Why do Americans refer to themselves as African American, Asian American, e.t.c. ?

Question

Why do Americans pride themselves on being, for example, Irish American, or perhaps French American, or maybe even African American or Asian American, when in fact they usually have no connection to the country and/or culture in question? I think it's a bit silly when people refer to themselves as African American, yet do not have a parent which was born and raised on the African continent, or as French or German American for example, when they do no know the language of these countries and probably would not be able to locate them on a world map. Why, then, the emphasis on being a hyphenated American from this or that country or culture?

Why do Americans pride themselves on being, for example, Irish American, or perhaps French American, or maybe even African American or Asian American, when in fact they usually have no connection to the country and/or culture in question? I think it's a bit silly when people refer to themselves as African American, yet do not have a parent which was born and raised on the African continent, or as French or German American for example, when they do not know the language of these countries and probably would not even be able to locate them on a world map. Why, then, the emphasis on being a hyphenated American from this or that country or culture?

Answer 1

They don't want to forget where they are coming from...in other hands, they need to separated them from real African, real Asian, etc...I don't see any problems with Mexicans...they don't call themselves Mexican American...either than French, Germany, Japanese, British, etc...they are proud to be who they are...I guess...

Answer 2

It is simply a recognition of ancestry and heritage, regardless of how distant that commection may be and acknowledging it whthout actually having to know anything about it. That of course stems from the fact that, with the esception of the native tribal peoples that were here for centuries, america doesn't not actually have a real culture and heritage. What america considers a culture si what had been begged, borrowed and stolen from the rest of the world. Also, with a few exceptions, most americans of european descent don't think too much of it. While we may recognized that our ancestors cam from England, or Germany most don't use that hyphenated ( )-American term for themselves. There are a few exception to that, such as Poles, Irish and Italian, who will make a point of not only claiming that ancestry but of knowing a great deal about it AND knowing at least some of the language.

Personally, anyone that claims to have any regard for their ancestry or heritage but doesn't take up the ancestral, indiginous religion of that culture doesn't have any right to claim connection to that heritage.

Answer 3

What a good question .Americans want to find a way to seperate themselves into groups .All part of racism . Even if their Irish ancestory is 20 generations back and they do not practise any of those cultural traditions they want to make sure they aren't in a stigma group that they may look down on . Many part of the stated do not blend with each other in a multicultural society they prefer to keep themselves seperate . Unlike places like the United Kingdom or Canada, or South american countries .Strangely enough a country is stronger when less of its citizens seen themselves as indifferent from others .

Answer 4

Not to play the "race card" or anything but I think its just another racial thing . I mean think about it. Why is it that white people are the only people that don't have the whole African and Asian American thing? I'm just as much of an american as the white girls and boys at my school. We are born and raised in America. and its like they try to say that well we came from such and such place thats why they put the african before american. I haven't seen a damn country in african and plus white people came from the Caucasus mts rite? well y we doon't call them Caucasus Americans? and the whole Black history thing. its like if its not white its not American its African American. I mean what the hell? If we are ALL americans why seperate us with this African and Asian mess? But thats a good question cause I ask myself that every day in Feb. when the get on the intercom at school reading "Black" History stf its all a bunch of bull if you asked me

Answer 5

I know! I keep asking people the same question all the time, because it just confuses me way too much for my liking. And why should they refer to themselves as African-Americans (or Afro-Americans) when they're not even originally from any part of the African continent and don't even have parents who are African immigrants and/or who are originally from Africa? And then the fact that these 'African'-Americans are the exact opposite to us real black Africans and are completely different from us when it comes to upbringing, family history background, etc., really annoys the hell out of me! You sure were right to ask that question, because even i myself am confused by their term. Also, If they themselves know that most of them are from Haiti, the West Indies, and all those other black continents other than Africa, then why not just have them referred to as simply just black americans? Would that not make a lot more sense and therefore be a lot less confusing?

Answer 6

As a non-minority, I do not believe I can suficiently answer this question. I suppose it is just a way of people recognizing and saluting their cultural history, even if they have never been to whatever country their ancestors came from. I see your point... I do not call myself a European American. But, like I said, I may feel differently if I were indeed a minority. Sometimes I do feel as if designations such as "Asian American" or "African American" are terms that divide instead of unite... but by the same token, it is important to recognize the significance, value, and contributions of other cultures within our country instead of pretending they don't exist. I, for one, celebrate them!

Answer 7

I always refer to myself as American when people ask "where I'm from." When they say, "no,where is your family from" I say I am of mostly Russian descent. I am not a Russian-American. I have a friend who is honestly French-American. He was born in France, but has lived in America and in France. Ironically, he is also African-American since his father is from Tunisia, but he's not black. African-American is a nationality, not a race. Blacks are a race. There is a difference. But I'm not answering your question. People refer to themselves as X-Americans to show that they share a culture and common descent with other people living in America. This is just the social attitude of humans, the desire to group with other people. They don't have any nationalistic ties with their country of descent but do probably have some trickle-down culture, and share that with others when they identify themselves as French Americans or Russian-Americans.

Answer 8

Because being an American means you have a background that began long before you were born. I think in a way that is what people do to honor their ancestors. The only true American is the Indian, and their are alot of Americans that are part Indian and do not boost or brag about it. Maybe people need to think they are something special in this big world???

Answer 9

yeah, i dunno. saddly we are are given a tittle when we are born that depends on our location. since i was born in the US, then this country identifies me as "american" . but, since i was born from mexican parents, another tittle is placed on me, makin "mexican-american". like sumone already said, we use these tittles to help us remember were we came from, but i also agree w/ what ur saying. i am fortunate enought to speak fluently in both, spanish n english. but sadly, i know plenty of other latino-americans that dont speak spanish well, or at all. i do agree w/ u that if sumone wants to giv themselfs a tittle such as "mexican-american" or "chinese-american", then the least they can do is try to learn more about their culture, language, food, etc. i dislike those that call themselfs mexicans--yet hav no clue as to what 5 de Mayo celebrates, or when Mexico's independence day is (sept. 16)...or why we celebrate quincea~eras, etc. those people who show no interest in their culture or language from which their roots come from hav NO right calling themselfs chinese-, mexican-, african-, ect - american.

....thats just my opinion.

Answer 10

America doesn't have the kind of deep roots identity you have in other countries (It's kind of a young nation you know). This is an immigrant country, so people tend to identify with their cultural identities from where their ancestors were from.

There is also so much diversity of peoples and cultures in America. The melting-pot analogy is really inferior to the mixing bowl one in describing how it is. It's just a way people here form social groups. People do this in different ways in other countries. For example, class consciousness over in Europe, tribal identity, religious identity, etc. Humans naturally tend to form their own smaller groups within larger ones.

Answer 11

Maybe just to justify their diferent appearances.
Anyways, langauge can be forgotten in two generations, but the culture and values take a longer time to fade away.
Anyways, I dont think its a problem till the time they consider America as their own and are not derogatory to others