African-American
A euphemism for "black" when referring to people. Used by politically correct morons who are afraid to use proper language in fear of offending someone.
African-American by W August 3, 2004
African-American
9 times out of 10, the "politically correct" way of referring to a Black person, even one who has never set foot outside of the US, and was born here. A completely misleading term for a couple of reasons:
1) the phrase implies you were born in Africa and then moved to the US. While that's the case for some, such as model Alek Wek, someone such as Chris Rock or myself, born in the US, is BLACK.
2) despite the stereotype, there ARE white people originally from Africa who move to the US, i.e. actress Charlize Theron. Although the phrase was coined primarily for Blacks, techically, Theron IS an African-American, or at least, more African-American than I am, in the literal sense of the word.
The word is a roundabout way of calling someone Black because "Black" is considered offensive, even though the late James Brown said to "Say it loud...I'm Black and I'm proud." Even when someone says the term, you can tell they're trying their best to tiptoe around being offensive.
1) the phrase implies you were born in Africa and then moved to the US. While that's the case for some, such as model Alek Wek, someone such as Chris Rock or myself, born in the US, is BLACK.
2) despite the stereotype, there ARE white people originally from Africa who move to the US, i.e. actress Charlize Theron. Although the phrase was coined primarily for Blacks, techically, Theron IS an African-American, or at least, more African-American than I am, in the literal sense of the word.
The word is a roundabout way of calling someone Black because "Black" is considered offensive, even though the late James Brown said to "Say it loud...I'm Black and I'm proud." Even when someone says the term, you can tell they're trying their best to tiptoe around being offensive.
1. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama could be considered African-American, as his father is from Kenya. Jesse Jackson, on the other hand, is Black.
2. "Did you know that, in 2002, Denzel Washington and Halle Berry became the first African-Americans to win Best Actor and Actress Oscars in the same year?"
---"No, but I know they became the first BLACKS to win that award. Charlize Theron is the first African-American to win a Best Actress Oscar."
2. "Did you know that, in 2002, Denzel Washington and Halle Berry became the first African-Americans to win Best Actor and Actress Oscars in the same year?"
---"No, but I know they became the first BLACKS to win that award. Charlize Theron is the first African-American to win a Best Actress Oscar."
African-American by The Producer October 8, 2007
african-american
1) A politically correct term coined by cowardly white Americans who are afraid of offending blacks and are ashamed of being white.
2) A term that makes no sense, since 'African-American' implies that someone was born in Africa and immigrated to America. Therefore, since most blacks in America were born there, they would more correctly be called 'Blacks with African Ancestry'. Having been born in America, these blacks are simply 'Americans'.
3) A term which implies that all black people come from Africa (and that only black people come from Africa), even though black people come from many other parts of the world.
4) A term which singles out black people living in America from black people living elsewhere.
5) A term that even most black people find ridiculous.
2) A term that makes no sense, since 'African-American' implies that someone was born in Africa and immigrated to America. Therefore, since most blacks in America were born there, they would more correctly be called 'Blacks with African Ancestry'. Having been born in America, these blacks are simply 'Americans'.
3) A term which implies that all black people come from Africa (and that only black people come from Africa), even though black people come from many other parts of the world.
4) A term which singles out black people living in America from black people living elsewhere.
5) A term that even most black people find ridiculous.
1) White man 1: Look at that cool shirt that black guy is wearing.
White man 2: SHHHHH! He's not black! He's African-American! Don't be racist!
White man 1: Huh? How is that racist?
2) Most blacks referred to as 'African-Americans' have never been to, and will never be in Africa.
3) Would a person from Egypt be called African-American? Egypt is in Africa. How about a white person from South Africa?
4) Black people from France, Canada, England, Jamaica, Switzerland, Brazil, or even from Africa are 'black', but a black man from America is an 'African-American'.
5) The only black people I have ever heard referring to other blacks as 'African-Americans' were politicians, and even those are few and far between.
White man 2: SHHHHH! He's not black! He's African-American! Don't be racist!
White man 1: Huh? How is that racist?
2) Most blacks referred to as 'African-Americans' have never been to, and will never be in Africa.
3) Would a person from Egypt be called African-American? Egypt is in Africa. How about a white person from South Africa?
4) Black people from France, Canada, England, Jamaica, Switzerland, Brazil, or even from Africa are 'black', but a black man from America is an 'African-American'.
5) The only black people I have ever heard referring to other blacks as 'African-Americans' were politicians, and even those are few and far between.
african-american by macdas April 2, 2007
African-American
Actual definition is: any black person who is a descendant of black American slaves and lives in America. It is often incorrectly used to refer to black people who came to this country of their own free will from Africa as well as any other country is the world.
The second definition is any person who moves to America from Africa.
The second definition is any person who moves to America from Africa.
That man is a descendant of slaves, so if you want to be politically correct use African-American when referring to him.
African-American by tarafirma November 4, 2009
african-american
The "politically correct" term for someone with dark skin. Never mind that not all black people are African, and that not all Africans are black.
african-american by Tipper36 September 21, 2007
African-American
Latest politically correct term for a black, Negro, colored American with even a minuscule proportion of African descent
Jesse Jackson is losing his position as chief African-American spokesman to the flamboyant Al Sharpton
African-American by cornholio October 4, 2003
african-american
What people say when they dont want to say Black person. A dumb term, referring to a black person. I have no idea why we are called that. I mean...Im not African! I was born in New York, I have never been to Africa in my life! Why am I called African-American? They dont have a name like that for white people. But then again no body really knows where white ancestors came from...where do they come from? Did every white person always live in the US???
An African-American is a "person of color". Who's ancestors are probably from Africa. But just because they are called that does NOT make them African!
african-american by muzichick May 15, 2006