Before you get violation-happy, this is a serious question looking for serious answers.
I don't understand, exactly, why black people are called "African-Americans", when, in fact they live in the United States. In Canada, are they called African-Canadians? I understand that the so-called African-Americans' ancestors came from Africa, but MY ancestors, as a "white" person, came from Poland.
Does this make me a "Polish-American"? Not exactly, right? I'm simply referred to as "white."
And many "Asian-Americans" are just as white as me.
Why do we always have to add the "-American"? Why can't we all just be American?
2007-02-07 02:03:16 · 12 answers · asked by lkjgfyfukh 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
All right. The next time you get the census questionaire and they ask you for ethnic backround just put American. I think you're on to something here.
I Cr 13;8a
AMERICAN. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. LOVE IT OR LOSE IT.
Thank God for the USA.
2007-02-07 02:05:32 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I grew up with a very close friend who is Polish American. One of our mutual friends died and I went to her funeral at the Polish Catholic Church. I'm Norwegian American.
We should embrace our differences. So much has been lost in America because everybody wants to be an American. They forget the language of their ancestors and the biggest holiday is Halloween where you dress up and eat lots of candy. Look at Hawaii, with all the different cultures blending so beautifully but retaining their individual identity as well.
I love that if you're born here, though, you're an American. We have that common culture, even if our parents were born on the other side of the world.
In college, there were a lot of Japanese students living on my floor, and I commented that one Korean-Japanese girl was "from Japan" -- she was born there and her first language was Japanese. The Japanese young woman I was talking to said, "No, she's Korean. But she speaks Japanese very well."
2007-02-07 02:18:04 · answer #2 · answered by rcpeabody1 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What's the matter, Sarah, are you ashamed of your ancestors? Polish immigrants have provided a wealth of benefit to American society; you've nothing to be ashamed of. The same applies to descendants of Irish immigrants - once as unwelcome a group as any that ever came to these shores from elsewhere. I'm so proud of the contributions of my Irish ancestors I call myself an old Mick! The German side of my family has proven worthy also - so I'm absolutely justified in calling myself an American of German/Irish descent.
I'm first and foremost an American. Same goes for you. But to ignore, or worse, to denigrate our ancestors is unnecessary and a shame. Go to your older relatives and ask about your ancestry. I bet you'll find it fascinating and surprisingly informative. Why'd they come here? What sort of welcome did they recieve? What sort of obstacles did they have to overcome? The answers can be deeply, personally inspiring. The answers can help you as you make your way in this sometimes harsh world. And you're right: let's all try to get along, whatever our ancestry!
2007-02-07 02:15:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I agree. These days everyone is waaaaay too concerned with being politically correct. I know some "african americans" who's relatives immigrated to the states from europe. so I guess they're african-european-americans? and I'm italian-german-irish-english-american right? People should just get over it. If you were born in america, you're just plain american.
2007-02-07 02:08:46 · answer #4 · answered by Eowyn 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you fully, unfortunately, "people" like to be able to put things in a "neat little box". I believe that the only people who need to have ethnic clarity are the Native Americans. I.E. "Red-Man"
I recently heard a good description of ancestor "worship", in that those who live through their ancestors and likewise ethnicity have the best of their family in the ground.
I believe that we all need to know where our families originated, but we need to live, work and play together in the here and now.
Which for those that this question applies to is America.
2007-02-07 02:22:15 · answer #5 · answered by wi_saint 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With an outside view of this (Australian), I think its good to define what you need to.
Culture and knowing your ancestry is really important.
In the end you are all American anyway, at least to us, and it could just be to define yourselves within your own country.
I am not a white Aussie, but still an Aussie nonetheless, and proud of it.
2007-02-07 02:13:06 · answer #6 · answered by Roma 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because the "White-Americans" wont allow some hispanic guy to just be called an american. The only "True Americans" are the pure bread white folks, or so i have heard. Anyone else has to be categorized as to what type of american they are.
2007-02-07 02:07:41 · answer #7 · answered by jonchorizo 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It's a 'polite' way of defining race without saying "black".
I'm in the UK, so I'm none of it, though when forms ask for race, they use "black, white, asian, other" usually, over here. Unless it's asking for nationality, then it's different, and you just specificy where you come from.
2007-02-07 02:07:10 · answer #8 · answered by Aisha C 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I AGREE! WELL SAID! i WOULD GUESS THAT AT LEAST 90% OF "AFRICAN AMERICANS " HAVE NEVER BEEN WITHIN 1000 MILES OF AFRICA. They are AMERICANS plain and simple.
2007-02-07 02:08:55 · answer #9 · answered by tecklebuggg 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
the are called african americans because amerigo vesspuchi was sailing then he found america but he thought it was a short cut to africa, then he discovered its not so people renamed it america after his name amerigo
2007-02-07 02:08:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