The term African-American.

[Great Zavi]

Is an Afrikaner who moves to America and becomes a citizen an African-American?

He'd be an Afrikaner-American, because we know the specific background. African-American tends to be used when we don't know. If you know what country someone or someone's ancestors are from, use the name of the country or the ethnic group.

Then why aren't white Americans called European-Americans?

[Libertarian California]

Is an Afrikaner who moves to America and becomes a citizen an African-American?

Nope. He's Dutch.

But Afrikaners are no more Dutch than Americans are British.

[Libertarian California]

He'd be an Afrikaner-American, because we know the specific background. African-American tends to be used when we don't know. If you know what country someone or someone's ancestors are from, use the name of the country or the ethnic group.

Then why aren't white Americans called European-Americans?

Because not every white person is from Europe.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

He'd be an Afrikaner-American, because we know the specific background. African-American tends to be used when we don't know. If you know what country someone or someone's ancestors are from, use the name of the country or the ethnic group.

Then why aren't white Americans called European-Americans?

Italian Americans, Franco-AMericans, etc.

[Sun Wukong]

I did once have a friend from Uganda who remarked that it was irritating to constantly have to choose the "other" category in American forms. Seeing as how he was just African and not in any sense American.

[Geilinor]

If you don't want people to say African-American, stop saying Mexican-American, European-American, and Asian-American.

My point is that these other terms seem more appropriate at that time 1.) because they actually have ties to whatever the prefix may be. The people who were brought in through the Atlantic Slave Trade do not, but are still called so. 2.) The people who brought the enslaved Africans aren't called European-American, they're just American.

1.) Not necessarily.
2.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_American

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Nope. He's Dutch.

But Afrikaners are no more Dutch than Americans are British.

Tell that to the Texans.

[Libertarian California]

My point is that these other terms seem more appropriate at that time 1.) because they actually have ties to whatever the prefix may be. The people who were brought in through the Atlantic Slave Trade do not, but are still called so. 2.) The people who brought the enslaved Africans aren't called European-American, they're just American.

1.) Not necessarily.
2.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_American

Hardly anyone identifies as a European-American.

White is much more practical.

[Great Zavi]

Then why aren't white Americans called European-Americans?

Because not every white person is from Europe.

And not every black person is from Africa.

[Libertarian California]

But Afrikaners are no more Dutch than Americans are British.

Tell that to the Texans.

What?

So Texans are going to think that Afrikaners are modern Dutchmen?

[America Libertaria]

Is an Afrikaner who moves to America and becomes a citizen an African-American?

He'd be an Afrikaner-American, because we know the specific background. African-American tends to be used when we don't know. If you know what country someone or someone's ancestors are from, use the name of the country or the ethnic group.

Actually he'd just be American. Unless he was a dual citizen. Someone's ethnic background is irrelevant. What matters is their culture. Using anything other than American is just a sign of ethnic pride and failed assimilation.

EDIT: Spelling

[Libertarian California]

Because not every white person is from Europe.

And not every black person is from Africa.

Yes. I do not use the term African-American.

I say blacks and I say whites.

[Libertarian California]

He'd be an Afrikaner-American, because we know the specific background. African-American tends to be used when we don't know. If you know what country someone or someone's ancestors are from, use the name of the country or the ethnic group.

Actually he'd just be American. Unless he was a dual citizen. Someone's ethnic background is irrelevant. What matters is their culture. Using anything other than Anerican is just a sign of ethnic pride and failed assimilation.

Go home Mr. Roosevelt, you're drunk.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Tell that to the Texans.

What?

So Texans are going to think that Afrikaners are modern Dutchmen?

Or maybe Americans think Afrikaners are the Texans of South Africa.

[Geilinor]

Because not every white person is from Europe.

And not every black person is from Africa.

A black person not from Africa would simply be black American or [insert country demonym here]-American.

[Libertarian California]

What?

So Texans are going to think that Afrikaners are modern Dutchmen?

Or maybe Americans think Afrikaners are the Texans of South Africa.

How does that even work?

Wat

[Siaos]

Because not every white person is from Europe.

And not every black person is from Africa.

