Why do white people call Black Americans African Americans?

Most of us are some shade of brown. Dark or light.
Hardly anyone is 'Black' or 'White'. We are all people. What does it matter.

 

Excuse me, are you not the one with various 'kinds' (types) of black people?

LetLovinTakeHold

I think some Black Americans referenced themselves as 'African American' when they traced their family origins (...aint gonna get into 'heritage' etc)... so, white people do the same...not all, obviously.

Why shouldn't they?

I wouldn't bother, myself. But, then again, I don't really have to make any reference anybody that is Black (or African) and lives in America...

 

There are various kinds of lowlife trash in the world that always has their hand out or feels owed. The other 'type' are hard working people getting fucked with no vaseline because Osama wants to play 36 holes, In my part of the world.

 

I think its just an outdated politically correct term left over from the 80s and 90s. Its actually not very politically correct at all - the real African Americans are first or second generation immigrants who come to America and get an American citizenship (which can also include white people who grew up in Africa). Black people whose ancestors came over in the 1600s and 1700s are just Americans.

 

i dont know a single black person that wants to be called afro american.
just like I dont want to be called euro american..

 

Most black people just wanna be called black. I have Irish ancestry but I'm not "irish american"...that would imply someone who just immigrated to America.

Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans etc like to be called just that. If I do not know, I may refer to people of that color as spanish but they don't refer to each other that way.

heh, what's with all the threads about black people lately LOL? "I'm from da skreets nucca"

 

I'm not 100% sure what you call people that you consider not to be lowlife trash, but I do know what you do call people that you do think are lowlife trash. And what you do call people you consider lowlife trash is also a derogatory racial term.
I'm not sure why you chose a derogatory racial term and not lowlife trash.

'As long as any of it is used, Its going to cause race related issues.'

Exactly.

 

Im sure i am misunderstanding you but i will ask anyway. How is lowlife trash associated with race in any way?

 

Good question.

You might have missed what he calls low life trash.

I'm saying what he calls lowlife trash is also a derogatory racial term.

 

Well, Im not the one that's going to buck the odds of the age old tradition of a word that will never go away. Who am I to do so? Or anyone for that matter!
If its good for one, Its good for all. Again, Its just a word. If you want to believe its a 'derogatory racial term' so be it, I don't care. People seem to think they can change the rules of the game and many at that, As they go along.
Funny how a 'word' get certain people all 'stirred' up and hell bent.

 

'As long as any of it is used, Its going to cause race related issues.'

Tradition?

 

Human ego must be stoked, it's dualities understood. Word is the Way and therefore mankind uses it.

 

Wow, nobody has hit on the correct answer or even attempted it seems.

The reason is the same reason there are people referred to as "Italian Americans", "Irish Americans", "Polish Americans", "Chinese Americans", etc.,
immigration, plain and simple.
America is the only nation that has been populated by immigrants more than anything else, and the vast majority of these immigrants have chosen to retain some degree of cultural identity, hence the terms "--- American".
It really has nothing to do with race or racism, it has more to do with immigrants wanting to maintain a unique cultural identity.

But then that answer makes too much sense, is historically correct and doesn't open the thread up for a bunch of juvenile racist shit,
so never mind.


ps. it was actually the black culture in America that started and promoted the term "African American", not whites, just thought that might be relevant.

 

The word is the word man. Use it however it is still the word. Each letter of the word is the Way. Nothing which we know is true.
Know without Knowing
IH

 

I think you need to lay off the crack pipe there Indy.

 

It is alright if you do not dig my vibe man. Your Way is my Way.

 

He has been talking to thedope

 

:frown:

Even generations later?
Why (and when) was it: started and promoted: the term "African American"?

It does not make much sense to me with regards to the current generation using it...they are not immigrants, are they ?

I'm not sure if the OP is suggesting the 'whites' started it - but I dunno.

 

Yeah but thedope makes sense.

 

I do not think the term applies to blacks born in America...to parents also born in America. I think the Nigerians and such could be called "African-American".

What about the Jamaicans and Haitians in America, they are in fact black, but they are not from Africa...do they fall under the "African-American" term for black people?