Why do SOME white people think that any random dark skinned person is african american even if they are not?

Question

For example i am dominican and a white guy came up to me and asked me how africa going.

Answer 1

Wow, that's rude and annoying.

When I worked in a pizza place, I had some customers come in who had dark skin. I don't know where they were from, but for some reason everyone assumed they were Mexican, which they clearly were not. I can tell you that where I live now (rural Midwest, although very near a major city) there are many ignorant, racist white people. I'm from southern California originally, and frankly I hate the prejudice that I see here. I grew up with people from all backgrounds and I celebrate the differences in the many races and ethnicities and I love learning about different cultures. Unfortunately I don't know what the solution is. At least you understand that not all white people are like that! Just be proud of yourself and your family and take the opportunity to enlighten someone about where you are from and how your family originally came to America. Maybe you can help make one less ignorant person!

Answer 2

No one believes this, but more people of African ancestry have come to the US in the past 30 years than during the entire history of slavery.

BLACK is just a question of culture, the same as CRACKER.
They are only different in the question of skin colour; otherwise you can fight your way out of them.

If you are a Dominican you are probably the descendant of slaves brought from Africa, though you have nothing in common culturally with Usians of the same origin.

Neither really do Colin Powell or Barack Obama. People are just used to other people with certain physical characteristics behaving a certain way.

Answer 3

Ignorance. Hands down. It's also true when some white people see someone who is very light skinned - they assume the person ISN'T African American. My mother is very, very light-skinned and she is always mistaken by some white people as being white.

People sometimes make assumptions based on what they THINK they know or understand.

Answer 4

In some countries, people are usually put into one of two categories. Black or White. It is a narrow minded view of ethnicity, but it makes things simple for the simple minded.

It's the same as thinking that all Asians (Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, etc.) are all the same.

It's based on ignorance and the inability for many to think outside of their own narrow view of the world.

I'm guilty of this myself at times.

Answer 5

I guess it works the other way around too, dark skinned people look at white skinned people and naturally assume that they are American, when to be honest theres the whole of Europe that you could belong to, i think people are sadly judgmental and will think what the want to think, but you should just smile sadly at them and inside your head, think what at idiot (or words to that effect) life is way too short to be hung up over narrow minded people who really shouldn't be allowed out without adult supervision!!!

Answer 6

Because that's what some people have been conditioned to think. That black means from Africa. When in reality anyone could be born in every part of the world. That's why there are white/black/Asian/Latin people all over the world in differing densities.

Answer 7

I familiar African American simply by fact it forced the form editors to capitalize it. form editors practically in no way capitalized Black and *****. i in my opinion verify with myself as Black while speaking. yet while writing i take advantage of African American. I wrote an OPED piece to the Seattle positioned up-Intelligencer for the duration of the 70s related to using a hypen while describing human beings who have been born some place else. (i.e. Asian-American). i'm the right age to have lived for the duration of the era while White human beings (it rather is, ecu human beings) used to verify with us as "colored". while i grew to become into interior the militia I taught my White colleagues to alter that by asking, "What colour?" every time they talked approximately a "colored" guy or woman.

Answer 8

I wouldn't worry about..this happens to white people too!
AGAIN, it is based on the "norm."
I am Canadian, but because I am white I am an assumed American just because I live here...go figure...
And, nay a s s hole that would ask you "how africa is doing" is ignorant and you should pity him.
Thank you.

Answer 9

because skin color is the first thing a person notices.and if your dark skinned then most ppl are going to think your african american.


sucks for you.ppl misunderstand things.

Answer 10

This is very untrue. The person you talked to was racist for asking that,in a srcastic way,Im guessing. Ive never in my life spoke to someone who thought they were all African. Many ethinic groups are fairly easy to pinpoint.