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by trouble... on August 7th, 2007
I'm with you on that!
There can be no fifty-fifty Americanism in this country. There is room here for only 100% Americanism, only for those who are Americans and nothing else.
Theodore Roosevelt
by Michie on October 2nd, 2007
The over-hyphenization is a purely American thing. If you're Japanese and you become a citizen of Canada, no one says you're Asian-Canadian. If you're Italian and you decide to remain in Poland, no one says you're Italian-Polish. I was born in the US to a Canadian citizen and a black American. What does that make me? I'm American. That's it. My *heritage* is black and Canadian (and Native American, to an extent) but I am an American. End of story.
by Magenta on August 7th, 2007
It came from a long process of escaping hate words instead of reclaiming them.
Long ago, "nigger" was considered the proper term to use. Then, as it became used by bigots as a derogatory word, it was abandoned in favor of "colored".
Then, as "colored" became used by bigots as a derogatory word, it was abandoned in favor of "black".
Then, as "black" became used by bigots as a derogatory word, it was abandoned in favor of "African-American".
Gays have a similar history- except we stopped after "faggot" and "fag". Words like "queer" and "gay" were, and are, used derogatorily, but we still embrace them.
Some gays are even trying to reclaim "fag". Because of the word's origin I think that will be difficult, but the point is to not let those words have power over us.
It might be too late to reclaim "nigger", but "black" should not be allowed become a hate term.
by Cowboy-Matter of Fact on August 7th, 2007
I see no reason for it either. It came about to replace derogatory terms and I see no need for the former or the latter.
by Anonymous on August 7th, 2007
It's a red herring that "activists" use to keep people seperated and distract them from the fact that said "activists" are full of crap.
The simple truth is that everyone IS equal and people need to be taken as individuals and not groups.
All these buzzwords do is keep people seperated from and angry at each other. Thus the "activist" can attain his selfish political goals.
It's the HUMAN RACE, remember?
by Jay Was Here - AYPWIP on August 7th, 2007
I'm American but my family is of Irish and Scottish descent... when somebody asked me what my heritage is I tell them that I am Irish and Scottish. I've never been to Ireland or Scotland, but those are the countries where my family originated. Why shouldn't you be proud of your heritage and call yourself African?
by Icebox April on August 7th, 2007
I always think that African-American is what you call black people because calling them African is kind of...weird. Most black people have never been to Africa and are many generations into living in America. It makes sense. If someone wants to acknowledge my heritage, then that's what I want to be called I guess. What other term would you want them to use? Being American doesn't mean you abandon ties to your country or countries of origin. It just means you have a different place to belong to now.
by scubaduba on August 7th, 2007
I don't know. Also, the two true African-Americans I know (Born in Africa and Naturalized US Citizens) are not black.
Additionally, if you don't know the person, how do you know they are American, they could be British, or French, or Jamaican, or ....from some other country.
by theredbaron on August 7th, 2007
Probably for the same reason the term "Caucasian" is used to describe whites. I am white, but my family did not originate in the Caucases, which means I am not a Caucasian! To truly describe myself I'd have to call myself a German-Swiss German-English-Scotch-American. Lord, that's picky!
by Tonshea on June 2nd, 2009
What do they call other people who's ancestors are from africa? And they are not black.
by JTP on August 7th, 2007
Some do, however most of us know that the term 'african american' is hardly inclusive, when every other color (white, 'yellow' ect ect) is an 'american' not a 'white american' or a 'asain american'.
by Arisztid on August 7th, 2007
I think that is silly as hades. I am Rromani but I have always thought "African-American" is just silly.
Signed...
A Romanian-Rromani-American.
Ack! Just call me Rromani (my ethnicity) or American!
by bubbles on February 20th, 2009
i'm a born and bred english woman.over here black people are called english,not african english or jamaican english or whatever bollocks. so yea, i dont realy understand why in the states you call some people "african- american".its silly.
by three cousins from the 313 on January 28th, 2009
Because your roots return to Africa in the end like for Asian Americans, Mexican American so and so on. And some people take it very serious to keep their roots even though it's hard to do so when you can't exactly locate where you from.
by Confidentiality on August 7th, 2008
I think it's comical that only United States citizens are called "Americans"...we're not the only ones on the "American" continents of North and South America. We are States that have United within a part of North America, we are not America itself. Maybe we should be called United Stations...or United Statists...lol
Pardon any lack of political correctness here - I am not trying to be offensive. The term African-American was derived in order to distinguish Blacks from other races, but to also elicits respect. Supposedly, the origin of Blacks have been traced back to Africa, so the involvement of historical roots in the new name for the race makes it sound more dignified.
