Why do so many people want African Americans to only call themselves 'American'?

Question

Do the majority see AA as simply American?

I'm always surprised when people make this assertion....

Answer 1

Because they're just as American as any other American race.

Answer 2

If someone has a dual citizenship, it might be accurate to call himself African-American, or Japanese-American; otherwise the term is inaccurate and misleading, because many of them were not born in Africa nor are they African citizens. A citizen of the USA is an American.



I don't know anyone who claims to be an African-Englishman or African-Spaniard or African-Frenchman, or African-Norwegian, or African-Irish, or even African-Egyptian; maybe some do, but I don't know of any.



It represents one of the reasons there is still a chasm between the black and white races in this country. There is nothing wrong with being of African descent. American doesn't just mean white people; it means people of every color, race, and creed. I don't have a problem with anyone saying they are American of African/English/French/Japanese/Hatian descent, if they are proud of their ancestry and heritage, but the term African-American is divisive and suggests an intent to separate oneself from the group of Americans. But maybe that is what they want.

Answer 3

Born in the United States = American.



Most Black/African American people were born in the United States. Therefore we're Americans.

Answer 4

Because most other countries see African Americans as just American. Black yes, but American first and foremost.

Answer 5

Yeah. AA's are as American as the next white American person. Every American person i meet is American first and their racial or ethnic background comes second to me. I mean, I'm Canadian because I'm born in Canada but my cultural background is Jamaican and my racial background is prodominently black. It's sort of different in my sistuation though because I'm a first generation Canadian, since my parents were born in Jamaica. As for the typical AA; their linage dates back many many generations within the same country of America. So they have more of a right to identify themselves as American compared to me calling myself a Canadian.





Also, not every black person living in America is from Africa. And not every African person is black.

Answer 6

Chinese American,African American,Latino American est. There is no such thing! We are all Plain American! I have Japanese in me but I am a American through and through! And it's refreshing to know others think the same!

Answer 7

I have to ditto dontlabelme. A lot of people who are considered African Americans aren't really African. I once had a friend who was of native Caribbean descent, but people called her "african" even though she wasn't. And they are as american a anybody else.



I also prefer to be called white and not caucasian. I'm of Norwegian/ Scottish descent. I don't have any blood from around the Caucasus region in me. I'm not Armenian just like my friend was Jamaican not African.

Answer 8

While calling a "black people" African American is politically correct, it still leaves a bad taste in the mouth. It is like calling a naturalized Filipino a "Fil-Am" that is also quite demeaning. You see, it is best to just call them Americans because that is what they are really already, whether natural-born or naturalized.



If you look at history, who is a pure-bred people in the world? All of us have mixed races in our blood and we are only identified by our nation's name, whether American, German, British, French or what have you.



Good luck to you.

Answer 9

If an American was born in Africa, that's one thing. But why hyphenate your identity based on an ancestor who came from Africa perhaps centuries ago, especially since many black Americans are just as much a product of ancestors of European ancestry as they are of African? Even Frederick Douglas was 50% white. This is part and parcel of the racial politics continually forced upon America from the left, especially so-called "black leaders" whose stock and trade is racial unrest. More divisions among Americans is the last thing we need in the 21st century.

Answer 10

There have been many existing names for AA's like Blacks/Afro Americans/Colored/African Americans, whatever people call it. This difference between African Americans and every other race is that they are the ONLY race that did not want to be here in America. Their ancestors were forced, there was something called "slavery." So for African Americans there is a lot of displacement and various issues that have not come to closure like reparations. People don't want to give them but AA's didn't want to be here and if they get them then the ones who still don't want to be in the USA can leave and with some dignity that is far greater than an apologies. AA's were supposed to get 40 acres and a mule but any who AA's I think should just be called American but I don't think that should happen until closure and true justice has been served. I see Blacks as a race that has been treated unfairly in so many ways for so many years and just need to be respect for ALL their contributions; not just the ones that people are forced to talk about. It was AA's who built this country.

