Hyphenated prefixes should just be ‘American’

The article in today’s AJC recognizing Amy Sherald (“Amy Sherald wins Driskell Prize,” Living & Arts, Feb. 10) was very informative, but it leaves you puzzling about the title of “African-American.” If someone is born in this country, that person should be known as an American, without any identifying prefix. If someone leaves another country and establishes citizenship in this country, that person should also be known as an American. To identify that person as “African-American” or “Irish-American” or “whatever American” is really stupid and invites controversy as to which country that person swears allegiance. Similarly, if an American takes up citizenship in another country, then he/she should be referred to according to the new country he/she has adopted. Let’s stop using dual nationalities to identify citizens of this country.

BOB GRAYSON, CUMMING

The United States has been downgraded from a “Full” to “Flawed Democracy,” joining Poland, Mongolia and Italy. The partisan divide in America is growing each day. It’s unconscionable that our national security and justice system are being used as political footballs. This threatens American democracy, emboldens America’s enemies and only furthers the political divide. The blue wave will soon be stronger than the one that brought a Democrat who crushed the last recession and started the last economic recovery, but President Donald Trump has permanently damaged our great country. The division between the left and right will just keep the pendulum swinging. Enough is enough.

LUTHER THOMPSON JR., KENNESAW

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