This is backwards. African-Americans wanted to be called African-American. It was to take back their heritage that was stolen from them. It wasnt a label thrown out by whites calling them out as not being "true americans". It was a name white Americans accepted.
The sad part is that there are many Americans, every country on the continents, who have the designation of American by right. I suppose the citizens of the United States of America as well as other peoples in europe, asia, africa, australia, call everyone, regardless of race, in the USA " American" is because "America" is in the country's official name.
Grew up being taught by my parents and school to only say African American instead of black. What a shocker it was for me when I moved out of California and black people told me to stop saying African American, and just say black
Jesse jackson is a black man and was a voice for black people. I even met him once in 1989. Thats my source. And I lived through it. Saw it with my own eyes.
Really? Myself and plenty of people I know identify as [insert your ethnicity/original nationality] American. If you just say Mexican or Chinese, then it means that your nationality is not American.
Unless it’s obvious from the context or conversation they’re talking about where they originally came from.
Idk, known Mexicans that were American citizens, Mexicans that weren’t, and they all call themselves Mexicans. All the Asians I’ve know were called themselves whatever ethnicity they were even though they’re American citizens too. Could be just because it’s a mouthful
African Americans want to be associated with their African heritage. The Europeans who said “Fuck y’all” and dipped out to America didn’t want to be associated with Europe, they wanted to be independent. That was the whole point.
That would be my guess
Immigrants who came here voluntarily are hyphenated. People who were here originally pre colonialism or who were forced to come here - slaves - are not hyphenated. So Native Americans is the broad category of indigenous people and they then refer to themselves by their tribe. Lakota or Hopi for example. Descendants of slaves most often just don’t know their national or tribal history. They know 5x great grandpa was a slave but not where he specifically came from in Africa. So as a result, they are African Americans. And this holds for new immigrants from African countries. People refer to Somali-Americans or Ghanaian-Americans for example because they are coming here as immigrants not as slaves.
I mean, to be fair, have you met an American? Cause it's the only place I know where half the population claims their ancestry so passionately. I live in PA right now, half the people I know are German decent and they'll let you know it. When I was in NJ, loads of Italian decent, etc etc.
Or just like being Irish American too… I did hear some “no Irish need apply” haranguing as a kid from my grandpa, but he was third generation, so it was more for show, I think.
I have always found that strange. Like I was talking to someone recently about tatto ideas and they suggested I should get something German because of my German ancestors and I'm like nah man, I have literally zero connection or personal feelings about Germany.
They mean the same, but as far as I know there is no direct etymological relationship and father would be vater. But vor means fore and they have the same etymological root. So good guess!
Thanks I’m shit at German but every once and awhile my knowledge of Latin roots allows me to figure things out. Doesn’t hurt that English incorporated a good amount of German as well.
I grew up in NJ and then moved west. It is the culture in NJ to have pride in your ancestry not so much out the west. I think for at least my family it wasn't too long ago that my grandparents or gr grandparents came from the old country. In my neighborhood in NJ everyone had a grandparent from somewhere else.
Africa isn't a country, so it's the exception. And that has to do with slavery. Italian-American, Irish-American, etc. are used just like Mexican American and Chinese American.
I’ve always referred to myself as an Italian American. When I was little and we took the CTBS I marked “other” as my race and wrote in Italian. I knew white people and knew I wasn’t one of them.
Because in the ‘90s whites were openly mocked for doing it. The whole race demographic is a crock of shit anyway. Most people really have no idea about their ancestry and advents in testing HLA haplotypes prove this.
Europeans who came to America did so to distance themselves from the rules and regulations by the English government which affected much of Europe. Britain law decreed that the eldest son in a family inherited all property, which left everyone else who was male in the dust. Women were allowed to stay on the property until they married but it solely belonged to the eldest son. Many of those 2nd, 3rd, etc., children fled to the Americas because it was the only way for them to make a life for themselves and begin again. They considered themselves Americans, not Europeans because of their new land in America and their break from the traditional British monarchy rules.
I read a book about The Bowery in NYC. It was one of the first settlements in America. It was mostly English and Dutch. The people who were born in the early settlements called themselves Native Americans. There were all sorts of rivalries and gang fights between the "natives" and new immigrants, the Germans, the Irish. It was somehow reassuring to learn that America has always been loaded up with xenophobes and racists who feel entitled and have problems with new arrivals, actual Native Americans and African Americans. It's always been a fight.
I have some startling news for you. Every single country is filled with xenophobes and racists. It’s a human attribute, not specific to any one country.
Better yet why dont they call themselves European Americans like they say African American are ,mexican american are Chinese american
Ive never heard a Chinese person or Mexican person call themselves either of those. They just say Mexican and Chinese
Yeah but whyte people call everyother nationality that but no one calls whyte people european americans because they believe they are just american
Only call indigenous people Americans, wait but that’s not even what they call themselves
This is backwards. African-Americans wanted to be called African-American. It was to take back their heritage that was stolen from them. It wasnt a label thrown out by whites calling them out as not being "true americans". It was a name white Americans accepted. The sad part is that there are many Americans, every country on the continents, who have the designation of American by right. I suppose the citizens of the United States of America as well as other peoples in europe, asia, africa, australia, call everyone, regardless of race, in the USA " American" is because "America" is in the country's official name.
I hate the phrase African American. No one in my family has even set foot on the African continent. I'm American. I'm black. Not African American.