by everyone loves me...right on November 1st, 2007
ONLY NON EDUCATED PEOPLE WOULD THNK LIKE THIS FOR YOU TO DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM YOUR GREAT GREATS BECAUSE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO AFRICA(THE PLACE YOUR ANCESTRY COMES FROM)YOUR NEVER BEING THERE AND YOUR FAMILY BEING FROM THERE DOESNT MAKE YOU LESS AFRICAN? I REALLY DONT GET THE QUESTION. EVEN THE COMMENT ON THE FIRST PAGE NOTES THERE FAMILY FROMS IRELAND SO SHE WOULD CONSIDER HER NATIONALITY IRISH. IT'S SO SAD THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS(BLACK PEOPLE ) ARE SO DISENAGED WITH THERE TRUE IDENTY AND CULTURAL DESCENDANT ITS SAD ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS READ A BOOK LEARN SOMETHING. I PROUDLY CALL MYSELF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MY ANCESTORS STUGGLED YEARS AND YEARS AND FOR ME TO FEEL IM BETTER THAN THEM AND THATS WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO AS IF BEING CALLED AFRICANMAKES YOU ANY MORE BLACK. THIS ALL GOES BACK TO THE SLAVERY DAYS WHEN AFRICANS WERE MADE TO FORGET WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND TO ADAPT TO THE (I'LL BE POLITICALLY CORRECT) CAUCASIAN WAY OF LIVING. NO ETHNIC GRUOP IS BETTER IN GODS EYES NO MATTER HOW THEY(IGNORANT PEOPLE) TRY TO PORTRAY.
by TorbyCat on October 30th, 2007
Some people do because black has so many negative connotations ("black hearted", etc.) I consider my race black and my ethnicity African American. If I go to another country that's predominantly non-black, I am seen as black (Then I open my mouth and I'm seen as American).
Does anyone find the words we use to describe people by color is a little weird? White people are pink, and some black people like myself are light brown. My hair isn't even black.
by P. W. Pasobrio loves Marines on October 24th, 2007
They use it to say you're an American of African descent just like they use Scotch/Irish American when they want to describe that I'm an American descended from Ireland. It's just a more complete description.
by xhepera on October 24th, 2007
Perhaps my response to this question is better suited to a Question in its own thread, but I'm moved to ask: Why do I only ever see this question asked about the term African-American? There have been organizations, societies, companies, etc. using the terms Italian-American, Polish-American, and German-American in this country for decades at least. Why is their use of these terms never questioned?
In any case, we're talking to different things here anyway. One refers to nationality, the other to ethnicity. Just because a person chooses to name both is no cause for censure. To call one's self African-American isn't an attempt to denigrate one's American nationality (and, by the way, we have no claim other than tradition to the name "American." Canadians and Argentinians are also "American." ;)). It's simply saying, "I am an American of black African descent." The specious argument that the term applies equally to an immigrating Boer of South African origin doesn't even bear quibbling with.
I don't really care what anyone calls her- or himself. It shouldn't concern me other than as an academic interest perhaps. Not speaking of anyone here, but in our larger society I think that hackles get raised over this term because, frankly, it's a name that some black people have chosen for themselves. It's almost as if the majority society is saying that blacks have no right to choose a name for themselves that goes outside what white America thinks is appropriate or has decided. I still hear people say that when they were young, terms like "colored" and "negro" were good enough. Then they lament, "what ever happened to Afro-American? Why do people have to keep changing things?" To hear them tell it you'd think that people of African descent in this country were some monolithic bloc that's conspired to confuse other Americans with frequent name changes.
Actually, the issue of naming those of black ethnicity in this country has a rather long and interesting history. Many of the arguments I see today have already been argued well over 100 years ago. If anyone is truly interested in the subject, I would direct you to a book by Sterling Stuckey, published in 1986 by Oxford University Press. It's called "Slave Culture." Of particular interest willbe a chapter titled, "Identity and Ideology: The Names Controversy."
by Kevisaurus is a Carnotaurus today on August 7th, 2007
It's just an attempt to find a label such as I'm European American or a Chinese US citizen is Asian American or a Columbian US citizen is South American American.
