A word obviously disliked by most of the people on urban dictionary for being 'politically correct'. While that may be true, it is no less 'proper english' than the use of the word black for people who are usually varying shades of brown and tan.
If the word is so detestable maybe we shouldn't use hypenated-american terms at all. Should we refer to chinese americans as yellows now? Or JFK as the first redhead catholic president?
The truth is that african-american is suited to some situations and black is suited to other situations. Just like caucasian americans are routinely refered to both as white and by terms like 'english-american'. Just because africans were brought on ships hundreds of years ago doesn't make that heritage any less important to a black person as european heritage to a white person.
If the word is so detestable maybe we shouldn't use hypenated-american terms at all. Should we refer to chinese americans as yellows now? Or JFK as the first redhead catholic president?
The truth is that african-american is suited to some situations and black is suited to other situations. Just like caucasian americans are routinely refered to both as white and by terms like 'english-american'. Just because africans were brought on ships hundreds of years ago doesn't make that heritage any less important to a black person as european heritage to a white person.
"Look at me. I'm black. Look at my black skin" - Colin Powell
African is a useful term for implying geographical heritage. There are people in South East Asia who for all purposes look like what we know as 'black people'. When refering to the geographical origin of the american black population african-american is a useful term.
African is a useful term for implying geographical heritage. There are people in South East Asia who for all purposes look like what we know as 'black people'. When refering to the geographical origin of the american black population african-american is a useful term.
by Barry .S. Truman April 26, 2009
Get the african-american mug.1) The term mistakeningly used by people who see fit to walk on eggshells around a Black Americans out of fear of offending them. In reality, a person may actually offend a Black/African American person more because they assume that they will be offended by Black.
2) A term used to formally describe an American ethnic group. This specific group uses this term mostly in formal situations and Black in casual situations but most could care less about which one is used to describe them.
3) The only term used to describe an American ethnic group that is constantly debunked, although this particular American ethnic group are only seen as Americans when it's convenient.
2) A term used to formally describe an American ethnic group. This specific group uses this term mostly in formal situations and Black in casual situations but most could care less about which one is used to describe them.
3) The only term used to describe an American ethnic group that is constantly debunked, although this particular American ethnic group are only seen as Americans when it's convenient.
1) Girl 1: Yeah that was such a cute Bla.... I mean African American guy!
Girl 2: You know, you don't have to say African American. Black isn't offensive.
2) Guy 1: Do you prefer Black or African American?
Guy 2: Either is fine, just not Nigger.
3) After the tsunami and earthquake in Japan, people noticed how organized and orderly the Japanese were. When speculators tried to use the comparison between how Americans reacted to disaster after Hurricane Katrina and how the Japanese reacted, these were the popular responses:
"Japan didn't have any looting because there were no Blacks."
"Only Blacks and Latinos were looting the stores"
"It wasn't Americans who did the looting, it was "African-Americans""
Why these responses? Because African-Americans are less American than all others and become American enough when it's convenient.
Rap=Black music
Blues=American music (although it was also made by Black/African Americans)
Girl 2: You know, you don't have to say African American. Black isn't offensive.
2) Guy 1: Do you prefer Black or African American?
Guy 2: Either is fine, just not Nigger.
3) After the tsunami and earthquake in Japan, people noticed how organized and orderly the Japanese were. When speculators tried to use the comparison between how Americans reacted to disaster after Hurricane Katrina and how the Japanese reacted, these were the popular responses:
"Japan didn't have any looting because there were no Blacks."
"Only Blacks and Latinos were looting the stores"
"It wasn't Americans who did the looting, it was "African-Americans""
Why these responses? Because African-Americans are less American than all others and become American enough when it's convenient.
Rap=Black music
Blues=American music (although it was also made by Black/African Americans)
by MrSpeechie2010 May 30, 2012
Get the African-American mug.African-American 1: sup n*gga lookit u want some (insert substance).
African-American 2: hell to the naw- hey imma tell u I ain't trippin' no more on this shit.
African-American 2: hell to the naw- hey imma tell u I ain't trippin' no more on this shit.
by MansNotSexuallyFeverish(Hot) June 9, 2021
Get the African-American mug.A term wrongfully used to describe Black (Eumelanated) Americans. Black Americans are not from Africa, they are in fact the original Americans. If the original American can adopt the title of a foreigner and disassociate themselves from their true ancestors, the land and resources they’re due to inherit are much easier to be taken.
by Lyte Bulb August 30, 2019
Get the African-American mug.Noun. A "white" citizen, naturally born in the United States of America, who has lived abroad on the African continent for a time long enough, so that he or she no longer sounds like an American, and at the same time, he or she will never be a "black" African, and doesn't sound like a "white" African.
The missionary from the USA is an African-American after living n South Africa and learning to speak the Zulu language and culture for 13 years.
by South African Sledgehammer December 13, 2020
Get the African-American mug.A term white people like to use because they think saying "black guy" just isn't politically correct.
Person A: Do you remember Mark from the party last night?
Person B: No, what did he look like again?
Person A: He was the African American gentleman in the blue shirt.
Person B: No, what did he look like again?
Person A: He was the African American gentleman in the blue shirt.
by WalterWhitman December 7, 2013
Get the african american gentleman mug.by Frank Big November 29, 2010
Get the African-American Friday mug.