What's the equivalent of an African American...?

Question

in England? Do they call them African Brittish? I was just wondering. I live in a mostly black community, so 96% of my school is African American, and I asked this question in my government class. Nobody could answer it. Then I asked why America feels the need to label people. My teacher said that it loves to have things to talk about, and it needs different races to determine a census. Most of the kids said that they didn't see anything wrong with it because they're expressing their heritage. I told them that I don't go around calling myself German American, and that it was silly to label people...you're either pure blooded American, or you're from a different country...there's no inbetween for me.

Do you think I'm right? What's your opinion on how America labels it citizens? Do you think that if people didn't racially profile each other that there would be alot less to talk about in this election?

Answer 1

"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. ... The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities, an intricate knot of German-Americans, Irish-Americans, English-Americans, French-Americans, Scandinavian-Americans or Italian-Americans, each preserving its separate nationality, each at heart feeling more sympathy with Europeans of that nationality, than with the other citizens of the American Republic. ... There is no such thing as a hyphenated American who is a good American. The only man who is a good American is the man who is an American and nothing else."

-Teddy Roosevelt

Answer 2

Well, none of us are pure Americans, unless we are native Americans... As for the use of the term African American... This has changed over time really. It was born out of the struggle for identity, and equal rights... Early on after our freedom, the word Negr0 was used, however this was too often substituted by another N word ( Not derived from the same word btw). Colored, was also used for a time. The term Black was used for awhile, and even today, this is a commonly accepted description... The term African American was first used during the civil rights movement. There was a movement that subscribed to the belief that use of the word Black was also demeaning, as we are not black.. In point of fact, I have never seen a black person, or a white one for that matter... That movement has since subsided... today, use of both African American, and Black to describe people of color are widely accepted...

Answer 3

I don't think you asked a racist question. I think you asked an important question. British society has different ways to refer to people than American society does. To me, anyone born in America, is American. To me, the only African-Americans are those people who moved from Africa to the United States.



I enjoy diversity and other cultures. I consider people just people. I think in American society we learned to identify people by their race. I think that if we identify races and have the designations Caucasian, Native American, Asian, and Hispanic then we left out an equivalent term for Black people unless somehow Negr0 matches the other terms. I don't understand why the United Negr0 College Fund hasn't changed it's name to a more proper name if it's an improper term. Sorry I had to type the word that way but Yahoo censors it. I don't consider it an insult and I'm not a racist person. Ideally we should just see people as people but it's hard to overcome habits we've acquired in American society.

Answer 4

I don't like the label African American at all unless there mother or father are from Africa. I prefer to call someone of color a black person, but I really just rather drop the whole label thing and call them an American. I have never called myself a German American even though my parents were german mostly.

Answer 5

Well not being racist mind you but I'm Cherokee Indian so i guess i would be full blooded American as you call it . But American is not a nationality its where you live . It is silly to label people other then human . We are all human but we do label animals that are not of the same feather the blacks are just more noticeable being they can not hide in a crowd of whites like a German can . Don't know what they are called in England but black American sounds allot better then black British

Answer 6

As far as I can tell, "African American" is a term used by blacks who suffer from low self-esteem and want some big longer word to call themselves so they can feel more important. There is no logical, reasonable reason for one group of people to be referred to by the country in which they originated, while others do not do this. If we are going to call blacks African Americans, then whites should be called European Americans. Try calling the next white person you meet a European American and see how silly you feel, and then you'll see by extension how ridiculous is the term African American. As far as the term "Native American," it seems problematic to honor one people as being "native" when others who used to be native perhaps got kicked out of their country or were forcibly extracted from there.

I like the answerer who quoted Roosevelt.

If we are going to name people by where they came from, then how far do we go back? My people came from Eastern Europe, but if we go back far enough, the scientists tell us we all came from Africa, human life began there, so every person in American is really an African American.

We are OVERIDENTIFIED by race in this nation. Race is one part of who we are, but some people make it ALL they are, and then they complain when others also see only that in them.

