y am i considered an african american and not just american???

Question

i waz born in the u.s, never been to africa, and people still call me african american?????? i will rather be called american, or black.
and if thats the case, y dont we call white people british american or german american????????? i dunno

Answer 1

Hey I agree with you baby - if you were born in America then your American, if you were born in Africa then your African and if you were born in Africa and moved to America and became a legalized citizen then you are African American.

Answer 2

I was born in Puerto Rico, but raised in New Jersey and I am considered Puerto Rican-American, not American. Yet, when ever I travel out of the country I am considered American. Look at Blacks in Britain and Brazil, they are not considered Afro British or Afro Brazilian; they are simply classified as Brazilian and British. I just think America is obsessed with classifying people and stereo typing. I have a friend that is of Chinese descent from Cuba and he considers himself Cuban, but in New Jersey people find it hard to classify him as Cuban because he looks Chinese and doesn't fit the Cuban stereotype. Kind of funny for country that promotes being the melting pot of the world, yet is obsessed with segregating and classifying everyone.

Answer 3

Because of stupid political correctness that everyone has to be divided into some hyphenated-American group, they go on with all the bull about being "a color blind society" and what is the first question on every government document after name, age and sex? Race. If you go back far enough we all have a common ancestor, most ethnic groups at some point can be traced back to the Middle East/African Sub Continent. But it's because politicians worry most about elections, and keeping track of what groups they can count on for votes in exchange for favors of some kind or another. To my Native American ancestors, Spain was just another European country taking their land, I see no reason why I should learn to speak Spanish in order to communicate with others in my own country. My European ancestors had to learn English. We need to be just "Americans" and speak a common language because excessive political correctness is what leads to all these crackpot extremists groups, when most of us just want to get on with our lives and put the bull aside. At anyrate, "American" should come first.

Answer 4

Because most black people get offended being called by the color of there skin, and they are perfered being called african-american, african describing there race, american describing where they're born.
If you go out there in the real world and ask people in you're race what do you like being called?
Most will simply answer african american, i know this because i have black friends that simply get offended being called black, they like being called african american.

Answer 5

Why do you accept the status of a hyphenated second class
citizen ??
Why did previously first class American citizens who were
simply of African heritage adopt such a degrading appelation..
They shot themselves right through the foot...
Blend into the whole or forever be ostracized and segregated...
Do not accept this second class appelation..
Call yourself what you are ...An AMERICAN...
I certainly would Never call myself a British- American or Scotch -American or Irish-American or Spanish-American...
I am an AMERICAN...First Class...Nothing else...Not hyphenated

Answer 6

People trying to be "P.C" the only people who are African American or Irish American or Chinese American are first generation people that came here from whatever country. Everyone else is just American.

Answer 7

BINGO! You are exactly right! We're getting a bit ridiculous with all this political correctedness when like you point out, we are all simply Americans!

Another oddity is technically, Canadians, Mexicans, Hondurans, etc are also Americans. America is a continent, not a nation! I always found that odd!

Answer 8

We call them european-american you speak as if Afrika is a country it's a continent we don't specify people by their country's but by their continent, ever heard of asian-american? And most black people came from or had ancestors that came from Africa. therfore you have african blood.

Answer 9

Because thats what blacks wanted to be known by a while back instead of " black" as " African American"

Answer 10

Political correctness has gotten out of hand.
No one knows what to call anyone anymore.
The radical elements of the different cultures have made it hard for the average person to just 'be'.
African American
Hispanic
Anglo
White
Green
What difference does it really make?