Why do Americans freely call natives indians and african americans blacks??

Question

i went to the states and when i lisened to your radio and your news stations i noticed that... its so much different in canada, its really racist if you do that, we would never refer to african americans as BLACKS!!!

dont be dumb people
you know what i mean

Robinho *OPríncipe* read the question again
who would call natives indians lol?

Robinho *OPríncipe*
read it again
no ones calls natives blacks

Answer 1

I have always considered doing so a sign of ignorance. The fact is though, some African Americans call themselves blacks.

Answer 2

Why do you have a problem with it? Why do you have a problem with Americans? Can there ever be a question that doesn't pertain to this hate? Go post this junk some where else. Really, because I have A LOT of "African American" friends and they PREFER to be called BLACKS. I would rather hear the world BLACK than hear that dirty nasty word pertaining to them, and you know what word I mean, unless you live in a closet. Please don't generalize Americans as a whole, we are not all racist. I am not in that majority. I grew up with Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, and many other races. I love everyone accept the murders, rapists, molesters, etc..... What may seem different in your home of Canada is different for America, just like other countries have different beliefs. What you may think is racist, is not necessarily racist to us, especially if you know "African Americans" who prefer to be called Blacks!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

Kelly,
Let's start with Native Americans. I'm a native American. I was born here. Kind of vague. Red? Kind of racist. Indian, sort of inaccurate, because they are not from India, but Christopher Columbus thought they were, so the name stuck. Why should anyone take offense? The Ahmish call me English, but I'm not really English. It's just thier custom to call people other than the Amish that.
Blacks. First it started out as Negros, then I guess that word got shortened to the N word. What does Negro mean in Spanish. Black. For awhile it was politically correct to call an African American (as you call them) "Negro". Then for a brief time it was hip to call them "People of Color", how ironic, because "Colored" is almost as bad as the "N" word. All the signs in the south said "Colored"/"White". If you call a "Black" person "African American", they will be offended on two counts. One is they are not "African", two is they don't like to be associated with a country that they hate "America". So that's doubly not politically correct. I think this whole political correctness is designed to offend white people. It's confusing. So let's get this straight. I'm a Native American white person. A "Black" person is a "Black" person unless they are from Africa. Another confusing thing is Asian. Asia is a huge continent that includes India. So should I call a Native Indian, and Asian, a Native Asian, or a Native American? Oriental was the term used to describe the area where Chinese, Japanese etc. people come from.
They call me "White" last time I checked my skin wasn't really white, but I don't mind being called that. It's not derogatory. Another thing about "African American" it assumes that the person is born in America. So who decides what is politically correct?

Answer 4

Calling them blacks are alot better than some things i've heard them called.I have alot of black friends and that's what they'd rather be called.They call each other worse than that, but they also say they're black and proud As far as Native American Indians go i am part Cherokee and by the way that's the correct term so i think you don't know what you're talking about.

Answer 5

Being called black in the states is not offensive you know.....my friends (that are black/African Americans) do not find it offensive in the least and it's not meant to be offensive in the least...really?!
And native Americans in the US were Indians......so where's your issue? I'm am part native american and yes an American Indian (Iriquois to be exact)......maybe you need to read up on our history first before stating that we are being racist.
The correct term is Native American Indian....and black or African American....not all black people in the United States are African American...they may come from other nations.

Answer 6

Dates all the way back to when Christopher Columbus encountered the Americas. He mistaken Native Americans to be Indians because he thought Europe and Asia were the only ones in the world. And blacks come from racism

Answer 7

A) Native Americans are of Indian descent,
B) Very few Africans hold U.S. citizenship.

Answer 8

I've never heard of anyone calling an american indian black, but some "african-americans" don't want to be called that and would rather be called black. I'm considered to be "african-american" but I prefer to be called black. I have never been to africa, and don't relate to most africans, so why do i have to be african american?

Answer 9

I think that if you refer to people of different races as "Caucasions" or "African Americans" it formalizes things too much. Sure, it may be politically correct, but we will never bring down the wall of race if we give them such formal names.
None of my "African American" friends mind being called Black, as long as it's not derogatory. In fact, some of them get offended if called African American.

Answer 10

I've never in my life heard anyone call Natives blacks!!
And don't lie! You might not call them blacks but i'm sure many Canadians do and are racist also. I mean I know it's wrong but you can't speak for your whole nation!!!

ADDED::
oh ok my bad!! you're right about the natives being called indians but i'm sure it happens in Canada too! My apologies :D