I'm an American everywhere else...

[Ling Ling 22]

I travel a lot...mostly Europe and Asia.

When people see me or hear me speak, they say, "You're an American aren't you?".

I puff out my chest and proudly exclaim, "Yes, I'm an American".

That's what happens when I'm in Tokyo or Beijing, when I'm in Paris or London, even when I'm in Canada or Mexico.

But when I get back to the place I was born, the place my parents were born, and the place my grand-parents were born,

they tell me I'm not an American. They tell me I'm an "African-American". Almost an American, but not quite.

Why is it that when Italian immigrants came through Ellis Island, they were called Italian-Americans, but their children

born on US soil were called Americans? The same with the children of Irish-Americans, Polish-Americans, Spanish-Americans and others.

One would think that someone who immigrated from South Africa would be called an "African-American", but since many

South Africans are caucasian, that interferes with America's picture of the so called "African American".

Almost an American, but not quite.

What makes me any less an American than the my neighbor?

Why am I considered an American everywhere but here?

Why am I treated like a first class citizen, bestowing all the rich history of my country, everywhere but at home?

Almost an American, but not quite.

[SpiritAlight 1]

I travel a lot...mostly Europe and Asia.

When people see me or hear me speak, they say, "You're an American aren't you?".

I puff out my chest and proudly exclaim, "Yes, I'm an American".

That's what happens when I'm in Tokyo or Beijing, when I'm in Paris or London, even when I'm in Canada or Mexico.

But when I get back to the place I was born, the place my parents were born, and the place my grand-parents were born,

they tell me I'm not an American. They tell me I'm an "African-American". Almost an American, but not quite.

Why is it that when Italian immigrants came through Ellis Island, they were called Italian-Americans, but their children

born on US soil were called Americans? The same with the children of Irish-Americans, Polish-Americans, Spanish-Americans and others.

One would think that someone who immigrated from South Africa would be called an "African-American", but since many

South Africans are caucasian, that interferes with America's picture of the so called "African American".

Almost an American, but not quite.

What makes me any less an American than the my neighbor?

Why am I considered an American everywhere but here?

Why am I treated like a first class citizen, bestowing all the rich history of my country, everywhere but at home?

Almost an American, but not quite.

A great observation.

I wish you a smooth transition into these new lands. Hahaha!

Sorry...it is hard sometimes not to laugh at such blatant ridiculousness.

And I'm sorry that people born here and want to be called "American" are not.

Things based in fear.

[Scott & Lai 12]

I don't think it is meant to mean you are less of an American. It is simply a PC way of saying "Black." I do think it is a tad ridiculous, though... I heard someone once referring to the "African Americans" in South Africa. They were referring to Black South Africans, not to emmigrants from America

[Laura+Tom 2]

I often wonder whether to call myself British, English or United Kingdomish.

[Otto 83]

The term African American's Origin

[Gemmie 142]

I often wonder whether to call myself British, English or United Kingdomish.

You might not need to worry, I'm often introduced as "Gemma from England".

[Marilyn. 340]

my sister-in-law sometimes does that to me when she is introducing me to someone, she says "this is Marilyn.. she is from Canada"

[Ling Ling 22]

The term African American's Origin

Yeah...I think we all have a good idea of where the term comes from. It's meant to be a way for good ole boys to keep from calling me

a ***, negro, colored or black. The thing is, ####### do ANY of those terms have to do with me except insult me, and try to strip away my heritage.

Thanks to the way my family was brought here...I have no other heritage than an American one.

I don't have any aunts, uncles, or cousins in Africa. Everyone I'm related to was born in America.

People who came through Ellis Island can trace their heritage...they can say "My grandfather came from blah blah county in Dublin", I can't.

My heritage was stripped from my ancestors...and they were literally forced to work like slaves.

Today when people say, "I'm working like a slave today", it's a fcuking joke. Slaves didn't work for low pay, they worked for NO pay.

Plain and simple, African-American is just as much of an insult as is ***, colored or black. It says absolutely nothing about who I am, or what I'm capable of.

Circumstances of birth (and actually nationality as well) are random, and nothing to be proud of or ashamed of....they just are.

But the fact is, I was born in a place called America...not a place called Africa-America.

That place only exists in small minds...not in reality.

[Ban Hammer 13,996]

The term African American's Origin

just as i thought, it was jesse's fault.

from the link above: "Jesse Jackson popularized the term, and it was quickly adopted by major media."

[katej0203 1]

Yep.. I get that too... "this is Kate, she is from England".... on the plus side, it is always a nice ice breaker with strangers! haha.

[Ling Ling 22]

The term African American's Origin

just as i thought, it was jesse's fault.

from the link above: "Jesse Jackson popularized the term, and it was quickly adopted by major media."

PLEASE...we don't just need another thread, but another forum to talk about the so called "Contributions" of civil rights leaders.

Then we need a forum to talk about the contributions and effects of the media and entertainment industry into shaping the model of an "African-American".

My bad...I started it...Bad Ling Ling, BAD LING LING

This is what happens when your case is finished at NVC, and you have nobody else to call or complain about.

[almaty 19]

you make a good point ling...

[HAL 9000 96]

You would think that if there were so many 'people' interested in advancing the race dialogue in this country to a point where racial distinctions didn't exist, they'd refer to people for what they were- people.

[Ling Ling 22]

You would think that if there were so many 'people' interested in advancing the race dialogue in this country to a point where racial distinctions didn't exist, they'd refer to people for what they were- people.

Agreed.

On many forms where it asks for "race", I select "other" and write in "human".

[sara..... 371]

ha at least u got American in there they call me latina or hispanic

and i am AMERICAN lol