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Re: Norman Spinrad's complete fuckmuppetry.

Yes, I commented, but I think the best commentary so far can be found in this post from author NK Jemisin, who says the things I really wish I had been smart enough to say.

Especially this:

African Americans -- those of us who are the descendants of slaves, specifically -- are not cultural blanks. We are not white people with black skin. Not even slavery could erase who and what my ancestors were. Slavery forced them to give up a lot, yes: language, many customs, overt expression of their religious beliefs, even the physical distinctions that set one African ethnic group apart from another. But they kept what they could, and passed it on to their descendants, and that legacy is neither small nor insignificant. Some of this legacy we're aware of -- our prayers, our art, our cuisine. Some of it we're rediscovering -- our contributions to civilization, our real history. Some of it we've even been magnanimous enough to share with the rest of America. Bottom line: we don't just call ourselves African American as an affectation, or a pointless point of pride. We call ourselves this because we are different.

I can't begin to express just how much is right and true and yes about this. I really can't. Just get over there and read it for yourself.

( Brief comment, not important or interesting. Just go read what NK Jemisin has to say because it's far better than anything I have to say. )