Why do white people call Black Americans African Americans?

Does this happen elsewhere? African Nederlanders? African Canadians? African English?

 

I don't call them 'African Americans'. How many blacks have been to, Or are from Africa? In the US none! So they have no right to claim something they are not.

 

People say African Canadians sometimes, but often to refer to someone who has immigrated here from Africa, so I guess in that situation it actually makes sense.

 

The post is talking about white people labelling black Americans as African Americans, not about black people calling themselves that.

But it's harder to be racist when it's the white person doing something wrong, so I guess I see why you went that way.

 

How can he be so sure that no afro american has been to or are from Africa? Seems unlikely to me

 

'Black' shouldn't have a negative connotation so I call them black, just as I call white people white. It shouldn't be a problem.

 

Im sure the crack dealer that lives in a 'project' with 24" blades on his new whip, Has never been or thought about going to, Africa.

If true African Americans were around, They would be more respectable and have a nice culture to share. Not a caddy and crack.

 

Yeah I think it's a bit silly too

We're all from Africa. And many/most black people have moved multiple times since then too.

Surely African American is way more racist than black? lol

 

exactly. I describe my friend as black but if further discussed I mention she would technically be African American because her dad's family is from Somalia

 

Whats wrong with, Excuse me, Sir? Or just call them by their name, Bob, Joe etc. Not too hard to find out a persons name if you want/are going to talk with them. An introduction of you're name and a hand shake usually gets their name and a start to whatever it is you want.

 

there are, and they do. But this thread isn't about them.

 

As I understand it, Black Americans is the newer term. African Americans was used alot but now it's pretty antiquated as a broad term.

I'm a Euro American or White American would probably the term to use now days.

 

Here's a thought.

Maybe it has to do with the passage of time. When the first generation of my family was born in America they were called Euro American; but now that many generations have been born here we're just Americans. If you want to describe my color also, I'm White American.

 

I think that this would be correct, but it's not the reality concerning black Americans. Not even close.

 

I want Trish to join this thread as many years ago she posted a thread about how since we are all from Africa she was going to start going around calling herself African American. :rofl:

 

i used to work with an actual african american. of course, he was thoroughly caucasian.

yes, it happens everywhere. black people in all countries are called african americans.

 

i've never heard either term in real life...just on tv

 

I tried that too, For 'minority scholars'/free money for school and later on as EOE and threw a fit for fun blaming skin color and racism. Didnt fly over so well for either lol



The thing that gets me is, Everyone wants to hold hands and be happy. With no color, Just 'humans' in contact with each other. But it always ends up, Who are you looking for? Oh the black guy, Hold on.
Or they will reference 'that black guy' over there, But will get more in depth if it were a white guy being referenced.

As long as any of it is used, Its going to cause race related issues. Just like a job app, What color are you? Does it matter? I just wrote down my SS# and checked the box citizen and can work in this country. I don't see where asking 'color' plays a role in anything.

 

Around Kenya and Ethiopia was the birth place of man, then spread to the middle east, europe, then onto siberia, mongolia, alaska.

From memory Native Americans descended fom mongolia, a while back it was shown many pacific islanders and maoris descended fom where taiwan is now, something the maoris werent too happy about.

White americans are more closely related to africans than many other races by 20,000 years or so.

White americans are only still white cos its only been a couple hunded years since they havent been living in scotland.

Give it another couple thousand years and all those whiteys in Southern US and Australia will turn black again

 

There are no black people who have ever been to Africa in the US. Fact. I'm not even sure it's a real place.