Ethnic Backgrounds?

Question

Is it just me or am I correct? People of color or black people are not African Americans, but Americans of African decent. I am a white guy and am an American of English decent. No one calls me an English American, so why should anyone call a black person an "African American"? So, someone who is Irish is an "Irish American" or are they an American of Irish decent? Someone from from Australia is not an "Australian American, but an American of Australian decent. What is up with this denotation of origin where as people who are born in America are termed as a country that they have never been to?

Answer 1

I'm Irish.

There are people of Irish descent in America who call themselves "Irish American" and it's always annoyed me.

When people in Ireland see Irish Americans, or hear them talk, they see no difference between them and other Americans - same walk, same nasal accents, same attitudes, and often same condescensions. It's particularly annoying when they then proceed to claim a special interest in Irish affairs such as immigration, culture or politics.

Incidentally, Africans in Africa call African Americans simply Americans - same walk, same nasal accents, same attitudes, and often same condescensions.

On the other hand, why can't Americans be happy with simply being americans? Is there something about it that's not good enough?

I myself have in my ancestry, some English, some German, and even a bit of Arabic. It has never occurred to me, or anybody else, to look on me as anything other than Irish, and I've always been happy enough about that. It doesn't make me any better or worse than other ethnic groups, simply Irish without any need to qualify it.

Answer 2

Wow, I've wondered about this too. Especially as Africa is not a country but continent. It has never made sense to me. I am Canadian. My family has been here since 1632 and I am not anything other than a Canadian. We don't have African Canadians that I know of. The only differentiation that we have is French Canadian and English Canadian and that is a language thing. In fact my heritage is french but I am staunchly Canadian and damn proud of it.
I do not think this distinction does anything but set people apart.
I know for fact that my first descendant in this country Jean/Jacques Nicolette had both a native and a french wife. From what I know he left Canada and went back to France in the end. So what am I?
I've relatives from other countries, married into the family and they happily call themselves Canadians though they have immigrated from other countries. Not once have I heard my sisters call themselves Brazilian Canadian, or Isreali Canadian. That would sound just weird to me but I respect and acknowledge that they are of Brazilian and Isreali hertigage and in fact the ones family fled Germany during the second world war. What exactly would she call herself?
Seems plain stupid to me and I don't understand why this is done. Sorry to all I may have offended but if you can explain this to me I am open to discourse.

Answer 3

Well, actually, a lot of Irish-Americans do call themselves that. But, I do believe many people use the hyphonated titles to distingush themselves, and also to show that they belong to a particular cultural group, hence Irish, Mexican, African, Jewish, etc. becomes a part of who they are. Besides, saying you an "American of African decent" takes to long to spit out.

Answer 4

I don't know. I've always wondered why people call me an African American instead of just calling me an American. It's just our society.

Answer 5

This is a good question, I have been pondering it myself for quite some time.
You are correct! Some businesses and other places have changed our ethnic background from listing of 'White' to "Caucasion" i cant even spell it hehe.

Anyways, even though society says their African American and we are white, most black people dont take offense if you call them black, cause they know they are.

I see the trouble when kids get in fights in schools over color . when a white kid calls one a N***** and the other calls the kid a cracker. And only the white kid gets in trouble.

We need to make out society more equal. No one is better then the other, it is all the same undereath the skin.

Answer 6

It is just a political term. My whole family, my dad and mom were born in Africa and our relatives have lived there for 400+ years but they came from portugal. I was born in America so im American i dont consider myself an african american just because my family is from african. My dad considers himself Kenya, my mom considers herself mocambiquen, they see themselves as africans, in reality african americans are just Americans but to be politically correct, they are called african Americans.....why....because *****, colored, black american, e.t.c sounds alot more offensive that African American.

Answer 7

Get over it. They call people Asian American who have never stepped foot in Asia.

If a person wanted to be called something, you should respect that call them by what they wanted to be referred to.

Answer 8

You are correct. But what are you going to do? Americans may have rejected the concept of class, but they have replaced it with ethnicity and they have taking to pre-judging everyone with who their ancestors were, instead of who they really are.

Sad really.

Answer 9

Oh heaven forbid you'd say 'of African decent'. Ol' rascists Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton would have you in court in less than a week.

Answer 10

Worse than that is "Mexican American". All people from Mexico are automatically Americans. Canadians are all Americans too. Maybe we will get around to being called "Americans, not Mexican or Canadian".