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 28, 2015
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
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
A very derogatory and almost obsolete way to refer to a nigger. This term was most often used in the south during the days of slavery, before the NAACP told us that "nigger" was a friendlier way to refer to these people.
Hey look at all of those african.... oh um i mean niggers on the side of the street trying to steal that guy's car.
(african-american)
(african-american)
by Rosa Parks II February 02, 2010
The 155th name that negros want to be called. Previously, they wanted to be called colored, and before that it was black, before that it was nigger. The first name they were called was "beast".
Tom: 'Hey Joe, meet Tylenoya. She's black'
Tylenoya: 'I'd prefer to be called African American, because I am offended by being called black.'
Tylenoya: 'I'd prefer to be called African American, because I am offended by being called black.'
by poppaa February 06, 2013
a name that white people call black people even though most of them have never been to africa ever in their intire lifes and dont plan on going some people think we should change the term to compton americans or jersey american or atl. americans
by y doc November 20, 2006
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 07, 2013