Sean Barrett wrote:
use. Supporters of "African-American" argue that term is better because it puts more emphasis on the culture rather than just the skin color,
Except that neither of my friends who were born in Africa and are now naturalized citizens of the United States (America) can call themselves African-American. You see, one was born in Cairo and the other in Johannesburg. "African-American" most emphatically does not mean "American from Africa" -- it is nothing more nor less than a seven-syllable synonym for "Negro," "black," and "descendant of natives of central Africa."
It also really irritates people that most would call black, but aren't of African descent, as well. (many Indonesians and those in neighboring areas fall into this category.)
-- Jake