greatest african american chess player

Who is the greatest black chess player of all time?

I couldn't even name a single black player, which got me thinking to this question.

Maurice Ahsley,Only famous Black player I can think of!

Maurice Ashley.. Stephen Muhammad and Emory Tate are also quite strong.

For African Americans, Maurice Ashley is the gold standard right now. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Ashley

Hmmm, are Black people in Africa also African American? What do they become when they emigrate to Europe, or Australia, or China.....

Sorry, but that term really bugs me.....

Not sure how many Black GM's there are, but for sure there are a few very strong players in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

I think I heard Robert (??) Gwaza made GM, he came down to South Africa to raid local tournaments a few years ago.

[edit] Sorry Robert, Gwaze, not Gwaza and yes, he made GM.

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/sport/sports-news/31222/gwaze-now-a-grandmaster.html

Given that the very notion of "race" has no scientific basis and is rooted not in biology but in social constructs stemming from an opressive past, at least "African-American" is meaningfully descriptive of something (for those who have a sense of their ancestory).
 

Well, I have a sense of my ancestry. Many generations of my ancestors were born and bred in Africa. I see myself as African, even though I'm not Black. Can I come to America and be an African American, seeing as how race does not come into it?

You can call yourself whatever you want. 

Oh, that's kinda' silly.  Of course "race" is rooted in biology.

In before the lock

+1

There is no genetic basis for the concept of race. It is a social construct. There is a genetic basis for geographical phenotype. 

http://harvardmagazine.com/2008/05/race-in-a-genetic-world-html 

"People of Color" is a even bigger genus.  Haven't heard that one lately.

"Interracial" marriages are the only long-term cure.  Once everyone's genes are thoroughly mixed up, then you won't be able to tell the players apart, without a scorecard.  Please excuse the baseball metaphor.  

Emory Tate is a KILLER.  Armed Forces Chess Champion, multiple times.

Whenever you watch his games, they look like "Tal Madness," with wild tactical positions and loads of hanging pieces.  In any case, he has taken many scalps from the "Big Dogs."  Playing on the west coast now, I believe.

What isn't a social construct?

Breeds of cattle are a social construct, too.  I know, though, if I breed a Blonde Simmental with a Black Angus, the offspring will have a black hide over 90% of the time.

I can sell it as an Angus, 'cause it's black.

I would DEFINITELY have to put Maurice Ashley above the other two.

I faced Stephen Muhammad in the summer of 2007, and it was a VERY easy draw for me, and I was even slightly better.  Enough of an advantage to win with best play, probably not.

Emory Tate is, UNFORTUNATELY, someone I've run into a few too many times.  He doesn't know how to control his mouth.  He plays whacko openings (like the French Wing Gambit) that clearly won't ever put him above Maurice, and is the most obnoxious person on the planet.  He'll rip your head off for suggesting a move in a game that's not even his own that might not work because of some complicated defense/counter-attack.  Ya know what Emory, if you are that good, how come I don't see your name in the list of World Champions?  He's a player I will have zero sympathy for when he finally leaves this world!

The LOCK is clearly on its way, after that last post.

Zowie Batman. What have you been smoking, @ThrillerDiller?

Maurice Ashley also has some great Chessbase videos. 

I think it's great that black kids (especially ones that like Chess) have a role model with whom they can relate. 

No contest, it's Maurice Ashley. But there are many others coming through the ranks.

Oh, I forgot about Amon Simontowe from Zambia, I think he was Africa's 1st

sub-Sahara GM.

I alaways found it strange that Zimbabwe and Zambia produced so many strong players compared to South Africa, when all the infrastructure is here.

There are several African GMs. I was just answering the question in the title of the thread. Probably Bessem Amin (+2600 FIDE) of Egypt is the best African player, but I'm not sure.