<p>I’ve always wondered why some people are usually called “Americans” (european descendants) while others are referred to by “Country-American” (Asian-American, African-American, etc) even though their families have probably been here longer than the “European”-Americans (which they are not referred to as)</p>
<p>One does find references to european origins, Polish-American was common in the Chicago area for example. It appears that some folks want to acknowledge their ancestry and have chosen the hyphenated route. For some, it is a matter of pride in their ancestry, for others it is a sense of belonging and empowerment. But, for all, the bottom line is that all are just plain old Americans, and in the end that is what matters. </p>
<p>I was on a trip with a group visiting an Asian country and a boy on the trip whose family ancestry is Asian had the continual experience of people coming up to him expecting him to speak the language, know about the food, etc. His comment showed telling, he said, “I’m camouflaged as an Asian person.” He considered himself American first and foremost.</p>
<p>In my line of work (public health) descriptors like European-American, African-American,etc are becoming more common because they are considered more culturally competent than referents that are to skin color and/or fail to address the realities of bi-racial/multi-racial origins. “American” by itself should technically refer to anyone born on the North or South American continents–but it has become colonized by partisan politics in ways that mean it’s orginial meaning is lost for practical everyday use…</p>
<p>True, American should mean that, but in typical use by those who live elsewhere, Canada, Mexico, etc., American refers to a US Citizen. It is easier to say than I’m a USAian, or some such thing. I agree that the hyphenated references are better than a reference to skin color, but in the end it is the American or USAian part that should be most important and be first and foremost in one’s heart. And I know, we have a ways to go to get there…</p>
<p>Being American means being a mix. 1st generation less than 2nd or 3rd etc. That is just how it is. There are many nation states on this planet that do not allow citizenship to be based on birth let alone to be based on naturalization. Sometimes I wonder if America’s obsession with roots, race and the like isn’t an attempt to try and figure out what it means to be American: each individual’s attempt to belong to something, to have influence and power in this something. America is a pretty big concept. And it means so many different things to so many different people. And by the way, when I fill out paperwork and it asks where I was born, I put U.S.A. when it asks what country I am a citizen of I say U.S.A. I never put American.</p>
<p>Almost every second person seems to call themselves Irish-American, even where the closest link they have to Ireland is having bought a green beer on St Patricks day. Europeans in general think this is bizarre and just call all the *-Americans, Americans. Contrary to popular belief there are lots of European citizens of immigrant origin, plus European families who hace moved between countries, as well as obviously 99% of the population of Australia. None of these groups generally call themselves *-Europeans or *-Australians unless the question is asked (I occasionally hear the term “British Asians” and “BBC” which is short for “British-born Chinese”). My grandparents were Irish and British but my mother doesn’t refer to herself as an Irish-Briton or a British-Irish! I’ve noticed this for a long time and I think this at least partially stems from the fact that many Americans are really interested in family history and researching their family trees.</p>
<p>IMO, it’s a bunch of PC nonsense. It’s people trying to make themselves seem “Special” because, wow, they immigrated from a different country. Whoopdedoo. You want a prize or something? </p>
<p>Well guess what! Everyone here immigrated at one point, except for Native Americans … and even Native Americans weren’t originally from America. They came over the Bering Straight. </p>
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<p>lol bouncechrissy</p>
<p>A black friend of mine hates the African-American label. He says he is a black male who is an American–just like I am a white female American.</p>
<p>I think it’s a bit of a stretch to suggest people who use the term are trying to be “special” because of where they immigrated from. For starters, let us not forget that a number of the people called “African-American” had ancestors who didn’t exactly immigrate…unless you want to stick “forcible” in front of that term. 
But it’s true that immigrant groups started the practice–or started the acceptance of it.</p>
<p>I doubt that the reason that some people prefer or use “Italian-American” or “Irish-American,” (etc) are as shallow as those given. But whatever the reason, it was long the norm.</p>
<p>I think it only stands to reason, then, that other ethnic groups might adopt similar nomenclature. Often, society will insist on describing them by skin color, so why shouldn’t they also adopt terms like “African-American” or “Asian-American?” As American language has evolved away from terms like “Negro” and “colored,” a term like African-American made some sense, given the long history of describing groups in a similar way. Not all american blacks like the term, just as I’m sure that’s true for members of other similarly-labeled groups (German-American, Italian-American, etc).</p>
<p>Maybe the other terms are used less because people care less about their European roots…or have a harder time describing themselves with one label (intermarriage!). But at present, race is still a big enough deal to enough people that labels like “African-American” may stick around longer–despite some objections.</p>
<p>I have a friend from Kenya who has had a hard time explaining that he <em>isn’t</em> African-American…</p>