[Discussion] Why aren't Whites given a prefix when called American? (European American,etc)

[Loki d]

So why does the White group in America not have a prefix? Do we say White Americans or European Americans? I know there are certain ethnic groups like Irish American and etc but every race gets a broader prefix like Asian American, Latin Americans, and African Americans then we get to the White group and there's no prefix. Shouldn't it be European Americans.

Like a famous comedian said it's redundant for Native Americans to have that prefix.

 

[Punk Hazard]

Because the prefix is stupid

 

[Multiply]

Because they are the majority. It's time you learned why they call it HIStory.

 

[Gerkak]

As riker said the prefix is stupid. I believe the reason is because they are the dominant group and the overwhelming majority in the area. Normally it is smaller groups that are given those kind of prefixes

 

[giostep]

I think it would be redundant for the most part as when you say American most people automatically assume, A white person from the United states of America. Even though Canada, United States of America, Mexico, Central America, and South America all make up what is known as the Americas most people will call citizens of the United States of America as Americans, Canadians as Canadians, and Mexicans as Mexicans, and people from the different countries in South America and Brazil by their country. Anyway short answer is that its redundant as american is auto white person from United State of America. Also putting pre-fixes on your nationality is realy dumb unless you practice to different types of cultures and stuff at home.

 

[Loki d]

Because the prefix is stupid

As riker said the prefix is stupid. I believe the reason is because they are the dominant group and the overwhelming majority in the area. Normally it is smaller groups that are given those kind of prefixes

The prefix for White Americans or all the prefixes in general? If the former why is it stupid?

 

[Punk Hazard]

The prefix for White Americans or all the prefixes in general? If the former why is it stupid?

All prefixes in general. My mom, for example, is black, but she's from the Caribbean, not Africa. At this point in history, it just doesn't make sense to me to call all black people "African-American" when not all black people come from Africa. Same with things like Mexican-American. Black, White, Latino, Hispanic, Asian(kind of an unavoidable discrepancy with this one) should be enough.

 

[Jack Spicer]

Agreed with Riker. Shit is stupid.

 

[Melanin]

I don't really find anything wrong with being categorized or viewed as an African American because in the actuality of things, that's what I am. My ancestors were African and I'm presently an American so the compound-word/prefix is being used appropriately in my opinion but I completely understand people's distaste for the compound-word/prefix.

 

[Punk Hazard]

I don't really find anything wrong with being categorized or viewed as an African American because in the actuality of things, that's what I am. My ancestors were African and I'm presently an American so the compound-word/prefix is being used appropriately in my opinion but I completely understand people's distaste for the compound-word/prefix.

By this logic, we should all carry the prefix of "African" because all human life originated in Africa.

 

[Gerkak]

I don't really find anything wrong with being categorized or viewed as an African American because in the actuality of things, that's what I am. My ancestors were African and I'm presently an American so the compound-word/prefix is being used appropriately in my opinion but I completely understand people's distaste for the compound-word/prefix.

So if a white guy has African ancestors he should be called African american as well?

 

[Calpal]

I think its a useless way to build borders and herd people.
But its just because of the way the world has developed over the past two centuries, that when you say "American" your natural predisposition is to think of a white male, such as, up until just recently, the president.

Im irish and Italian, so what does that make me as an _______American?

and btw whites are no longer the majority.

 

[chopstickchakra]

So why does the White group in America not have a prefix? Do we say White Americans or European Americans? I know there are certain ethnic groups like Irish American and etc but every race gets a broader prefix like Asian American, Latin Americans, and African Americans then we get to the White group and there's no prefix. Shouldn't it be European Americans.

Like a famous comedian said it's redundant for Native Americans to have that prefix.

Somebody watched the Trevor Noah special on Netflix last night hmmm(of course they did it was me lol) It's not entirely true, while it holds today in the early days Irish and Italians both had prefixes, Irish-American and Italian-American. When most people say white what they really mean is "Anglo-Saxon" not realizing or caring about the differences between them(which is a bit ironic if you think about it)

 

[Gerkak]

I think its a useless way to build borders and herd people.
But its just because of the way the world has developed over the past two centuries, that when you say "American" your natural predisposition is to think of a white male, such as, up until just recently, the president.

Im irish and Italian, so what does that make me as an _______American?

and btw whites are no longer the majority.

They still are, over 60% of americans are still white. Sure that'll change in the next 40-50 years but as it is now white americans are still the majority

 

[Seventh Sama]

Because they aren't the minority, that's why. Shouldn't really matter tbh.

 

[Loki d]

Somebody watched the Trevor Noah special on Netflix last night hmmm(of course they did it was me lol) It's not entirely true, while it holds today in the early days Irish and Italians both had prefixes, Irish-American and Italian-American. When most people say white what they really mean is "Anglo-Saxon" not realizing or caring about the differences between them(which is a bit ironic if you think about it)

Yeah I've seen it before and watched it last night again because it was funny.

 

[Filosoofis]

So why does the White group in America not have a prefix? Do we say White Americans or European Americans? I know there are certain ethnic groups like Irish American and etc but every race gets a broader prefix like Asian American, Latin Americans, and African Americans then we get to the White group and there's no prefix. Shouldn't it be European Americans.

Like a famous comedian said it's redundant for Native Americans to have that prefix.

Cause they founded America I think.
Here in Europe we call people with their nationality. So if someone is Dutch from orgin we call him a Nederlander but if someone is a turk we call him a Turk even tho you could call him a duty cause he lives here but we don't do that

 

[chopstickchakra]

Yeah I've seen it before and watched it last night again because it was funny.

Yeah it was pretty good. He had me dying on the pronunciation differences.

 

[CrimsonReaper]

they're the majority.

 

[Melanin]

By this logic, we should all carry the prefix of "African" because all human life originated in Africa.

You could take it there and be politically correct but the fact that men originated doesn't dismiss the cultural appropriation of Africa. (1) Africa wasn't Africa when the first man existed, it was called Pangea. (2) My formative prevalent ancestors were stolen from the Nubian or Nubia lands of Africa. (3) Black people don't have the luxury of knowing where we actually come from within the continent of Africa (tribe and or land) so we can't identify ourselves the way a Caucasian from Europe can. Examples being a Caucasian identifying themselves as Irish, French or German. So there's nothing wrong with me wanting to acknowledge my direct African linage just from the African and wanting that to be intertwined with my identity.