African American vs. Black?

Question

Do you find the term African American a bit discriminating. I mean, you are not calling them American. Why don't they call white people European American? Not all Black People are of African origin.

Answer 1

I prefer to be called black. I like to connect to the millions of black people around the world, many of whom are not American or African.

African American is not discrimanatory (sp) though. I know people who strictly refer to white people as caucasion and only as caucasions. African American allows a group of people descended from slaves who were ripped from their homeland to relate to that homeland. Many of the people from Europe, who you've pointed out as white, came willing to American. They of course can call themselves European American if they wish.

Another thing, many of those white european descendants can literally trace their heritage back to specific people. As a black person I can trace my heritage back to maybe where? Georgia, Alabama and then where? But I do know that eventually my heritage leads back to Africa.

Answer 2

Nationality is a people having common origins or traditions and often constituting a nation. Existence as a politically autonomous entity; national independence. Is that which is use to describe the culture group, heritage and customs of a people. It is what used to tie you to who you are and your families of the Earth. Just as people are proud to be a American, Japanese, Ghanaian, etc are proud of their heritage. Proud not only because it's theirs but because that's who they are.

The term use to describe "Blacks" can change many times. In regards to who they are and the heritage they have. By calling Blacks, American would mean they share the culture, heritage and customs of this nation. On the surface in seem normal yet not realistic. Over 95% of their history here they where treated as stanges and oppressed as animals. Most were oppressed by the only nation in the only land they have ever known.

Referring to them as American is like saying that's who they are. No black person is the image that America has taught them. Eventhough Black is no better than ***** or ****** it's better than American. Blacks consider thereself blacks that live in America, Because America at no point in time represent anything about these so-called "African Americans"

Answer 3

why would being called African-American be discriminating? We are called African-American because ALL of our ancestors took that boat trip from Africa.
I do not know why white people do not call them selves European Americans, it makes sense to me. The only people that should be just Americans are the Native Americans.

Answer 4

whatever, whats this question going to change nothing. i am half italian, part native american and part puerto rican, puerto ricans are part native tieno indian ,,part spanish and african ,,but i was born in manhattan new york. i am an american thats it. i am not going to put myself in a neat little box so you can just say i am what you want me to be,,that is your problem if you look at me and want to put me in some pile. i am proud of everything i know about all cultures that are within me. i was raised with love by both my parents and i never understood why people have an issue with color.. we all come out of the same type of hole. the one thing that i do know the fact that i'm mixed has made me a beautiful person inside and out. i am AMERICAN

Answer 5

Not offensive, but sorta formal and PC. How come there is african-american but all the other ethnicities aren't hyphenated. Why don't people refer to me as a german, irish, english, puerto rican-american?

What is wrong with white, black and brown? Or even yellowish brown, reddish brown, pinkish white? We'll describe a girl as "short, thin, pale, blue eyed with red hair" but if we describe someone as "black" all of a sudden it's offensive and people are all "Oh why do you notice skin color? Can't we get past that?"

How could we not notice skin color anymore than eye color or hair color? Of the color of someone's clothes. Those are all the things that make people different.

If people prefer the term african american I will use it but otherwise I use black. I have several nigerian and senegalese friends but I usually just refer to them as black, not african-american, even though they are actually african-american. Even typing it out every time is a pain.

Here's another pc thing that bugs me. No one would dream of saying "colored people" it sounds so 50s but "people of color" is so trendy now. Isn't that just like saying blue jeans vs jeans that are blue?

Answer 6

I love being called African-American.
Black is a color, I am not Black, I am Brown.
Jesse Jackson fought for us to be called African-American.
If you prefer to be called European-American, than speak to one of your white leaders, and get them to change that for you, Most of the time I call "whites" Caucasians.

Answer 7

I don't think it's discriminating. Who knows? We could all be of african descent. and some people do call white people european american.

Answer 8

i honestly perfer AFRICAN-AMERICAN.why? because i paid my dues to society. and i should be respected as an American. cause just being "black" get you no where in life but the dang ghetto. i got my education like white or Europe American and i deserve the same respect. i am a citizen of America and African descent so i should deserve to call myself African-American.

Answer 9

"African-American" is simply the label-du-jour for black people, most of whom (in my experience) prefer to simply be described as "black people" or "people". America has gone through an uncomfortable history of trying to decide how to label black people ever since their "emancipation", and hopefully we are close to not even needing the labels.

If you see a child being abducted into a car, I think telling the police it was a "white child", a "black child" or a "latino child" should not be cause for anyone to be offended...

In hopes of making someone smile, I'd like to note that a TV Newscaster recently described a prominent black member of the British Parliment as "African-American". I very nearly peed myself!

Answer 10

The society decides what is a politically correct term and we learn manners and try to respect all cultures.