African American

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
Bob: Barack Obama is the first African American president
Terrance: Nope, he's the first Kenyan American president.
by TheOneGMan July 13, 2010
Get the African American mug.

african-american

The current, acceptable, feminist-certified, polically correct way to refer to anyone of african descent. Designed to eliminate any unintended racial tension in this hypersensitive, perpetually offended society we've become where people just can't lighten the fuck up anymore.
That's not a poor black guy dressed up as Santa Claus, that's an economically disadvantaged african american exercising the right to achieve monetary compensation by commercially benefiting from the eurocentrically imposed midwinter festival"
by T.Y. July 16, 2004
Get the african-american mug.

african americans

what white people call black people for fear of being racist.
news reporter: "the robery suspect is an african americans who is considered armed and jobless."
by Joshy D November 12, 2007
Get the african americans mug.

african-american

1) A politically correct term coined by cowardly white Americans who are afraid of offending blacks and are ashamed of being white.

2) A term that makes no sense, since 'African-American' implies that someone was born in Africa and immigrated to America. Therefore, since most blacks in America were born there, they would more correctly be called 'Blacks with African Ancestry'. Having been born in America, these blacks are simply 'Americans'.

3) A term which implies that all black people come from Africa (and that only black people come from Africa), even though black people come from many other parts of the world.

4) A term which singles out black people living in America from black people living elsewhere.

5) A term that even most black people find ridiculous.
1) White man 1: Look at that cool shirt that black guy is wearing.

White man 2: SHHHHH! He's not black! He's African-American! Don't be racist!

White man 1: Huh? How is that racist?

2) Most blacks referred to as 'African-Americans' have never been to, and will never be in Africa.

3) Would a person from Egypt be called African-American? Egypt is in Africa. How about a white person from South Africa?

4) Black people from France, Canada, England, Jamaica, Switzerland, Brazil, or even from Africa are 'black', but a black man from America is an 'African-American'.

5) The only black people I have ever heard referring to other blacks as 'African-Americans' were politicians, and even those are few and far between.
by macdas March 27, 2007
Get the african-american mug.

African American

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.
"Langston Hughes is one of the greatest African American writers of the 20th century"
by Cory Murphy August 15, 2006
Get the African American mug.

African American

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.
-Put a chech mark in the race that you are-
-puts a chech mark in African American-
by TheTruthIsMe February 01, 2011
Get the African American mug.

african american

What white people say when they afraid to say black especially when a black person is in the room.
But you KNOW when that black person leaves the room, they say that shit w/ some other words too.

Tom: My niggaaa!! ... did you see that black chick w/ that big ol' booty?!
Bob: Fo' shizzle, my nigga. I love me some bla--
*black person comes in*
Tom: Shh, bob!!
Black guy: Hey, what're you guys talking about?
Tom: Oh, nothing. Just saw an african american women walk by w/ a rather large rear end, that's all. -chuckles-
Bob: Yep, that's all. -fake laugh-
Black guy: You know I don't get offended if you say black, & not all of us came from africa.
Tom: What?! But that's such a racist term! I would never say that.
Bob: Never ...
Black guy: Whatever *leaves the room*
Tom: So yea, niggaa, that black bitch got a big ol' booty!!
Bob: Sheeeit, I just wanna grab that shit & spank it!! WOOO! *makes spanking motions*
by Blackie Chan July 21, 2006
Get the african american mug.