Why do so many black people want to be called "African American"?

Question

I mean, me personally, I wasn't BORN in Ireland, but I'm Irish. But you don't see me calling myself an "Irish American" or a "European American". I don't see a lot of Asians calling themselves "Asian Americans", just Asian. Or people from the middle east, don't say they are "Iraqi Americans" or whatever. So what is the deal with "African Americans", especially if you weren't even from Africa and you were born and raised in the United States?

Would people give funny looks to a white person who was from Africa, who called themselves an "African American"..technically that wouldn't be incorrect, would it?

Answer 1

I have no idea what to call "African American" people anymore. I used to call them African American but so many people were offended and told me I shouldn't assume they are from Africa when most of them were born in the U.S. So I went along with the crowd and called them Black but I was also told I was offending everybody because technically they are not of the color black. So now I have no clue on how to address this type of ethnic group.

Answer 2

I do not know what part of the country you now resides but where I live people with Irish background have license plates or stickers stating "I am proud to be Irish or I am Irish American". The reason why some Blacks want to be identified as African American is due to the slave trade taking people from some of the west African countries or unfortunately from other countries in Africa who fell victim to being in the wrong place at the wrong time and became a slave. So these slaves were strip of their culture and history over decades which put them at a disadvantage in knowing which African countries they are from so some Blacks identify with the entire continent. But keep this very important fact all Blacks do not think a like we are just like everyone else with different opinion, ideology, religions and etc....

Answer 3

Well dude, you're still white, though...It does make a difference, like it or not.

I don't necessarily prefer Af-Am to American, but I do prefer Af-Am to Black or Black-American.

You're right, I don't speak an African language, but there is a African-American subculture that exists. Just think about it, American culture and African-American culture create two different representations. I don't think there's anything wrong with someone acknowledging their past ancestry. I think there has always been a separation of blacks and their mainstream, white counterparts.

Also, remember that we are not the prototype. We don't see our faces on tv as often, or in as many prominent positions. It doesn't bother me to be called simply, American, but I don't think its fair for all the team members to be called the same thing when the playing field isn't fair.

Answer 4

You for sure dont understand what you're talking approximately and in basic terms choose a racist rant. White settlers forcibly took slaves from Africa to usa for the period of the colonisation era, they didnt have a call in the problem and have been dealt with as animals or worse for hundreds of years and that they are many times caught in the underdevelopment cycle in the US yet that cant be mentioned for all black people. As for the identify African American its significant for one to maintain their background

Answer 5

I don't like to be called African American. I like being called black. For one I'm not African and for two that's not the only thing I'm mixed with. I think African should be referred to Africans from Africa. Actually most blacks like me are mixed race so we should be called mulatto.

Answer 6

Just relax. Most blacks just call themselves blacks. It's the whites who always say African-American because their afraid to offend. But, in reality, we really don't think much about it.

Answer 7

I am German, french, English, Irish, Swiss and native American (wow thats too much, can I just be American)

Answer 8

they adopted that term years ago, beacuse we didnt want to be called ******, *******, coloreds, coons or any other thing like that and since we were orignally from africa, they adopted the term african americans. i myself like being called black, because i believe that black is beautiful. lol

Answer 9

What a bunch of crap I know!!!!
My black friends don't care/and don't even know much about africa, just like most of us don't know much about our ancestors before they came to this silly little melting pot called
"America"!

Answer 10

I prefer to be called Black, or Mr.