Answer 11

I can not speak for the majority but I can speak for myself. I would prefer African Americans to be simply referred to as blacks or Americans. We do not specify whites in every day conversation by saying White Americans or European Americans. So I don't think the same specification should be made for blacks.



I would also like for blacks to be referred to as simply blacks and not African Americans because in several occasions, blacks of Bahamian, Haitian, Jamaican, etc. decent are mistakenly referred to as African American when their DIRECT roots come from their native countries and not Africa.



Also, consider South Africans who are white or Egyptians who are not black. Should they be referred to as African- Americans as well?

Answer 12

Either you're an AMERICAN or you're not. This hyphenated American cow plop is ridiculous!

My co-worker is of the following lineage: FRENCH, ALGERIAN, TURKISH, ITALIAN, GERMAN. Can you imagine if she hyphenated HER American?

You must be one of those POLITICAL CORRECT nuts.

Yes, I DO see blacks as AMERICAN if they are born here or have become naturalized American citizens (as my grandparents, aunt, uncles, parents did).

I'd like to take a 2x4 to the side of the head of the moron who came up with that AFRICAN-AMERICAN mess.

Why aren't whites referred to as EUROPEAN-AMERICAN? hmmm?

Answer 13

Seriously I don't know what to call myself. My friend's mother says I never said I wanted to be called African.

Answer 14

Yes if they were born in America they are americans, white people mostly come from European countries and they don't call themselves European american right?

Answer 15

Some wise guy came up with this dumb title for black American's, I have never liked it, I prefer American.

Answer 16

what make a white person more american than an asian or a black? if everyone want to call blacks "african american" or asians, "asian american", then why not call whites "european americans", and only call natives "americans"

Answer 17

If you were born in America, you are simply American, it doesn't matter if you're asian, spanish, black, or even part asian spanish and part black. No one race owns the country sweety.

Answer 18

African American is a Politically Correct way to say "black person". An American is an American. I do not go around calling myself a German-Swedish-French American. I am just American.

Answer 19

I don't use the term African American, I think it is rather silly. Once someone got really offended at this so I asked him what the capital of Zimbabwe was, and he couldn't answer the question.

Answer 20

Because they/we are Americans. And African is meaningless, why does everyone else get countries repping them a we get a big fat-azz contienet.

Answer 21

babyb744- All Black people are descended from Africa lol and dont say Jamaica because they came from Africa too.



Yes they should be called Americans or Black American they were there before Asian Americans before most White Americans ancestors and before the USA even existed so yes they are Americans

Answer 22

Because most have never been to Africa and have no connection to it. It is just a way for them to separate themselves from the mainstream instead of getting with the program like the rest of us.

Answer 23

Why is there a need to differentiate? Some groups, do, like Italian-Americans, some don't.

Answer 24

A. They're not from Africa. Some of their ancestors were, however some of my ancestors were from Ireland, and I am not referred to as an Irish American. It's a term that implies something that isn't true.



B. It's simply put, a divisive term. It's not, in my opinion, a respectful term, but instead a term that glorifies division instead unity. We are all American citizens, therefore we are all Americans.



Diversity is great, but unity is better :)

Answer 25

I think every person living in America should refer to themselves as just 'American'. Im sick and tired of people who think they feel special when saying "Oh, Im an Asian-American" or "Im Latin-American"

Answer 26

Can't we just call'em "*****" derieved from latin?So many languages around the world call blacks Nigro or ***** or néger.

Answer 27

I've never heard of this before.......but I guess it makes sense.

Answer 28

I'm American I was born here not in Africa. Blacks that were born here or came her from another county are American

Answer 29

I agree with Chris J.

Answer 30

i prefer "black", that word for me says it all

Answer 31

Mostly because most black ppl don't like being identified as African Americans b/cus their not from Africa.

Answer 32

because NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE ARE DESCENDANTS FROM AFRICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Gosh people. I think we need to stop worrying about this whole ancestry mess. We're Americans. I think almost every ethnicity you can think of is in our blood.