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
A term meant to describe Americans of African origin. The term 'Black' and its predecessor 'Negro' have fallen out of favor due to a plethora of reasons, most particularly the terms 'Black' and 'Negro' do not define a specific place since Asians could be defined as Black, see Vijay Singh, moreover the term Negro which fell out of favor decades ago because it failed to properly represent a place African Americans could relate to. The term 'African American' has fallen into the acceptable realm of a proper definition because it defines a place, it defines a region where Africans are one.
Which begs the question, why would Americans of African ethnicity WANT to assocciate themselves with a place other than America? Simply put, slavery, Jim Crow and continued disenfranchizement of African Americans has led them to create a moniker as a defence mechanism, a way to associate with others of their kind in collective objection to American 'White' culture as a whole.
The numerous entries on this thread detailing the ineffectual and unneccessary use of the term African American clearly shows the lack of understanding whites have about people of African ethnicity. Perhaps people should get to know an African American, get to know them before passing judgements and making childish and inane comments about how people choose to refer to themselves.
Which begs the question, why would Americans of African ethnicity WANT to assocciate themselves with a place other than America? Simply put, slavery, Jim Crow and continued disenfranchizement of African Americans has led them to create a moniker as a defence mechanism, a way to associate with others of their kind in collective objection to American 'White' culture as a whole.
The numerous entries on this thread detailing the ineffectual and unneccessary use of the term African American clearly shows the lack of understanding whites have about people of African ethnicity. Perhaps people should get to know an African American, get to know them before passing judgements and making childish and inane comments about how people choose to refer to themselves.
I am a proud African American. Irrespective of the fact that I have no relatives in Africa, the people in that region of the world are closer to me than any American of euro-trash ancestry ever will be.
by Franz Fanon May 10, 2005
A human being with a direct line of ancestry to African, but was born in one of the Americas. It is not a term for any and all black U.S. citizens.
Correct: Some of the slaves in the past were African-American.
Incorrect:
Suzy: I made a friend, they're African-American!
Suzy's Mom: Oh, what part of Africa were their relatives from?
Suzy: Oh my god Mom, you're being so embarrassing, I meant black. Duh.
Incorrect:
Suzy: I made a friend, they're African-American!
Suzy's Mom: Oh, what part of Africa were their relatives from?
Suzy: Oh my god Mom, you're being so embarrassing, I meant black. Duh.
by poochie.butt October 29, 2015
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 March 02, 2012
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 10, 2021
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