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By: Martin M.

At first glance on such a topic, one would wonder, can black youth really suffer from something as common as an identity crisis?

The answer is not as clear as most people may think or expect. See, the average African American can relate to the many past years of struggle to be identified as equals and to reach the far that the African American have reached. In this sense, therefore, a shadow is cast on a very fundamental question, where do the African Americans stand as a people? What culture, norms and traditions can they call unique to them in general that is independent of tarnish by other cultures.

We also understand that the youth are the most impressionable of all people. How do they fare in this issue?

The people who struggle most to find the answer to these questions are the African American youth. They have been born and brought up in an era of technology, diversity, equality and social pressures to live appropriately. As they find themselves lost in a battle of finding their identities. A battle they did not wage…

The label African-American

 The term African American was coined as a better identity for people of African heritage, living in America.  In extension, black people from Australia, Europe, and other places, found themselves under this banner.

There are people who might argue that the use of the name African-American better describes the black people in America, as compared to Negro or other like terminologies. By the simple fact that the term is generalized and not as degrading, it has become more acceptable in the recent past.

When the US Census bureau decided to scrap off the word ‘Negro’ as a definitive term for people of color in 2014, there were those that strongly supported the idea. There were also, those that were indifferent and there were a number who felt cheated somewhat. And why is this case?

One influential writer, Terry Collier of the Washington Post once argued that the term“American of African descent” is a more accurate description of the community of color. At one time, he proposed that the US census bureau would have a better standing while using it instead of the term “African American.” He went on to further say,

Americans of African descent puts the focus on our American nationality, whereas ‘African American’ implies two nationalities, a dualism and a naturalized citizenship. Those of us who are native-born ‘African Americans’ have only one nationality. Second, ‘American of African descent’ also allows for an ethnic identification, which remains important in the United States for social and official purposes. This change would have implications for the terms for other Americans.

Identifying with the African American label

The majority of the African American youth find it hard to identify with the accepted norms and customs that have been accepted as part of the black culture. Why is this? A vast majority of black young men, women, and children have come to learn the history of the black people from second sources and third parties. They have a very shallow understanding of the African American peoples’ struggles and that is majorly from the history books, not through actual experiences.

Their identity crisis therefore, stems from a wide range of reasons. Chief among them is the history of black people in America which they cannot ideally relate to. Can the African American youth relate to that which they have had no interaction with at personal level?

Think about it.

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