Are we to call White peope from Africa "African Americans" also?

Question

I mean what's the deal, many blacks here in the US, more like most, were not born in Africa. Hey, how about a black born in France? Do we call him a French African American. I am of German/Irish lineage but do not call myself German Irish American.

Answer 1

Well if you're going to get technical about it...black people aren't really "black" either. And white people aren't "white" unless they're albino.

I wouldn't call someone African American unless they were born in Africa and immigrated here. I do know a few people of Irish descent that call themselves Irish American.

I'm not one to get pissed off about how people label themselves though. I understand the need to find an identity that doesn't have a negative connotation associated with it.

Answer 2

The reason why black people call themselves African Americans is because they have the right to make this claim based on genetic lineage.

White people born in Africa, also have right to call themselves British African or French African; not based on lineage, but by place of birth or born citizenship.

However, don't expect to hear ANYONE claim themselves a British African,IT WON'T HAPPEN.

This topic will be debated til the end of time. No original African will ever allow another ethnicity the right to make this claim regardless. African pride is what it is.

Some Africans even dispute that black Amercians have NO the right to call themselves African American.

Answer 3

I HAVE OFTEN PONDERED THIS MYSELF. WHY IS IT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS LABELED ALL BLACK PEOPLE BORN IN AMERICA AFRICAN AMERICAN?

I mean yes, they were originally taken from some part of Africa,but after the Human Rights Movement and when any on4e is born into America, they should just be called Americans. Well they are really. African American tells of their Lineages, doesn't it? Not their citizenship.

Answer 4

That sounds like the "political correctness" is speaking. The only reason I can think of to call someone an African American is to try and separate "them" from "us" or create a genealogical bond where none really exists. Someone was trying to avoid offending someone else, and look where it has taken us.

A white person from Africa would not be an African American, but just an African or if they have become an American citizen, just an American. Actually, it is more likely the person would consider themselves a South African or Sudanese or Ethiopian, depending on their citizenship and not just generic African, much like people would be German or Italian over just being European.

Likewise, a French-born black man would be French and black, not a French African American (he is not American at all, and it is pretty much just in the US that people have fallen for the idiocy of referring to any and all black people as African American).

Answer 5

Being African means you were born in Africa, so if you are White, then you are African no matter what. African does NOT mean that you are black and that is a big misconception.

Answer 6

In essence, the people black people whom were born in the United States are plain Americans. But remember Jim Crow laws? Those effects still ripple through society. As they where ejected by mainstream society. They didn't feel themselves as full American's. Thus because of their skin tone they became African Americans in the sense that if not themselves then some ancestors might have originated from there. It gave them a greater sense of being and porousness of through heritage when their wasn't much at all. I would say, in my own terms an American of African decent? But are they as well as the other suppressed minorities ready?

Answer 7

human beings of African descent stay international. With this in innovations, it would be confusing to categorise this occasion. in relation to Shiloh, because of the fact Pitt and Jolie are the two individuals, it would desire to be precise to declare that Shiloh is an African-American. in spite of the undeniable fact that, that's no longer a typical occasion, because of the fact few human beings have movie stars as mom and dad.

Answer 8

Good question and one that made me stop to think. I guess we should, shouldn't we? Funny how most white folks from Africa are "South Africans."

Answer 9

No. Because in the beginning, there were no whites in Africa. They came from other countries. Africans originated in Africa and were dark, it is believed because Africa sat so close to the sun. Those of us that are white usually do not refer to ourselves as German American, Irish American etc. mostly because we have been accepted all over and have not been persecuted because of our color. We have grown up being proud of who we are and respected because of it. African Americans find pride in their heritage. Something we as whites already were given. Please accept this answer in the spirit it is given. Hopefully not offending anyone because of color.

Answer 10

LOL - Good point. Sounds like too much "political correctness" these days. I always thought being called an "American" was enough, no matter who you were or where you came from.