Dave Matthews is African American!?

Question

Dave Matthews is one of my favourite musicians. He was born in South Africa and is now an American citizen. He used to refer to himself as African-American but encountered much animosity for it. A person does not have to be black to be African-American. If a White or Black person was born in Europe and emigrated to the U.S., wouldn't they both be Europeans?

Many of the answers so far have been wonderfully written and well penned. Thank you all so much. It's so refreshing to have questions answered by someone other than only 'hecklers'

Answer 1

He received animosity because people thought he was taking the piss or making fun of African Americans. In this day of diversity, a white person, and there are a lot who migrated to America, can be called that. I also consider Charlize Theron one.Most people don;t know this little fact about Dave, so they make judgements and call him names. But Dave is an African American.

Answer 2

Dave is an American, however I feel he in no way had exact South African citizenship. His mothers and fathers have been American, and he moved plenty as a little one. He did develop up above all in South Africa, and he used to be born there, however he additionally lived in Europe and the US as a child. I fairly would not take into account him African American, however I can see the argument.

Answer 3

The term African American was enforced to describe blacks only because some ignorant black Americans a few years back thought that blacks only live American and that we're all from Africa.

Answer 4

In a world where being PC has gone way too far, I think that he has every right to refer to himself as African-American. Skin color does not give a person the right to claim a nationality as their own. My ancestors are French, Irish, and Indian but I am an American - plain and simple.

And yes, a European is still a European regardless of what color they are.

Answer 5

You are right. But after being called "Coloreds" and the n-word, people were just looking for a politically correct term to call Black people.

Answer 6

well seeing as he is of african descent and is an american ciztien..that makes him african-american

Answer 7

I don't hyphenate myself and neither should anyone else. Its stupid in my opinion. I'm just an American.