Why do people in America, add African, Asian, Latin, Jewish, European when they should just ID themselves as a

Question

American

So you are saying Caucasian American, White American, Cajun American would be accepted by the African Americans!

Puresnow
I ubderstand your point, but that has nothing to do with why they add, there color orgin. Like it or not they are just plain old americans, Yes I could ID myself a Cajun American, But I was born in America therefore I am an American,

Answer 1

That's a great question, one I am constantly asking. I think Americans who hyphenate their "ancestry" are stupid and not patriotic at all. It serves only to divide us, not to unite us. African-Americans, for example, are notorious for doing this. If they love Africa so much that they have to include it in their identity, then they should go back to Africa and leave America. Most of them don't even have ancestry in Africa. I have ancestors from Europe, which can be proven, yet I refuse to call myself European-American because I was born on the soil of the USA and an American is what I am. Period.

Answer 2

America is so unique. It is a total melting pot where everyone is American, and yet, other than Native Americans, the largest percentage of the population originate (s) (ed) in another country.

Here, you can be African, Asian, Latin, Jewish, or European freely and openly, not have to abandon your culture, and still have the privilige of being American. It is so cool. It gives us so much to share and learn.

Here you can celebrate whatever holidays your cultures have. And yet, on Thanksgiving everyone in the Nation, regardless of origin, sits down with loved ones and gives Thanks. We celebrate and affirm this country's union.

It is always amazing to me that people from anywhere in the world can live side by side on a daily basis in this country. It is an example of what mankind can accomplish when we put our prejudices aside and work for a common good.

It's not a perfect world. Not an eutopia, but it's about as close as mankind has gotten this far.

Answer 3

Thanks for asking this question! I've often wondered about this myself, so unfortunately I can't give you a satisfying answer.

What puzzles me most, is that people who are for instance just one eight (or even one sixteenth) part Irish, say that they are Irish American and even identify themselves like that, by saying things like they are proud of their heritage (a word that I hate, incidentally). For a lot of Europeans this is strange to say the least and is considered a little bit ridiculous if I'm being totally honest.

The only thing that I can come up with is that they are ashamed of being American and lay an emphasize on another country because of that. But I don't think that's the truth, because most Americans I know are proud of being American.

So I will be following the answers to this question with interest!

Answer 4

Well said. The answer, they don't really want to be Americans. In which case they should take their toys and go back to where their ancestors came from. We need a national identity. we're not Asian, Mexican, African, Irish, German, French, Jewish, Puerto Rican Americans. We're Americans and there in nothing politically incorrect about it. A spade is a spade. Plain and simple. I have no problem with people embracing their heritage or family history. But try to incorporate that embrace and make it part of your national identifier. Not on my watch.

Answer 5

Because it's a free country and they choose to. One could also ask why do people call themselves American or French when they could ID themselves as human or world citizens. Personally I will keep identifying myself with my race because subconsiously others will identify me as such. I know the first and last thing people will notice about me is that I am black.

Answer 6

I don't know the true answer to your question. I think it's quite puzzling how America has come to be assumed to be the U.S. of A. I know I'm dating myself, but when I went to school, we were taught that America consisted of all the countries on the continents of North, Central and South America. Human nature--a mysterious thing!

Answer 7

Ethnic identity is important to people, it is a cheap route to self esteem for people who have accomplished nothing worthy of note.

It is an excuse to exercise elitism. In drawing a line around themselves and people like them they become a member of an exclusive club.

A club whose achievements they are proud of in spite of not having contributed to those achievements themselves.

Answer 8

Because they do not want to lose their background and where they came from. They want to have their culture identity plus be an American.

Answer 9

All are in the MELTING POT that is America. But the integration is not yet complete.