‘Black Is a Race’: Smokey Robinson Draws Mixed Reactions After Saying He ‘Resents’ Being Called ‘African American’

Atlanta Black Star

The original performance of "A Black American" by Smokey Robinson during the season finale of "Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry" sparked a discussion about racial identity.

During a virtual appearance on The View last month, the legendary soul singer-songwriter opened up about the poem after it was turned into an animation by a teacher trying to educate his students about the Black experience during Black History Month. When asked what being Black American means to him, the singer admitted that he resented being labeled African American.

It's a comment, along with others in the same vein, that has caught the attention of social media users, who are posting about it online weeks after Robinson's interview.

I don't like being called African American because Black people have contributed so much to the development of the United States of America.

I consider myself to be a Black American, and I enjoy being called Black, because Black has been negativized as a color down throughout history. It spread to the Black people. The icon said that calling each other Black was a sign of a fight.

I resent being called African American because Black people have contributed so much to the development of the United States of America, he said.

The wonderful Black American who served in the armed forces gave their lives in all the wars. They didn't do that for Timbuktu or Capetown. They did that for several states. Okay? Robinson noted that their contributions should be compared to their white peers.

Robinson's philosophy is drawing mixed reactions online, including one user who wrote, "Smokey Robinson is on the internet tell people to drop the African and just call him." He never went to Africa. What are the stages of dementia?

Smokey Robinson… a man born in the 1940’s is on the internet tellin people to drop the African and just call him Black American. Cause he never been to Africa. What’s the stages of Dementia?

— Life Dutchee (@LifeDutchee) March 8, 2022

I knew that Smokey Robinson was an idiot when he threw us under the bus for Lopez. I said a few days ago that black is a race and African American is an ethnicity.

I knew Smokey Robinson was an idiot after he threw us under the bus for Jennifer Lopez but this latest stunt takes the cake.

As I said mere days ago, the facts that ‘Black is a race’ and ‘African American is an ethnicity’ really whoops y’all’s asses.