L.A. Clippers Owner's Racist Imperative

The term African American is just plain dumb. People of different colors get born in Africa, and if one of them moved to America THEY would be an African American. Considering not everyone from Africa is black, the idea of using African American to describe someone who is black REGARDLESS of them having any real connection to Africa in their life is just dumb in my mind.

I work with a good number of black people and they use the term black, not African American.

I really do not see how someones color is somehow insulting...

A white immigrant from Africa would not be an African-American, they would be a white American from Africa. It's a labeling system, it's not perfect especially seeing as how race is constantly in flux. Really, all you're doing here is arguing semantics and nit-picking. For one, the use of the term gives African-Americans a cultural identity that isn't dependent on the color of their skin. That's an issue because previously the term "black" had taken on a pejorative connotation and was used pretty much ubiquitously applied to them. Besides, when you really think about it they're the only ethnic group where referring to them by skin color is even remotely accepted. You wouldn't dare call an Asian person yellow or an Indian person brown, so why is it all of the sudden acceptable with African-Americans?

And the reality is that, despite that, it has become socially acceptable to use the term "black" in certain contexts. No one is forcing you to expunge the word from your commonly used vocabulary, despite the double-standard that creates when compared to other ethnicities. On the contrary, you seem to be getting upset that OTHER people use the term African-American because it has a certain connotation for them. Like it or not, it IS descriptive (American citizens descended from African ancestors) and it IS indicative of the relationship many black American have to Africa (at the very least they all have the same sort of cultural connection that every other ethnicity has to the continent their ancestors emigrated from, some of them maintain a deeper connection than that, AND many would like to see a greater awareness of African culture within their own communities).

Overblown and stupid.. We have people playing in major league sports who have been convicted with major felonies.. Though what the guy said is awful, I find this fvcking awful that this of all things has led to banning for life.... Which basically sets the precedent that you can assault a police officer, torture dogs, get caught with large quantities of illicit drugs, sexually assault numerous people, and still be allowed to play or be involved with the league.. Say something racist in a private call that was recorded? Life time ban...

A white immigrant from Africa would not be an African-American, they would be a white American from Africa. It's a labeling system, it's not perfect especially seeing as how race is constantly in flux. Really, all you're doing here is arguing semantics and nit-picking. For one, the use of the term gives African-Americans a cultural identity that isn't dependent on the color of their skin. That's an issue because previously the term "black" had taken on a pejorative connotation and was used pretty much ubiquitously applied to them. Besides, when you really think about it they're the only ethnic group where referring to them by skin color is even remotely accepted. You wouldn't dare call an Asian person yellow or an Indian person brown, so why is it all of the sudden acceptable with African-Americans?

And the reality is that, despite that, it has become socially acceptable to use the term "black" in certain contexts. No one is forcing you to expunge the word from your commonly used vocabulary, despite the double-standard that creates when compared to other ethnicities. On the contrary, you seem to be getting upset that OTHER people use the term African-American because it has a certain connotation for them. Like it or not, it IS descriptive (American citizens descended from African ancestors) and it IS indicative of the relationship many black American have to Africa (at the very least they all have the same sort of cultural connection that every other ethnicity has to the continent their ancestors emigrated from, some of them maintain a deeper connection than that, AND many would like to see a greater awareness of African culture within their own communities).

@sSubZerOo: Imagine the public and league outcry if the punishment was any less though. I don't think the NBA really had any other choice besides doing something this drastic.

I find it disgusting that the things you mentioned happen and yet only get punished with a slap on the wrist. About 5-6 years ago at Michigan State, where I went to school, 16 players from the football team went into a frat fundraising event at a dorm hall all dressed in black and beat the sh1t out of many of the frat members. Only a couple went to jail and most of them were just suspended, including a few of their star players. It's a fvcking disgrace.

Overblown and stupid.. We have people playing in major league sports who have been convicted with major felonies.. Though what the guy said is awful, I find this fvcking awful that this of all things has led to banning for life.... Which basically sets the precedent that you can assault a police officer, torture dogs, get caught with large quantities of illicit drugs, sexually assault numerous people, and still be allowed to play or be involved with the league.. Say something racist in a private call that was recorded? Life time ban...

so somebody can get fired for being racist but not raping people?

when did being racist become worse than raping people?