[bohtieque]

My family is beginning to ask some simple questions before the adoption of our child, and I want to make sure they and I have the best information possible. This is simple stuff that I hope you can give me your views on. I'm listing the labels (I sure wish we didn't NEED to use them, but if I have to, I might as well use them appropriately):

African American: Formal term that can be used in almost all situations. I've been using this one with my colleagues, mostly. It seems like this is a label used to show some respect?

Black: Informal, to be used in more casual situations most often. Truthfully, I feel comfortable with this label--but mostly because I'd rather be called white than Caucasian. I've been sticking more with AA, though, because I know it's widely accepted.

Black American: I've seen this one pop up, but I haven't really heard it--is there a movement to use this one in place of African American? It seems like it would be more fitting, since many people who seem to fit under the AA label don't trace their ancestry back to Africa. I kind of like this one, but I don't know when to use it.

What do you think?

Julie