Mexican-Americans, African-Americans, etc...? What nationalities are just called Americans, I mean where do just Americans hail from originally? Is it a W.A.S.P. (white anglo-saxon, protestant-basically British) thing?
And finally, isn't it discriminating ? Why should an Irish, for instance, family who has been in the US since 1700 be called Irish-American?
I've never heard the term English-American, Dutch-American or French-American. How comes? Are these nationalities more accepted in the US of A?
I'm really puzzled by this! I see that Americans are so patriotic and just wondered why some people who live there, and have done so for generations, are not accepted as fully American, but they need an add-on prefix.
Thanks!
2007-06-15 02:04:44 · 18 answers · asked by sandwich 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I see from the answers you got that not many mention the fact that until not long ago these hyphenated Americans, as they're described, were just called Irish, Italian, or Chinese, even if they'd been living in the US for centuries (well, their families anyway!). It's only recently that they've been allowed to be added as -American. So, blows all the 'cultural heritage' balooney out of the window!
They don't call themselves that, is the majority of English heritage people that call them that. And they're lucky to get the hypen at that!
What huge discrimination goes on there, and its being covered by saying its actually the people that are being discriminated against that like it! Hypocrisy at its worst.
2007-06-15 03:05:32 · answer #1 · answered by milk 2 · 3⤊ 4⤋
iz just cuz of the superiority complex of their origin, like if you buy the finest olive oil will say Italian on the bottle and like French vanilla, if I buy cologne, I always make sure it's made in France or Italy, and at the end of the day, those are all white... My coffee is roast Colombian, and my Bananas are from Colombia, because Colombia is world leader on drug trafficking and cocaine plantation almost the drug capital of the world and then it's Shakira's land too so, every time I buy bananas or coffee any brand of coffee like let's say they said it's French roast, as long as it's made in Colombia - it's actually a third world country, and it has a reputation for the highest kidnapping rate because of the rebel groups but those are in the uncivilized areas
2016-04-01 08:58:24 · answer #2 · answered by Lynne 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That actually goes way back. Immigrants tended to be marginalized, so their children who were born and/or raised here, living in marginalized communities, didn't quite see themselves as American, and yet not quite Irish or Italian or Mexican or wherever their parents were from.
2007-06-15 02:26:43 · answer #3 · answered by karkondrite 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am born and raised in America.
My family is a mixture of 2 types of American Indian, Irish and Dutch. The Morther of my Children was Japanese from Japan.
I have wondered the same thing as you have asked for all my life, that I can remember.
Until Americans say only "I am an American", America will never have it's own culture.
2007-06-15 02:15:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 13⤊ 4⤋
In Britain everyone is called British, even people that have been here for two weeks! No matter where they come from on this planet, as long as they wish to be British they are. Now that's what I call accepting all!
2007-06-15 03:22:43 · answer #5 · answered by greybamby 2 · 5⤊ 2⤋
It is the opposite of anything relating to discimination. It is pride of their heritage and history. You can be proud to be an American, and also proud of where your family line comes from. What's the problem?
As far as never hearing about the English, Dutch or French Americans, Anglo-American would cater for the English ones, and perhaps you don't hear so much about the Dutch and French because they went to Canada instead. I dunno really.... but why be confused about it? It's harmless, and it's just the way it is. No use in getting yourself in a tizzy about it.
From a Welsh-Australian
2007-06-15 02:11:13 · answer #6 · answered by martinowens5173 4 · 7⤊ 4⤋
It has to do with roots. Some people need to know they come from somewhere. I think for many of us it is challenging to be limited to one category (like irish only). I'm a combo of irish, scottish, english and a touch of german to piss off the rest of the combo (just kidding). So I say that I'm from the United States. (I don't say American b/c the Canadians and Mexicans are Americans, too, North americans. I heard that they get made when we say americans because it leaves them out). Happy friday!
2007-06-15 02:10:48 · answer #7 · answered by Cooper Y 2 · 1⤊ 8⤋
If a person who's family came from Ireland two hundred years ago, wants to stress his Irish ancestry by calling himself an Irish-American, it's a free country.
You're way off track by suggesting that some are not accepted simply because they refer to themselves by a hyphen, or they don't use a hyphen .
Which do you think is not accepted ?
You're very welcome
2007-06-15 02:15:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
Some people like it because it ives them a sense of identity, its a more exciting way to describe yourself.
Originally, Americans hail from all over europe - mainly protestants althogh funnilly enough your 'founding fathers' recognised the independence of church and state. You wuldn't think that to look at america now!
2007-06-15 02:12:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
I really don't know, I'm black and Japanese mostly, with a little white and Native American if you go back far enough. Would I be Native-African-Japansese American?
But who cares I'm more concerned with the fact that I just got SUMMER HOMEWORK!!!!
2007-06-15 02:18:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