But generally whites know where in Europe their ancestors came from and either call themselves that IE Italian-American or just White American. Blacks generally don't know the exact tribe their ancestors came from since the coastal African tribes and Portuguese didn't really care when they were enslaving them. So they have to either call themselves African-American or Black American. Or both they can just call themselves American. Or Terran-American.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Or maybe Americans think Afrikaners are the Texans of South Africa.

How does that even work?

Wat

Ask the Uyghurs.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Okay people of NationStates, here's a point I would like to bring up for discussion. Recently I've been thinking, why are African-Americans called such a name and not just Americans? What is the need for that prefix? (The people who were unwillingly brought through the slave trade, just to clarify) I read a different thread and it said once you've been in America after 3 generations the prefix of where ever you're from (Mexican-American, Chinese-American, etc) is no longer used and your just American. So why, are African- Americans still called such when they've been here for 400 years?

In most cases, it has been less than 400 years. Still more than 3 generations, but let's be accurate -- the slave trade continued bringing in new people as late as the 19th century.

And why are White people not called European-American, or German-American etc? Its just another way to separate them from the rest and makes it easier to outcast them. Do these people, after 400 years of separation and a lack of resources to re-connect to Africa, really have any connection to the continent ( which is in it self very culturally diverse) at all? What's your take on this, NSG?

They don't have a connection to Africa, but they do have a distinct culture, which is different from that of other Americans. It's useful to have a name for it. Also, you can still use "Asian-American" for people that have been in the US more than 3 generations.

***And why are North Africans considered white?****

Genetically, they have more in common with Europeans than they do with sub-Saharan Africans.

[Great Zavi]

My point is that these other terms seem more appropriate at that time 1.) because they actually have ties to whatever the prefix may be. The people who were brought in through the Atlantic Slave Trade do not, but are still called so. 2.) The people who brought the enslaved Africans aren't called European-American, they're just American.

1.) Not necessarily.
2.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_American

I dont see a point in your link.

[The Liberated Territories]

Is an Afrikaner who moves to America and becomes a citizen an African-American?

Nope. He's Dutch.

He's African. He's from Africa, unless he was actually born in the Netherlands.

Culturally he is Afrikaans. So I could see the term "Afrikaner-American" taking precedence over "African-American" but that doesn't make the second one false.

[Great Zavi]

And not every black person is from Africa.

But generally whites know where in Europe their ancestors came from and either call themselves that IE Italian-American or just White American. Blacks generally don't know the exact tribe their ancestors came from since the coastal African tribes and Portuguese didn't really care when they were enslaving them. So they have to either call themselves African-American or Black American. Or both they can just call themselves American.

I only find people calling themselves Italian-American, for example, when they have ancestors thats recently come from Italy. But after 400 years?

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Nope. He's Dutch.

He's African. He's from Africa, unless he was actually born in the Netherlands.

Culturally he is Afrikaans. So I could see the term "Afrikaner-American" taking precedence over "African-American" but that doesn't make the second one false.

I'm from AMerica and I'm part Scottish and part Puerto Rican.

[Siaos]

But generally whites know where in Europe their ancestors came from and either call themselves that IE Italian-American or just White American. Blacks generally don't know the exact tribe their ancestors came from since the coastal African tribes and Portuguese didn't really care when they were enslaving them. So they have to either call themselves African-American or Black American. Or both they can just call themselves American.

I only find people calling themselves Italian-American, for example, when they have ancestors thats recently come from Italy. But after 400 years?

What do you propose we call Americans with genes originating in Africa? We need to call them something for the census, after all.

[God Kefka]

Okay people of NationStates, here's a point I would like to bring up for discussion. Recently I've been thinking, why are African-Americans called such a name and not just Americans? What is the need for that prefix? (The people who were unwillingly brought through the slave trade, just to clarify) I read a different thread and it said once you've been in America after 3 generations the prefix of where ever you're from (Mexican-American, Chinese-American, etc) is no longer used and your just American. So why, are African- Americans still called such when they've been here for 400 years? And why are White people not called European-American, or German-American etc? Its just another way to separate them from the rest and makes it easier to outcast them. Do these people, after 400 years of separation and a lack of resources to re-connect to Africa, really have any connection to the continent ( which is in it self very culturally diverse) at all? What's your take on this, NSG?

***And why are North Africans considered white?****

Because whites are immediately who you think of when someone says ''America.''

The African-American just emphasizes that it's not white. If you just say American, I would think you mean a white person...