Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by stcroixx 845 days ago
What is the preferred term in the UK - African British?
4 comments

Well if they're black and you were describing their race you'd just say they're black.

If they're black and British and you're describing their nationality you'd say they were British.

Depends. Usually black if you don't know any more. Black British if you know they are British, but a lot of black people here are born in Africa or the Caribbean, and not all will be pleased to be described as British (some will take active offense, given Britains colonial past) and will prefer you to use their country or African/Caribbean depending on context.

My ex would probably grudgingly accept black British, but would describe herself as black, Nigerian, or African, despite also having British citizenship.

If you're considering how to describe someone who is present, then presumably you have a good reason and can explain the reason and ask what they prefer. If you're describing someone by appearance, 'black' is the safest most places in the UK unless you already know what they prefer.

"Nobody" uses "African British".

That's wild you can still say black there. That's been a no go in the US for a while.
If you started calling British black people "African", it wouldn't be long before you got a punch.
Black British, because their skin is colored, and are British.

Black American, same way.

"African-" implies you were born in Africa, "-American" imples you then immigrated to America.

Elon Musk is an African-American.

13% of the US population are Black Americans.

Are extremely dark-skinned people (for example from South India) who move to england called "Black"? I've never heard that and would be surprised but i'm curious.
They would be called black socially, but would be Indian-British til they revealed their accent, I would think.
The term African-American does not imply that one was born in Africa. It refers to Americans of African ethnicity (which includes Carribean-Americans of African descent). Chris Rock, Lebron James, and Michael Jordan are all African-Americans born in the US.

Elon Musk is not considered African-American according to the popular usage of the term as he is of European descent despite being born in South Africa.