As you can see it gets pretty ridiculous after a while.
by blondie on August 7th, 2007
well you really do make an interesting point! i'm not sure exactly why they would say african... but in some cases people dont want to sound racial in any way so they say that as well... what in your state would be a better term for african-americans?
by mrtorch on August 7th, 2007
Very good point, I guess they use it instead of saying Black or Black American.
In the UK, ethnic monitoring is used as a means to discover inequalities in employment. For example if you apply for a job you can tick a box with your race. This is not compulsory.
by tonnie on October 18th, 2009
I use the phrase because that's exactly what the NAACP and every other black organization has said they WANT to be used.
When they recommended to be called, "people of color" I obliged.
When it was simply "black people" I obliged.
The latest they've said they prefer is "African American." So I oblige.
I try very hard to keep up with the changing terms and don't ever want to offend anyone.
All I can do is to look at the organization that is made up of black people and hear what they ask me to call them. And currently, it's "African American."
by sprinter on April 10th, 2009
because it means you were born in america and you are of african ancestry.
by anddeb on February 20th, 2009
I agree with you completely.
by you neva kno on February 4th, 2009
I believe it may be because we are a different people from whites or whoever. Our ancestors were from africa, therefore african american. No matter if you're born here now, you're heritage is african. That's why it's still used. One little drop makes you black, especially in "their" eyes, makes the label. South america is full of what, BLACKS. Dugh, South America, Africa, nothing but blacks there, African-American. Put it together.
by Anonymous on November 22nd, 2008
Because in case you haven't notice white America, has a problem accepting the fact not all Americans are white. Mexican-American, Chinese-American, ever heard of white-American or Anglo-American?
by Lady Kathlyn on September 10th, 2008
Africa is a continent, not a country. People who come from the continent of Africa are Nigerian, Egyptian, Saudi Arabian, Ethiopian and so forth. They don't say they're African. They say where they come from. I am an American of African descent or Black. This is what I say and this is what I have taught my children. We have been Negroes, Colored, Black and now African American. Maybe someday we all will be just known as Americans.
by close account on August 29th, 2008
It should really be United Statedian or something to that affect, if you say you are American, that could mean technically that you are from any of the America's...that would make Mexican's American's as well, since Mexico is part of North American, and then we have Central America and South America....so everyone from this continent is American...think about it!!
by Anonymous on August 1st, 2008
Don't worry about it! I'm Western European, when I visit them there they call me the "rican" and here something else. In the end I don't even know where I belong really so I go with the flow! Let them talk!
by kanara on July 15th, 2008
youre right. thanks to the beninnings of people of african decent in this country, most have no idea where theyre from. they were forecably made to forget their hertiage and customs and the families were divided so often there was not way to pass on their authentic culture., i think thats why people of color are so lost. WE DONT KNOW WHERE WE ARE FROM! so i guess im just american too.
by patio4it (tumblr) on June 19th, 2008
So only the native Americans are American-American.
All others are European-American, African-American, Asian-American, Australian-American or a more complicated mix.
by Pilgrim on April 23rd, 2008
I think that the government want separation of people with different opinions. That gives them control over us to the extent. They can TARGET certain groups to find out how we feel about things and what to do to appease us when something goes wrong. Think of all of the different "Cubbyholes" we can fit into. We are all Americans but we have to choose Democrat or Republican. Gay or Straight and the list never ends.
by koldkanuck on March 26th, 2008
Explain that to andy777.and ptgirl08.
You are American nothing more nothing less.
by Single White Male on March 26th, 2008
Yeah the question of how to refer to people of African descent living in America is - and has been - a touchy situation. I know that black people are not "black," they are kind of brownish, but white people are not "white" either, they are kind of yellow-pinkish. Do any people out there of African descent living in America have a problem with being called "black"? I know everything is loaded with meaning but we've got to communicate somehow!
by MvL on February 12th, 2008
Well I sometimes refer to myself as a Dutch American, but my parents were both from the Netherlands. I know plenty of second and third generation who describe themselves as Italian or something Americans.
The problem I have with the term African American is that Africa is not a country, and that it actually makes it inappropriate to use "black", when actually, there are blacks that aren't African American living in the US. Some are residents coming from Africa or Jamaica or some place else (like England). But I'm somehow required to incorrectly call them African American when they're sometimes neither. Black is not offensive to me, no more than white. There are plenty of awful racial slurs that I condemn, black isn't one of them.
by SABOTEUR on February 12th, 2008
The truth of the matter is, most of us don't know WHO we are.
