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But...if what you're saying is correct, what exactly should black americans call themselves?? Some people don't say "African American" because it sounds like they are not "entirely" American, since they "have" to put that "African" in front. I personally think that saying "black" or "American" is fine; what about everyone else out there reading this?

Besides, what do black Germans call themselves? Certainly not "African Germans," or "black Germans," right? Wouldn't they either call themselves "black," or just "German"?

Perhaps so, but...since I cannot take a drop of blood or go through historical records to say I'm otherwise, I'd like to identify myself. Y'know, I looked at this thread and tried to find a way to answer without making myself look silly. I probably still but, I'm going to do my best to stress my point. If I can't call myself Black or African-American, what (aside from plain old American) can I call myself? It was my assumption (via media, books on the subject, and those who lived in the times--parents, family, etc) that calling oneself Black was a form of identification. A term to squash being called Colored, Negro, and the dreaded N word I shall not type. I am the only child of a man who had the absolute dishonor of being called a Negro on his birth certificate. Just as his mother, his father, and even his sister were. I was taught to identify myself as more than an American because I am just that.
I am quite sure there's lots of other blood racing through my veins. My last name is Williams. (Willheim is the German version.) My mother's maiden name is Brown (French, I believe.) I have kin in Minnesota who have direct ties to Native Americans of the Blackfoot tribe. (Common claim, yes, but I actually have proof and pictures. wink ) My family has been fighting hard for years to build and connect our tree. It is hard.
I call myself Black or African-American. The latter is more of a form of habit because they drilled that into my head as a child in school. I know I do not come from Africa directly. I know my people from long ago did, however. As M_Discharge beautifully (in my opinion) explained before me,

"I say that im black because thats what I am. Aside from my long ethnic decent, I have nothing to do with africa in any way shape or form. I live, work, pump my gas(unfortunatly) and go to school in America. And as a black person living America, I know that I prolly have ALOT of other races in me."

I am not trying to offend or piss anyone off. I'm sorry that it does bother you that people call themselves Black. I hardly every claim African-American because I was not born in Africa to become an American citizen. I was born in a hospital in the heart of Chicago.

But the question still stands. If I cannot claim Black as my ethnicity and only my race, what can I identify myself as? I am more than American. I am not 100% African. I exist in this world. I am a person. Label me.

So you know your black but you don't want to say it?

NOO........ I dont want to be confused with an African American. I am Black, that is my race, but my ethnic group is haitian. People always ask me if im black as in african american, and I have to say no, because i know what they mean. They mean to say african american,

lets face it, when someone sees a black person in america, they assume they are african american which is why african americans have been able to hijack a whole race for their own ethnic group.

I could say im black, but then i would have to give a long explanation on how im not an african american.

I was born in Boston, But im haitian. Not an african american, and I am black, but due to technical difficulties, I just say im haitian.

Only in america and europe are people listed under one color. In Africa and other places, they actually list the different ethnic groups. In south africa, they list the xhosa, zulu, san bushman, etc ethnic groups, in nigeria they list the fula, igbo, hausa, yoruba etc. They all know they are black , but at least they dont claim a whole color as their own.

so just call yourself hatian-american. wouldn't that clear things up better when having to explain yourself?

i think african-americans (those of us who know they come from american slavery, not a specific african nation) choose to identify with 'black' cos it's better than being called 'colored' or 'negro'. plus, it's shorter than having to say 'african-american' all the time. america has to put a label on everybody, you choose which is the least offensive...

i've also heard that black people in england call themselves 'black british', even if they are from different parts of the world.

I concur

And the reason for America catagorizing by color is because America's most likley one of the most diverse countries in terms of ethnic background and ancesstory. the history even shows it. in the european side, you have british, french, italian, dutch, german, and so on, that have all moved from their contries one way or an other.. the same thing goes for the african countries, with the exeption that there was a large portion of africans that where here against there will. not to mention the asians mexicans and every other group that has immigrated from there country, I'm sure its evident that America's very diverse; in contrast to other countries like chile or norway.

So therefore, due to the extreme diversity, there are BOUND to be interracial relationships and thus diversifying your background. it is every hard to say "oh im 96 percent german." of course they're are those who can, but there is a bigger number for those who cannot. the same goes for blacks, mexicans, asians and so on.

of course this is just my belief, but I think what it all comes down to is that we're all American (i acknowledge that this is an international website and I apologize if I have excluded anyone). of course we all come from a different background. but we are all here in the foreground. just about everything Americans do is for America, from paying taxes, buy goods, raise children in america. And while I know "american" isn't an ethnic group in one perspective, it's certainly differant to say that our irish and that your irish american.