Why are black people, called African American? Options

[Kontroll]

I never really liked the term African American, first of all because its just an easy way out instead of calling a person black. Because saying some one is black is closely related to racism, some how.

Technically all people who come from Africa aren't black. If you're Egyptian and you live in America, what are you?

Another problem is that if you're born in the US and you're black, then you're not at all African American. That term only denotes that you previously resided in Africa and moved to the US.

Please discuss to further my knowledge and understanding. Thank you. Oh, and if there is already a topic about this, then close this one. Thank you.

[pandamonium]

thats a good question. its because you still want to be considered by your nationality. Like they call me Fil-Am because i am filipino american. But i was born in america so really am just american. But when people are describing you they cant just call you american they have to say your nationality.

Think about it. When someone asks "what is he?" and you say hes "american" it doesnt provide that much information about the person. So i think that African-American is used to describe someone due to their ethnicity. Your heritage is african so you are an african american just as im a filipino american.

And its funny, cause in my culture usually when you say American they think of some white guy. I dont really get it right now but yea.

[Kontroll]

thats a good question. its because you still want to be considered by your nationality. Like they call me Fil-Am because i am filipino american. But i was born in america so really am just american. But when people are describing you they cant just call you american they have to say your nationality.

Think about it. When someone asks "what is he?" and you say hes "american" it doesnt provide that much information about the person. So i think that African-American is used to describe someone due to their ethnicity. Your heritage is african so you are an african american just as im a filipino american.

And its funny, cause in my culture usually when you say American they think of some white guy. I dont really get it right now but yea.

Right, I get what you're saying about the lack of information. But, let me ask this. Just because he is black, does that mean he if from Africa? What if he was born in Jamaica? Wouldn't calling him African American therefore be categorizing him in the wrong place?