What you ARE is not a color
or a name
or a body
or an occupation
or a nationality
or a sex
or anything else you can label.
What you ARE is infinite.
As long as we continue to identify with what we are not
we'll continue the futile exercise of attempting to make sense
of nonsense.
by Egico is now Egioz on January 30th, 2008
Good point! Everyone should just be an American, otherwise we would be forever classifying and sub-vlassifying. My kids would be English, French, Italian Americans!
by Anonymous on January 30th, 2008
I'm in the same boat (lol). I like the term African American, I feel like I belong to this country and although I'm not from Africa I'm apart of that because of my ancestry. I don't mind black either and I do interchange these terms. Wouldn't it be ironic if i was from the Carribean!?
by Allahuma Sali ala Muhammad saaws on January 21st, 2008
You get hungry and you go out for Chinese food but what if the weighter was born in the USA and had never been to China you still consider him Chinese.
Then maybe you want Puerto Rican or Dominican food, maybe Greek or maybe Italian but all of these people might be born in the USA and not even speak another language besides English yet you still identify them by their background.
African Americans are the only group that were historically forced to be Americans and it took a long time for people to actually recognize them as real Americans.
I do not think it matters what anyone calls them self as much as what they stand for.
Blacks faught in the Civil war, World war I and II and every war since for defending American Values but are not as equally respected as whites in America.
In fact why be a Texan,a New Yorker, or a Californian, or Bostonian or Virginian when you can be an American?
It is just natural for people to classify them selves in some category and it really should not matter unless you are against Africa. You have the right to call your self what you want and so does the next person.
by DA BEN DAN yanggui zi on December 29th, 2007
I think it's considered a 'politically correct' way of saying that you are black..I personally think it is kind of a useless term...Does that mean that I am a Scottish-Irish Canadian?(that could also be black or white) I guess so...but the way we have to categorize people seems a little strange to me.
by Chuunin Ninja on December 29th, 2007
Um, thank you. I never said and did not intend for it to come across as me denouncing the fact that my ancestors come from africa. I know where my ancerstors came from but in all technicallity {sp} Im saying, all we want is equality, all anyone wants is equality so why should we have to have an extra word to define us? we are americans like anyone else, hell were MORE american than SOME (not all so calm down other people who will read this and try to jump down my throat) people but we cant just be americans, when people describe crowds they say things like we have african americans and white americans, why not just say we have all sorts of americans or just americans period, im pretty sure people these days know america is diversified and there is no need for the extra word. It seems to me you are trying to defend a label handed to you that you have just readily accepted. If that is the case then you probably dont see a problem with them calling you an afro-american {its just an abbreviation right?} settle for that and they will see how far they can go. thats what humans do you give them an inch they take a mile.
by dr.Elaine on December 28th, 2007
i understand that you've never been to Africa but you need to understand that before you were born your ancestors were dragged over here to an unknown land that appearantly nobody is from here anyways but i know you don't know your ancestors and all that but they suffered through all the pain and agony so that they could even get the smallest piece of respect that lacks in this nation that people need to understand it still goes on and will till we realize that changes need to be brought upon.Anyways to get back on the topic you should even be honored to be called African American because you still have a little bit of dignity to know that if it wasn't for all the others that went through the suffering pain and agony blacks and people from other nations would have basically no freedom at ALL.
I understand that the ? you asked wasn't that serious but u should take consideration & be proud to hold such a beautiful title and you should go to Africa one day &see the real beauty that is their instead of all this bull they keep showing us about the rural and beaten up areas.
Sorry 4 such a big comment but i wish i was called something else than AMERICAN because its just plain and not really unique even though i luv my country i wish their was more to me
by koldkanuck on December 4th, 2007
Maybe you should ask that question of jesse Jackson,or the NAACP. maybe Al sharpton!
you are right though born in america you are american.
by Milla on November 25th, 2007
look up the definition of caucasion at dictionary.com and you will see that it says from light to brown skin, that should be considered the light or brown skinned people who people nowadays call us black or african american..i am light skinned and I was not born in Africa nor have i never seen Africa and my family is from Jamaica and we are made up of light skinned and brown skinned complexions...I consider myself american because i was born here, not because we have darker skin than white people, we should be called african american...that is not fair, none of us are from africa. And you dont really know where we are from...and it is not like anyone is not proud of where they come from if your not from africa your not african american. Thats the way i see it!
