please this is not meant to offend anyone.
what is with the term (african american)? if you were born in africa and migrated here i can understand it but if you were born here wouldn't it be more appropriate to be called (american africans)? or better yet just americans?
2006-08-31 13:40:50 · 7 answers · asked by bgdadyp 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Actually, quite a few black people feel the same way and I happen to be one of them. White people don't get classified as European Americans, just Americans in general. Seeing that I've never been to Africa I don't refer to myself as African American but as a black American.
2006-08-31 13:47:31 · answer #1 · answered by Tiacola Version 9.0 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A white lady made up the term during the women's suffrage movement (go figure); however, it was popularized by black leaders in the late 70's. I don't like the term, frankly. African-American refers to Africans who have immigrated to the US, not black people who were born here/descendants of slaves. The reason I say this is because the two cultures don't even identify with each other, and are too far removed from one another to be considered similar. It's basically just a politically correct (or what people think is PC) way to refer to black people as a whole, though I think this is INcorrect. Just depends on who you ask...
2006-08-31 20:44:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It wasn't our idea. I'm not african. I'm american. This white girl I went to high school with imigrated here from South Africa. She marked African American for demographic surveys on tests and stuff. Really, I think it's just so they don't have to say black people.
2006-08-31 20:47:43 · answer #3 · answered by phoebster818 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Can you possibly call me soulsista. I personally feel like it is just another form of seperation of the races, i mean, look you had the n word that is still used though very deragatory, then colored ( what color), then ***** ( in webster's it means member of the black race( no mention of human race though), then you have black which is in a constant state of battle with african american. So what do ya do? You call us by our name like you would a co-worker, friend or family member and stop labeling US.
2006-08-31 21:06:19 · answer #4 · answered by soulsista 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In my "African American Politics" class a few semesters back, my instruction -- a black guy -- basically had the same issue. He said to a class full of white people (and two black girls), "just call us black, OK?"
2006-08-31 20:42:51 · answer #5 · answered by rabidbaby 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm not black but have many black friends. Every single one of my friends prefers to be called american first or black. But none of them like to be called african americans.
My opinions are the same as yours.'
2006-08-31 20:49:28 · answer #6 · answered by Bluealt 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That's weird I'm "african-american" and i don't even know why they call us that. Just say I'm black it doesn't offend me at least.
2006-08-31 20:47:57 · answer #7 · answered by Dee I 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