need to make it their own by altering it in a non-offensive way so that it more adequately represents them and their history who cares?

Every immigrant group has clung onto the remnants of the country they emigrated from Part of the reasons for doing so is the xenophobia consistently exhibited by those already living here.

Karl, if I remember my history correctly, Jamaica and Haiti have much larger populations descended from slaves. Furthermore, Australia is almost entirely populated with descendants of prisoners, and you don't see any of them waving any other flag. There is nothing whatsoever wrong with clinging "...onto the remnants of the country they emigrated from." America is what it is because of our diversity, but more importantly, because of our unity. We are all Americans.
Do you happen to remember Ken Hamblin, conservative Black writer who used to write a weekly column in the Denver Post? I'll never forget the title of one of his columns a few years back: "African, American...Pick One." That about sums it up for me.

Karl, if I remember my history correctly, Jamaica and Haiti are comprised of even larger percentages of the population descended from slaves. And in Australia, most of the population is descended from prisoners! You don't see any of these folks waving other flags.
America is what it is today because of our diversity, but more importantly, because of our unity. We are all Americans!
Do you happen to remember Ken Hamblin, conservative Black writer who used to write a weekly column in the other newspaper? I'll never forget the title of one of his columns a few years back: "African, American...Pick One"
That about sums it up for me.

Mark,

If we are going to draw distinctions:

Prisoners are not slaves. Furthermore, Australia was populated with British prisoners in a country where the dominant culture was British (read white).

Jamaica and Haiti may have large populations derived from slaves; however, their dominant cultures are produced by that same population. Hence when they wave the Jamaican or Haitian flag, they wave the flag that best represents them.

In the US, the dominant culture is white, specifically ancestors of European whites, while the culture derived from slaves is of course not. Therefore, if they feel the need to differentiate themselves from the dominant culture by calling themselves African Americans or by flying a modification of the US flag that best represents them, more power to them.

I think their decision is more a celebration of this country than an affront to it. As a result, I see no harm in it.

That last one was Karl.

Karl, you know, it is interesting that Black Americans can probably trace their roots in this country back farther than most White Americans.

In any event, I guess we're just gonna have to agree to disagree on this one.

Agreed. Thanks for the civil discourse - a rarity on these boards.

Likewise.

Damn, it quite vociferous in here!! Good comments all. I have a few questions: Why is the current PC descriptor for blacks in America - African-Americans - based on a geographical reference, BUT whites are still called "whites" - a skin color reference?? To be consistent, should not most/all "whites" be referred to as "European-Americans"?? Also, why is it ok to use the term "people of color" but not "colored people"?? Please explain the difference to me. Are they not exactly the same?

This is the most talked about subject in American history, Racism. When will it ever stop? I would love to go anywhere in this country and not see color, just beauty. Our outward bodies may vary from race to race and our inward thinking may be different throughout cultural backgrounds. Listen and learn people, we as a whole are one in the same. We breathe the same air and require the same water and nourishment for our daily survival, of course we have individual likes and dislikes. If we would all stop hating and start helping one another to understand things we don't, won't, or can't except in life, we would see a difference in ourselves first and then a change in others as we become more tolerant of things that appear strange to us, yet normal to others. As a white man or woman, ask yourself would you marry a black person or be okay with your child in doing so. If you are Hispanic, would it be okay to give into speaking English only, simply because in the United States this is our language and you chose to come here of your own free will. As a Black person, when a person of another race calls you the N word, after you have used it in front of them all day and night, do you get upset and why? For all the other races, why not try to get to know the others, quit acting like you still live in Japan,China,Taiwan,Africa or wherever you can from. Let us all cut out the crap and be for real with ourselves. No one is better or worst than anyone. The real enemy of oneself is oneself. If I want to wear a flag or waive a flag, it shouldn't make anyone a damn bit of difference as long as they are not forcing me to do something I don't want to do. There our so many ignorant,stupid,silly and down right foolish people of all races, with and without money,property,fame or good fortune. So let's all stop waiving the patriotic flag,red,white and blue or any other color, until we truly believe in what each of them stands for. Better yet, let's vote on a flag we all can be proud of, " The United Races Of America Flag " and it should be " Black,White,Yellow,Brown, and any shade in between. Then it would truly be a flag for all.

D.J. Chazz!

"Don't Hate Educate"

Mark, the real difference between People of Color and Colored People, is that White people gave them that name. They decided to change it to be less offensive, or course you already new that! I'm sure you know why they don't like the " N " either. Like I said before in my post. Quit asking silly questions and waiting for stupid answers, people. And by the way, maybe eventually they will stop calling themselvs the " N " word or at least don't get upset with others for using it. " Not in this lifetime ". Just like Racism won't go away.

D.J. Chazz!

" Don't Hate Educate "

Michael,
the reason that we talk about "African-Americans" but not "European-Americans" is that us "European-Americans" got to set the rules.

We screw them on healthcare, education, opportunity, and then our system victimises them at the same time that we pretend to be bending over backwards for them.

It's a nice trick if you can pull it off.

So that's why bud, that's why

Bozo, if that's true, then why don't Black Canadians refer to themselves as African-Canadian, or why don't Blacks in England refer to themselves as African-English? No, only in America, the land of political correctness run rampant.

Mark, I think you answered your own question.
The UK and Canada have race-relations problems to be sure, but nothing like the US.
So maybe it's something about the US?

As far as being PC, well the US is hardly more PC than either Canada or the UK, quite the opposite.

Hmm,

Using the above logic of some the above posters it should be fine for certain "whites" to fly the Confederate flag or perhaps the Klu Klux Klan falg at the next rodeo. Something to think about.

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