by haggis on November 1st, 2007
thats a very good point. i hadn't thought about it quite like that before.. why do we label a segment of the population african-american?
how weird i am first generation american so i could even qualify as less american than many afican americans yet i don't have to specify anything cause i am white.
suffice to say it seems to stem from the white supremacist society we live in.
by Tempter on November 1st, 2007
Your right you are 100% American. I have a friend who is as Caucasian as can be, but was born in South Africa. He moved to the US at the age of 14 when his parents divorced he came with his mother while his father stayed in South Africa. As a result he had duel citizenship till he was 18 at which point he had to declare one or the other, he choose American. During those 4 years he was legally an African-American despite his lack of skin pigment. Now he considers himself simply an American.
I don’t see the point in creating artificial barriers between people. However I do enjoy ribbing one of my English friends about the revolutionary war, and that sissy accent of his.
by somecallmeFred on October 24th, 2007
If you leave the country, people will simply refer to you as an American. Americans are the only ones who separate themselves in such a fashion. I don't care for it myself, so I try not to classify anyone in such a way. As far as I am concerned, we are all Americans here, and human beings to boot!
by snakelover on September 13th, 2007
It's just a bunch of politically correct b/s so as not to offend anyone. I am Italian, but I do not consider myself Italian-American. I was born here so i am an American and damn proud of it.
by ezhammer on September 13th, 2007
White people aren't called 'European Americans'. Black people are black people, white people are white people, color shouldn't matter, we are all Americans!!
Are there more black catholics than other black christians?
by Answerbag Staff on December 28th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
how come when a black guy says something over the internet racially sterio-typing it's not racist but if a white guy were to it would be?
by RobsGraves on September 5th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Are there more black catholics than other black christians?
by Answerbag Staff on March 28th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
I give up will someone please tell me the proper names of races and nationalities?
by rabid on September 10th, 2011
| 3 people like this
Is there any legal reason California can't make their official state language Spanish?
by Aaron_J8432 on October 29th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
You're reading Why do they still use the term: African-American. I was born in America and Im pretty sure that Im American. I've never been to Africa I dont know of any family in Africa so whats the deal?
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Comments
NICE! =D its like white people are "Americans" but indians are "Native Americans" black people are "African Americans" and chinese, japanese, koreans are "Asian Americans" If you were born in this country then you are American.
by Chuunin Ninja on August 7th, 2007
Well said!
by Arisztid on August 7th, 2007
thank you. =)
by Chuunin Ninja on August 7th, 2007
If we were to take this stupidity to its fullest level I would be...
.
*inhales deeply in preparation...*
.
Romanian-Rromani-American-Michigander-Jacksonian.
.
*gasps for air*
by Arisztid on August 7th, 2007
Very nice trouble. I like it.
by Cowboy-Matter of Fact on August 7th, 2007
The only ethnic word I will tolerate before the word American is "Native"
by weatherman taking week or so off on August 10th, 2007
Nice. =)
by Chuunin Ninja on August 10th, 2007
Actually, I wish we did not have to use the term "Native American". I wish there was something a little less stigmatized. I would rather do away with all hyphenated Americans. That is why I refuse to call myself "Romanian-American" or "Rromani-American". I say that I am of Rromani ethnicity, Romanian descent, and AM American.
by Arisztid on August 10th, 2007
Great point! =]
by Chuunin Ninja on August 10th, 2007
Thankee. :)
by Arisztid on August 10th, 2007
yup =)
by Chuunin Ninja on August 10th, 2007
Unfortunately, Columbus called the original Americans "Indians", thinking he had reached India. Thus the need for the term "Native American".
by weatherman taking week or so off on August 13th, 2007
Columbus had a slight geography deficit.
by Arisztid on August 13th, 2007
haha tell me about it. =D
by Chuunin Ninja on August 19th, 2007
:P
by Arisztid on August 19th, 2007
And there are more countries than just the United States that can call themselves American's, since we do have Central America, and South America...technically than Mexican's can be called American's because Mexico is part of North America!!
Posting Comment...
by close account on August 29th, 2008
The Central and South American countries do not call themselves the United States of (Central)(South)(Mexico)(Panama) America. Sorry, I disagree with SexyC. They have their own heritage and national name for their people.
by weatherman taking week or so off on August 29th, 2008
hey that's ok...that's what AB is allllll about!! Have a good one!!
by close account on August 29th, 2008