Black Americans who are now citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa. African American.
by Act right May 22, 2009
Is a person of African descent ,meaning ancestors were of African heritage, that is born in America. America is where the individual was born therefore that makes them "American" as well as a African because of their roots. It is the political correct term of how to identify a person of African descent that is born in America.
Carlton's great grandmother was from Africa, but he was born on American soil to two African American parents that were born in the United States. Therefore he is African American.
by grad201011 March 12, 2010
A term wrongly used to give identity to, any black person in America.
African American was actually meant to give an ETHNIC identity to blacks who are descendants of (Black) African slaves who were brought to the United States. This term excludes Black Jamaicans, Nigerians, Kenyans, Black Dominicans,etc.....
SOME Whites, and sometimes other non-blacks are afraid to call us black, so in any professional setting they will say African American. Other whites claim it's unfair, because they won't get called European American, but really it's the same thing as calling whites from Italy Italian, and Asians from China Chinese. Hell nobody complains about East Asians being called Asian, even though not all Asians are of the same race.
Most African Americans can not trace our African roots back to any particular country/tribe so Africa is used, as the substitute.
Oh and that guy who said it more offensive to be called AA than N*gger is a complete dumbass
African American was actually meant to give an ETHNIC identity to blacks who are descendants of (Black) African slaves who were brought to the United States. This term excludes Black Jamaicans, Nigerians, Kenyans, Black Dominicans,etc.....
SOME Whites, and sometimes other non-blacks are afraid to call us black, so in any professional setting they will say African American. Other whites claim it's unfair, because they won't get called European American, but really it's the same thing as calling whites from Italy Italian, and Asians from China Chinese. Hell nobody complains about East Asians being called Asian, even though not all Asians are of the same race.
Most African Americans can not trace our African roots back to any particular country/tribe so Africa is used, as the substitute.
Oh and that guy who said it more offensive to be called AA than N*gger is a complete dumbass
Bob: Barack Obama is the first African American president
Terrance: Nope, he's the first Kenyan American president.
Terrance: Nope, he's the first Kenyan American president.
by TheOneGMan July 13, 2010
Generally refers to Americans who have emigrated or are the descendants of those emigrated from the African continent. Sometimes this term is used erroneously to refer to all people of brown skin that are not Latino or Native American.
by Cory Murphy August 15, 2006
Brown,Tan,Black,Basically a dark skinned person.People who are from Africa that were sent over the world hundreds of years ago.The were used as slaves and we not treated well.
by TheTruthIsMe February 1, 2011
A term that I will start using at the exact moment that I start using "European American", which will hopefully be never.
What's wrong with the word "black"? Why do we need to say "African American"? It's six syllables longer. Why is "white" perfectly acceptable, but "black" all of a sudden isn't? People are too afraid of offending others. You do not have the right to not be offended in the United States. Stop giving voice and standing to the chronically and professionally offended, who are constantly on the look-out for reasons to be offended. If we continue as we are, in 10 to 20 years, "African American" will be considered offensive, and will be replaced with something else that will be considered offensive in 10 to 20 more years, and so on and so on. Stop this nonsense.
by Monty Cobra May 6, 2014
First Man. Soil of earth, breath of God, African American. Men who earned their Freedom, yet their Souls know.
by Déjà vu -ImAlreadyThere August 20, 2011