Why do we have to call black people African Americans. I'm German no one calls me a German American?

Question

I'm German I don't want anyone calling me a German American But I've never seen Germany just like the blacks they never have seen Africa

Answer 1

Black people who thrive on that label are doing it strictly for the political gains and nothing more.

Most black people that I know hate the African American name. They are Americans and proud. They have never been to Africa and never plan to be going. They do understand that their fore-families where sold into slavery by their own kind. So they are intelligent folks!

Slavery was wrong, but in those day's, it was not uncommon for slaves to be had all over the world. Slaves where not always black. In America, the predominant race was black slaves, but in Europe, there was a HUGE white population that was slaves.

Politics have everything to do with this...

Answer 2

How can you be German if you never seen Germany? Your American of German decent. Since your white we just call you an American now since the white people took the land of the Indians we can name people what we want like blacks are African Americans, Mexicans are Hispanics, Chinese and Vietnamese are Asian Americans. When the Mexicans take our land from us, then whites will be called Gringos.

Answer 3

Because they'd kill you if you called them *******. Black people think everybody is against them, except the Jews. I think black people are very funny and friendly for the most part. Kind of a good sense of community if they're from Cali, but the east coast black people are different than west coast, much like white bread yuppies are pricks anywhere you go. I hope maybe this helps. Oh, and if you want to piss them off, cann a Jamaican an "African American" and see how juiced he immediately gets. It's pretty funny. By the way, I only hate people in general, not specifically certain colors. I don't really think anyone hates a specific race, it's just what they're taught to believe, much like religon.

Answer 4

They key word is *have*.. None of *have* to call anyone anything we don't wish to. It's just called being 'polite' when you try to respect (keyword: respect) what a certain race wished to be addressed as. I understand both sides of the coin, both races were born here in America (as far as those living now) yet African Americans get a special name.

However, you can call yourself 'German American' if that is what you wanted. I'm sure your friends and family would respect *your* wishes :) the same way most of us whites try to respect what black people wish to be titled as. When I'm with my caucasuan family or friends we tend to just use black/white for any ethnic titles. In public, or when speaking with a African American person, I try to use 'African American' because it's what the bulk of them would prefer to be called instead of black.

Every generation be they white or black usually fights for some cause. Blacks fought to be called 'colored' and then for 'black' and then for 'African American' .. I respect that, it's more a generational *taste* and that's just part of America period.

Us whites had 'generation X' and so forth. Baby boomers, etc.. to me it's basically the same thing. It's people saying "This is MY time period not my grandfather's and I want to be called/labeled as *insert new label* instead of the *OLD* generations name!

Blame it on the teens all around! (just kidding) ::winks::

Answer 5

If you're actually German, then why would you be called German american? I agree with you on the stupidity of the term "African American", but you've actually shot yourself in the foot by claiming to be German when you are clearly American. You're running rings around yourself. You should think about what point you are trying to make and choose your words better.

I'll assume that you mean you're of German descent. I understand what you meant, but it did make your question slightly redundant.

Read My answer to another question on this subject to find out exactly what I think about the "African American" nonsense.

Here is the addy:

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgmgzqWpmKlmCXwSu9UWx8MgBgx.?qid=20060714144335AA7rWk2

Answer 6

Be careful! You have no idea how many blacks have seen Africa!

African American I guess is a term of their choosing. They would rather be called that than the N word!

You are white you two from Ireland and Germany! Easy for you to assimilate! I remember a time the Irish were called Irish-Americans and were discriminated against! Go check out the history of Boston!

And Mr. German, good thing you don't look Japanese for we interned them in concentration camps during WW II, stealing their homes, land, businesses and especially their grape orchards, Unconstitutionally. even though they were American citizens!

Answer 7

Yeah, nobody calls me Irish American.

A big percentage of the black people I've dealt with are silly and ignorant. They would never have thought to call themself an African, but they hear it on TV so they go with it.

The best thing you can do is to ignore them and refuse to call anybody African, German, Danish.... Whatever - American.

Answer 8

Don't stress over this. If black people want to be called African American, let them. I'm Irish, but I'm American first and always.

Answer 9

Because it's pollitically correct. Plus most black people here are, in essence, African Americans (tracing their roots to slavery.) So they are Africans that are from America. lol. But if you immigrate here from Africa then yeah, we should call that person African. How come some white people call black people African American, but some black people don't call white people caucasion?

Answer 10

Good question. Also, I've seen very few Black people who are actually "black." Why do we have to make distinctions like that? People are people, but an ethnic group of people should be described using words that they themselves choose. I know a some Polish and Czech Americans who are proud of their heritage and don't mind being referred to by their cultural background.