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Originally Posted by QuaWee
Actually, it can go either way. Caucasins (spelling?) can also be called "white". Blacks originate from Africa and now reside in United States of America, thus the term "African American" is correct. I might be wrong but I am pretty sure I'm right. BTW, I know where Africa is. I have been to Capetown twice in my life
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My point is not that black people do or do not originate from Africa. They do, just like the rest of humanity.
My point is that "African Americans" today have virtually no cultural links with Africa. The terms "African American" and "European American" create an artificial gap between the races. They suggest a profound, cultural gap, a gap that can't be bridged, by emphasizing historic origins rather than present culture.
To any outsider it is immediately clear that Americans, whether black or white, are first and foremost Americans. The differences between American black and white subcultures have nothing to do with "Africa" versus "Europe". Using the word "African American" promotes a wholly irrational identification with something black Americans truly have nothing to do with: Africa.