If I'm white and born in Africa, then moved to America, would I be African American?

Question

Not being racist, just curious. Does the term "African American" refer to people with dark skin, or black skin, or is it based on people from or have roots in Africa in some way, shape or form? Or is the term more social, as in, a way to describe a group of people? The same can be said about any societal racial group, and with a similar scenario such as a white person being born in China. Does that make him Chinese or Asian? Perhaps, then, it depends on ancestory?

I'm not African American, its just a hypothetical situation!

And I realized the dilemna...I'd be an African in America, not an African American. If I were born there, then I moved and had kids, my kids would be African American!

And Egypt is in Africa, but they're refered to as Egyptians or being part of the Middle East.

Answer 1

I think you have to be born in America to have the term become part of your identity, e.g. African-American, Chinese-American, Irish-American, etc. Many Black Africans I have known who have immigrated to America, do not call themselves American at all!! They identify themselves as African first, then nationality second (Nigerian, Ghanian, Cameronian, etc), and finally they adhere to a tribal designation (Ibo, Ashante, Twe, etc.). To be a white born in Africa, first which African country? Many of the people in said country might identify by your forefathers country of origin (French, Dutch, Swiss, German, etc). Being a white person, you country of origin could not be African, especially in Africa among other indigenous Africans.

Conversly, many Africans who have kids in a European country might not give up the country of their forefathers and still identify with Africa.

Now, "Coming to America" as a white person, the European country of your forefathers would take precedence. Many Black Africans still do not accept Black Americans as African. There are cultural customs that have to be observed among an accepted tribal affiliation to be accepted as African. Not to mention a blood lineage that is key, especially among Royal African families.

From personal experience, many Africans are too proud of their rich cultural heritage to give up for an American melting pot of cultural traditions. If you consider yourself an African, your ethnocentric view of the world would not alow you to share it with anything American. As is the case with Europeans, many would not give up their rich cultural european traditions.

If a black (of Black African Ancestry) were born in the Netherands, then immigrated to the USA, would he/she be considered a Dutch-American?

I don't think so...

Peace

Answer 2

that's a pretty good question... I've never put much thought into the whole social group labeling thing, mostly because i never had to. Take look at this:

An African American (also Afro-American, Black American) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa.

That's how wikipedia defines it so I'm assuming that ethnic groups would be further based on ancestrial heritage than just where you were really born or who your parents were. If it goes for "African American" I assume this might be the case for most other societal labels being thrown around about heritage.

Hope this helped (first question in a while I actually felt like putting some effort into answering.

Answer 3

it incredibly is a tremendously good question... i've got under no circumstances positioned plenty concept into the full social team labeling element, generally because of the fact i under no circumstances had to. Take look at this: An African American (additionally Afro-American, Black American) is a member of an ethnic team contained in the US whose ancestors, often in main section, have been indigenous to Africa. that's how wikipedia defines it so i'm assuming that ethnic communities could be greater in line with ancestrial history than in simple terms the place you have been incredibly born or who your mum and dad have been. If it is going for "African American" i anticipate this can be the case for many different societal labels being thrown around approximately history. wish this helped (first question in a collectively as i myself felt like putting some attempt into answering.

Answer 4

No. You are white even if you were born in Africa. The term African American generally refers to blacks or people with roots in Africa.

Answer 5

I personally think everyone is either confused or misusing the phrase African American. Please correct me if I am incorrect. I find it difficult to believe all blacks are from Africa. I just believe the term is more general in nature and more respectful then phrases historically used in the past. But I am not Jewish so I can only imagine the horrid devastation imposed upon them in history including WWII. As I am not black so I wont insult someones intelligence by saying I know how it is!

Just my 3 1/2 cents adjusted for mental inflation. LOL.

Answer 6

You were born in Africa and that makes you a citizen of that beautiful country. You are truly "African American" by also being of this beautful country. Lots of people are duel citizens. They can be "Canadian American", "Austrailian American", "Mexican American"and so on.I think society just needs to put labels on everyone they think was not born in this country, whowever there are people born here who do not live here. They reside in other countries. That makes them"American whatevers". You are who you are and so is everyone else. Ancestory or not!

Answer 7

If you want to be correct, then yes. You would be African American, but most people use the term for anyone who has dark skin (which is not correct) and lives in America.

Answer 8

In the US "African American" refers to race and excludes those with white African, Berber, Arab, or Malay (Madagascar) backgrounds. Also, Melanesians, Papuans, and Australian Aborigines (and maybe even some Sinhalese and Tamils) would be considered African American purely based on appearance.

It is also interesting to note that "Asian" in the US almost always means East Asian while in Britain people will likely think South Asian.

Answer 9

Ancestorhorse LOL. If you were to tell us you were born in Africa without telling you are white then people would say your childern are African American. That is if they are born in the U.S.of A.
It does have to do with ancestory.
This would be a good one to use on anybody that said you don't like African American people.
Man the fun you could have with this!

Answer 10

I think the term African-American is a politically correct term that was created to describe people of dark skin. They made not actually have any roots going back to Africa. So it is in basically a crock.

Answer 11

You were born in Africa. You would just be African.

An African American is an American-born person with African ancestory. If a person is born in the US to Chinese parents, that makes him/her Chinese-American.

It doesn't matter how you became an American.

If you're born in the US, you're ____-American, especially if you're a minority.

If you're born in a different country and immigrate to the US, you'll always be an immigrant.