American or African American?????

Question

This phrase just really bugs me and I refuse to use it. There are very few Africans who have become American citizens but then again they have become an "American." If you were born in America you are an American, period. Making the distinctions like this only perpetuates racism. We don't hear about European Americans, Japanese Americans, China Americans, Russian Americans, Mexican Americans. If we are all created equal then why do we need to label ourselves?

Answer 1

ummm. do you watch the news or read? I'm being completely serious because I have heard of Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, British Americans and so forth. I think the only reason it's weird is because I've never heard of a word to descrive caucasins. I mean if you're not pure Native American then you really aren't a native of America. All those things you named are a way of race distinction, like you see on job applications and stuff. On the forth of July everyone says they are American or they're proud to be an American. But ask them what race they are and they'll say African American or Asian American because black and asian sound a little demeaning and stereotyped. But yeah they seem to be labels to me so that we can tell everyone apart which is the opposite of what we should be trying to do.

Answer 2

The United States is the only country where you have the culture tag- african american, asian american, mexican american.
That is called labeling. I've wondered the same thing.
I am asian and spanish. i don't go around saying to other people I'm
Asian-Hispanic-American. That is retarded.
You don't hear in Canada or France- African-Candadian or African-French, that's also retarded.

What I find annoying is that when you introduce yourself to cultures and say you're American, why do other people automatically think that americans are white?
America is made up of all different ethnic and culture backgrounds.
Just like France, why when you say you're french, other people think that being french is "white". France is also made up of different ethnic and culture backgrounds.

Let's not judge cultures and open our minds more people.

Answer 3

I fully agree with you. All this political correctness is only giving in to abusive/racist/sexist people who, by no-one else using the terms in a "normal" fashion, can then take possession of them as abusive or derogatory terms.
It should be totally immaterial what colour anyone's skin is, or what gender they are, but there are situations where it is important to know. The question "Do you think anybody will vote for Barak Obama?" e.g. is incomprehensile until you know that he is dark skinned. Any such instance shows the depth of hidden racism, despite all the political correctness.
But I think language is only one aspect, the problem won't be solved unless we all teach our children by example that race is no criterion for the worth of a person.

Answer 4

Blacks didn't come up with these names. We were called *****, Afro-American, African-American and so on. Which was basically a way of saying we weren't real Americans. But I understand what you're saying and I think we should all just be called American no matter what race we are, instead of the hyphenated American (i.e. African-American)

Answer 5

If it makes them feel special, why should anyone care? It's just like giving special praise to a retarded child to make him feel good about himself. If you just learn to let it go and ignore their constant need for attention, you'll be a better person.

Answer 6

I agree American is supposed to define your citizenship not your ancestry.

Answer 7

sometimes people feel their heritage is important.
or the background of others is important.
the experience of being each of these things is different.
and yes i do hear all these terms.
except it's chinese american.

Answer 8

yeah i understand...
i guess the correct phrase would be what nationality are you?
It just gives someone a point of reference i guess.

Answer 9

we dont but they do i guess


from now on im known as spanish, german, guatemalean, and portugese american everyone else who calls me white is racicst

Answer 10

Its just a tern used for people who are black