American or African American?

Question

Okay - I would like to know why do we catagorize race when most here in the USA are born Americans. I had someone to ask me am I American or African American

I was born in America. I would like to say American since I was not born in Africa. Just like some Eropeans where not born in Europe. I am of African decent. But does that make me an African. My ancestors consists of: Black, White and Native Indian.

I know my heritage this is just a question. I will accept all opinions. I DO REPORT ABUSE.

The question is: WHY DO WE CATAGORIZE RACE WHEN MOST HERE IN THE USA ARE BORN AMERICANS?

Answer 1

I agree! For some reason at some point in our history, black people got offended that they were called "black", so they came up with the fancy term "African-American". (It's sort of like a janitor wanting to be called a "custodial engineer".) The way I see it, we are all just Americans, and if you want to use my color to describe the way I appear, then by all means go ahead! (I'm not so thin or thick skinned that I would get offended by someone describing my appearance as it is.) I don't see most people using the word "black" in a derogatory way, but rather as a description. As you pointed out nicely, most people are a conglomerate of different nationalities now, so race is pretty much no longer the big issue it should be.
Some people just need a platform to rant from I guess.

Answer 2

I would say that you are right on saying that you are American. I think that unless a person grew up in Africa and then moved to American and became a citizen then, personally, I would not consider them African-American.
And if you think about it color has little to do with being African-American. A strong point for that is any white person who was born in South Africa and then came to America and became a citizen. They would be African-American but would be white.

Answer 3

Being born in the US, it should be American. I do not care for someones ancestry. If science is correct, all human life began in Africa, so we would all be Africans. I never liked the term African American, or anything else American. Choose one, move on.

Answer 4

A fair question! We are all obsessed these days with "ethnicity". Here in the UK we have British citizens descended from all sorts of countries from the old British Empire, e.g., Africans, Indians, Pakistanis, etc. When these people are born in the UK I would prefer just to refer to them as British, but the Politically Correct brigade (curse them!) insist on making up names for them, such as Asian British, Afro-Caribbean British, and so on. It is all so unnecessary. If you are proud to be American, then good for you. Stick to your guns.

Answer 5

Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. Some prefer African American and some prefer just American. It really doesn't matter which one you call me. Just put Christian in front of it. May God Bless

Answer 6

I am an Irish/African American. One parent from each. With a son proud of both. I 've had interesting first reactions in both County Galway and Lagos. Nevertheless, I am me

Answer 7

I think people who don't pride themselves in being American have to burrow pride from somewhere else.

Others use to Honor their ancestry.

I am a Heinz 57. Too much different blood in me to claim one or the other. That makes me American too.

Glad to hear there are some who still call themselves American. I salute you.

Answer 8

Just as Tiger Woods has that stupid acronym for himself you can call yourself what you like. But here in the real world we know that people especially people in America are obssessed with race, racial categories and the need to put others in one neat little cubby or another.

Answer 9

I hate being asked that question. So when I get asked if I am an African Canadian I sa. Well, I'm from the Caribbean and any connection from African is too removed to count, so how do you call that one. I'm Canadian and that's it.

Answer 10

Well majority of the Afro-american people don`t like saying they are black.. so it is just a better term for those people.