Charlise Theron, actress- Dave Matthews, music. Why do we never refer to them as

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   IDONOposted 9 years ago

   Charlise Theron, actress- Dave Matthews, music. Why do we never refer to them as African-Americans?
   
   I wonder how many people, when they hear the term "African- American", they assume that person is black. In a day and age that it seems like everyone is offended by something or someone, should these two and many others, (especially from South Africa) be offended by black people labeling themselves with this and not including the white African-Americans as part of the group? Is this sterortype created by blacks the very stereotype or profile that they complain about so much? Should the term be considered " politically incorrect" like half the English language? What's your take on this?

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   JustinWdposted 9 years ago

   The simple answer is definitely because they're not black. You're right though, political correctness has become way too important as of late. I don't think most black people like being called African-American any more either, simply because they're not from Africa. Also, at least in Charlize's case, I don't think she didn't grow up in America so we wouldn't call her that.

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      IDONOposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      She became a US citizen in 2007 and is still a citizen of South Africa. That almost makes her case even stronger. Most Afr-Amers are not still citizens of African countries. Like I told Junkseller, I'm confused.

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   Ericdierkerposted 9 years ago

   I dibs to be "Native" American! And how come we call Asians by their country. Instead of Asian Americans. And Mexicans, Canadians and USA folk should be North Americans all together. hmmmf

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      IDONOposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I believe Martin L King said, " I want all men, black or white, to sit at dinner as men." So, how can we be a melting pot and segregate ourselves at the same time by hyphens? If you are an American citizen, you are American. No hyphen needed.

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   junksellerposted 9 years ago

   The term isn't just a simple designator of where they come from, it also denotes heritage. It has attached extra significance because of the history of their experience (slavery, bondage, and struggle), and people who use it, understand that deeper significance.
   
   South Africans aren't a part of that heritage and if we were to be politically correct for them we might call them European-slave-trader-invaders-of-Africa Americans

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      IDONOposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I agree, but most of these people's knowledge of their heritage doesn't go back further than ancestor's arrival to America. That's what changes it from a heritage thing to a race thing. Is that not the origin of racism?
      Maybe I'm confused.

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      junksellerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think many of them don't know where they ultimately came from or how they got here. That shared heritage has meaning. Maybe African American isn't the perfect term, but what would be?
      
      Who knows, I could be equally confused.

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      IDONOposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      American seems best, but not perfect. I'm sorry, but I can't help think that people with hyphens are holding on to an excuse to pick and choose what parts of our society they adhere to and blaming their heritage for the parts they don't.

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