What Is An African American
I don’t have many black friends. Our lifestyles seem to clash to much. I like rock, they like rap. I speak English, they speak Ebonics. I have a black friend though that i don’t keep in touch with much but once in a once in a while we do hit each other up for a chat about everything. Half way during our conversation he turns to me and ask.. “Why do people call me an African American?”. After i shrugged my shoulders with an “I don’t know” we begin to talk more about the subject. Why are black in America called African-American? When is the last time you meet anyone from Africa in America? Why is it they are still called by where there ancestors are from. I have heard 2 answers to this question, none made any since to me or my friend.
1: There ancestors are from Africa;
Ok if this is try and we follow this rule then the only people we can call Americans are the Indians. Whites would be called British-American or something else. The people who’s great great grandparents were from China would still be Chinese-Americans.
2: Its there history;
What no other race has history? once again if we went by this rule the only people we can call Americans are the Indians. because white people would still have to be called British-Americans and on through every other race of people here today.
So why is this trend sticking? Is it the whites or the blacks thats making it this way? Is it the blacks because they really don’t want to admit there all American because of there history? Is it the whites because we don’t want the blacks to be all American? If it is the blacks making this trend then how come they wanted equal rights in a country they don’t want to recognize has theirs? If it is the whites then why are we doing it? would seem a bit pointless.
11 Responses to “What Is An African American”
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Wow, that’s a good point.
That’s actually very true. White people don’t want to say they are British-American or whatever because they think they are the true Americans and that America is there’s. They want to call Africans African-American because if they call them American it’ll make the white people feel less powerful.
Wow Jerico, “I speak English, they speak Ebonics”? I really think you have a problem and just like to upset people for the sake of getting them to write in your blog. You contradict yourself so much it is hilarious. I will pretend that wasnt meant to be racest.
Nothing like bringing up race and politics to get people talking right? People’s race is not referred to as “American”, when you fill out a survey and it asks you your race, “American” is not an option. People have to be called something for their race, unfortunatly black people decided that the term “black” was offensive so we call them what they want to make them happy and keep from being sued. Meanwhile white people didnt complain enough or form groups against the term “white” so our survey checkbox just says white.
Ask Jessie Jackson to rectify the situation on the surveys, as far as “NATIONALITY” not to be confused with “race” anybody born in America in an American and despite your color, overseas you will be treated as one.
Hmm, funny how you think what i said was raciest when it was a black guy that said it lol.
Some people just want a reason to complain i guess.
If you think i put this here to make people mad then feel free not to come back.
I”m A Black American. I do not wish to be called African-American as i feel like it doesn’t represent me or my people. We Blacks in America have a unique experience from other blacks around the world. We are so far removed from our roots in Africa, that we don’t identify with Africa at all. Black American’s are a mixture of West African blood, white American blood, and American Indian blood. Therefore we cannot say we are African-American, that is what you call an African that becomes a US Citizen. I’d rather just be called an American. This is my country, this is where is was born, my grandparents, and thier grandparents, but i guess there’s a need to classify people. it’s funny how if you’re black and speak spanish you get to be called hispanic. They say Hispanics make up 42 percent of the population and blacks only make up 12%, that’s funny! There are so many Black people from spanish speaking countries. The slave ships only brought 5% of it’s cargo to the States the other 95% went to the Islands and South America!!!
If everyone left comments on my site that was as thought out and informative as this i would truly be happy. Thank you for your comment.
What are African-Americans called in Europe?
well to call the anything other than european just proves my point more, What do you call them?
Isn’t the bottom line that the term African-American speaks to nationality - not race? A Black person is a Black person. My race is White and my heritage is a mixture of Danish, French-Scotch, Irish, German, Norwegian, Dutch, and American Indian. So a person who is White (and let’s say German), but born and raised in Africa would be a German-African who is White, correct? So technically, African can be White. It would be inaccurate to use African to mean Black. Right?
Sow after 200-300 years of not being born in a country you should still be refer to by that country? I fail to see how “African” applies to any black American today. Your right African-American does refer to nationality. But there not from Africa. There from America. According to your rule there is no Americans and everyone would have no nationality at all because all of out heritages come from a different place.
I see what you are saying and I agree. I guess there are three different issues at play here. Race, which is DNA, heritage, which is the history of where one’s ancestors have lived, and nationality would be one’s own citizenship. People confuse the three and tend to use them interchangeably. In any case, the term African-American is just plain meaningless as a way of referring to one’s race, since it refers to nationality and not DNA. Literally speaking, an African-American could just as well be a White person as a Black person.