Bren, I 'm an "old-head" and being "Black with a capital B" is how I identify, given the times in which I grew up. James Brown was my beacon with his, "Say it Loud, I'm Back and I'm Proud."

I am a Black American descendant of enslaved Africans (ADOS), not African-American. Having been here for going on 66 seasons, I know that I was born and raised in this country and have had experiences unique to my being my Black self here -- from Brown v. Board of Education, through the Civil Right Act of 1964; the death of MLK and beyond. I appreciate your respect, DESPITE your struggle with the terms (Hell, even WE struggle with the terms depending on when we were born!).

Keep writing, I'll keep reading -- cuz you're trying to understand and are acknowledging what you've learned!