Re “A new moniker?” Dec. 24-27 edition:

The writer suggests that it would be more accurate to say American Africans rather than African-Americans. I couldn’t disagree more.

First, he is comparing Africa, a continent, to Italy, a country. His comparison should have been African-Americans to European Americans. Unfortunately, having been stripped of their identity during slave auctions, many African-Americans do not know from which country in Africa their ancestors came.

Secondly, we are all Americans, which is a noun. The adjective “African” or “Italian” simply modifies or further describes an American of a particular descent. To say “American Africans”

would suggest that African-Americans who are born in this country are really Africans. African-Americans are not Africans, but Americans of African ancestry or lineage. His suggestion would better describe “Americans” seeking African citizenship. The entire construction breaks down when we compare ethnicity or ancestry with country of birth. Therefore, we have persons of European ancestry, born in Africa, but immigrating to the United States, calling themselves “African-Americans.” Other aspects of this are black people born in the Caribbean Islands and black Hispanics.

Some of us prefer the term “black” rather than African- American. But how black must one be to qualify? We have

mulattos passing as white, and white people who don’t know that they have black blood.

Hopefully, someday we will get to the point where we simply call all citizens of this country “Americans.” This would obviate the need to call American Indians “Native Americans.” After all, it is generally accepted that we all come from a common ancestry.

So far, the only “Americans” who apparently see no need to further identify themselves are “Americans” of English heritage.

BEN HAWKINS

Richmond