Why do Black Americans hate to be called African ?

Question

The Irish American say, he is Irish. The Mexican American, say he is Mexican, but African American don't want to be called Africans . Why ?

Answer 1

Major identity crisis.

Answer 2

I don't run across many white people who say their Irish, German, etc. unless you ask, but I suppose it can be - at least for me any way - I don't see myself as African (Note saying someone is African is as broad as saying someone is from Europe. Many countries and cultures on both continents.). How can I? I can't track my roots there, have no idea of the culture my African ancestor's had, nor the language or customs. That was lost to me and all other African Americans so most of us just prefer to be seen as American. It wouldn't offend me to be called African, black, African American but I prefer not to be called African.

Answer 3

The dude above me is stupid. There are still great countries to live in inside of Africa. Im living in Africa now and I dont think it is bad at all. They dont like being called African because there not African. I wouldnt want to be called Cuban if I am from Puerto Rico. So its the same in this case.

Answer 4

Believe it or not, but not all black Americans are from Africa. I used to have a friend who born in Eastern India, and he was black.

Likewise, you can be African-American, and be white (South Africa, as well as some other areas). I believe that they "don't want to be called Africans" is because "African-American" or "Asian-American" refer only to the country of ones heritage. It does not define birth country, not color. There is no country called "African-American" (as opposed to "Jacques is French", because he lives in Paris), nor is there a color called "African-American".

If I personally have to give a description of a person, I will say he/she is white, black, olive colored, etc. Otherwise, I find that saying "that guy" or "her" works pretty well, no matter what color their skin is.

Answer 5

It's probably because they did not want to come here and they have been alienated from their African heritage because of the cruelty of slavery in the U.S. Also Africa is a continent of violence and poverty created by European Colonialism. They feel alienated from their heritage and they don't find much to embrace about it in the present day. I think the last great African civilizations died out thousands of years ago.

Answer 6

Matter of fact the current politically correct appellation is just that African-American not Black and may the gods forgive me nor ***** ( which is black in Spanish at any rate.)
Suffice to say that it will matter not 100 years from now.

Answer 7

Well, it's up to them isn't it? And I don't suppose they all have the same views.

But I'd guess the difference is that the Irishman's ancestor came to the US willingly, as did the Mexican's but the black American's ancestors were cruelly enslaved and taken from their native lands against their will

Answer 8

My ancestors are English, Dutch, Italian,Scottish and French. But I'm an African - because I was born there. And proud to be so too. I resist being called European.

Answer 9

We are all Americans. And just so you know, each time an Immigrant becomes Naturalized, he takes an oath that he/she is no longer American/Asian, African/American,etc. but an American. Besides I haven't met one yet who has disassociated themselves from their roots.

Answer 10

Because most of us are not African, most of us have never seen Africa except on a map or TV. We are of African decent, but most of us are also from European, Chinese and Native American decent, as well as every ethic group in between. To say we are African implies there is only one country in Africa and only one ethnic group there. It also implies we are first generation Africans who immigrated on their own and not by force. I am an American of African decent.

Answer 11

Well, although it is widely used (African-American) in the US for anybody with a little color in their skin, it seems to me to be a highly racist term. You simply NEVER hear anybody in the US referred to as a "European-American." Therefore the very term "African-American" is exclusionary and racist.

Here in Mexico we have a different system. A person of pure European decent like myself, a person with African blood like my brother in law, a person of almost pure indigenous ancestry like my wife's grandmother, a person of mixed race like my son, we are all called the same thing down here - "MEXICANS."

You "Americans" should think long and hard about that. In fact maybe you should try it out yourselves....................