Why are African Americans called African Americans?

Question

or why are they called black. They are not from Africa and they are not black but light brown to dark brown? I'm confused. Why are European Americans called white? They are not the color of white more like tan or beige? I'm not from here.

I have also learned that most people that are "black/African Ameicans" are actually more than one ethnicity, so why are they just called "Mixed-Americans?

Answer 1

Actually, most black people are what interior decorators call Hickory Bronze.

Answer 2

Black really doesn't bother me though our skin is technically brown, but african american was thought up by some idiot trying to be PC. What little African I have in me, I don't identify with so call me black, or better yet, people could just stop worrying about race and use each other's names. Yea, that's an awesome idea.

edit: Yea you're right about some being more than one ethnicity. I'm Jamaican, Irish and Indian but I would still rather be an American, not a Mixed American :P

Answer 3

WHy are Blacks just pointed at for being Biracial when whites are biracial themselves and including yor great Grandmother good of been a black women by the Biracial child having a Baby for a white man which very much so rape was very much a case during slavery, so Blacks or whites do not have to state there race which alot of whites do not and including in Africa there are different complexions,why when are features are more dominate anyway ,but that is a possible way for power!!

Answer 4

On the spectrum of skin color, Europeans are the lightest (hence the term white) and African people tend to be the darkest. Think of it in terms of grayscale.

I'm Native American, and we run the gamut from light to olive to dark brown. Nothing about us is red, yet for some reason people called us red people. We usually have an olive or golden undertone where mine come from, though.

Answer 5

I think that once you are born in a country or have taken up citizenship then you should be described by that countries name. eg: American, Australian or German.. etc...

I doubt that there are many people in Western civilisation that can trace their heritage and not find some different races within.

I for one have German, Hungarian, Croatian and Serbian blood, my surname originated in France so I probably have French blood as well. I was born in Yugoslavia but immigrated to Australia when I was 4 (37 years ago). I am an Australian citizen and when asked I say I am an Aussie. My son has all of the above plus African (Somali) blood in him and I have taught him to say he is Australian and if they question his skin colour to then go on and explain his heritage.

Answer 6

African-American is the politically correct term for black Americans because their ancestry is in Africa. Black people were brought to the Americas as slaves, as most of you already know. Technically, you cannot be considered a "true" American unless you belong to one of the several indigenous tribes that were here before European settlers. However, they are not just called "African" because many black families have been in the U.S. for generations and they have greatly contributed to a large portion of what it modern American culture. Also, unless their parents, grandparents or they themselves came from Africa, most likely they don't practice too many of the African customs and traditions, but participate more in American culture.

All of the same goes to whites being called European-American. Hope this helps!!! :-)

Answer 7

I don't know why they can't just be called American. If your white your American but if your black your African American, if your Mexican your Mexican American. Besides real Americans are the Natives. If you have to go all the back then white people should be called European American.

Answer 8

People with that shade of skin are orriginaly from Africa. I don't know why they are called black. Maybe some people are so dark skinned, they looked black. And maybe it looks black compaired to our skin. Why are we called White when our skin is from light yelow to peach? Answer me that.

Answer 9

This concept comes from our modern culture of "changing language" wicth is just a scientific word for slang its not racist or prejiduce of of an kind, its just slang. This is also due to ethnicity for exaple people dont everyones ethnicity so they call them of who thry look like balck white etc.

Answer 10

USA is the "great melting pot."
All legal citizens should be called American.

(it's ok for those folks to show off their roots)

You can do the same thing if you want.....don't check the box for "race"....write it in.