The idea that one answerer gives that racism was "invented" by white people during slavery in the US, would seem calculated to, like so many other facts, keep us fixated and overfocused on the period of black slavery in the US as the be-all and end-all of world evil, thus making blacks the victim class par excellance. In order to see things truly, we have to get beyond fixating on this one time in history, and look at the whole picture. FOr instance, the very word "Slave" comes from the name of my own ethnic group, the Slavic peoples, since so very many of them were enslaved in Europe. Blacks hold other blacks in slavery to this day in Africa. Let's look at the whole picture and then we can stop blaming whites for all the problems blacks are having in this country. As SHelby Steele writes, "Racism no longer remotely accounts for the difficulties in Black America."

Answer 7

African-American is mostly an incorrect classification. A lot of blacks did come from Africa, but a whole lot of them did not.

I think if they want to be called African American then they should have to prove African heritage, not just because they are black. A lot of the blacks are descended from S. Americans and other predominately black countries.

I know at least 4 real African-Americans, they were born in Africa and came here and became Americans, None of the 4 consider themselves African-American, they will tell you in a heartbeat, they are Americans.

I personally would like to see labels disappear. No labels to hide behind will level the playing field. All would be equal.

Answer 8

I'm not 100% sure about Britain - I've heard them called Black British or Caribbean British (because so many Blacks in Britain are from there).



African-American (formerly Afro-American, formerly Black, formerly Colored, formerly N e g r o) I think came about as a term in the 60s and the 70s. At that time, many Black people were finding ways to identify themselves for themselves - instead of being defined by other people. Before that, often Black people were referred to by names that many white people gave them - like n***** (which some black people use today - I personally don't agree with that), coon, darky, j u n g l e b u n n y, spot, night, *******, octaroon, quardroon, and many, many other - mostly derogatory - terms.



Personally, I don't see why other people are so up in arms about it. If White people feel more comfortable calling themselves White, then great. No one tells White people that they must call themselves German-American or anything else - so why should Black people be any different? (Although I've heard lots of Italians use the hyphenation in a heartbeat - Italian-Americans). I think that each group should have the right to determine what they want to be called. Remember when women wanted to be called Ms. instead of Miss or automatically being called Mrs.? There was a statement that they wanted to make - that they would not be defined by their marital status - and the women who wanted to use that were free to do so. I don't see where this is really that different. I personally use African-American and Black interchangeably. I also use Ms. instead of Miss - but I don't get upset if someone calls me Miss (after all - I certainly don't mind being mistaken for someone younger!)



There are other groups in this country that hyphenate as well - think about Native-Americans, Asian-Americans (remember when Asians were called Orientals?), Hispanic-Americans. I think it is interesting that people raise the question about African-Americans, but not these other groups. American is still in the name - and the other part of the name is an adjective that modifies American - which is the noun and carries the weight of the description. No one is saying American-Africans - which would have a very different connotation.



I think that America has always labeled its citizens and that there has always been racial profiling. Even if tomorrow we renamed racial groups as Daisy, Gardenia, Rose, and Lily - or did away with the names altogether there'd probably still be an issue - because racism (and sexism) is not really a matter of language only - but of the heart. We haven't dealt with race collectively as a country - not really - although we came close to doing so in the 60s and 70s. So, like anything else that is repressed it festers. And out of the heart, flows the language that we use.



I agree with you that America is really into categories - I'm not sure why that is - but I think it puts people in artificial boxes. If you travel abroad - then people put you in different boxes - and it can really blow your mind. It also shows you how arbitrary this race stuff really is. But, I'll be very honest with you. In my experience of traveling abroad, when I meet a White American - seven times out of ten they will not see or treat me as a fellow American - even though the people whose country I'm visiting do. While it is difficult because I might really hunger for American things - it works in my favor because it pushes me a lot closer to the people that I'm visiting - and generally I'm able to form really interesting relationships with them because I end up immersing myself in the culture a bit more.



But, even with all of this, I'm proud to be an American - whether I call myself African-American, Black, or simply American. And just about every other Black person that I know feels exactly the same way.

Answer 9

I'm English but always fill in those forms as White European and not White British.

