why do people say african americans?

Question

why do people say african american. I mean if someone were to say german-american they would look at you like just call me white but you ahouldn't say that casue its rude. it is rude that is racist in a way. Its like saying they are still not real american because they are part african. My heritage is Nicaraguan Costa Rican and mor but they don't call me Nicaraguan-Costa rican american???

Answer 1

Because African Americans, as people of color, do not like being called colored people.

Answer 2

It was started by someone trying to find political correctness. Because just saying black... almost sounds bad. African American is understood as the safe, politically correct version of black. It's no longer really meaning someone from Africa in America or someone with African and American heritage. Now it's just a word that means something else. A symbol, really.

Answer 3

Many people of African background are unable to locate the exact ancestry of their families in Africa. It's difficult to pinpoint one country such as Mali, Guinea, or Angola as they were mingled and moved over the country. So, they call themselves African-Americans.

It's not uncommon at all to hear Italian-Americans, German-Americans or Italian-Americans. We learned that when different groups were in bars rooting for European teams , during the FIFA world cup.

A healthy person is well aware of his collective identity. Modern day psychologists have taught us this. We are what we are plus all that came before us in our family. At any one time, there are 1000's of Americans who are visiting England and looking up their relatives.

When we become part of the American melting pot, we make an American stew. However we do not lose the identity's of our families. You can be a citizen and remain proud of your ancestral heritage as well.

I guess people would call you a Latin-American.
When you think of the beauty, history, and cultural contributions of those countries to the world-at-large, I'd think you would be proud.

Answer 4

I don't think it is meant to insult anyone. I think it is meant to be a polite reference. However, it may not be technically correct. It is still not meant as a racial slur. Perhaps someday people will just be referred to as people. For now there are so many discrimination accusations and laws among other issues that there has to be a way to refer to different races in what most people see a politically correct term. I don't consider myself "white" but every job application or other legal form either refers to me as white or Caucasian. Take it with a grain of salt. At least I am not being referred to as a honky or a cracker...LOL. Seriously try not to take it so personally. It is not meant to insult anyone.

Answer 5

I understand your point, but it's just a way of specifying their race. You can't say "African", because they are not necessarily born in Africa. You can't just say "American", because you're trying to specify something deeper than just American. So that's why you combine the two. They are neither simply American, nor simply African. They are "African American". Same with lots of other stuff, Japanese American, Latin American, etcetc.

Answer 6

I don't know why.
I don't like to be referred to as African-American, I really don't like to be called anything other than "Mr. Grumpy".
I was born an American, as in Citizen of the United States of America, I served in my countries military as an American, and really don't want to be isolated by a label other than American.
The labels only matter when you are choosing up sides, and I don't want to play that game.


Yours: Grumpy

Answer 7

Because it is a more politically correct way of saying black this word started being used after the civil rights movement though because on my grandmother's birth certificate it says ***** and she was born in 1952 so the word wasn't adopted until then

Answer 8

American should be American. Period. Blacks get all worked up because we call them black. I don't get all worked up of someone calls me white, even though I'm not...I'm tan. Some folks are just way too sensitive, I suppose. I have Indian in my background along with some European. It just makes no sense to me saying Euro-American...Afro-American. Too many words.

Answer 9

some people are really sensitive.

Its just a way of toning things down and no matter what you say to black people it might be an offense because it really doesn't matter what you say to them the damage to their ancestors has been done.

People love dwelling on the past because hinesight is 20/20

Answer 10

only place i ever see somebody called African american is on TV - in the real world they call themselves black and every other race calls them black(mostly)