Why are black people called african-american?

first of all, I don't think "black people" is a racist term at all, since you're just describing their skin color in the same way one would describe hair color like "Redhead" or "blonde girl".

But how in the hell is anyone to know if a black person is african just by looking at them? We ALL originated from Africa, but there are also jamaican and haitian and maybe other nationalities black people come from.

It's like calling every white person german-american

Why are black people called african-american?

African-American is a politically correct term for black people, you need to look back at the history on how black people were called before becoming P.C. term.

Generation ago, black people or black slave are capture in Africa and sold as slaves by the white people, they were called slave, but a degratory remarks or name were used to called these black people, there were called *****, which is the earliest name used before Nxxxxr were derive from this.

As America become more civil with human right and equality laws, black protest and civil right movement, the term slowly evolve to African-America to denotes the black people came from African origin but are now American citizen.

Why are black people called african-american?

Its used to minimize the terms. If you indivually made a term for every group of people it would be endless due to the many nations of people...Think about it Chinese american candaian american cuban american hatian american and so on and so on

Why are black people called african-american?

idk ask other ppl

Why are black people called african-american?

I have also wondered WHY they call them selves african american as well. The entire thing is just so sad %26amp; ignorant. Just because they are black does NOTNOT NOT make them african. lol I think it is justone more thing that the blacks want because they will always be pissed at everyone, forever... about everything. Everyone is racist to them...EXCEPT themselves. THAT is truly pathetic.

Why are black people called african-american?

Their 'leaders' assigned this term so they might feel proud of their ancestry. I myself fill out all questionnaires %26amp; forms as a Native European American. Which sums up my Irish, Scottish, Indian, %26amp; German ancestry.

Why are black people called african-american?

Haitian and Jamaican are of ***** (African) origins, the same as USA blacks, they were all brought from west Africa as slaves. White people are referred to as Caucasian. All people originated in Africa and all existing genotypes of humans left Africa only 100,000 years ago when glacial periods lowered the sea levels to allow them to walk over the lower part of the red sea. The first of theses groups were Australian Aboriginals who are 'black' but are definitely not related to Negroes. There are 'black people' called negritos in the Adaman Islands off India and in the Philippines who look like African Negroes but are not closely related. Black or dark skin appears to be a naturally selected advantage as it helps prevent sun induced skin cancers in hot climates. Where as light skin is possibly an advantage in north Europe as it allows the body to produce more Vitamin D in areas of low sunlight.

Why are black people called african-american?

I absolutely agree. I was just having this discussion the other day with a friend. Africa is a CONTINENT, not a country. All black people are from the entire continent of Africa?? At least some other hyphenated Americans are a bit more specific - Mexican-American, for example. But then there are Asian-Americans, too. More than a little vague. Again, Asia is a CONTINENT. Why does anybody feel the need to be a something-American? What's the problem with just being an American? All the racial specificity just exemplifies the fact that they are different. On one hand we are told to ignore our differences, yet on the other hand certain minority groups want to wave their differences in our faces, intentionally attracting notice to them.

We'll never be able to ignore our differences until everybody quits making a label out them. No one needs to be a hyphenated American in order to honor their cultural heritage (and that's the main reason given for it).

Why are black people called african-american?

It's a politically correct term, but it is a bit ridiculous.

They use it to refer to descendants of African slaves brought to America but they will not use it for a person who was born in the US and who's parents are Egyptian, for example. They certainly never use it for people from North Africa. So they only use it when they want to avoid saying "black" or something else(!).

"African Americans" probably have more in common, culturally, with "European Americans" than they do with "actual Africans"...