The Afro German Experience
Date: Saturday, 1 September 2007, at 12:40 a.m.

Here is a post [edited] I resurrected from a previous posting to the World Research Forum. I did not get an answer, so am reposting in the hopes that someone will read this and contribute to my knowledge of the issues.

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I am still, in my later years, trying to determine the correct usage of terms. My thinking has been corrupted by the many discussions/arguments I have heard in my lifetime.

For example, I know that Jewish is a religion, not a race, but many seem to lose sight of that fact. I also question whether we are mis-classfying black people who are American born-and-bred by use of the term 'African-American'.

For that matter, which peoples, in these days, are considered members of the 'black race' [certainly not an issue of skin color any longer since the racial playing field is now peopled with groups who are as 'black' as I am].

I believe that I need a better understanding of what is meant by the terms 'ethnicity', 'culture', 'heritage', 'race', and any other descriptive term used to denote an individual's origins. I have a hard time discerning which term is appropriate in the context in which it is being used. Perhaps there are some ideas and guidelines out there somewhere, but I can't lay my hands on any.

Thank you for your assistance.

Spivey