More specifically, when a white African becomes a US citizen, either by birth or other means, are they considered African Americans, or is there a pre-exsisting predudice that only people of color can use the term? Does anyone else see a conflict with labelling like this?
2007-03-06 08:25:42 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Let them use the term. It is merely a phrase. But then why stop there? There are the Irish-Americans, German-Americans, English-Slavic-Americans...the list goes on. Why do we call ourselves anything but American, since we ALL came from somewhere else. By calling ourselves American is to recognize that our heritage is mixed and from other lands. The only exception to that are our Native Americans, who are the ones who should be really ticked off. The whole pc issue is just ridiculous, if you ask me.
Why can't we all just get along?
2007-03-06 08:43:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
That is one of the most interesting questions I have seen. I don't know the answer, but it is going to interesting to see what the answers are. I would think it would be African American, why not. The person is from Africa and so they should be eligible to have that title.
I am afraid though that there a pre-existing prejudice that only Black Africans can use that title.
2007-03-06 09:38:37 · answer #2 · answered by 91106 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am a white guy and I was born in Zimbabwe. When I was three years old my family immigrated to the UK, we kind of new in 1980 that given time Mugabe would turn into a thug. However, I now live in the US as my wife is American. Well anyway whenever I have had to fill in any kind of diversity survey I have always ticked the box labelled as "other" for my ethnicity and then pencilled in "White-African". I was raised with my parent's values which are distinctly African and even though I was raised in the West I typically identify more with Africa than with the UK or the US. It stands to reason then that I honestly assess myself as White-African or African-American and if that offends anyone's sensibilities who then is prejudiced? Its not me because I believe in equality and co-operation not hatred and division.
2007-03-06 08:44:56 · answer #3 · answered by Golf Alpha Nine-seven 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The term African-American should pertain to these people. In truth, those of color did not ALL come from Africa, did they? It is an interesting question, but I am sure that most persons of color would not like the situation. When did we all stop being Americans? No more labels!!
2007-03-06 10:01:27 · answer #4 · answered by Natterjack9 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If we follow traditional "labeling" African immigrants regardless of race could be termed African American. This of course would lead to confusion as the term African American has come to refer to black Americans. The term African American came into vogue in part to address the inability for most blacks in the US to trace their lineage to a particular country as most of European, Asian, Latino ancestry do.
I don't know that Africans immigrating to the US are particularly keen to use the term African American. It seems to me they would be just as likely or even more likely to follow the more typical pattern of using their former home country in any label. For example, Nigerian American or Egyptian American, in keeping with others who use terms like Italian American or Chinese American.
It's an interesting question but given the relatively small number of white Africans who are likely to move to the US, this is surely the least of our worries.
2007-03-06 08:39:54 · answer #5 · answered by fdm215 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why does African have to connotate the shade of blackness? They are merely African-Americans, regardless of color. It has to do with origins.
Charlize Theron would be an African-American if she changed citizenship just the same as Dikembe Mutombo.
2007-03-06 08:34:03 · answer #6 · answered by csucdartgirl 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They are African-Americans. I know two people who are white who moved here from South Africa, and consider themselves African.
2007-03-06 08:34:24 · answer #7 · answered by saafirebutterfly 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The ones from South Africa could be called Afrikaan Americans.
2007-03-06 09:53:01 · answer #8 · answered by Double 709 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The term is applied to black Americans of African ancestry. A white person who used to live somewhere-- say Africa--, then moves to the United States, has their 'ancestry' from somewhere else. Now who has a prejudice?
2007-03-06 08:44:39 · answer #9 · answered by Double O 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They are still African, so why not let them use African American?
2007-03-06 08:30:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