"African-American" is a term that was coined, promoted and made mainstream by black American leaders in the 1970's. The term is of their own making. By refusing to use they word they chose for themselves, you are in effect denying their right to self-determination and that is racist. Why should they have to conform to your view of what is appropriate terminology to describe themselves? If you do not think of yourself as racist, you might want to re-evaluate your refusal to use the term.

Its important to note that I don't think refusing to use the term makes you a horrible racist, but it doesn't exactly make you a totally awesome, "color-blind", good dude who chooses his friends and allies solely on their merit as people, either. You're putting up an arbitrary, unnecessary barrier to friendship. Why is that?

TLDR - Are you mad at your grandfather because he makes you call him "Grandpa"? Do you refuse to call your mother "Mom"? Do you call your friend "Dennis" by the name of Roger because you think Dennis is ridiculous?

(edited) - Correction - "African-American" started getting popularized in the late 1980's, not the 70's as I say above.

Edited again - hatmadeofass said in his post "I refuse to say African-American". That's racist plain as day. If some group (not all blacks in America obviously) want you to use a term, why the hell would you REFUSE to use it. That's just stupid. And racist.

My post doesn't say ANYTHING at all that suggests that the term black is bad, so test_alpha's comment is a little bizarre even without the homoerotic overtones. I stick by what I above. REFUSING to use the term African-American is racist.