Why are African-Americans called African-Americans?

Question

Not all African Americans are American or from Africa (could be from Hati, jamaica ect.), so why call them African American?

Answer 1

Black is a negative term; And African-American is politically correct term to use at this time. Even if they come from Jamaica, they originally from Africa.

Answer 2

Was part of an interesting conversation recently where a white South African was debating with a non-white fourth generation American which one of them was the "true" African-American.

Problem evolved from finding a 'term' that was descriptive but not offensive ... since prevailing terms in the 1960s all had acquired negative connotations. Seems that African American was the one that was deemed 'least unacceptable' and since many of the Haitians and others that you cited also have some portion of African lineage, it probably has a degree of applicability.

Better question ... why do we have to label people at all???

Answer 3

They are called African-Americans because of the Civil Rights movement.

In order for the "leaders" of the Civil Rights movement to retain power, they have to maintain a majority of American blacks in a perceived state of victim hood. In order to do this, they must maintain a group identity separate from just being American. The term African-American is now in vogue because in the 60's and 70's there was an effort to assume the trappings of an African heritage by the "leaders" of the Civil Rights movement. It was common to see people like Jesse Jackson wearing Dashikis for example, and Kinte cloth. This is the origin of the invented holiday of Kwanzaa (which bears no resemblance to any actual African culture).

The term is only the latest in a line of "appropriate" terms, first there was *****, then colored, then black and currently African-American.

Answer 4

Any American of African decent who are decedents of slave or other Africans who cam to America before 1950 (or so) are considered African Americans, especally since many were now a fix of several nationalities and even races. If you live in Canada I have heard they are call African Canadians and those living in England I have heard being referred to African Europeans. I think it is misused a lot because not all blacks are American and if you are from Africa you refer to yourself by your nationality. Our newscasters in US are guilty of doing this a lot during the 90's but seem better now. What is funny I know several that hate that term and want to be called blacks.

Here's to being PC in the US :D

Answer 5

The first source below says that it's mostly white U.S. Americans who call all blacks "African-Americans." So at one level, the answer to your question is that it doesn't require specific knowledge of an individual's heritage. Those with specific knowledge and awareness often make finer distinctions
More importantly, it's the only hypenation available to all of those who don't know what specific country their ancestors came from -- slavery had a way of losing that information. The _____-American hyphenation follows a tradition of self-identification started by European ethnic groups living in the U.S. It's about taking pride in the specific identity while also reinforcing that they are (U.S.) American as well. It also allows for us to start thinking about 'race' in terms of 'just another ethnic background' -- wouldn't it be great if we could reduce racism that far?

Answer 6

I've been wondering that myself. Smokey Robinson did a great poem on that HBO show (the name of which slips my mind at the moment) about how he was a black American, not an African-American--'cause his *** didn't come from Africa, he was born right here. Wish I could remember the poem, how it went. I think that the moniker "African American" creates a distance between the black people of this country and the country of their birth--the United States of America, and I think it was insinuated into American lexicon for that purpose. I mean, they could have just as easily gone from saying "blacks" to saying "black people", you know? Hey, why don't we revolt, totally eschew the use of "African American" since there are enough of us black people who seem to dislike that term? I'm in.

Answer 7

Ignorance. The hyphenating of America is a scheme designed by the 'left' to divide our peoples. Divide and Concur. My ancestors hail from England but I'm not an English-American. I'm an American and a Texan. I hold no other allegiances.

Black Americans are poorly educated by choice ... they don't want to be too "white" by making good grades in school. So they remain ignorant, easily manipulated and suckers for every thing the left-wing elete throws their way. Ebonics is a great example.

Answer 8

Because hundreds of years ago, there was a plan to send all black people to africa on a boat, after they were freed. Most blacks had lost their original heritage and were clumped into african classification, by the white man. So, in order to be politically correct american was added as a after thought to show that they did indeed belong in america. It was added to the end of many descripitive culture lables.

Answer 9

It is believed and theorized that the black race originated in Africa and all the other locations where this race is found now are the destinations of migration. Also it is an attempt by well meaning people to have a more respecting term for this race than there has been in the past.

Answer 10

because this world has gone too much P.C. We don't want to hurt anyones feelings. Isn't that a sad nation we are turning into? How can we be the melting pot when we can't talk about race without mentioning where we came from. We are all Americans (except the illegals) and we should be called as such...not africian americans, not asian americans, not german americans or I will start calling my cat canine american!