If you are one of those nitpicky types who never accepted the latest in a long succession of terms by which blacks in America choose to be known (viz., African American*), you will probably get a chuckle out of the latest example of why that misnomer carries its share of baggage.
The term was used (misused, rather) by CNN’s Chris Cuomo, brother of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, to refer to one of the terrorists who were evading police in France. Cuomo has been covering events in Paris alongside Anderson Cooper.
Listen to the Mensa-like commentary below (h/t Ace of Spades):
Yes, the presumably French Algerian African-American terrorist.
Cuomo was quickly corrected by somebody in the commentary booth with active brainwaves.
Fortunately, the latest news reports indicate that the two terrorists who slaughtered 12 people at the offices of Charlie Hebdo have a new place to call home – somewhere in hell.
Watch incredible footage of hostages being rescued at the scene of a deli, where several explosions took place amidst gunfire between police officers and the terrorists.
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* The term African-American, apart from being a mouthful, has always been an inaccurate label for people of color born in America since hyphenated demonyms have historically been used to designate individuals who emigrated from the locality that precedes the hyphen to the one that follows. For example, Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Secretary of State John Kerry, was born in Mozambique — in Africa — and has since taken up residence in the United States. She is, thus, a genuine African-American. In contrast, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, who was born in Chicago, is not.
LU Staff contributed to this report.
Cross-posted at the Mental Recession
