Why do black people call themselves African-Americans?

[Anonymous]

Yes, their ancestors came from Africa, but they have no connection to Africa besides their appearance. I don't hear white Americans calling themselves Irish-Americans or English-Americans. If you ask them, they'll say that their ancestors came from Ireland or England or Italy, so forth. But they're not called European-Americans, so why are black people African-Americans?

Updates

+1 y

When I think African American, I'm wondering are you from Senegal, do you speak French, are you a Muslim, are you from Nigeria, DRC, Eritrea, etc? If their culture is completely separate from African culture, they're black people.

For example, my friend is Mexican-American and she speaks fluent Spanish and eats Mexican food at home. Her culture comes from Mexico.

[BeMuse]

Do you want the truth? They are black national separatists rebel groups. They don’t want to integrate into a culture based on liberty and to be considered true Americans thus they maintain a separate identity and claim they are African Americans. They self segregate based on racial solidarity inside urban areas. They believe that black people should be physically separated from other races, primarily whites because African Americans are racists and don’t believe in equality. They want a separate nation for black people which Americans already gave them when we colonized Liberia and handed it over to them. They turned that into a bunch of street gangs that warred with one another and eventually turned to cannibalism eating body parts of small children… The ones that stayed behind and didn’t go to Liberia still want a black nation in the Americas (hence African Americans) to do the same thing they did in Liberia here… Other Americans figure if they are exposed to American culture for long enough they will see it’s benefits and want to integrate into a free culture and participate in the big picture so we invest in their neighborhoods and try to include them, but they see working together in a capitalist society as oppression for whatever reason. Every couple of years they loose their shit and burn down everything Americans have done for them because they don’t see it as their neighborhood or their nation. They don’t want to belong… If they did, they’d just want to be Americans like everyone else.

[BeMuse]

You down vote it, but if you had a brain you’d know who coined the term and pushed for it’s use in America. It was Jesse Jackson who stood with Lewis Farrakhan for the million man march and who backed Jesse Jackson’s run for the Democrat nomination as a presidential candidate. Farrakhan openly praised Adolf Hitler as a great man… He is the leader of the Nation of Islam an “African American” movement that combines elements of Islam with black nationalism that consistently pushes rhetoric for black superiority over whites and is deeply racist, antisemitic and anti-LGBT. The facts are the facts. You might not like the truth but it’s there nonetheless...

[MaidenMandy30]

I do have to say. The first time that term was used was over 233 years ago and in the 1980s Jesse Jackson popularized it during his time of racism.

[BeMuse]

@MaidenMandy30 I'm pretty sure it was used as “Afro-American” in the 1800 not "African American". Nonetheless the modern usage spun out of black nationalism...

[MaidenMandy30]

They did also use Afro you're right but in the 1960s. I'm in conversation with my great in laws about all this. As they are black and grew up through all this.

[longlicker6969]

I'm not sure how many people refer to themselves, actually, as African Americans. I honestly think that that's more of a white construct to try and be somewhat respectful of their heritage.

I believe that the things that bind us together as a nation are the most important of all. Shared experiences, literature, music, beliefs are what holds a nation together. There's an example I could give you to further explain, but probably not succinct enough for this platform. DM me if you're interested.

For a long time, people DID refer to themselves as Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, German-Americans, Jewish-Americans, etc. A lot of those terms were used to bind a people together emotionally against the racial hatred coming from already established Americans who felt like immigrants were imposing on their chances oforf financial growth. (Not taking into account that except for actual Native Americans, we are all immigrants to this land.)

My personal opinion is that we should reverse the order. Once you come to America, and you say that you want to be a part of this nation, of this society, part of this culture, you should identify as an American first. American-Asians, American-Gemans, American-Africans, American-Somalis. Let's try that for a change, trying to realign our country with out beliefs.

[Anonymous]

Wait wait wait... do you know any white people? A lot of white people call themselves Irish, Italian, Polish, etc. Where do you get the idea that they don't?

They're able to pinpoint specific countries because they weren't slaves with their heritages erased lolol Otherwise, yeah maybe they might call themselves Euro-American.

African American was originally designated for black people who descended from slavery, so that's what I use. I don't consider people with parents from African countries to be African American, or at least not in the way that I consider myself to be. And most of my black African and Caribbean friends haven't considered themselves AA either.

It's the closest we have to an ethnic identifier, so important to me. I like labels to specifically identify who I am talking about. "Black American" doesn't cut it because many people from Caribbean and African families are also black. We don't share the exact same histories, culture, experiences. So I personally insist on African American because it's the only existing label that was once designated for my people that can be used as an ethnic identifier. Nationality, race, and ethnicity are different. My nationality is American, my race is what is considered "black", and my ethnicity would have to be either "African American" or "Black American." I prefer one over the other for the reasons I just mentioned.

[bente2]

I dunno either. I’ve once had someone correct me when I spoke of black people.. I live in the Netherlands, Europe. There are no “african americans” here because we’re dutch 😂. Imagine how dumb that was.

I think it maybe has to do with the negative connotation of “black” in america.

[abc3643]

Because the United States Federal Government and state governments felt that they needed to classify people based on ethnicity and race.

In the past, they'd be called Negroes. Then we said Black. Then we said African Americans.

The reason we generally don't say Europeans Americans, etc, is that, by DEFAULT because they are the majority and we much more so in the past, it was understood that they or their ancestors were from Europe. Anyone who didn't satisfy that typically had an ethnic qualifier added in describing them.

B T W, in the past, you can bet being Irish or German or a Jew or whatever WAS a big deal.
Google "No Irish need apply."

[RolandCuthbert]

Yawn. . . why do "White" people call themselves "White" people when their skin is not the color white.

