African-American vs. Black?

Question

Why are mostly all black people grouped under the term 'African-American'? Not all black people are of African descent. They could be from Jamaica, Haiti, or many other places. So isn't it better to simply call the person black until you know? And then what? 'Carribean-American? All seems a bit silly.

And also- In Social Studies books, when it talks about the slave trade, the black slaves are called African-Americans. Isn't this incorrect? At that point, they were only African.

Answer 1

Good question. I lived in Baltimore MD where I would guess it is 65% black. I got tired of blacks calling themselves African Americans, so I started calling myself "Caucasian American". In reality there is no such thing as an "anything-American". You are either American or you are not.

Answer 2

Well, the Jamaicans and Hatians (as well as many Carribean Island and South Americans) are in fact, also of African descent. Haiti was a French colony and Jamaica (may have been) a British colony. Slaves from Africa were not just taken to America, they were taken to those other places as well, thus the people that are there today. Because Jamaicans and Haitians were isolated on islands, it was easier for them to develop a specific and (almost) atonymous identity and culture over time, unlike Africans sent to America. African-American is a recent (late 60's to 70's) term used to describe the decendants in America of African slaves brought to the USA.

Good questions you are asking, btw.

Answer 3

True, but the black people in Jamaica, Haiti, and the other places can be from African descent or they might have 1 white parent and 1 black parent, if so, then they are Mulattos. My geography book says that Blacks are descendents of Africans brought as slaves.

Answer 4

Nationality is a people having common origins or traditions and often constituting a nation. Existence as a politically autonomous entity; national independence. Is that which is use to describe the culture group, heritage and customs of a people. It is what used to tie you to who you are and your families of the Earth. Just as people are proud to be a American, Japanese, Ghanaian, etc are proud of their heritage. Proud not only because it's theirs but because that's who they are. The term use to describe "Blacks" can change many times. In regards to who they are and the heritage they have. By calling Blacks, American would mean they share the culture, heritage and customs of this nation. On the surface in seem normal yet not realistic. Over 95% of their history here they where treated as stanges and oppressed as animals. Most were oppressed by the only nation in the only land they have ever known. Referring to them as American is like saying that's who they are. No black person is the image that America has taught them. Eventhough Black is no better than ***** or ****** it's better than American. Blacks consider thereself blacks that live in America, Because America at no point in time represent anything about these so-called "African Americans"

Answer 5

All "black" people descend from Africa. Because of the Slave Trade Blacks have found themselves in all parts of the world. Europe,the Caribbian, and the Americas. These three regions traded slaves for sugar for rum and back again, The Slave (or Trade Triangle).
The Blacks in the Americas found offense to the American word for ***** (Black in Spanish) or ****** and have adopted African-American to Identify themselves. Jamaicans and Haitians prefer Jamaican or Haitian. The descendants of American slaves prefer African-American.

Answer 6

I agree, and I don't think you stated your question in a way that implies a "war".
It's part of a political correctness movement that has gone so far as to change the words of Ba Ba Black Sheep so as not to offend anyone.
I've never personally considered "Black" to be a derrogatory word, and there are CERTAINLY others that are blatantly offensive and vulgar. So what gives?

Answer 7

The people of color who are now from Jamaica etc. were originally from Africa. I do believe that all "black" people are originally from Africa or perhaps Australia.

I work with 2 Africans. One is from Nigeria and the other is from Ghana. I do not refer to them as African-American cuz they are not from America.

Answer 8

They are just black. I am just white.. people get too offended. THEY ARE JUST WORDS! I got yelled at for calling some guy Oriental... WHAT? he is a descendant of the Orient... Who cares what you say so long as you arent doing it to be condescending to the person! And the standards need to be consistant. Black people.... if you dont want us calling you the N word, stop calling eachother the N word. And no I am no Kramer. :)

Answer 9

Trust me, most black people wonder the same exact thing. I HATE being called African American. I've wasn't born there and have yet to visit.

Answer 10

If one goes by the idea that the human race began on the continent of Africa, all of us Americans are "african american"...

The whole african-american/asian-american/etc thing came about to try to be more politically correct...but although many other races are referred to as ___-american, I still almost always hear of whites referred to as whites... that doesn't offend me and it's easier to say...

I typically say blacks, whites, hispanics, asians, etc...just for brevity if nothing else...