Why do you call us African Americans when were are from the United States?

Question

My parents and thier parents and thier parents are all from the United States, so why does america use African American as a way to describe blacks. I am Black American, and have no African descent in me what so ever.......
Go head a voice your opinions whether you agree or disagree, it still makes no sense...

Answer 1

That's an excellent question man. My family has been in America since the 1690's (did a mess of geneology research to find that out). I found English, Irish, Scottish, French, German, Norwegian, Danish, Cherokee, Choctaw and Hebrew. Am I a caucasian American, or Native American, or Irish American, or Jewish American? Heck No! I'm just an American. The sooner we all get over where our great, great, great, great relatives came from.... the sooner we'll all start to get along and realize we're all in this together. People might disagree with you and I, but you're an American and I'm an American. Nothing attached. No old country labels and B.S. - just Americans. Great question. Hope the answer does it justice.

Answer 2

We call you African Americans because you insist we call you that. It seems to change every 10 or 15 years. It was *****, thats out, then colored, no more, than black not any longer. Now it's African American. It may change in the future but its very confusing and it would be nice if we could all agree on a name and stick to it.

Answer 3

We are of African descent, but that was a long time ago, and I am with you. People are so afraid nowadays, they have to try to be correct with everything. I am a black American, and my family has been here probably more generations than a lot of the white Americans.

Answer 4

It's a bit of a double edged sword, yes some of us hate labels, I've been called a Mexican my entire life, though I've never been to Mexico, but on the other hand sometimes it helps to have a skin color descriptor, for instance, "go at meet Sarah in the lobby, she's African American, wearing a blue sweater". See what I mean?

Answer 5

well if you're black you have to have some African descent in you or you are just ridiculously tan. Yeah i agree I'm not referred to as a European American, though maybe i should refer to myself as that from now on

Answer 6

Every human being in the world is descended from Africans, when it comes right down to it. It just depends on how many generations back you want to go. But I'll be happy to call you whatever you want to be called.

Answer 7

You do have a point. After all, no one calls someone a Caucasian-American or an English-American. Someone who is black can also be Jamaican. Just know that it's not just based towards blacks. They also say Mexican-American too.

Answer 8

All it is is a politically correct term derived from the black people who happen to have african heritage.

I personally don't like either term, and would just like to refer to "african americans" as simply "americans," and "black people" as simply "people," but what are you gonna do?

Answer 9

What!?! well i'm sure black people wern't in america with the native americans b4 the europeans came! those black people b4 ur great, great grand parents were from africa. duh! BTW- blacks only lived in america 4 about 300 yrs.

and African American is SO NOT OFFENSIVE.
ur of african descent but born in the U.S.
Japanese descent born in U.S.= Japanese-American
European descent (England, France, Spain)= Caucasian-American (although many are not from the Cauasus Mountains)

Oh and that you kind of offensive.

Answer 10

It is my understanding that all Black people do come from Africa.They are decedents from Africa.As a white person I thought it was disrespectful to call you Black.I think white people do not want to be disrespectful to you in anyway.So you do not mind being called Black?I would also like to add my husband is black,and he has informed me not to use black.Unless you know your ancestry,is not from Africa,it is hard to know as my husband only knows his as far back as his grandmother.Her parents were slaves,and no one knows what part of Africa they were from.I want my husband to do the genetic testing to find out where his people are from.I know my ancestry is from Ireland and Italy,because of grandparents.Good luck.I wanted to add one more thing,just before my husband and I were to be married I had a party.No one knew I was white of his friends or he was black.Some of my friends said oh you never told us he was black,I told them its his earth suit,I love the guys heart not his skin.Can we all just be the HUMAN RACE,and stop all the segregation because of skin tones.Its all just nonsense.