Why do we call black people African Americans?

There are plenty of other words to use. JuiceCakeOoh

Because of political correctness.

Wiffle_Snuff

I know, right. Negro's get so defensive about being called Negro, black or (censored N-word I'm not allowed to type). It's rediculous.

Because of political correctness.

Vesica_Prime

[QUOTE="Vesica_Prime"]

Because of political correctness.

Suzy_Q_Kazoo

Same reason we call Japanese people Asian, regardless of them being born here or not.

[QUOTE="Suzy_Q_Kazoo"][QUOTE="Vesica_Prime"]

Because of political correctness.

Gallion-Beast

I always wondered that too, but thank god I'm black, African and American.

Contrary to popular belief... black people aren't offended when you refer to them as "black". I never say "African-American", because it's stupid. I grew up in a mostly black neighborhood, and nobody uses the term "African-American". African-American is just a term white people made up.

C'mon, America! Get your facts straight! Not all black people are African and not all Africans are black. Sheesh...CampOfDuty

Because people are worried that saying "black" is racist

Because people are worried that saying "black" is racist

Overlord93

[QUOTE="CampOfDuty"]C'mon, America! Get your facts straight! Not all black people are African and not all Africans are black. Sheesh...Commander-Gree

Black people originate from Afircaweezyfb

By that logic everybody in the USA is an African-American. Because, Homo sapiens originated from the continent that is known today as Africa.

And yeah, "Blacks" may originate from the African continent but it does not mean that every single black person in the USA is a dual citizen to some African country, like Nigeria. Should we call "Whites" Euro-Americans? Because if you're Chinese you're Asian-American. But Latinos/Hispanics have an odd standing in this race classification. As they are classified by the language they speak, rather than the continent they originate from, Spanish which is based on Latin. Or by their last name, Hispanic meaning the person in question has a surname that originated in Spain. This divide between "Whites" and "Blacks" and what to classify each other should not be a contentious point in this day and age. It doesn't matter what your skin color is; if you were born here you are a citizen of the United Sates of America, plain and simple an American.

But there are some who would question this as "whitewashing" a groups particular ethnic culture, but whatever that's not the point being discussed here.

Edit: Darn you Big Red for stating that before I finished typing this. :P

Black people originate from Afircaweezyfb

By that logic everyone is African.

[QUOTE="Suzy_Q_Kazoo"][QUOTE="Vesica_Prime"]

Because of political correctness.

Gallion-Beast

Whatever floats your boat. They're both fine choices, IMO.

its ofencive there only that way because we forced em with that boat ride

Black people originate from Afircaweezyfb

Black people arealso called African Americans because no one knows which tribe or country we are from; so instead of being able to say Nigerian American we encompase the continent, hence African American. Most white people can be called European Americans because that's where their ancestors are from.

[QUOTE="weezyfb"]Black people originate from AfircaSirWander

By that logic everybody in the USA is an African-American. Because, Homo sapiens originated from the continent that is known today as Africa.

And yeah, "Blacks" may originate from the African continent but it does not mean that every single black person in the USA is a dual citizen to some African country, like Nigeria. Should we call "Whites" Euro-Americans? Because if you're Chinese you're Asian-American. But Latinos/Hispanics have an odd standing in this race classification. As they are classified by the language they speak, rather than the continent they originate from, Spanish which is based on Latin. Or by their last name, Hispanic meaning the person in question has a surname that originated in Spain. This divide between "Whites" and "Blacks" and what to classify each other should not be a contentious point in this day and age. It doesn't matter what your skin color is; if you were born here you are a citizen of the United Sates of America, plain and simple an American.

But there are some who would question this as "whitewashing" a groups particular ethnic culture, but whatever that's not the point being discussed here.

Edit: Darn you Big Red for stating that before I finished typing this. :P

Because all black people do originate from Africa in some for or another. And, sure, not all Africans are black, but the whites that settled in AFrica are called by other names (Boers, Rhodesians/White Zimbabweans, Afrikaners, etc) and those that are Arab, such as in the north, are called by their own section. Learn2Slavetrade though, All those blacks that come from the Caribbean all originally came from Africa.hokies1313

How about Australian Aboriginals?

Because it's politically correct to call someone African American, even when they might just be American.

I'm black, jamaican, and for americans

ja makin you smiley.

what happens if a white american emigrates to Algeria, is he an African-American or an American-African?

what happens if a white american emigrates to Algeria, is he an African-American or an American-African?

roganth

Definitely american-african. origin first

It actually makes perfect sense because you can't give a distinct color label to every ethnic group.

What doesn't make sense is how we don't use the termonology consistently when referring to European Americans. Every other ethnic group gets the "____________ American" treatment.

I consider myself African american :? Never saw anything wrong with it.Sp4rtan_3

Would you be upset though if someone called you black?

[QUOTE="Vesica_Prime"]

Because of political correctness.

Suzy_Q_Kazoo

Fine. I want to be called European - American from now on, not white!

Calling someone white is racist! :roll:

In the UK we call them black people.

I don't really care whether I'm referred to as a black person or an african-american. I do hate political correctness when it comes to blacks however. Don't say african-american if saying the word "black" makes you feel uneasy for some reason.

I have always hated the -American crap that someone thought would be a better way to refer to others. The fact that Africans can be white or olive skinned also shows that not all Africans are black. In reality, the only people who can honestly use the -American terminology are those who have immigrated to the US and have become naturalized citizens. If you were born in the US, you are an American.