Does anyone know?

Question

Not being racist but still wondering. When does a person become just an American or are only Caucasians considered Americans? My point is there are African, Native, and Mexican-American just to name a few. Native-Americans were here before the county began, Most African-American have been here for multiple generations. However in both examples they are something before American. Doesn’t that hyphenated American just further divide the nation?

Answer 1

My husband is half Mexican and American Indian by blood, but when asked what he is, he says American. he hates it when people call themselves, ***-American. He says that if you were raised here, then you're straight American. I was raised in Germany, but you don't see me saying that I'm German-American. This whole country is a bunch of hyphenated Americans. I do believe that that furthers the separation in this country.

Answer 2

I think the hyphen goes away when you become a melting pot of national origins. My mother-in-law emigrated from Germany; thus, I think she is properly a "German-American." My father-in-law was born to Irish immigrants; he is "Irish-American." My husband (their son) doesn't have a hyphenated label because German-Irish-American becomes pretty convoluted. I am a third-generation Japanese-American (my parents and grandparents didn't intermarry with other cultures). It would be pretty goofy for my kids to use the label German-Irish-Japanese-American, although it would be true.

Also, I only use the term "Japanese-American" when I am in the US. When I travel abroad, I merely say I am an "American." I wouldn't want a foreign national to assume that I have any ties to Japan, which I don't.

Answer 3

I believe it's a way to hold onto your herritage. Simple things like a name can make a difference. Remember that not everyone wants to be considered "american" just because they live in america. They are still a part of their culture, and by combining both names they recognize that they are americans but of a certain culture as well. It's the blending of the two.

Answer 4

Personally, I think we should all be "Americans" if you are a citizen of the United States.

'African-Americans,' as they are wont to be called, seem to have monopolized the term to indicate only those with "black" skin. Last time I checked, Egypt was in Africa, but those Americans of Egyptian descent are not referred to as 'African-Americans' - I have a friend from South Africa - she is white. She is my favorite 'African-American'

My neighbor (he is black or 'African-American') refers to himself as just American (no hyphen).

Answer 5

I never really thought about it. Maybe it's just their way of keeping in touch with their heritage and being American at the same time.

Answer 6

I agree with you, so therefore i am going to call myself a caucasion-american or maybe a europeon-american

Answer 7

personally i think its stupid we are all human who cares what title we are given i see no differance between races im colorblind in that aspect