Poll: African American or Black?

African American is considered the socially accepted term versus using the term black. If someone is from another country, say Haiti for example and they come to the U.S. they may tell you that they are not African American but Haitian (if they came from another country they may say that they are that nationality and not African American).

Most people don't get offended by the term African American. I'm mixed myself and I wouldn't mind if most people referred to me as African American or Black. I think more often then not you would be more safe using the term African American although I'm sure that there plenty of people that are fine with being referred to as Black.

To answer your question, I would say most times African American would be fine to use.

That depends if someone has close African roots I believe African American is the proper term, but if not Black may be the proper term. I have close African roots, so African American would be appropriate to me.

Black, African American sounds like they r trying to be better then everyone else.

I say black, especially to friends who are black, they don't seem to care. I'll say african american if I'm making a point or something, but I don't do that in general discussions.

I don't have time to worry about what offends black or African-American people.

And I don't care.

Unless you are directly from africa, the correct term would be american of african decent.

And black is a stupid term, they are just shades of brown.

I say black because it makes more sense to me. In my eyes they aren't "African American" just "American." You wouldn't refer to me as "European American" I'm just white.

, I say Black.