If we all supposedly came from Africa, then why are only black people referred to as African?

[Sevenpointfive]

that question should haunt you. African is a racial slur

[Anonymous]

Worst question I've ever read.

1) Doesn't matter
2) Doesn't help
3) Is potentially offensive to a subset of peoples
4) Suggest that you know the readers and what should and should not "haunt them"
5) Its clearly untrue, only African people should be refered to as Affrican, but what makes a person African in the modern age is a sense of personal nationality.

This question also appears to promote a certain racist thinking. People focused on race, either positively or negatively are racists. Nothing is a slur, outside of its intent (and anything can be made a slur with the right intent).

[menina]

Not sure if you're serious or just mocking. If you are serious, here's my take.

Not all black people are African. The ones who are called African, are the ones who are actually from African countries.
Besides, it makes no sense to call African someone who was not born in an African nation.
I don't think that African is a racial slur. If you think it is, then you're not serious. It's the same as European, Asian or American (the continent, not the United States).

[Sevenpointfive]

actually, in Europe, being called an American was a slur for awhile

[menina]

I live in Europe and I've never heard such thing. So, I have no idea of what you're talking about.

[Sevenpointfive]

so white people in south africa are Africans correct?

[menina]

Yes because they were born in an African country despite being of European descent.

What you actually trying to say?

[Sevenpointfive]

i'm trying to clarify the negative association associated with having African ancestry despite skin color. so, if we are all of African descent, then why is being African seen as negative? what's the point of putting African in front of American? european? etc.

[menina]

There's nothing wrong with being African. I'm African. I'm pretty sure you know why there's so many negativity and prejudice surrounding the African continent and its people.

[Sevenpointfive]

i don't know? i only know that most Africans that were TAKEN from africa were slaves and were sold by Africans. that's why i want to know more. africa is a harsh continent, but whether you walked to another or stayed, you're still African right? just because a chinaman paid to get to san francisco doesn't mean he's not any less African anymore. we have plenty of divisions set by continent, country, states and whatnot, but what does that really mean? do people accept their African ancestry?

[lightbulb27]

If thats true maybe we all came from an aomeba cell. We dont associate ti that.


We associate at a higher level of culture and environment.


there's lots of divisions even within continents and colors. Eg i met a black girl that was really german by training. I've met white girls whom are usa hood. Its cultural identity moreso.


Each has social experiences passed on and handed to them… sometimes by color or identity. Rhink about romas/ gypses

[Sevenpointfive]

yes, but that amoeba came from africa