Just think about it - today, in America, we have citizens from all over the world. After they have declared their citizenship, they should be, simply, Americans. Most of the people who claim to be "African-Americans" have never been to Africa, don't know anyone in Africa, and, because of the mixture of races and cultures in America, don't even know if any of their ancesters even came from Africa. All they know is that they have dark skin. So what? So do Egyptians, Hawaiians, East Indians, and a score of others. Hawaiians also have kinky hair.
Just because I am olive skinned and have curly hair, people assume that I am African-American. I was an orphan. No one knows my origins. I am just an American.
I would like to claim ALL of my origins (if I ever find out what they are), but I will still be JUST American. It's silly (and humanly impossible) to be two things at once.
2006-07-21 03:18:23 · 17 answers · asked by musicmaster_joan 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Well, yeah. Oxymoron means two contradictory words or ideas. America is a continent. Africa is another continent halfway around the world. So the idea that they could be related is kinda silly. You're either African or American. You can't be born in both places.
2006-07-21 03:25:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is. I say if you are born in America, you are American why do we have to distinguish between color here in America in the first place. Why don't we say European-American is my question? This was Indian soil. If you go to Africa and you see a white person who is born there they are African not European-African. So, why do I have to be African-American when I never been to Africa a day in my life. I never go by African-American if I have to put my ethinicity on something I say black or if that's not an option I'll be other.
2006-07-21 03:28:32 · answer #2 · answered by Coco 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont think that "AMERICANS" should be calling themselves "AMERICANS" because after all the ENGLISH took this land form the INDIANS that were on this land...raped and killed the women and children, butchered the men, slaughtered all their cattle and horses, and buffalo..and then had the nerve to call them "NATIVE AMERICANS"...anyone else who resides in this country is just a transplant because this land belongs to the Indians..not any other race..and to have it taken from them right beneath their feet is the greatest crime that this country has done.
The greatest genocide was not when Adolf Hitler killed over 6 million jews, it was when the English NEARLY ERADICTED THE INDIANS OF THIS LAND THAT WE CALL "HOME OF THE FREE"...think about it how many native americans do u see in the government, for that matter even walmart..thats right ..none...because they were driven to near extinction and those that survived were put on dusty little patches to live on ..
so i believe the term "AMERICAN"..is simply an oxy-moron in itself...and if u dont agree..who cares....its my opinion......just like anyone else's...
2006-07-21 05:54:29 · answer #3 · answered by outspokenone 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
African-Americans is just a respectful title given to people who also wanted to be counted as AMERICANS. They were overlooked for so long. Just know that you are HUMAN and that is more important. The beauty that comes to the world through you does not care about your color. People on the other hand are different.
2006-07-21 03:28:46 · answer #4 · answered by nmhovey 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since looks are so important and USA is a melting pot that encourages people to forget about their own culture, I would say its not as a bad a title as some people will lead you to believe.
If I was born in China but I look Spanish I will not be Chinese will I?
In America they try to sell you a dream where you are all American but you really are standing on white mans land.
2006-07-21 03:25:55 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you lack knowledge of your origins then that means other African American should deny their historical ties to the land of their ancestors? The real conflict is within yourself and not knowing where you fit in this American melting pot! Maybe if you embraced your African heritage you would find a piece of peace.
2006-07-21 07:20:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe all people of the ***** race ancestrally originated from Africa, so anyone of the ***** race who was born in US or whose ancestors came to US ages ago, is automatically an African American.
Having dark skin doesn't make you African American.
Do you know that the actress Charlize Theron is African American? She's of South African descent.
2006-07-21 03:25:58 · answer #7 · answered by vectorx 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well its a bit silly...but look at all the German-American halls, and Irish-American clubs, and polish-American organizations....just with Africans you pick a continent instead of a particular country/culture because most were brought here unwilling as slaves.... although it was other Africans that sold you to the Europeans so blame them not me....but yes as I don't know really know my ancestry either I just consider myself an American...not a European American
2006-07-21 03:30:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have a good component there. yet for me, in the event that they desire to be called African American then i do no longer ideas calling them that because of the fact it extremely is what makes them mushy. i'm uncertain why it extremely is no longer alright to apply the be conscious black. it extremely is extremely no longer considered one of those massive deal and that i think that no longer all African human beings fly off the cope with and. i think of it extremely is purely those which will no longer be able to recover from what occurred (it extremely is relatively unlucky and that i'm sorry with regard to the full slavery subject) and so as that they desire to throw a extra wholesome approximately it whether they did no longer flow by it. i like african american human beings, they seem to be a pleasing human beings yet i do no longer think of it extremely is a huge deal as quickly as I get called a "cracker", or white or regardless of somebody needs to apply to call me. And one extra component, Politically best is yet another term for idiotic. Robin T, you're best. If we've been to be labeled like that i could be community American, American Indian (from India), American German, American French, American English, American Irish, and American Scottish.
2016-12-14 11:14:04 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yep your right, its just a term that keeps us separated, your not African if your black and are from America or another country, your from african descent but have no citizenship with the continent of Africa, i mean you wouldn't want to live there anyway its a war torn continent, when black people use the word today in America they just keep seperating themselves and a lot don't even know it
2006-07-21 04:34:44 · answer #10 · answered by AFwife 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