Why does the US separate nationalities?

Question

I find it hard understanding why African Americans are called African Americans and Latin Americans are called Latin Americans when they are all just American.
Im from Australia with a Greek background and Ive never been called a Greek Australian, even though we have Africans migrating here we dont call them African Australians.
Once we are here, this is our home whether we were born here or migrated. We are all Australian no matter where we come from.
So why does America separate people by their colour, when they are all Americans?

Hey All Man, your answer doesnt make sense to me, did you even read the question properly? How am I racist when Im trying to make the point that everyone should be equal within the country that they live in...moron.

Answer 1

There is, for no logical reason whatsoever, a need in some subcultures to identify themselves separately from others. There is, as well, a blatant hypocrisy in this, which is centered around the concept of 'role-reversal.'

If an white person attempts to declare himself a "Caucasion-American" or "White American," it is to do so with the presumption that he is only doing so to be contrary to other ethnicities or races, and not for any "legitimate" reasoning such as pride in his color or heritage. However, such prides in heritage, color, ethnicity, nationality, or sexual preference, such as "Mexican-American," "African-American," or "Gay-American" are largely-encouraged as being "progressive."

If you're looking at America and trying to make any sense of it, you're wasting your time. There's not a shred of logic or sense to it whatsoever. It's all about "popular trends" anymore, and any notion of rational, sensible thinking is completely abhorrent in the eyes of those that would seek to 'categorize' themselves in some sort of misguided attempt to "be equal."

In short, you're absolutely correct. There's no good reason for it, and it only serves to drag out an endless argument over integration, racism, tolerance, and equality, when such labels only promote the exact opposite.

Answer 2

America doesn't separate people by color or national origin.

I happen to be a blend of German and Polish, but the immigrants were my grandparents and I have been an American all my life.

The hyphenations come from two sources: 1. Some minority groups want to separate themselves because they might otherwise be called things they consider less flattering. 2. There are some who preach political correctness, which I think is b.s.

Your point is very well taken. I wish we'd quit it, however it isn't any kind of American policy. Our culture is very blended and generally has blended pretty well.

Answer 3

You're confused... A Latin American has NOTHING to do with the US. A Latin American is not a "latin" person that was born in the US, a Latin American is a person that was a born in Latin America, if you know what it is.

Descendants of Latin Americans in the US are called "latino". I think the word "latino" is ridiculous, but whatever.

Answer 4

We are a young nation on the world scale, and made up almost exclusively of immigrants. Almost no families have been here for more than 200 years. Oftentimes, those designations are self-imposed. People here in the US tend to value their racial and ethnic identities and the nationalities of their ancestors. As a result, we are diverse, but not yet homoginized. Most of us are proud to be Americans, but we also cling to the origin points of our ancestors. Those things are an important part of the history of our families.

Answer 5

Ok, kiddo....from this 44-yr-old American here's what tends to happen.

African Americans ...THEMSELVES ...make it a point to refer to themselves as such. No one I know says anything like that...an American is an American. Same for the others ...Italian Americans, Irish Americans, etc. I don't understand why some people want to add an extra "tag" to themselves. Hey, folks is folks, right?

I have lived in more than 15 states from Texas to Florida, Washington state, Hawaii, New York, Minnesota, etc. My family is very mixed.....Scottish, Irish, English, French, Cherokee (and who knows what else). My husband is another mutt...Irish, Norwegian, English, and who knows what else.... and who cares?

Best of everything!

Answer 6

thrilling attitude. i assume all of us get slightly protecting of what we carry expensive. think of of it this way how could you experience if an somebody different than a family contributors member have been to criticize say your mom and oh by ability of ways do it in an extremely rude way. My wager is you're able to ask questions like: How is this your employer? Why are you so rude? Why would be unable to you be slightly extra purpose on your criticism? in keeping with probability you ought to concentration on fixing your individual family contributors first? additionally this is not continually what's asserted yet how this is asserted, and the incontrovertible fact that it frequently comes with a geared up in biases. in effortless terms slightly distinctive attitude from an old (and specific slightly protecting American)

Answer 7

Because we live in a ****** up wolrd filled of labels labels labels. People are too lazy to explain things, and don't want people to think someone whos' American to be white, and end up being Black or Asian or Latino. I hate this world.

Answer 8

It's lame actually. Aren't all men created equal? We are ALL americans for those that are legal citizens.

Answer 9

I honestly don't care simply because i don't care about anything because in my eyes it all sucks. But you shouldn't kid yourself that kind of sh!t exist everywhere it's just sometimes people refuse to see what's in front of their own eyes unfortunately America is always brutally honest.

Answer 10

You're a racist.