Why do Americans call black Americans "African American" and dont call white Americans European American?

VoiceOfReason

Teddy Roosevelt said it best:

"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all. "

So everyone who wants to hyphenate their heritage to differentiate themselves from others does not want to be a part of the greater goodness of the melting pot called the United States. They are a part of the problem.

stung4ever

Don't try to use logic when examining political correctness. They just don't mix.

Call Me Bwana

I don't use ridiculous appellations like "African-American" because it strictly means "black". The people of North Africa are excluded, and so are any other non-blacks, regardless of how long their families have inhabited the African continent.

So, I call blacks "black", because that's the most accurate description.

And we're all Americans. I hate the self-isolating hypenation that goes on.

Jonny

political correctness.

nick

Good question. I'm not an American but I think the underlying assumption is that Americans are white people with European ancestry.

memito

Stupidity and ignorance.

Actually the term European American, though unofficial, is used rather frequently. Plus, to your question: "Why can't they all be American?" I say that terms such as 'African American' and 'White' are in existence to describe race, not nationality. Certainly, both are American and most importantly human, however saying that blacks and whites are the same in every sense, is inaccurate. Minor differences exist, and skin color is only one of them. There's also facial traits to set the races apart. Even bones are enough to tell which race one belongs to.

Now, shall they be treated equally? Absolutely. Are they the same in every sense? No. But no one is 'better' than the other.

pretzgolf

That is a phrase ,African American,coined by blacks not whites.Whites really don't like the phrase because we are all Americans if you were born here.You don't hear Asians calling themselves Asian Americans or Mexican Americans.

itzazoo

black people call themselves african american..that's how many of them want to be known. I am happy just to be american.

With all due respect, I have heard people say worse than african american, which is terrible but, It happens. I say black or white. But i really don't care about color of skin at all. I think people make too big of a deal out of it.

imnoangel512

All it is a way to be separate, to be divided. Personally if you are an American then leave it at that there is no need to have African, Chinese etc put in front of the name. The way it is worded it sounds like they are loyal to Africa first and America second. Same goes for anyone else who wants to be separate.

BOB

The same reason they call Espainic Americans and italian Americans

mercy

it is a collective choice

wartz

Because they realize that one syllable provides a perfectly adequate description.

d2squared4moi

cause they are german-america, french-american, italian-american, spanish-america, polish-american, russian-american, french-america, etc. europeans (and their descendants) see themselves differently than do people of african, indian, asian descent. every country in europe had many different tribes...like spain had the celtics, the goths, the latins, romans, the moores, same thing with france, UK, and Italy, and the rest. therefore, each city state in europe had their own culture. african people see themselves differently because when they were BROUGHT over, they lost their culture, while europeans immigrated and KEPT it.

Cant Catch Me, Stupid Americans!

because white-americans dont want to be called european-americans.

RaysBack

This is what they want In my youth if you called a N.e.g.r,o a black you had a fight on your hands than it was colored than African American now Black It's a game Much like over the pond English Brits what ever Ever been around a teenage girl ? Don't call me Lisa call me Leesea

STEELERS

Because not all of us are from Europe. New Zeland, Austrailia, and South Africa...etc all have white citizens to that have came over to the USA.

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