Why are Black Americans referred to as “African-American”?

November 17th, 2008 | by admin |

  1. 16 Responses to “Why are Black Americans referred to as “African-American”?”

  2. By Latrell Down Under on Nov 17, 2008 | Reply

    im in australia and they only call me american..none of that african american..black american stuff..just american

  3. By ApocalypseLater on Nov 19, 2008 | Reply

    I do call myself black. Every black person I know uses that term as well. The only people who have ever called me “African-American”, were white.

  4. By Mike on Nov 21, 2008 | Reply

    This question has been asked 2,121 times. The answer you’re looking for is in at least one of those.

    That search function isn’t just there for decoration.

  5. By Kristin H on Nov 23, 2008 | Reply

    I am an American of Latin origin. However, most people call me “mexican” even though I have half from Mexico and half from Spain. Also, even though I was born here, my parents, and grandparents were also born here.

    People just like to label

  6. By 22nd Century on Nov 26, 2008 | Reply

    I think black is fine.

    However, when it comes to a scholarly writing, African-American seems more fitting.

    But if I’m just talking to an “African-American” on the street and I refer to his or her race, I will use black.

  7. By Ray B on Nov 29, 2008 | Reply

    We have to come up with something new every 10 years or so because whatever the current term eventually becomes offensive. Soon African-American will be considered ****** and we’ll have a new term. Get used to it - it’s not going away.

  8. By Aycora B on Nov 29, 2008 | Reply

    It’s mostly a PC term. I notice that non-black people use it more than black people.

  9. By truwarier97 on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply

    They are labeled “African Americans” because most of them, there family tree or geneology all refer back to Africa. A prime example is like us Samoans…No matter where we are born or raised. When people ask us where we are from we say “Samoa” instead of where we were born (ex:Hawaii, Japan, etc..). Thats because our geneology goes to Samoa and our culture. We are proud of who we are and where we come from. Hope that gives you a bit of understanding.

  10. By new Phm tech on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply

    I have been requested to call my black friends at work
    African American and I said that’s so much trouble all
    the time but if it’s important to you I will try to do it more

    Born here is American.But she didn’t wann hear it.
    It’s all good. What we need is to feel we are all one not
    many(groups) that’s what did in the Greeks with all their
    city-states. America’s enemies gotta luv it.

  11. By Choc1 on Dec 4, 2008 | Reply

    African American is a politically correct term to identify Black Americans. Let me let you in on a little secret, when Blacks are alone they call themselves Black.

    Now look back for a minute, have you ever seen two blacks conversing and refer to themselves as African American?

    Edit: Thanks Mike!

  12. By redd88 on Dec 4, 2008 | Reply

    i call myself black and american. because i am black and i was born in america….

  13. By KingHenry the 2nd on Dec 6, 2008 | Reply

    Since that is the case, Whites should be called European-Americans. And, White people of South African decent, who now reside in America, also be called African-Americans?

    But it is a fallacy, since Blacks labeled themselves that.

  14. By catwoman1314 on Dec 9, 2008 | Reply

    I work in the Medical Field. They always say African-American.You are either from America Or?I had past ancestors too,but I was born and raised in the USA so I am American

  15. By omosola o on Dec 11, 2008 | Reply

    I call myself Nigerian I label myself as that because I am proud to be from Nigeria.

  16. By Matthew P. on Dec 12, 2008 | Reply

    Black = term used to describe peoples descended from Africa. Anyone who loathes being called an African-American, must also loathe being called Black, because the two terms are synonymous.

  17. By Charlie on Dec 15, 2008 | Reply

    White people started calling us that instead of the N word in order to show that they wanted to respect us. We don’t call ourselves that, but on documents when they ask for your race African American is usually written there. Most black people have no idea where they come from, it could be a country in Africa, or Jamaica, or Haiti, or any other place where dark skinned people come from.

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