A person who was originally from Africa who has been made a citizen of the United States.
Note: Just because your great-great-great-grandpa was from Africa doesnt make you an African-American
Note: Just because your great-great-great-grandpa was from Africa doesnt make you an African-American
by sjl October 10, 2004
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.
by W August 4, 2004
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."
by The Producer September 25, 2007
by Joshy D November 12, 2007
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.
by macdas March 27, 2007
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.
by tarafirma November 5, 2009
What white people say when they afraid to say black especially when a black person is in the room.
But you KNOW when that black person leaves the room, they say that shit w/ some other words too.
But you KNOW when that black person leaves the room, they say that shit w/ some other words too.
Tom: My niggaaa!! ... did you see that black chick w/ that big ol' booty?!
Bob: Fo' shizzle, my nigga. I love me some bla--
*black person comes in*
Tom: Shh, bob!!
Black guy: Hey, what're you guys talking about?
Tom: Oh, nothing. Just saw an african american women walk by w/ a rather large rear end, that's all. -chuckles-
Bob: Yep, that's all. -fake laugh-
Black guy: You know I don't get offended if you say black, & not all of us came from africa.
Tom: What?! But that's such a racist term! I would never say that.
Bob: Never ...
Black guy: Whatever *leaves the room*
Tom: So yea, niggaa, that black bitch got a big ol' booty!!
Bob: Sheeeit, I just wanna grab that shit & spank it!! WOOO! *makes spanking motions*
Bob: Fo' shizzle, my nigga. I love me some bla--
*black person comes in*
Tom: Shh, bob!!
Black guy: Hey, what're you guys talking about?
Tom: Oh, nothing. Just saw an african american women walk by w/ a rather large rear end, that's all. -chuckles-
Bob: Yep, that's all. -fake laugh-
Black guy: You know I don't get offended if you say black, & not all of us came from africa.
Tom: What?! But that's such a racist term! I would never say that.
Bob: Never ...
Black guy: Whatever *leaves the room*
Tom: So yea, niggaa, that black bitch got a big ol' booty!!
Bob: Sheeeit, I just wanna grab that shit & spank it!! WOOO! *makes spanking motions*
by Blackie Chan July 21, 2006