African-American is an (ETHNICITY), just as valid as Italian-American, German-American, Japanese-American Kenyan-American, Nigerian-American, Egyptian-America etc.
The Black Americans that are *descendants* of African slaves that were FORCED to come to America, NOT to be confused with Africans that (VOLUNTARILY) *immigrated* to America AFTER slavery ended.
The Black Americans that are *descendants* of African slaves that were FORCED to come to America, NOT to be confused with Africans that (VOLUNTARILY) *immigrated* to America AFTER slavery ended.
Not all Blacks in America are African-American.
President Barack Obama is NOT an African-American, he knows that his father is from Kenya and that his mom is American thus he is *Kenyan-American* his wife is African-American. Also American Blacks are called BLACK for 'general purposes' however, "African-American" for FORMAL purposes ie, job applications, legal documentation etc.
President Barack Obama is NOT an African-American, he knows that his father is from Kenya and that his mom is American thus he is *Kenyan-American* his wife is African-American. Also American Blacks are called BLACK for 'general purposes' however, "African-American" for FORMAL purposes ie, job applications, legal documentation etc.
by Ashcan May 9, 2010
A word white people use because theyre afraid if they call black people "Black" they'll be offended. Even though black people call white people white. Just a stupid term that blacks are forced to put up with. It seems like a disrespectful term to me though, because it makes it seem like black people are not Americans, white people are just americans, yet blacks are "African Americans" not just plain americans.
White Dude: "He's African American."
Black Dude: "Mother Fucker you gon call me an African American, im from jamaica."
White Dude: "I just didnt want to offend you."
Black Dude: "Ok then, im gon call you a German American."
White Dude: "Im from Norway."
Black Dude: "Exactly!"
Black Dude: "Us "African Americans" are gon call you white people European Americans from now on."
Black Dude: "Mother Fucker you gon call me an African American, im from jamaica."
White Dude: "I just didnt want to offend you."
Black Dude: "Ok then, im gon call you a German American."
White Dude: "Im from Norway."
Black Dude: "Exactly!"
Black Dude: "Us "African Americans" are gon call you white people European Americans from now on."
by TheDogIsOut June 4, 2008
1. A outdated problematic, non-universal racial term used to describe anyone of sub-saharan african descent residing in the united states. That doubles as a ethnic term describing people who descended from the slave trade in america or, identify with black american cultural ethnic identity residing in the u.s, whilst obscuring the ethnic identities of non-ethnic african-american blacks because of its dual use nature. Used interchangeably with the word "black" further exacerbating and creating social/racial/ethnic issues and tension.
A african-american in america may say describing their ethnicity may say "im half black and half brazilian" which really means im half african-american and half brazilian in describing ethnicity rather than race.
A person may choose to hire a afro-trinidadian person over the african-american black person due to stereotypes of african-americans which is a case of ethnic discrimination rather than racial discrimination.
A afro-jamaican or afro-latino from cuba may say he or she isn't "black" meaning he or she isn't african-american because the term is used interchangeably with the more popularly used term black to describe ethnicity.
A company may have a black history month lunch with "Soul food" widely regarded as Ethnic African-American Cuisine. However since it is usually interpreted as a play on a negative racial stereotype rather than a good will toward an ethnicity I.E "not all black people eat fried chicken!!!"
A gesture of goodwill misinterpreted, not necessarily because of ignorance but because of the constant confusion based on current terminology.
"African-American history" does not include the history of Haiti however a person of Haitian decent residing in America is labelled African-American.
A Afro-Barbadian is labelled a African-American in America even if he or she is not a citizen of the U.S
black black american negro negroe black people
A person may choose to hire a afro-trinidadian person over the african-american black person due to stereotypes of african-americans which is a case of ethnic discrimination rather than racial discrimination.
A afro-jamaican or afro-latino from cuba may say he or she isn't "black" meaning he or she isn't african-american because the term is used interchangeably with the more popularly used term black to describe ethnicity.