Answer 10

I'm British and have yet to hear anything as ridiculous as African British. If a person is a first generation immigrant, he or she might say something like, " I'm from Jamaica, or, I'm from India," but their kids are British. Trust African American activists to come up with divisive language!



BTW: I'm first generation American, and my children, born here, would never dream of calling themselves British American, nor would I expect them to; they are Americans!

Answer 11

That's an interesting question- I have a friend who actually IS a real African American (his dad is from Nigeria, and his mom is from New York), and he gets insulted when others who don't have a parent from the African continent refer to themselves as African Americans. I agree with him! At any rate, there are many Afro-Germans in Germany. Don't know if most other countries even make a distinction. It's a huge deal here in the U.S., but maybe it's a different deal in most other countries.

Answer 12

Depends. African Americans typically don't know which region of Africa their families hail from unless they are recent immigrants. In the UK, families will often identify themselves as Caribbean, West Indian, or from a particular country in Africa.



I'm not sure why people get so caught up about the term "African American". It's directly analogous to Italian American, Irish American, Asian American, Cuban American, etc.





Wow...I can't believe 1 Sassy Rebel doesn't realize Blacks in South America came from Africa primarily as a part of the slave trade there. That is stunning. It really is!

Answer 13

African Americans chose that name for themselves, they like to be considered different than the rest of America, if you read African American culture they always make themselves different from the rest of America. People think whites seperate them, they don't, African Americans do.

Answer 14

^^^ Exactly ... Blacks in Britian do not label themselves ..My husband will call himself Scottish or British but he is from there and even then when he becomes a citizen in July he will be an American. I am Irish , Italian and Scottish but i don't insist the world calls me Irish, Italian , Scottish American. Why do we need those labels?????

Answer 15

I agree with you in order to solve racism we must stop this everywhere. Almost any legal document has this question everyone should fill in other which is what i will do from now on. The root of this (i believe don't know) is for affirmative action which was probably Necessary. however to solve racism we must get to a point where we don't look at race at all, as long as we look at race for solutions the division will still be here. (Affirmative action is a racist program, but was Necessary. due to our country's history.) I'm not saying it is time to end affirmative action yet,were not, we should start a responsible discussion though.(just not during any election esp. this one.)



They gave their selves the label to get away from the other well known labels we gave them. We insisted on a label though.

Answer 16

I guess they do it to differentiate them selves from other races. But what it does is segregate them, by their own doing from other Americans. I agree that they should be Americans who happen to be black.. We are Americans who happen to be , German, Irish, English, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, etc. But, if they prefer to separate them selves from the rest of America by calling them selves African Americans, even when some have never even been to Africa, then It is their right. But it will continue to separate the races, and can never bring unity until we consider our selves Americans who happen to be -------------.

Answer 17

...I think 20's on A6 is really Huey P. Newton reincarnated...(that was a joke) anyway...America is overly obsessed with race...I mean, just look at the big deal being made about Obama's race. Who gives a damn, he's an American for pete's sake!

Answer 18

I think we need a new category, my ancestors came from Germany and wales before the revolutionary war, so i guess i should have a label of my own i feel left out I don't really like to be called a limey American, but i guess we were here before you American whatever, or do i need to apply for citizenship from king George?

Answer 19

American Indian, Chinese American, Japanese American. The list goes on. Some people refer to themselves otherwise. We are definately the most sensitive and abused people here. We don't subscribe to any positive descriptions so we have basically allowed ourselves to be labeled. We do have options though. Black ...You know the rest. I say let's just go with African American . At least it gives us an identity related to where we are truely from. Looking at the rest of these answers I feel many are either young or ignorant. one in particular is flat out Arian in nature. Can't be swayed by that.

Answer 20

I met British Blacks refer to themselves as Afro-Brit.

Personally I'm okay with being a Black American but I never refer to myself as anything but Briana because my race doesn't tll you about the person that I am.

