A question for Americans?

Question

I'm from Germany and one thing I have been wondering a long time is why do Americans always say Africanamerican instead of just black. What do you then call a black person who isn't an American? Why do you not call white people something like Europeanamerican?

Answer 1

everything has to be politicall correct now a days we can't even say Merry Christmas or celebrate any of our holidays to be honest my kids don't get out of school for Christmas break it's called winter recess they are home but things have changed and I don't like it. Almost half my family is black and they don't call theirselves that.

Answer 2

Now that you mention it...let's take this up a notch. I am assuming by your use of "American" you are referring to someone that lives in The United States of America and not someone that lives in Brazil, Panama, Mexico or even Canada because from the north pole to the south pole from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans we are all North, Central or South "Americans".

The term "Africanamerican" does not reside in my vocabulary. When dealing with my friends, acquaintances and family I usually use their first name or mom, dad, auntie and etc. When I am dealing with a client I use Mr., Mrs., or Ms. X and/or Sir and Mame or whatever the client requests. When I am asked to describe someone I never include skin color because when peeled back we are all alike.

As to your question "Why do you not call white people something like Europeanamerican?" I will answer with the way I would be referred to. WelshGermanCanadianImmigrant (breath*) LakeMichiganWetbackIllinoian (*) CalifornianAgnosticSelf (*) EnthronedPrincessGrandma! My brother prefers KidnappedAbandonedinSuburbia (*) TrueLostMorman (*) PrinceofPrussia, for him I personally prefer ButtHead but that's another story!

Answer 3

Africanamerican is more formal than black, however, its ok to call a black person black. just either one of the 2. not colored, not *****, and definitely not n*gger. Those are what you call beatdown words.

you call a black person who isn't american by the name of wherever they came from. ex: if they are in africa, then they are africans. i don't know why they don't call whites that. thats a good question. i guess since they ''settled'' in america, they re just american. but since we came later, we are african americans. but Native americans are more american than anyone in american history because this was thier original land and country.

Answer 4

The naive, stupid idea that racism can be eliminated by using only approved positive words.

The arrogant misappropriation of the word African to describe black people by activist elements who are ignorant of the Mediterranean Caucasoids who have lived in the northern part of the African continent since before the Sahara became a desert.

A sad futile dance intended to placate the self defeating martyr complex in popular black culture.

Answer 5

Most of the blacks in the US did originally come from Africa at one point or another in time.

But besides that, America is very caught up in being PC (politically correct) and it is getting rather annoying having to tailor to everyone's feelings or thoughts. People are really having a hard time with turning their heads or not paying attention. They want to be involved in things they could otherwise care less about which is causing many people to be pissed.

Answer 6

Generally, "white people" are not called "European Americans" because historically (and for all intents and purposes), they are the people who have been considered "American."

The rest of us ("other-Americans") have always been on the outside looking in. Whenever I tell someone that I am "American," they look at me and say "yeah, American and something else, right?"

...Then I tell them that I was born here, and my parents were born here, and their parents were born here, and they still say "Yeah, but you're American and something else, right?"

Don't blame the climate of political correctness for this--when society starts ACCEPTING that we ARE Americans and stops insisting that we are "something else" perhaps we can do away with these labels.

Answer 7

Sigh... Who knows. Mainly everyone is afraid of being racist while saying "black" in regards to someone else. Why cant' we say brown? Some dark people think it IS racist for a white person to say black, but my husband (african) doesn't care, he thinks it's ok for me to say black. We can't call white people European-American, becuase "white" people made america (or so they think LMAO) Not like there were Native Indians here before they got here (extreme sarcasm).

Answer 8

It all evolved from the whole politically correct movement. Honestly, I consider all citizens of the United States to be American. Black, white, hispanic, etc... just clarifies your ethnicity - similarly you could be Muslim or Jewish if you wanted to be categorized by religion and still be American.

Answer 9

At this point in time, it is the African American who demands being categorized this way. It is considered politically correct.

I believe that racial distincions are arbitrary and I hope that some day soon they will become useless. But until then...

Answer 10

I don't call anyone an African-American, unless he/she prefers me to.
P.S. Last time I was in Europe I heard reference to "Turks" for German citizens who had immigrated from Turkey. Should they not be just "Germans"?