A company may have a black history month lunch with "Soul food" widely regarded as Ethnic African-American Cuisine. However since it is usually interpreted as a play on a negative racial stereotype rather than a good will toward an ethnicity I.E "not all black people eat fried chicken!!!"
A gesture of goodwill misinterpreted, not necessarily because of ignorance but because of the constant confusion based on current terminology.
"African-American history" does not include the history of Haiti however a person of Haitian decent residing in America is labelled African-American.
A Afro-Barbadian is labelled a African-American in America even if he or she is not a citizen of the U.S
black black american negro negroe black people
by Maurice Caldeira May 27, 2012
A controversial and failing attempt to euphemize an identity phrase for Black Americans. Unfortunately for the phrase's potential to be literally correct, all humans came from Africa at one time, therefore all people, regardless of breed, color, ethnicity or however one may choose to categorize them, are of African descent. Another problem the more-educated population has with the phrase is that the quickest way to know which specific type of African American one is referring to is to look at their skin. This takes the subject of conversation back to black, eliminating the function of the euphemistic-intentioned phrase. Due to it's failure to positively convey the identity of the Black American without error, the phrase has evolved into a dysphemism and is often spoken between air quotes.
Correct: Aboriginal Australians are black, and many of African emmigrants are black, but African Americans range in color as far as human potential has seen.
Incorrect: Jesse Jackson is an African American but Richard Nixon is not.
Incorrect: Jesse Jackson is an African American but Richard Nixon is not.
by Ruhbee! April 25, 2007
According to the United States government, African-Americans (Black Americans) are:
"Residents or citizens of the United States, who have biological origins in any black ethnic group on the continent of Africa"
What African-American does not mean:
1) It does not mean that blacks born in the U.S. are African. It means that these Americans are of African descent. A specific country of origin cannot be named because enslaved Africans were stripped of their culture.
2) It does not apply to people who come from Africa, unless they are biologically African (i.e. Black)
3) Legally it does apply to blacks from Africa, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.....as long as they reside within the borders of the United States.
"Residents or citizens of the United States, who have biological origins in any black ethnic group on the continent of Africa"
What African-American does not mean:
1) It does not mean that blacks born in the U.S. are African. It means that these Americans are of African descent. A specific country of origin cannot be named because enslaved Africans were stripped of their culture.
2) It does not apply to people who come from Africa, unless they are biologically African (i.e. Black)
3) Legally it does apply to blacks from Africa, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.....as long as they reside within the borders of the United States.
Notable African-Americans include Bill Cosby, El Haji Malik El Shabbaz, Martin Luther King, and Medgar Evers
Person #1 - Is a white person from Nigeria, who lives in the U.S., an African-American?
Me- Legally no they are not. That person would be considered a White Nigerian-American.
Person #1 - Is a white person from Nigeria, who lives in the U.S., an African-American?
Me- Legally no they are not. That person would be considered a White Nigerian-American.
by Amaru1971 March 10, 2008
a person of color who should have the same fucking rights as anyone else because this is america and america should be a welcoming country to ALL FUCKIN PEOPLE, including the people who LITERALLY ARE THE FOUNDATION OF IT.
african americans are people too who have feelings and rights that are fucking valid and fucking matter. come at me.
by _macy_in_2020_ May 31, 2020
The word given to black people as a way of making them feel less american then everyone else. Making them feel like they all belong or grew up in Africa when most have families that trace back to america in the 18th-19th century. Or 1700's-1800's for people who don't know.
- A word given to black americans only by other americans, not used in any other countries to refer to black americans.
- A word given to black americans only by other americans, not used in any other countries to refer to black americans.
Son: Why are brown people called African-Americans?
DAD: Because they're all African!
Son: Then why aren't we called European-American?
Dad: Because white people are true Americans.
DAD: Because they're all African!
Son: Then why aren't we called European-American?
Dad: Because white people are true Americans.
by TheUrbainDict July 18, 2015