by Barbara Griffin

Created on: May 21, 2008

In the beginning, being a slave in America didn't constitute being an American.
They were a people without a country, without status, without recognition as a
human being. No longer could they claim tribal birth, language and religion. The
hue of their skin signified who they were. The trauma of their destination to be
a slave, demeaned the content of their true character. Africa and all that made

them a unique people was forced out of their hearts, minds and soul.

As descendants of African slaves or as descendants of any African, we should
hold true to who we are. I think it only fair, to serve as a living memorial to
slaves and freedom fighters, who died in the struggle for rights, equality and
acceptance. Being black American is who I am in America, being African American
expresses the root of my origin as an African descendant in America, either
way, I am without a doubt an American.

Therefore, I'm ashamed to hear some descendants deny their heritage, when they
claim to be an American without the content of their roots. All races can be
identified by a color in America, yet we share a common bond as being American
citizens. A color isn't efficient enough to explain your cultural heritage.

Being a white American holds a different status, because their ancestors founded
this country. It's the beginning of their cultural roots as an independent people
who conquered countless obstacles to settle in a new world, it's a proud moment
in their history. Being a black American denotes the heritage of slavery and the
strides we have made and are in the pursuit of making, as a people continuing to
seek equality and acceptance.

I would never attempt to erase the origin of my race, my heritage, the land of
our ancestors, the birthplace of the African nation. My ancestry, not my color
constitutes the validity of who I am. Yes, I am black, a darker pigmentation that
has many shades of color, from pitch to bright yellow.

I'm sure that black people aren't the only race in the world who has darker skin.
But we are the only race who isn't ashamed to be identified as black. However, I
have an origin, a root to the land from which my ancestors derived...Africa. So,
why shouldn't being a black American constitute me as being an African American,
I fail to see how I can be one without the other.

If Africa isn't the origin of my roots, then who am I? Where did my race come
from? How can our history properly be written if we have no heritage? I for one
think that being an African American, constitutes us to feel comfortable enough
to claim ourselves as black, as we were identified in the days of our ancestors,
before Negro, colored and mulatto.

By doing so we are saying that we want to be a part of this country as a people,
yet we have no intentions of letting down our ancestors by denying who we are as
a culture estranged from our homeland, our heritage. Before we were black, or
introduced into slavery, we were African. Being black American gives claim to our
definitive roots, being African American constitutes an extension of our roots
to a far away land.

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