Why can't whites be called European Americans?

Question

Unless one of your parents was actually born in Africa, why be African-American or unless one of your parents was actually born in an asian country why be Asian American? My ancestors came from Europe. Can I be considered European-American? Personally, I prefer just to be an American. But it's funny to me how this works. Just curious about what others may think.

Answer 1

This is actually a pretty good question. I personally think that using color, race, or origin to distinguish people may not be a good idea except for identification purposes for criminal reasons. Other than that, I think just American should work for all Americans regardless of color.

Answer 2

I agree wholeheartedly. I had a boss that immigrated from Egypt with his family and were of Arabic decent. Not being too fluent in English he attended an African-American event, being that he was from Africa and had just moved to the U.S. Needless to say, he nearly got his butt kicked when asked why he was there. "I want to be an African-American!" He is now an African-American, being that has citizenship both in Egypt and the U.S. I think only people who are recent immigrants or have dual citizenship between nations in the North American and African continents should be considered African-Americans. If your Mom was born here, your grandma was born here, and your great-grandma lives here - guess what? You're an American.

These distinctions are but another reason we have not made sufficient progress as a unified society - we're too divided! Does anyone remember what Lincoln said about a house divided?

Answer 3

As far as I am concerned, this "African American" term is a misguided attempt at political correctness. I was very curious about this, so I asked few of the black people at work, what they wanted to be called.

Most people answered "A black man."

When I asked, if one of them minded being called an "African American," he replied, "I'm not an American." (He was Nigerian)

At one point, someone came up with an idea that COLOR IS BAD, then this is the result. How silly.... We are over-doing trying to be kind, caring, and gentle.

When I was on a cruise ship, most workers wearing name tags with a line from their home country "South Africa" were white...

You can be called anything you like. Yes, you are European American. I am an Asian American.

I agree with you, we are Americans....

Answer 4

It seems that in America we have to tag, or brand, everything and everyone. African-American, I believe, was a name of choice taken by blacks to designate those whose origins were in Africa. Then we got a little carried away. Since not all Caucasians are of European heritage, it would be incorrect to brand every white as European American. I agree with you, what's the matter with being just American. We have enough polarization in this country without false branding, regardless of how it draws artificial distinctions among the races. Can't we all be one?

Answer 5

African American people don't have a direct homeland other than that entire continent to identify with that we can pinpoint due to the way the ancestors were brought to Ameriica. So the politically correct way to adress is an issue. Colored, Black, African American whatever. Just a way to identify who u are talking about because there is no nationhood to be spoken of.

Answer 6

Because a white person in America, could have parents that were from Russia, then they would have to be called Asian Americans. Why would you call a black man whose parents were from Morocco an African American, isn't Morocco in Spain, and isn't Spain in Europe. It's all racist stereo typing. American ignorance of geography.

Answer 7

I totally agree, I mean, why call black people african american? They're american. Plain and simple. Many white people come from Africa, many black people come from other countries. Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, to name a few. Do these people deserve to be called African-American even though neither they or their ancestors hail from the continent of Africa? It doesn't make sense.

Answer 8

I have never been to Europe, so I would not consider myself a European American. Here's another quandry for ya, is there a nation or continent in this great world of ours known as "Caucasia"? Then why the hell do they call us crackers Caucasians? I personally think it sounds like "caca" and I am deeply offended.

Answer 9

In south America we think - why we can not say we are American, if we live in American continent too? Why just north-American people who live in USA can be called American people? I wonder if African American, Asian American like to be called like this, because it seems a label to me. but I think this can be a way to express their culture, because American culture is very generic. In Brazil we don't say Afro-Brazilians but we used to give so much importance to Afro-Brazilian culture. USA is a very divided country, is not easy to mix cultures and to be proud of the result.

Answer 10

u should just be called american mate,does it matter ? the whole of america including south america and canada was actually colanised by europeans anyway.you are european in a way.i am british but i do actually hate being called european,because britan is a nation of its own,and we are compleatly differnt people to the rest of europe,by the way we act and live,and do everyday life.