Afircan Americans - why?

Question

Why do blacks insist upon being called "African American" when they were born here? I was born here and I'm just as proud of my heritage as they are. I have slavery in my bloodlines, too. My lineage is Dutch and Irish, but I don't call myself a "Dutch American" or "Irish American"? Why not refer to yourself for what you are - an AMERICAN!!!

Answer 1

most people i know who push saying "african americans" are w.a.s.p.-y, p.c. whities.

Answer 2

You know thats a great question. I dont understand it either , except that I see most of the time its the poor blacks or the trouble makers that harp on it. I have many black friends that want to do well in life. They dont walk around saying thier African American, thier just Americans tring thier best to contribute to America. I think that Black men and women are every bit as equal to anyone else. Unfortunatly the ones who are loud mouth and spewing hate seem to be the ones the press want to talk to. I think America is a very strong country and when all african americans become just americans we will just get stronger.

Answer 3

White people do refer to themselves as Irish Americans, Italian-Americans, Polish-American, etc. I don't hear Dutch-American but it may be because there isn't enough of a population here to warrant it. I guess you need a large population to have a label because in South Africa the Dutch have labeled themselves as Afrikanas. Also why do Europeans still have distinctions since there is now a European Union?

You whites exclude and label us, but then get mad when we choose our own names. Get over it.

Boopie, "colored" implies that you are of mixed race and that is insulting also. All of our ancestors didn't lay with whties and hopefully all of them weren't raped by those animals.

Answer 4

Amen brother. I want to be considered just an American but people insist on adding Black (not that dark), colored (don't know why this one didn't stay), ***** (too much like ******), or whatever offensive terms. So blacks prefer to be called African American because it is the least offensive of the others. I would love to be called by my name or an American, but people always have to ask what race I am. It irritates me. I've even had people coming up to me speaking Spanish. My nationality is American, i was born and raised here so I am American.

Answer 5

By maintaining the African appellation in the American title, they are able to have the best of both worlds. They can be afforded all the rights and privileges that Americans take for granted, but also sustain the specter of guilt over white America by constantly reminding them that they were forcefully taken out of Africa and subjugated.

Put another way the term African American serves a dual purpose. It gives them access to everything American, while allowing them the luxury of blaming everything on their discriminated alien status, and the past injustices that have been imposed on them due to their foreign origins. It imparts to their whinny attitude something noble and patriotic.

Answer 6

I'm glad you asked this question, and honestly I think it is because of a combination of race loyalty and land loyalty. I call myself Black. Or American. But for some minorites, they grew up with parents and grandparents who taught them that this is a White man's world, you're just born in it., so they call themselves African American(sticking to their roots and still have some loyalty to their country. It's confusing for some of us, because we still have problems because of the color of our skin, so we can't really call ourselves American. Can we? Americans are supposed enjoy freedom and all the benefits it can give. I work next to a black woman, who is a Teacher, and she is sweet as pie. But she was pulled over by a White cop and told that she may have stolen her own car. This happened this year. Do you know what year it is? 2006. So, some of us just figure: Keep the African but tack on American. Half and half.

Answer 7

Your Dutch and Irish history in America is much different from the African-American experience and honestly I don't think that I could explain it so that you would get 'it'. But Africa is a huge continent, not a country....meaning we can't (in large masses) trace our heritage back to a specific country, so in essence we are a people w/out a home....but we do know that we came from Africa, but we don't know where. And history has dictated that America is not home for us. For most of us America is our house but not our HOME!

Answer 8

I think that the term "African American" came about by the media attempting to be politically correct. If you're old enough you'll remember that in the fifties, the term used to describe blacks was "******". The sixties brought the term "blacks", and finally, "African Americans".

Blacks have apparently adopted the term. Who really cares what they call themselves. In the final analysis we're all just people.

Answer 9

I feel the same way, but I would apply it to lots of people, including those who insist on flying Confederate flags.

My solution: everyone take a day - St. Patrick's Day, Columbus Day, etc. Celebrate your ancestry. Honor them all year.

But we're all Americans. I am most proud of the Stars and Stripes, and TODAY.

I am grateful to my ancestors and appreciate their culture and accomplishments, but I do not say I am "proud" of them - somehow I think the word pride means I somehow claim credit for their accomplishments. I am proud of America because I AM a part of it.

Again, the past is past. TODAY is all we have. Let's look ahead.

PS I use the words black and whitre when race is involved. Keep it simple.

Answer 10

First, there is a little bit of a difference. We are talking about a racial distinction--not a national distinction. As a group blacks are clearly idenfifiable. In talking about them there needs to be a designation. Blacks--that is good--but it does not idenfiy that they are blacks living in America as oppossed to Africa--where there is the largest percentage of blacks.

I think the designtion of "African-American" is a good one.

Second, what is wrong with it since we need a a term to refer to this group of people. They are proudly recognizing their American citizenship--not lumping themselves together with the large mass of the same race throughout the world. In some ways this seems better to me than the favored "Latino" for people of Spanish heritage.

Third, there is nothing new about it. It fact it was adopted from past usages of the same type term used with other racial (and despite your particular case--ethinic and nationalites as well)--such as Japanese-Americans.

Most African-Americans I know do prefer that designation--although they are ok with "blacks". Since it is a perfectly good designation--why not use it?

Answer 11

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