African American is not correct?

I think only some of them mind. Many of the people I know called themselves Black. (eg: I am a Black Woman).

Grammatically it is incorrect. An African American should in fact be someone from Africa (themselves) but the term was made for political reasons, so that Americans of African descent would be able to look back to some physical place of their heritage (like most other Americans can with a particular country of origin for themselves or their parents). Most people of African Descent who can trace their heritage to slavery don't know what particular country/tribe they are descended from so it's only natural to use the entire continent. Most of these people (myself included) are also multiracial in heritage (since most of us have European ancestors as well as Native American and some Asian).

As far as the friends you have from DR or the Bahamas, those islands have the same history as the US, from the European slave trade, however they are now independent nations where the African descendants are the majority, it does not matter as much and their ancestors have developed a new culture of their own apart from the European majority. Those of us here in the US do have our own culture but it's a subculture of the greater American (here US) experience.

The whole idea of the phrase is more about us being American, just as good and equal as any other American, than us being of African descent.

All Black ppl originally came from Africa whether they are American, Latino, Or European etc. But i agree with you, I despise being called "African" American. My ancestors have been in this country since the 1800's, and I am just as American as any white person. The term needs to only be used on Africans who immigrate to America and become citizens.

African American is the general term for ethnicity regarding black people in America regardless of actual ancestral origin and even ethnic background (hence Barack Obama) anyway...this is the system made up by white man anyway so why is it you complain?? Lol, I would prefer the term African American as opposed to *****, colored, black or darkie. I dont mind being black thats fine because that is my race but its not my color my skin is brown I guess you can say not black, my nationality (American) nor my ethnicity (several things: Caribbean, Native American, Dutch, etc) I am still an African American!!!!! So it suits me okay although technically half of African Americans have some ethnic origins that are either of European or Native American descent YET this is going to be overlooked due to America's definition of what black is or what African Americans are. African Americans have literally no connection or ties to modern Africa yet are forever deemed of the same ethnic groupings....!

Edit: People who are black but have latino heritage are not considered African American they are technically viewed as Latino/Hispanic only according to the Census if they check the right box. At the same token, mixed people who are half black can be seen as just that!

The African slave trade wasn't exclusive to North America and Europe. Africans were brought to Dominican Republic and the Bahamas too. They may have been born and raised in D.R. and the Bahamas, but their ancestry still remains in Africa. The term "African American" refers to the ancestry, and the nationality of the individual.

I'm not black, but personally, I use the term "black", instead of "African American", simply because it is more convenient for me.

Only African Americans are called "African Americans" not Dominicans or Islanders. And,if blacks are not from Africa- where did they descend from? All blacks are descendants of Africa- no matter where the earlier people migrated to and ended up. This includes those from the Islands.

It's whatever to me, but I prefer to be called black American, because I'm not from Africa, and I'm not even sure if that is where my ancestors are from.

I always ask the question, what do you call a white South African who comes to live in America? That person is the true African-American.

African American is a term for decendents of slaves in America..Black people outside this group arent African American and usually dont call themselves African American. Obama calls himself this probably because he adopted the cuture, due to his Kenyan daddy not being around.

African Americans are seen just as American as white people outside the U.S. (if not moreso).

I prefer being called a Black American. Because I am from America

Tom is right...

Blacks from Africa are known by thier ethnic background..Nigerian-American, ethiopian American, Ghanan-American...African American is a term for black Americans who trace thier heritage back until at least 1865..The term was even invented by a black American (jesse jackson). This was his intended meaning of the word.

African Americans are basically just Americans...