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.

[kimmytree]

^ There's nothing wrong with considering yourself an Egyptian American, because she is able to trace her heritage that closely. Same with South Africans. Would a French person living in France refer to themself as a European? No, they would be specific and call themselves French.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't alot of blacks living here who are from Africa have a hard time tracing back their origin to a specific African country, mostly due to slavery? Thats such a shame. When someone cant trace their heritage any further, then I think you should consider yourself to be "from whatever continent I'm from" American.

For myself, I'm lucky enough to be able to half way trace my heritage back to mostly German, and my father is a German citizen, so I consider myself to be a German American. But if I couldnt narrow down my exact country of origin, then I would consider myself a European American, which is what most whites are.

I guess she mean that ... people should be more considered and aware of the term's meanings rather than just using the word out of our sake.

i could be wrong, just a thought.

Yes... that's exactly what I meant. Thanks.