It may have to do with that groups can call themselves anything they damn well please.

[Ripper_E]

The term Italian-American, Mexican-American, Irish-American, etc. are used all the time. What are you talking about? They are African American because their ancestors were African, but they created their own culture here in America, separating them from Africans.

[Asker]

When I think African American, I'm wondering are you from Senegal, do you speak French, are you a Muslim, are you from Nigeria? If their culture is completely separate from African culture, they're black people. My friend is Mexican-American and she speaks fluent Spanish and eats Mexican food at home. Her culture comes from Mexico.

[hellionthesagereborn]

Because they need an ever constant reminder that they are victims, that something bad happened to some one else over 150 years ago and that means they themselves should be treated as if they suffered and get all the special privileges that come with being a perpetual victim (A bit harsh and blunt, but entirely accurate).

[lightbulb27]

I know, like... I can tell they are black. They are either African, African American (they came from Africa recently), or American. Maybe they feel left out.

I sometimes think Italian American, but I don't associate that much to the country... it's slow erosion of association.

[pointyhat]

because black people are from africa, orginally... i dont think any black people lived anywhere else... i think all black people came from africa... so since their skin colour shows that they obviously came from africa... why not represent where ur from and be proud of ur heritage?

[pointyhat]

they are Africans living in america, thats why

[pointyhat]

what else would they call themself? black American? African American sounds better so fuck it, lets jus call em that, it doesn't matter

[Asker]

Just call them black people. White people and black people. Their culture is also completely different from culture in Africa. They eat different food, speak different languages, listen to different music, etc. They know almost nothing about Africa.

[pointyhat]

why dont u want them to be called African American?
i dont understand why it irratates you that they are called that, they are obviously from africa so i think they have the right to call themself that if they want

[pointyhat]

imagine if English slaves got forced to go to africa and they are not allowed to call themself English africa... the Africans try to steal their right of them calling themself that?
like wtf? let them call themself what they want, its their right

[pointyhat]

who cares if they never been there? its their heritage

[pointyhat]

i dont think ur desires of calling them black American will catch on anyway... more people will agree that African American sounds better... so they will be continued to be called that.. give up on ur dream

[JustinTheGreat]

African American is a term that mostly white people use because they think ‘black’ is going to be offensive for some reason
I don’t want to speak for all black people obviously but from what I’ve seen/heard, black people aren’t a huge fan of the term either and just prefer to be called black.

[Anonymous]

The same reason as Asian-Americans, Latino-Americans, etc. Because they aren't treated as Americans. They are treated as their race first, effectively labeling them as second class citizens by the group in power: white people. Hell, white people don't even usually refer to the actual Americans as American. They call them Indian, based on a mistake a lost white guy made one time and then never changed it for centuries.

[Asker]

But black people are the ones who call themselves African-Americans. All the white people I know, refer to black people as black people. It's like "African-American" is more formal than "black people," which is informal.

[Reign_Interrupted]

Nobody black that I know calls themselves anything other than black. But if they did refer to themselves as African American then what would be the problem? That is their place of origin. We are technically referred to as Caucasian on paper but call ourselves white people. The same is with them. African American is the term. they are given on paper. And you would be right in them where they come from in Africa. They just probably won't be able to tell you since most don't know their background.

[Machiavellio]

Because they don't want to relinquish their blackness and obvious odentity. Also they want to be acknowledged by where they've been part of history. It's all just accepting ideologies other ones true soul and characters... which historically always resulted in basic human rights denial by america and denial of identity by africa.

[thegirlfromthething]

Because they are Americans of African descent. And some white Americans do call themselves Irish-Americans, Polish-Americans, etc. They just don’t call themselves European-Americans.

[thegirlfromthething]

You don’t have to be connected to a culture to have ancestry from its members. And black Americans do demonstrate some aspects of African culture, like braiding their hair, sometimes wearing traditional clothing, and practicing Protestantism.

[Anonymous]

hmmm... Actually I hear white Americans refer to themselves with their country of origin a lot.
Does it bother you how black people refer to themselves?
More succinctly, does it matter? Is it any of your business?

[Asker]

It doesn't affect me personally, but it's still a question I have it. Just because something doesn't affect you, doesn't mean you can't ask about it.

[Opinion Owner]

of course not. You should ask.
I would suggest that it makes no difference what an individual wants to refer to himself or herself as.
All that matters is that you give an individual the respect he/she deserves to be with whatever label they want.
I

[Reaperbot666]

I know a few black people that hate being called African America. there families are from the Dominican republic.

[MaidenMandy30]

This!

[AngelLily]

I'm seen many white people say there Irish or Italian-American also black American still have roots in Africa besides looks most of African American culture and parts of food have roots in Africa.

[SuccessfulHornDog]

Two things. 1 is that they felt that the names used to refer to them as a whole had become tainted with negativity (this is probably pretty accurate). 2. Its a power play to demand that people call you something that you decided.

[SaraSmithishere]

I think it's just the accepted term. It's better than negro/negress (the olden terms). I remember when black people were black, then some time in the 90's they started going by African-American.

[DizzyDesii]

Black people usually call themselves black. Its nonblack people who call us African/African American

[Anonymous]

Not every black person do, there are black people from the Caribbean and Africa. I think they call themselves African Americans because they are not white Americans and they weren’t born in Africa. Its just like a Haitian American their parents are from Haiti but they were born in America so they consider them as Haitian-American.

[TwoToTooTutu2]

Actual African Americans are African. Black Americans are not African, but not all Black Americans are black. They come in many colours so they tend to go by African American.

[Gedaria]

To stand out be different. When I'm listening to the radio and you get a woman on there. You always get the line me being a woman of colour, as if you need to take it into consideration...