Why do ppl refer to blacks as African-Americans?

Question

im black but i prefer 4 my ethnicity 2 b called...well jus black lol. cuz im not from africa...y do "sum" ppl call us that?

Answer 1

Because blacks requested it at one time .. that was after they requested that they be called black, people of color, negroes, colored people etc ... at 43 I have seen the "politically correct" requested term change many times .. it is all VERY silly.

Answer 2

It's the same reason people call Anglo's whites.. It's what people were called in the past, and even though there isn't a whole lot of racism anymore, people still use black and white of African American and Caucasion. The only ethnicities they really call by the real name are the Hispanics and Asians. We do need to start calling by the proper name though,

Answer 3

It is a name that has stuck from generations upon generations ago, when slaves were being brought over in boatloads from Africa; but they only refer to blacks as African Americans IF they live in America. Come up north and you will just be referred to as Black.
It is a cultural thing with Americans. An American simply CANNOT be JUST an American They have to be Irish American, Hispanic American, Latin American, Italian American, or in your case African American. Don't worry that you are not from Africa, Quite a lot of Irish Americans have NEVER set foot in Ireland but because their great, great, great................great grandparents came from there, THEY reckon they can claim some ungiven right to be called by that name.

Answer 4

PC (politically correct)... sometimes we get carried away. Of course firefighter and police officers sound better than firemand and policeman, but some just get silly.

Some like to be called African-Americans and some don't. Some like to be called Oriental or Asian-American. I think it is over-used. I think of myself as a American first and foremost and my heritage is secondary.

There's nothing wrong with saying, "Hey, check out the black dude in the suit," or "the Asian guy in the red shirt." We tend to be too sensitive in this area and be too politically correct. Just describe the person without labeling everything so formally.

Answer 5

Black people are referred to as African Americans because they have descendants who have come from African slave ships here to America. Hence, African Americans. And it is NOT because they " keep changing their minds on what they want to be called." Badfish911 (^^^) If it does seem as though African Americans have a lot of names that they go by, then Society has placed that on them. What total ignorance to say something like that!! If you do not know a lot about the subject, then you shouldn't say ANYTHING at all.

Answer 6

It's more politically correct, however, most blacks are so multi-racial at this point, I don't think its a very accurate term. My daughter's father was "black", but his ethnicity was Jamaican, Black Foot Indian, German and way way way WAY back...African. I think the term is rather silly. I don't call myself British-American because my ancestors came from England. I hate the way humans like to categorize. I pick the box that says "other" for my daugther just to fight that system. Why should I have to pick a specific box for her?!

Answer 7

Its stupid to call "black people" African Americans because not all "black people" are from Africa. What about people from Jamaica or extremely dark folks from the Domican Republic... They are just dark but they are actually Hispanic for crying out loud. So in a way by trying to be polite people just end up sounding stupid by calling every dark colored person an African American.

Answer 8

I live in Canada, amidst the 6 month winter in cold and windy Edmonton, and we don't have "African-Americans". We have black people who imigrate here from beautiful places like the Caribbean, Jamaica, and Africa. But it would be too much to have to go through the list - "hi, let me guess, you must be Jamaican-Canadian, and your Trinidad-Canadian, nice to meet you". And what's really funny is that for all the first generation black people I see - I almost never meet second generation here. I think they must immigrate to Canada, Edmonton specifically, because of the econmic boom - but they move to Vancouver when they realize Edmonton's a tundra half the year. Just my musings, I have no idea really. But yeah, Black people are just black here.

Answer 9

because some people that are black prefer to be called african american because they want to show their "roots". However most black people are born in America and should be called Americans. Just Like I am not called a German-American.

Despite color we are all Americans, we all should be treated equal and treat each other equaly as well

Answer 10

Because, in the USA, most black people's ancestors were brought here to be slaves, and since they came out of Africa, and are now Americans, they are African-Americans.

Answer 11

okay well i'm not black and i understand your not "African"...but i have a question for you....what are the ROOTS of your ethinicity?.........for example, a Indian person born and raised in the US is reffered to as a "Indian American"...why would this be any different for your situation? overall, in my opinion you are African-American because you were born and raised in the US but your roots trace back to Africa........and if you still don't agree with me on this, then my next question to you is which country do you claim your original roots from?