Why is it that in America we separate races by placing their ethnicity plus -American?

Question

America is the only place that separates races even if they were all born here we still call them African-American, Asian-American, Mexican-American ect. and in no other place in the world does this. do people from Italy that go to Germany and call them selves Italian-germans, of people from china going to Mexico calling them selves Chinese-Mexican? So why do we do this to ourselves here in America?

Answer 1

i think it is wrong too. Canada and the UK do not do this. But that said, did you know that minorities in schools bring in more cash. So, even if you do not mark your race the schools can. Money..... I think this is wrong too.

Answer 2

The hyphenated names are not wanted by the Americans,some ethic groups use them as a form of identification of sorts that separates them from being called something else.Most of those terms were made up by the American government to keep track of minority's,case in point,a school with a higher number of Mexican-Americans can get more grant money than a school with only children in it,the same with the African -American hyphenation.It classifies all of us by doing this as being separated from one another.By being separated we will never be as one here in America.I am of German ancestry,but I am a born and raised American first.
I never refer to my self as a German-American and I would be a tad insulted if some one did that.To me it makes me think that people don't think of me as an American.its a very ignorant out dated system that is in effect to keep us separated not joined as true Americans.People can call themselves any thing they desire in this country.I for one will be called an America,.

Answer 3

I understand what your saying and there is some truth to your convictions. Why do Americans seem to add a prefix to "American"? Couldn't we also say Blonde-American, Brunette-American, Catholic-American, Athletic-American? We do use separations in ethnicity quite frequently.

My thought is, that as a country the size of the United States, that it is and always will be, one of the largest ethnic melting pots in the world. Where as in Italy, most of the people that live there are more likely to be of origin to that country, with a smaller mix of ethnic diversity then the USA. The same of other European, Asian or countries in the world.

Realistically, the United States is just that, the "United States" - 51 of them. Some states the size of an entire country in Europe.

I met a man from London who explained to me that when his daughter got her driver's license she would also get her visa. This is because Europeans travel frequently from country to country - where here in the United States, visas aren't necessary to travel from state to state. Keeping this in mind, isn't it possible that we really do tend to associate an American with their ethnic background because we are housing so many more people with a wider range of traditional cultures than other countries do.

Answer 4

I'm not saying its right OR wrong but hear is why I think people do it....
Because Americans do not have a race. For most countries, they have a race. In China, about 99% of the people there are Asian. In Germany, majority of the country is white. In Zimbabwe, most of the people there are black.

In America, we do NOT have that. An American is not white, nor black, nor asian. You can't just choose one. While thats great, people do like to represent where they are because whether you like it or not, our race and heritage plays a pretty important role in how we live.

Answer 5

I have always wondered this also. People always call me Asian-American and I always correct them saying "no, I am American. I have never been to Asia. I was born and raised here." Then they look at me like I have 3 heads. It makes me crazy.

Answer 6

there are really two groups that you constantly hear that from... Africans and Mexicans. Two of the groups we seem to have the most problem with. Asian is running a close 3rd.

Answer 7

I think it as the races that tack the labels. I am an American only . I dont think we need African American or anything else for that matter.

Answer 8

It is the way of the LEFT... a divisive tactic... to create splinter groups....

I am an American.... I will not put all the crap ahead of "AMERICAN".... American says it all.

I would have a moniker that would take a small paragraph to state if I used the ethnic titles of all my ancestors.... it just isn't needed.

Answer 9

WE don't separate them, they separate themselves, either for cultural preservation or to get 'diversity' benefits. You don't ever have to answer those form questions, but schools, etc., can't track progress or enrollment according to requirements, if you don't. I consider Americans American unless THEY hyphenate. Then I try to respect their wishes. It is just a matter of manners, at that point.

Answer 10

it rather is fairly superficial stuff. whilst one grows older, you already know that it is likewise very petty. I even have stumbled on i could have extra in person-friendly with somebody of a various race because of the fact of comparable behavior, ideals, occupation, pursuits, and so on. and so on. and so on. than I do with somebody of an identical race--many situations over. all of us are a mixture of numerous ethnicities and races surely, and what you're gazing is what the divisions are in 21st-Century u.s.. Being in a multi-racial/cultural/nationality kin myself, I even have stumbled on it rather magnificent and has would each and every physique smarter in our progressed age. i could be rather bored if i did not stay in a multi-cultural society, in fact, it rather is what I stay for. Racial separatism is an immaturity of human sort.

Answer 11

if people see it as racism it's wrong. it should be looked at as apart of there heritage. why can't people be proud of where they come from. i'm mexican, but born in america, and so was my parents. we've been here since the alamo. but my family and i, we say AMERICAN MEXICAN. this is are home. and we do not want illegals here. no amnisty.