Not being racist, Do black people feel offended when they are called African-Americans ?

Question

You were born in America ,not Africa.

Answer 1

It depends on what the term of preference is at the moment. They used to like being called "colored" (hence the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - NAACP). Now, calling them "colored" makes you a racist. They also preferred to be called "*****" (hence the United ***** College Fund). Now, calling them "*****" makes you a racist. Ironic, since both those organizations still use their original names. But when they call each other "******", which in my mind is the most racist thing you can call someone, it's perfectly ok - unless a white person says it, then it's racist. "Black" is probably the most common, but they're not really black, so it's senseless. "African-American" is ludicrous, since if you ask them where they're from in Africa they'll look at you puzzled. Currently, they prefer "people of color", but we're all "people of color", technically. And who knows what will change in the next 10 minutes - what's acceptable now could be "racist" tomorrow.

I prefer to call them "Americans", since that's what we all are here in the U.S.A. - those of us who are here legally, of course.

Answer 2

I have had a problemunderstanding wich is correct myself and I do not want to offend anyone I try to treat all people with respect color nor anything matters we are allGod created. I have been told and heard that the proper term is African American but only if they are born in America so I am confused what about the original africans from africa I mean they came to America and are citizens so should they also not be African Americans?

Answer 3

First of all, I did not find your question offensive. I do appreciate your sensitivity though; I am a black woman. Notice I said a 'black' woman. That is how I refer to myself and other people of African heritage who were raised in America. African immigrants, especially when having an accent, I refer to as black African. My nationality is American but I very seldom, if ever, have to point out that I'm an American.

I learned the difference between race, ethnicity, and cultural background a long time ago. I consider Italian- Americans white, as I do German- Americans, Jewish- Americans, Russian Americans.. etc. I do not differentiate Hispanics, as in noticing that they're Latino- American, Mexican- American,.. etc. I believe in respecting the differences in another's culture. But again, the differences (unless you're bi or multi racial) are ethnic or cultural and don't really involve race, in my opinion. There has been too much race mixing since the evolution of people for me to see a person's pure racial make- up to be that important.

I think the offense comes into the picture when you start developing your own nick names- like, *****%, sp%#, kike. I don't think anyone of any race actually prefers to be nick named anything derrogatory. I'd get more angry at a person who called me a bi*#@ than a person who called me a ****@%. In urban settings that word gets used so often it doesn't have the same meaning to me as it would've to my grandmother. I heard a white guy call a black guy ****#@r a couple weeks ago and he and I both got a good laugh. Nowadays, blacks (or at least I) can joke about happenings like that because there are a whole lot of whites (just like blacks in black society) that can make the white race look bad. The image of white people to me, isn't at all the image my ancestors had.

Answer 4

When you were ripped from your mother land with no knowledge of you history, no one in the family is considered the one who started a whole line of new americans. When you don't really have a country to call your own because you don't which part of the great continent you were stolen from. When you came with nothing and white people were bound and determined to keep it that way. Why would you be so insensitive to even question that. At least we can at least acknowledge to ourselves and the world that we are from Africa and not ashamed of it. We are americans true but we were brought from somewhere. Why don't you incite racism by asking a chinese american why does he feel that way, they were slaves too, who built the railroads. White men have constantly enslaved lesser people to do hard and grueling work they refused to do and when the less people rebelled they were labeled as shiftless and lazy. I have really always thought white people were the more lazy. Now the people they are trying to enslave are Mexicans. Who is mowing lawns, doing yard work janitorial housekeeping. Used to be black then it was filipinos. Now just exactly who are the lazy people. Why does it bother you so much that because we came with nothing had nothing the only thing we could hold onto is our ancestry and it makes you angry because you feel we don't even deserve that. You are a loser.

Answer 5

Yes we do.

Most african-americans dislike being called that because we are ashamed of our african blood (this does not include myself)
We know nothing about africa except for the starving poor people that we watch on CNN.

We have been brainwashed to view africa as this dirty, disease ravaged, destitute and disgusting country. The large majority of us do not want to associate ourselves with africa or africans. We don't want people to see us as being of the same race of those starving kids in darfur, or those aids stricken babies in south africa.

The mental conditioning that we have gone through means that most of us loathe africa.

Therefore we prefer the term 'black'

Answer 6

I suppose this would be like unto calling someone of French or Spanish ancestry "European-American." Or "Japanese-American" if someone is of Japanese ancestry but born in America. I don't see anything racist about it, but it does seem to dilute the whole idea of being American. It seems the melting pot hasn't melted down everything from the Old World to the New. This is not to say one should be ashamed of one's heritage, but in practical fact, there is always cognizance of one's extraction, no matter how "American" you are. It must be an artifact of America's status as a relatively young country.

Answer 7

I've read a lot of questions about this and it seems like some prefer "black" over "African-American" and some prefer the latter. They clearly don't all have the same opinion about this. I think few get offended by it though. Maybe it matters how you use the terms rather than which one you use.

I'm not black, I'm just telling you what I've read from previous answers to similar questions.

Answer 8

I've employed several black people over the years in a sales enviorment. any of them that put down "african american" on the application I threw away the app. to me its a matter of American pride. If someone wants to be African and American, they can look for a job there. If someone had the balls to but "euro-American" I wouldn't have hired their *** either. I hired many black men, many. But there is no room in the business world for someone who thinks they are above being just plain old American. a quick funny sotry, I had a black guy come in an interview. his app said black, and he was a great canidate. he moved from russia of all places and his family had been there for centuries. He had the balls to refer to himself as African American. I ended the conversation then.


oh, I'll bet this topic gets deleted btw.

Answer 9

Based on the fact that they constantly call each other N****R they must prefer that term. Why else would they use it when addressing each other?
Honestly I dont think there is an acceptable term when it comes from a white person, they will act like they are offended reguardless of what you call them. Just another way of keeping the bridge between the races from being built.

Answer 10

We can thank Jesse Jackson for the term African American. Its ridiculous. So no one better call me white. I am polish,scottish,russian, italian american and don't you forget it. Black people are black people. Unless they are from africa, they are not africans. Good point to the one who mentioned people from africa, not being called white african americans!