Not all blacks are African. Not all Africans are black.
Only people who don't know them would call a Jamaican an African-American.
I agree -- but many people say that "African-American" is the correct term for blacks, and that "black" is somehow inappropriate. I can't bring myself to call a Jamaican an African-American, because he's not an African. (Ok, individuals might be -- but I mean as a group.)
I do have a (white) friend from South Africa who always checks "African-American" on forms, and argues if challenged that he is an American from Africa and if they meant something else, they should have used different words. I'll bet he's messed up more than a few affirmative-action databases, but it's their own darn fault.
no subject
Not all blacks are African. Not all Africans are black.
Only people who don't know them would call a Jamaican an African-American.
I agree -- but many people say that "African-American" is the correct term for blacks, and that "black" is somehow inappropriate. I can't bring myself to call a Jamaican an African-American, because he's not an African. (Ok, individuals might be -- but I mean as a group.)
I do have a (white) friend from South Africa who always checks "African-American" on forms, and argues if challenged that he is an American from Africa and if they meant something else, they should have used different words. I'll bet he's messed up more than a few affirmative-action databases, but it's their own darn fault.