Other people call us African American, it's just the politically correct way.

Well, lots of white people call themselves Irish-American or Italian-American, or a number of other things. African-American is far less specific.

It used to be a big deal to fit in, and hypenating someone like that was a huge insult. When I was a kid, you would never call someone Irish-American or Polish-American unless you wanted a knuckle sandwich. I don't get the whole African-American thing now for just that reason. If you called someone that years ago, they'd have indignantly told you they were American. Of course, I was a kid in the era of "Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud."

I could not care less what someone chooses to call themselves. If someone wants to call themselves "African-American," fine by me. The only problem I have is when one black person says to call them "black" and another says "African-American" while becoming angry at me for forgetting which one they prefer. Luckily most folks do not do this. I have a hard time keeping up with the PC talk. What, exactly, constitutes a "person of color"? Are they black, Hispanic, White, Asian, etc.? Is this another PC term I should try to remember but I am not going to bother with?

I don't know I am from Europe. So I am Europan-American. But people say my children are just white. I guss it could be that way if people just started calling themselves what they want to be called.

A lot of people don't like being called african american.

Just don't call me nigger. I have no idea who makes these rules. I have never met a black person who has been offended by being called black.

Most people with European ancestry can trace it back to a specific country, and would not need to use the all-encompassing name of the entire continent. Many of those with African ancestry don't have it as easy pinpointing where their family came from, and have to fall back to the more general African continent.

when someone is of a minority, they naturally refer to themselves b/c that is one thing about being a minority.... I am white. But this is my opinion. I dont think they mean anything by it. If you moved to Europe, you would refer to yourself and american, or whatever... you are reading into it i think...

Most Blacks I know call use the term "Black", not African-American. I will, reluctantly admit, that the few that use "African-American" are usually darker and the issue is more color related. Some on the other hand, do have a stronger connection to their "motherland" and take pride in their background. Denying it, for many, feels like a slap in the face. Also, plenty of other races in America (who are AMERICAN) call themselves by their (great-)grandparents ancestory. Even if they no longer have family over there or have been in America for 50 years. Identifying yoursel fby your physical apperaence heriage allows you to sontinue that strong connection with your family history. I personally don't think it's any of my business to worry about what other people call themselves. Feel free to call yourself European American, the only difference is that when other people use African/Mexican/Korean (etc.)- American they are pinpointing a certian culture or relgion they orginate from. Unfortuantely, many white Americans don't have a physical appearence to pinpoint a specfic region/culture (not typically atleast), so European-American isn't really specfic like the other terms. No reason why it shouldn't be used though.

I too am not crazy about the term "African-American." I prefer black because if you're describing what a person looks like it shouldn't matter where the hell their ancestors came from. Quit beating around the bush, just say "he's a black guy." There ya go, now we can move on with our lives. And of course, as someone else said, the vast majority of blacks don't care if you describe them as black or African American, just as whites don't care if you say white or Caucasian. .......... To paraphrase the late, great George Carlin: "People of color" or "colored people"? What, my white skin is without color, like glass? White is pure? Come on, people. "African-American"? What if your white parents moved from South Africa to the US? Would you call yourself an African American? Or what if you're of Jamaican heritage? That's certainly not Africa. "Black"? Blacks and whites are actually browns and beiges. Black and white are used to divide us as opposites instead of concentrating on our similarities.

wow, I never knew this was a big deal... I'm white and call my black friends my niggas. but I say it like that though, not with an -er.. ya I think its cuz no one uses the x-american terms anyways, your either black, white, asian, native, or something else..

You do not call yourself European American, but might you go to German fest and celebrate being a German American. I do. If your ancestors were taken from Europe and you had no idea what country they came from you might call yourself European American.

i dont like to refer to myself as something i am not. i am not african, i do not know any africans. i am american so are my parents and grandparents. being termed african american is not something, i fight for, argue about or even care about.

Well, people of Asian ancestry, American Indian ancestry and Latinos are also people of color. They generally don't use African American -- except for quite a few Latinos who are both Latino and African American, who might use both, or either. One of the reasons you likely don't call yourself European American is that you probably know what country (or countries) in Europe your ancestors came from, so you may use something more specific. (I'm an English-Scots-Irish-German-Cherokee American, although I never really use those terms.) Most people with African ancestry in the United States don't know which tribal or ethnic group their ancestors originated in because it generally was not mentioned on their bills of sale, even if they still have the paperwork. (Sorry to be blunt, but that's the truth.) Most of my black friends use black and African American interchangeably -- with African American predominating in talking about public policy and political issues, and black predominating everywhere else.

To me it mean the person want to be treated 'the same as whites only better'.... We are all Americans - or we are not....