Thank you very much. You have no idea of how much I appreciate your analysis. I will, for the sake of preventing argument, classify myself as African American, but truth be told, I have absolutely no knowledge of African customs or history.

I have always believed I am a product of my 'Black American' heritage. I must say, however, that I meet with fierce resistance because I don't consider myself an African American.

If I listen to the various theories proposed, all people, regardless of race or ethnicity, are African because Africa was the birthplace of mankind. This is contradictory to the practice of denoting 'black Americans' as the proprietors of the term 'African American'.

I once argued that if P.W. Botha were to become a citizen of America without renouncing his African citizenship, then he would be a true 'African American'. I have since recovered from the beat down I received.

Suffice it to say that, while I am forced by convention to call myself an 'African American', my heritage dictates that I am not a member of that particular group. African immigrants who become American citizens may fit into that categorization, but I don't.

Spivey