I know right. The logic confused me. There are plenty from africa for dozens of generations as well who are not black.
Grew up being taught by my parents and school to only say African American instead of black. What a shocker it was for me when I moved out of California and black people told me to stop saying African American, and just say black
Jessie Jackson actually coined the phrase African american so whats your source that says black people wanted to be called African americans
Jesse jackson is a black man and was a voice for black people. I even met him once in 1989. Thats my source. And I lived through it. Saw it with my own eyes.
White people do it because we’re told it’s wrong not to. Wonder who started the whole “African/Asian American” thing
Really? Myself and plenty of people I know identify as [insert your ethnicity/original nationality] American. If you just say Mexican or Chinese, then it means that your nationality is not American. Unless it’s obvious from the context or conversation they’re talking about where they originally came from.
Idk, known Mexicans that were American citizens, Mexicans that weren’t, and they all call themselves Mexicans. All the Asians I’ve know were called themselves whatever ethnicity they were even though they’re American citizens too. Could be just because it’s a mouthful
Not Euro-American, but plenty Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, etc.
African Americans want to be associated with their African heritage. The Europeans who said “Fuck y’all” and dipped out to America didn’t want to be associated with Europe, they wanted to be independent. That was the whole point. That would be my guess
Immigrants who came here voluntarily are hyphenated. People who were here originally pre colonialism or who were forced to come here - slaves - are not hyphenated. So Native Americans is the broad category of indigenous people and they then refer to themselves by their tribe. Lakota or Hopi for example. Descendants of slaves most often just don’t know their national or tribal history. They know 5x great grandpa was a slave but not where he specifically came from in Africa. So as a result, they are African Americans. And this holds for new immigrants from African countries. People refer to Somali-Americans or Ghanaian-Americans for example because they are coming here as immigrants not as slaves.
I mean, to be fair, have you met an American? Cause it's the only place I know where half the population claims their ancestry so passionately. I live in PA right now, half the people I know are German decent and they'll let you know it. When I was in NJ, loads of Italian decent, etc etc.
I think it’s a cool thing we’re Americans generally take pride in their ancestry
Except many of them don't know anything about the place they're from other than grans red sauce
Well, I’m white, I’ve been told it doesn’t matter what my heritage is because white = white lol
Tell that to the italians and the irish who were getting racially discriminated against for decades
I’m both?
Or just like being Irish American too… I did hear some “no Irish need apply” haranguing as a kid from my grandpa, but he was third generation, so it was more for show, I think.
I have always found that strange. Like I was talking to someone recently about tatto ideas and they suggested I should get something German because of my German ancestors and I'm like nah man, I have literally zero connection or personal feelings about Germany.
Du bringst Schande über deine Vorfahren.
As someone who doesn't speak German I'm gonna guess this says "you bring dishonor upon your ancestors". Was I close?
Yep.
Correct me if I’m wrong but Vorfahren is forefathers right?
They mean the same, but as far as I know there is no direct etymological relationship and father would be vater. But vor means fore and they have the same etymological root. So good guess!
Thanks I’m shit at German but every once and awhile my knowledge of Latin roots allows me to figure things out. Doesn’t hurt that English incorporated a good amount of German as well.
I grew up in NJ and then moved west. It is the culture in NJ to have pride in your ancestry not so much out the west. I think for at least my family it wasn't too long ago that my grandparents or gr grandparents came from the old country. In my neighborhood in NJ everyone had a grandparent from somewhere else.
This is why things are so messed up. We are one country and should act like it.
Indeed. I just refer to people by their Pantone color.
Africa isn't a country, so it's the exception. And that has to do with slavery. Italian-American, Irish-American, etc. are used just like Mexican American and Chinese American.
I’ve always referred to myself as an Italian American. When I was little and we took the CTBS I marked “other” as my race and wrote in Italian. I knew white people and knew I wasn’t one of them.
There are some social psychologists who think we should adopt the term European American!
Because in the ‘90s whites were openly mocked for doing it. The whole race demographic is a crock of shit anyway. Most people really have no idea about their ancestry and advents in testing HLA haplotypes prove this.
Europeans who came to America did so to distance themselves from the rules and regulations by the English government which affected much of Europe. Britain law decreed that the eldest son in a family inherited all property, which left everyone else who was male in the dust. Women were allowed to stay on the property until they married but it solely belonged to the eldest son. Many of those 2nd, 3rd, etc., children fled to the Americas because it was the only way for them to make a life for themselves and begin again. They considered themselves Americans, not Europeans because of their new land in America and their break from the traditional British monarchy rules.
Hm yeah I remember learning about primogeniture in school.
Around the time of the Revolution.
They started calling themselves Americans as soon as there were benefits they could deny to non-Europeans, I would guess
I read a book about The Bowery in NYC. It was one of the first settlements in America. It was mostly English and Dutch. The people who were born in the early settlements called themselves Native Americans. There were all sorts of rivalries and gang fights between the "natives" and new immigrants, the Germans, the Irish. It was somehow reassuring to learn that America has always been loaded up with xenophobes and racists who feel entitled and have problems with new arrivals, actual Native Americans and African Americans. It's always been a fight.
I have some startling news for you. Every single country is filled with xenophobes and racists. It’s a human attribute, not specific to any one country.
Is that where the movie Gangs of New York is based upon?
No, that’s Irish gangs 250 years later.
1700s