Why I am no longer an African American

Good morning Blogosphere,

I am posting an article I submitted to the American Thinker this week. After gathering thoughts about this topic, many other questions arose that I felt would inspire others to think about the roles those who supposedly represent us play in making decisions for the whole that may not represent the whole. It is time we learn to speak and think for ourselves. No one, two or three persons should be able to represent an individual. This practice of allowing those such as Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Jeremiah Wright and others represent the idealogies of all blacks have become a fatal mistake. In looking at the viewpoints and attitudes of those who came out of the radical days of the civilrights movements of the 1960's, I find myself a stranger. So I would like to hear the opinions of others who may have had similiar thought or who may began to think differently after reading my article. Here is the entire article submitted to the American Thinker:

Why I am no longer an African American

After observing the attitudes of African Americans and obtaining an understanding of the distinction of that title, I must now say that I can no longer identify myself as an African American. The classification of African American for the black population in America came as a result of the civil rights movement in the 1960. This reclassification held several proclamations and principles to which I can no longer identify with as a citizen of this country. The term African American was created to signify the black American’s love for Africa, the once held motherland for which we were all suppose to long to return too. This title holds anti-American sentiments to which I can not embrace. Thinking honestly about this I can very well say that I have never once “longed” to return to Africa. In fact, I do not think about Africa or even what it would be like to live there, as I have always been content living in the country of my birth. Africa is a beautiful country and it has a rich diversity of wonderful people. However, the classification of African America says that although I live in America my loyalties and allegiance is to the country of Africa. My loyalties and my allegiance are first to Jesus Christ who is the LORD and Savior of my life.

It is my faith that drives everything about what I believe and hold as dear. The founders of this country envisioned a nation that would secure the God-given rights of its citizens. The desired that every citizen born in this country would not suffer the oppression they endured under England’s rule, set as the backdrop for guaranteeing freedom for all Americans. They especially desired that our nation would be one ruled and protected by our Creator God. Many beg to differ but the founder’s insistence that God guide the ways of this nation is apparent in their acknowledgement of His hand in the creation of life, the rights of life and the prosperity of life. It is these principles of the American way that make me proud to just be an American. So therefore I will begin to select for my identity the title of American. The radical ideologies of blacks involved in the civil rights movements that brought forth this reclassification came through the influence of those liken to Professor Gates, the Harvard professor who became livid because he was questioned of his identity by a white police officer.

Those who embrace Professor Gates sentiments are those who today still believe that America owes the black population for the horrors of slavery. They are those that continue to stoke the fires of racial hatred toward other races and promote the continued attitude of pity within the black community. They also hold to the teachings of black liberation theology a school of thought that I never knew existed until the presidential campaign of then Senator Barak Obama. The teachings of black liberation theology run counterproductive to the American way. They also run counterproductive to the love I hold for my country. The ideologies of the African American classification are not ideologies I ever held to. In fact the term has nothing to do with people of African ancestry. My parents never taught us to hold to any allegiance to Africa. When my mother did express her feelings of pride regarding her heritage it was to the tribe of the Cherokee Indians. I began to think about how we all get to be categorized in the first place. I have not noticed on any forms that the category of American is an option to be selected. Is this division amongst us perpetrated by our very own government?

Would a white South African be classified as an African American upon obtaining American citizenship? Would a person who is white by color, and was born in any part of Africa be considered an African American after gaining citizenship in this country? They would truly be African Americans. It is obvious that the classification of African American has nothing to do with those born of African descent. It is a radical group of black American who hold to the anti-American views of those shared by Jeremiah Wright, Professor Gates, Jesse Jackson, President Obama and many more who have come out of the radical civil rights movement of the 1960’s. Because of these things I now part ways with the classification of African American because I hold no allegiance to Africa. I do not desire to return there. I hold to the rich tenants of faith that many of the founders of this country hold too. I embrace the quality of freedom to worship, freedom to have my own opinion, freedom to express my views, freedom to achieve whatever it is God has created me to achieve. That is why when the next US Census occurs I will be making a new category just for me, the classification of being an American.

I am hoping that I will find others like me as well who are willing to break ties with the things that divide us and embrace the timeless principles that has made this country the greatest nation on earth.