Why aren't we all designated "African (something)"? )"?

Question

All mankind came from stock that originated in Africa. That's a given fact. Therefore everyone, Caucasian, Negroid and Mongoloid deserves the designation "African" in front of their nationality, or no one does. Your thoughts?

Answer 1

It's because the politically correct terms for race/ethnicity are just racism with another layer of indirection.

Calling someone "African American" or "Asian American" or "Native American" is supposed to classify them based on their ancestors' place of origin, but in reality, it's just a more polite way to say "dark skin" or "yellow skin" or "red skin." That's why you'll hear idiots on television referring to a black British athlete as "African American" even though he's neither African nor American.

You're right, if these terms actually meant what they purport to mean, then we'd all have the word "African" in front of our nationality, or we could safely drop it because it is automatically implied.

Answer 2

I think it's silly to call races after specific geographical locations. Neither I nor my ancestors at least 1000 years back had anything to do with the Caucasus area, so why on earth do people call me Caucasian? (calling me African would be even more of a longshot).

That set aside, why do Americans have this tendency to specify where one's ancestors came from? There's African Americans, Irish Americans etc. Why are there not simply Americans? What makes you think you need to be something more than that? Few African Americans have ever been to Africa. Few Caucasians even know where Caucasus is. Why not just use the country people are born in or grow up in to identify with?

Answer 3

Slaves weren't considered citizens. To admit this would mean admitting that African Americans aren't fully considered citizens. That's why I think the distinction was made. That, and also since black people in the United States are different from black people in other parts of the world.

Answer 4

Well, I would say because although yes, all man kind evolved from Africa, people in general only use the African (something) when describing nationality. At least, thats what I think.

Answer 5

Try reading the book the seven daughters of eve?? Not sure of authors but they claim there is many times more genetic veriation in africa than in the rest of the world combined. Also oldest modern human remains Africa, 2nd oldest Australia. We are all one species . Crikey its time to say merry christmas from the land down under.

Answer 6

In America, first there was Negro, then Colored, then Afro-American, then Black, then People of Color, now African-American. In Europe it's still negro (Fr.: black) for the most part. Many people have a desire to be called by the "right" group name in order to have a sense of identity. It creates a sense of "us and them". Not productive or even real in my opinion. It's everywhere, though.

Native Americans prefer to be called Indians, but that's another story.

Jeezz, why do folks always have to use euphemisms and be afraid of speaking naturally? It really IS hard to keep up with PC speech!

Answer 7

I am Canadian. i have friends from Caribbean descent, European, Asian, native. i could not care less if you were purple, a good person is a good person no matter where they or their families came from and skin colour makes no difference to me.
there are far more important things going on in the world today to worry about such trivial things.

Answer 8

African Caucasion, woohoo.

Answer 9

The more important question is why are we designated at all? We're all humans, any differences that exist are purely superficial.

Answer 10

people love drawing lines of division. they are imaginary of course, so the less we pay attention to them, the less important they become. we are all cut from the same mold. we are one.