Answer 21

Well I know a girl who calls herself Mexican American and I don't ask why. I just respect her enough to call her what she wants to be called. There is nothing wrong with wanting to pay homage to your heritage. As to why America defines it's people by race, I don't know, I fear it is due racism or just plain ignorance (I always thought the statistic thing was a lame excuse).

Answer 22

There is no such thing as a "pure" blooded American. America is made up of people who stand against tyranny and support each other and our right to be free.

Answer 23

Personally, my thinking is that if you are a citizen of American, you are an American. I'll figure out if they're black or Hispanic.

Answer 24

You are right.

What is even funnier is the way they call you racist when you point out a person that was really born in Africa then immigrated to America, but is white!

John Kerry's wife is an African-American by that standard - despite being white!

Answer 25

When the civil rights movement was in its infancy, blacks were known as "colored people" They decided they did not like that name and wanted their color known as "black". From that grew "african american". This was decided by the black community, not society in general. Since africa is a continent, I do not understand the term-it would be like saying "European american". Although people from the UK are often called "wasps" for white anglosaxon protestants, but not by preference. I think if you include your country of heritage to "american", you segregate yourself from the general population in a sense, like your not a full american.

Answer 26

African American is a silly term that I think Rev. Jesse Jackson started. I hate it. None of my "African American" family members have even seen Africa or know anything about the culture. They are perfectly happy just being called American.

Answer 27

there's no such thing as a "pure blooded american"



unless you're talking about this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States



Ethnicity has nothing to do with what country you're from (nationality) unless that country is based on its ethnicity.

Answer 28

I know that you are not racist sweetie but so many are. Many feel that because one is a Black American that they are lesser than a White American. It isn't so but one can't convince the die hard delusional racist that either. Black American can encompass so many tones from the children of slave masters, a culture, etc. Many of the overtly racists secretly love to be with a Black American sexually just like in slavery days amongst the masters and the slaves.



Everyone has African blood in them as Africa was the first place where human life began. We all have the same blood running through our veins but because of variations of complexion people use it to be racist toward others. However, people love our color and try to imitate our skin with tanning lotions, tanning beds, etc. One thing that others cannot replicate is our ability to age so gracefully.

Answer 29

20 ona5 or whatever he calls himself, your people were sold by more of your people, so America actually has the worst of the worst by selective breeding kind of like a virus

Answer 30

I know the opposite, its Illegal Mexican aliens..Unfortunately America was stupid enough to have slaves..sorry Black America...Now we are past that.. come over and watch the Steelers win one with me and mine..

Answer 31

Yeah, it's ridiculous. All the media calls them African Americans and they call themselves Black.



Why does the media do that?

Answer 32

It's usually considered PC to use the term "African American" but I've always thought it kind of silly. I don't call myself Irish-German-NativeAmerican- English-American. If you consider yourself black, be proud of it and call yourself black. Just my opinion.

Answer 33

I dunno what they would call us, but i dont really like African American. i believe black is fine. all the white people dont like being called "caucasian" or "white american", white is usually good. soo black is fine, even though im half black and half white, people dont see the white side of me.

Answer 34

Yes, you're right. Until we fix it the PC terms are African American or black. No body is pure unless you are Indian. Racism was invented by whites during the slavery days. Many whites don't like to hear the truth about that. We (blacks) have been given lots of labels by whites. The first was the n-word, colored, ***** and now black or African American. In the USA everything is base on the color of your skin. I think everyone should be just Americans without labels. Are you asking what are they call in England or America? America it's black or African American. I don't know about England.

Answer 35

This is in elections because....oh I know you want to know if Sen. Obama is African-American.

Answer 36

i just call 'em blacks....i'm not gonna exercise my tongue more than I have to..plus..what do they call us? white? i'm actually peach...if they called us european americans or at least caucasions....then i'd strain my tongue with all those syllables...but f'k it

Answer 37

First of all the first person, archeologist have discovered, was Black. So everyone should be call, for instance Black-American, Black-Asian, Black-Egyptian, Black European, Black Switzerland, Black Canadian, Black German, Black Jew, Black Chinese, Black Japanese.............etc., etc., etc.

Answer 38

hmm.. I'd just call them human.