Why are white people not called Euro-Americans or Anglo-Americans?

Question

If Blacks are called Afro-Americans and most disturbingly, American indians are called Native Americans, Why are White people called "Americans"? That namesake should be more fitting to the indians that settled here first.

I do not think that most people that answered the question, understood it completely. Let me add this scenario: Here in the U.S. Americans are not all viewed the same. When a great event has taken place it is usually the first 'american' to do something. But if that american is non white, it is the first native american or the first japanese american to do something. Egyptians are not called African americans and they're clearly from Africa.

Answer 1

That's a VERY good question. I think we should start a movement: Americans all, but also _____-Americans.

I think Euro-American or European American would be better. Even the ancestors of those of us with Anglo last names ususally did not hark from England. Most of us were Scots or Irish, running away from one of the King George's--or from a potato famine (illegal immigrants, many of them). Or else we came from elsewhere in Europe and anglicized our names. So Americans all, but also African Americans, Asian Americans, European Americans. . . .

Now, will Hispanic Americans want to retain that designation? And why can't we do better than Native American?

And what's just as bad is when we say America meaning just the USA. And when we talk about Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, Argentinians, etc. We are Americans all, then Canadians, Mexicans, Argentinians, and US Americans.

I have been an editor for many years, and I always edit manuscripts to say US history, US literature, US elections rather than American history, American literature, American elections, when the reference is clearly to the USA alone.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

And welcome to Yahoo! Answers.

Answer 2

I am caucasian and people will ask me what is my nationality. When I say American, they say, no, your ancestors. And I still say American. But they want to know the origin of my last name, which is Polish. Problem is, why stop there? I am sure the lineage ends up in the same place everyone else's ends up, at some primordial pond. Which is more important, me the person or where my last name was first used? Since the Nazis destroyed all evidence of my "family" history, I am not able to provide an accurate answer, and I am sure many Americans cannot. I, too, am puzzled by the Afro-, Hispanic, Native prefixes...we are ALL Americans if we are citizens of the Western Hemisphere...so if we live in the U.S.A. and are naturalized, why not accept that we are American citizens residing in the US.

Answer 3

Lots of white cultures also use prefix before American, I'm Greek-American, my buddy is Italian-American, Etc. I'm just not sure what is politically correct. Oh, and I am first generation American, so my family knows where we started from, unlike 73% of the white American you speak of. Maybe if people knew a lil' more about their heritage, they might think a lil' more about culture and world relations. Knowing my history gives me honor and makes a difference on my out look of life. Where as Afro-Americans will never have the same opportunity as whites in their research (Except people like Alex Haley - The author of Roots!), so they will only have comfort in knowing that Africa is their motherland, so let them be proud too! Nothin' wrong with that. Maybe white people aren't proud of themselves, with all the killing of innocent cultures and slavery, I wouldn't be proud of that history either!!! So, why are White-Americans (Mostly from Texas, the "I'm workin' a lone" Star State) still doing it?

Answer 4

First off the native people of the land we call North America are not indians. That is just a derogatory term the is equivalent to the N word. In Canada they aren't refered to as native american, but as either first nation or just native. The reason why europeans do not use the term euro-american is that the american factor comes from the colonization of North America which was done by europeans.

Answer 5

It is because politcal correctness Nazis hate white Americans and believe we are the cause of all the world's problems. That is why you don't get Euro-American. Frankly, the hypenates are insulting.

Nice catch on Native American. Indian is from the Spanish meaning People of God. But that is not good for language police. Because the Spanish brough disease that Indians were not immune to.

Someone has to pay for all our sins and since the PC movement is secular, it means it isn't Jesus.

Oh I crack myself up.

Answer 6

No, pondering the actuality that i'm now no longer of Anglo first rate. no longer each and every white person is from England. EDIT: Oh, sturdy if its terrific "cultural" and "assimilated" then why do no longer you call each and every person in u . s . a . of america Anglo-American? White, black, chinese language, jap, Mexican, Colombian, Korean, Indian, Brazillian, Afghan, Israeli, Samoan, they have all assimilated type of into American custom, have not they? all of them communicate English. they might desire to be Anglos as sturdy.

Answer 7

Jim P is on the mark, but the reason there is no "Euro-American" box to check on forms for ethnicity is because most "white" Americans could really care less about re-affirming their racial identity. Most are satisfied with being regular old Americans, with all the baggage, guilt, privileges, and rights therein.

Myself, I always mark "pasty white."

Answer 8

Because America had a civil war to rid themselves of all things European. Anglo is a prefix that denotes English lineage. Americans feel threatened by the English. Americans feel inferior the the British, so "Anglo" scares the hell out of them. Americans would like to believe they sprang up out of nowhere.

Answer 9

Hyphenated Americans feel a need to validate themselves outside of America. Hyphenation leads to separatism and eventual Balkanization.

You're either American, or you're not.

Answer 10

Simple racism - being "white" is considered to be the default position. If you are American you are also white - if you aren't then your Americanism is further described by your prefixed ethnicity.