Why do citizens insist on calling themselves "African -Americans" when all they have seen of Africa is on TV?

I was surprised to see your question, because one of my good friends and neighbors, who is black (or "African-American") tells me that she dislikes this term intensely, for precisely the reason you allude to...................she has never been to Africa in her life and doesn't know a single person there and none of her ancestors for as far back as she knows her family history considered themselves African, either.

It's kind of tricky to find the right term for identifying ourselves, with more and more racial blending going on all the time.

I myself am looking forward to the day when people just consider themselves all members of the same race,

the HUMAN race!!

Part of it is that some folks (African Americans, Native Americans, Mexican Americans...) are just protecting a culture that was stolen from them. These groups were kidnapped, annexed, and assimilated. This is very different from groups that immigrated to the US.

The other part is that we live in a country that draws these racial/ethnic distinctions. True we are all Americans, but every time I fill out a form or a survey, I am asked to indicate my group - they usually don't include a box that says "none of your damn business clown!" so I check "other" because I don't really know my true origin, but if I were black, I would check "African American" because they asked and I am polite enough to respond truthfully. Personally I am offended by the word "Caucasian."

Speaking of words, your use of the word "insist" is inaccurate and offensive.

Your ancestors came to this country and forcefully took America from Indians and Mexicans. Then they brought slaves to do their dirty labor work. They made them forget their own names, culture, language, religion and food. Now, blacks found their origin but if they go back to Africa, they can't survive because they will not be able to connect with most people. They do not have any idea of their culture, language or heritage. You, as an Irish-American have a country to go back and reconnect with the people because of your parents or ancestors. Black people do not have that luxury. Ireland is a country. Africa is a continent. When you lose your heritage, you do not have a country. That may be the reason blacks like to call them selves African-American. If you try to understand this, you will not be as angry as you are over such matter.

You are what you are-

Now think about what you just asked, "Why do citizens insist on calling themselves 'African -Americans?' " Then you say, if you don't want to be an American, go back to the country that you are proud of, which you just said they had never been. You are contradicting yourself.

If an African American wants to embrace his/her African heritage, what is wrong with that? They are, after all, calling themselves Americans also.

America is a great big land that has brought together many nations, so get over yourself!

First of all, not all black "citizens" insist on calling themselves African-American. I don't. I'm black.

Second of all, you can call yourself whatever you want to call yourself. PERIOD. And, how does acknowledging ones heritage imply that they are not proud to be an American? I'm pretty sure it doesn't. So, lets try not to assume, mmmmkay? America is a huge melting pot of many different ethnicities, so since we live in this country which is supposed to be the land of opportunity, we have to forget who we are??? That doesn't make any sense.

Another thing that makes no sense.... "you should go back to the country that you are so proud of". Ummm... its a little hard to "go back" to a place you've never been.

It is nonsense and even racist.

African-American is not a term of race, it is misused as one.

African-American is a signifier of dual citizenship, and since Africa does not grant citizenship to anyone who was neither born in Africa nor immegrated there, the total number of African Americans in the United States is probably less than 5000.

Additionally, to call every black citizen in the US "African American" is racist in and of itself, as it fails to consider those black people residing here who did NOT in fact descend from African ancestry. There are black citizens here who descend from all over the globe, and lumping them all together as somehow "African" is blatantly racist.

It is truly sad that it is so commonly accepted that many black people embrace a racist label as somehow Better than the term "black," which at least takes into consideration that not everyone of the same skin tone is identical.

Our ancestors originated from Africa. Yes you are Irish American & American Indian.

because of the fact the context whilst asserting it incredibly is diverse. Whites say it in a destructive way and blacks do no longer. so basic as that. Why are you worried approximately it besides white boy? Mad reason you will get put in the well-being facility if u say it? whilst my aunt became a young person she beat a white lady with an unopened soda can for calling her a n*gger and dragged her by using the hair. LOL! permit that white lady be an occasion of what can ensue.

I think its people like you who do stupid stuff and ask stupid things that just make me want to be African, no American included. Why do you have a problem with "us" calling ourselves Afican-Americans? What does that have to do with you? You sure as ___ ain't black cause if you were then you wouldn't be asking that dumb-__ question! I wouldn't even be in America if it weren't for stupid slave owners. I would go back but its not the right time and you sure as ___ can't make me go back. I really hope you grow up and learn to respect my background and yours.

God bless you cause you need help!

What type of bone head comment is that?!! We do that so we won't forget were we came from. If you went to china to live will you be Chinese or American? HMMM??!! America has many different backgrounds of races, we want to represent them. The word American is still in the title! With a comment like that, you don't sound like you should be an American, because we stand for diversity!