Is anyone else extremely annoyed at Hyphen american?

Question

I'm sick of people saying they're ____-american. I think it seperates races even more because I have been to areas that are dominantly white, dominantly black, and a mix of all races... and i've learned that a lot of people (especially white people) feel wrong not saying -american to describe a color... even if the person's not from america (i've heard a woman doing a documentary on slavery refer to the africans as african-americans before they had even been captured) . I think the best thing to do would be to get rid of hypen american before we forget that we're all american. because if being american isn't enough for anyone than they should just go back to their non hyphenated roots. . I'm not going to call anyone else african-american or asian american or native american. because as a patriot with a rainbow of friends, there's no better title than AMERICAN! does this get anyone else heated up?

Answer 1

I don't know.  I've been having fun on questionnaires that ask for demographics.  Instead of checking the "white" box, I write in European-American.  I know its s******g up the numbers somewhere!

Answer 2

I think it's ignorant to use the generic term 'American' when there are so many varieties of peoples living in this country. Why don't you educate yourself and learn to identify the many types of cultures and ways that people have of naming themselves? Under every generic term (horse, bird, tree, man) there are more specific terms we use. Stop defending your ignorance.

Answer 3

yeah well i do too but it won't happen as long as they  have some advantage.that being the victim or some other BS.

Answer 4

America first.

Answer 5

My family came to Texas before Texas Independence so I'm an American-Mexican-Texan-American-Confeder...  

Where do I sing up for my benefits. I've got 5 hyphens--that should be worth something-- BUT I only speak English-- does

that count against me ?

Answer 6

For Sure It Does ! If this keeps up I must warn all the other hyphenated groups of - Americans` that we in the South will consider it politically incorrect to call us "Hillbilly`s" anymore !  From now on we will be known as  " Appalachian - Americans` " !

Answer 7

Unless you were born in another country or gained citizenship to another country besides America, you do not have the right to put a hyphen in your name (that being said, I have known several people deserving of a hyphen, including two white African-Americans who were born in South Africa).

In fact, I consider using a hyphen in your name racist if you were born in this country and only hold citizenship in this country, since the hyphen is used to purposely differentiate yourself on paper from other groups in America for various reasons.

Born in America, you're an American.

Born somewhere else and move to America and become a citizen, you're a something-American.

Born in America but gain legal citizenship to another country, you're a something-American.

Those are the only two legit purposes for using something-American in my opinion.

Answer 8

I agree, thats how black people started calling themselves black. Most blacks in America aint never set foot on African soil, but at the same time i always thought it was to preserve heritage. We dont call white people Euro-Americans, it really seperates whites from everyone else. I never liked it, but i didnt make this country either.

Answer 9

American through and through.

I like what sinic had to say.  I've also been asked on paper which I most identify with.  That's a loaded question and fun to play with.  Once when I was unemployed and filled out an application, I marked everything African American.  It was for statistical purposes only.  When called for an interview, I was told "Oh, I thought you were black." (it was in a conversational way).  I just smiled and said, I am.  Then I smiled and asked if I should bring in the family album.  It was hard to keep a straight face.  BTW, I got hired.