African-American does not apply to me?

Question

Am I the only black person who feels this way? I am very proud of my african ancestors and what they had to endure to bring me into this world. they are a part of my history. but i also have white and native american ancestors. plus, im not africa, you have to go really far back in my family, like more than 200 yrs to find an actual african. i am american. its not like white people are being labeled french-american, euro-american, german-american, etc., unless their parents or grandparents are from that country. otherwise, theyre just called american. why am i so different? i dont know where the origin of the term african-american came from, but it doesnt apply to me.

i think a better term is just black, or just american. and i do think its changing because on most forms now, i see black. and i dont knock people really when they call me african-american, but i do politely tell them that im not.

to rewsna, the only tie with africa that i have is some of my ancestors are from there, hundreds of years ago. so sorry, i am not african.

to okidoki, i agree, thats a whole other issue. on my mom's side, it started out with a "native american" and a white guy, i dont know if it was rape or consensual, but they had 7 kids, the youngest grew up to be my great-great-great grandmother, although we know the women, we dont know the men, but have to assume that theyre black being that my mom is black and i dont look mixed.

Answer 1

me either!!!I always say the same thing. I am american! Simple as that... A black american or *****. whatever!!! I think that the term african american became pc as a way to sweep the harsh nanes of the past under the carpet. But I want for people to acknowledge the hardships of my forefathers! Dont call me no freaking african american. I'm not from Morraco or Egypt...Other blacks died for their rights in America! Not so that they could go back to africa and be considered human! You know what I mean? Other people dont understand and they think that you are ignorant..but I am not ashamed of the pass... I embrace it and move one... Which is one reason I believe I'm not racist. I think that if america address racism instead of pointing the freaking finger all the time perhaps our kids could grow up without worrying about black, white or high yellow! Besides I think the people who were calling my grandma a n i g g e r should be ashamed not her. How dumb could you be to believe that another human was worth less than a stalk of corn? but they were possessed by the devil so I forgive them!

Answer 2

I agreee completely. I think that "African American" is a very annoying term. First of all, I hate that it is used only about black people when there are plenty of white Africans as well. In fact, I have a friend who is white and was born in South Africa but would never be called "African American". And like you said, it's not like we call white people "Russian-American" or anything so why "African American". Another thing is that someone could be black and live in America and not be African at all. They could be from Haiti, Jamaca, Cuba, India, Bangladesh, etc. People would try to be politically correct and call them African American instead of black, when they are not even African at all.

Answer 3

Well...let's see. I'm african american, how I know?
I have the charactertistics of an african. Thick hair, dark skin, wide nose, thick lips, although not as curvy I have humps where I'm supposed to. No I know they're other cultures that I have just described with my description but what makes me different...is that my father..and his father..and his father..and his father and so on, were all african. Our ancestors originated in africa. African American is the correct name...kinda like Caucasion is the correct term for white people. Or Anglo European. Like German, or Italian, and Hispanics. I think that African American is a correct name for black people. Then just saying blacks, whites, latinos.

Answer 4

Very good point.
It is not fair that only Whites are just American.
Everyone else is not just American.
Everyone in America came from a different country at one time.
The real Americans are the Indians, they were the only one that is native here.
It is very sad for me to know that in the year 2006, we are still a White control society, and a long way from being a melting pot.
Most large companies are still run by mostly whites, even with most of the work force is non-white.
This even true in most high tech companies, such as intel,AMD, etc. Most of the Engineers are Asian, but most of the officers are White.
Ever notice that doctors and nurse comes in all colors, but most of the hospital officers are White.
I think of Dr. King, i have a dream.
I am an Asian-American, as labeled by my goverment.

Answer 5

I totally agree. Frankly, I don't think the term "African-American" makes sense as an ethnic assignment and here's why:

It's pretty obvious that a person of African bloodline in America is an American citizen. Therefore it makes no sense to include the word "American" (an assignment of NATIONALITY) in an ETHNIC description. It is strictly superfluous.

Sometimes I think minorities create too much work for themselves (my group included). If you take "African-American" and chop it back down to "African", it's fewer syllables, is not ridiculously redundant, and describes the exact same person accurately.

That or some Africans are too ashamed or turned off by their own background to just call themselves "African". ... Doesn't mean you can't list other things you are too (Japanese, Jewish, Dutch, and so on).

And please don't hand me an excuse about wanting to differentiate yourself from non-American Africans. Do you think French people in the US usually call themselves "French American" to avoid everyone confusing them from their counterparts living in Quebec or Paris? Comeon now. Likewise, there's usually no reason to pronounce that you are an Americanized African. Your mannerisms, speech and other adoptions of American culture already give you away.

So for all you folks so worried about using offensive descriptors, try out "African". If that's your heritage, there you are. Can't understand how this simple solution got overshadowed by some homemade botched PC concoction like African American. Ugh!

Answer 6

I agree with you. In fact, I don't think any Americans should be "hyphenated" unless they are naturalized citizens from another country. For example, my Chinese friends are Chinese-Americans, because they came here from Taiwan and became American citizens. But their daughters are pure Americans.

The big problem with using the term "African-American" to say "black," is that I also have a friend who is white who moved to America with her family. They now are citizens....but they are truly African-American, yet they are white. So is Charlize Theron, the actress...or maybe she's just African and living here.

Also, when I was in graduate school, I had to do a survey, and of course, I had to have a section that asked whether people were various ethnicities (White, Hispanic, etc.). So, trying to be politically correct, I made a place for "African-American." Well, one girl who was black and from Africa, but NOT American (she was a college student here) wrote in her own little space and labeled it "African, but not American."
I figure that, if we have to reach way far back into our ancestries, then stray cats like me will have to be called, "Lithuanian-Polish-English- German- Irish-Americans." ;-)

Answer 7

Well, technically, I do not believe something dangerous might come from it. I imply, you're now not mendacity, you're facet African-American. I believe it comes all the way down to what you believe is the correct factor to place. I discover it humorous how ignorant a few folks are through pronouncing that one drop isn't ample, while all during American historical past one drop was once all it took to be viewed African American. Some folks ought to return to tenth grade American History and begin paying awareness!

Answer 8

Think about the need to gather a group together and give them something to be proud of.
Virtually all the terms used at one time to describe blacks were rooted in racial slur.
Not much to be proud of there.

Someday.. (way down the road) we will all just be people.. equal like the paper says.. till then.. treat others well and watch out for that oppotunity to play your part.

Answer 9

I totally agree with you as well nor do i go use it either and i feel it doesn't apply to me as well. And many other terms or examples that are used to describe us. I don't even like how it sounds African American.

Which brings me to say this. For those who like it if they had to be sent back to Africa. I promise ya they wouldn't use the term anymore.
They would deny deny deny, that they where from Africa.

Answer 10

You've got a great point I am so mixed up in race that it would be ridiculous to try to identify myself with only one ethnic label or group. I think people just do it to be pc and to hopefully not offend. You don't hear the French or the British describing themselves as African-French or African-British.

Answer 11

Wow you are really insightful! My nieces also come from a background with lots of nationalities involved and African American really won't fit them either.
I like being called plain American!