Maybe the saddest thing with our people is we don't realize how much of our identity we have already sacrificed to assimilate and survive in white culture. It feels normal because our generation is far removed from the lives our ancestors lived, but the truth is we are still suffering serious repercussions from slavery. By calling ourselves "African American", we're speaking to the little bit of history we have left after our family lines were basically wiped from the books. This country was built on the backs of Africans, so I will proudly call myself African American as I continue to do what I can to build the dream that Africans suffered long centuries to have.