It doesn't make sense to call all "white" people "Anglo". The Anglos were one tribe among many in one region in one linguistic/ethnic group in Europe. There are plenty of fair skinned people who aren't Anglo.
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I have white skin, but I'm not white.
- Thread starter EyeofOdin
- Start date
It doesn't make sense to call all "white" people "Anglo". The Anglos were one tribe among many in one region in one linguistic/ethnic group in Europe. There are plenty of fair skinned people who aren't Anglo.
psychoslice
Veteran Member
Myself I proud to be a beautiful white, just love it, oh yea.:danana:
Caladan
Agnostic Pantheist
When you say that you are European-American people are simply likely to assume you immigrated to the US from Europe. As for the term African American, it was created to break through stereotypes in American society (related with the terms 'Negro' or black), and to give a minority group a recognition of culture and ancestry in a time that it was severely disenfranchised (a term which embodied various African cultures and regions that they were unlikely to know from which one they originated from as that part of their identity was erased by European colonialists). People today know how to relate to the term and its meaning.
My family has German or Austrian background, other European background, Iberian background and Maghreb background. However unless asked or if it's in context I simply refer to myself as Israeli. So if it is really important to you that at some point you had ancestors in Europe you should be more elaborate and say that you are an American with European ancestry. However I don't see that as being helpful since there are dozens of cultures in Europe, what you really need to do is present yourself as an American with Scandinavian (and which part of the Nordic regions), Celtic (although that is also quite generic, as you could elaborate on which of the current six Celtic nations your family hailed from), and Spanish ancestry.
My family has German or Austrian background, other European background, Iberian background and Maghreb background. However unless asked or if it's in context I simply refer to myself as Israeli. So if it is really important to you that at some point you had ancestors in Europe you should be more elaborate and say that you are an American with European ancestry. However I don't see that as being helpful since there are dozens of cultures in Europe, what you really need to do is present yourself as an American with Scandinavian (and which part of the Nordic regions), Celtic (although that is also quite generic, as you could elaborate on which of the current six Celtic nations your family hailed from), and Spanish ancestry.
Well it would be very long winded to say "I'm German-Irish-Italian-Spanish-Scottish-English American". If I tried to simplify it, it would still be "Germanic-Celtic-Mediterranean American"
Poeticus
| abhyAvartin |
मैत्रावरुणिः;3684095 said:
Well are people from various parts of Africa "mixed" such as West African, Kenyan and Nigerian? But they're still African American, even though there are a wide variety of cultures within the continent, it still gives people a respectful ethnic identity.
It makes sense when one looks at etymology & the speaker's intentions.
But you're correct that all this labeling is inconsistent & not very systematic.
It appears that terms evolve to minimize conflict. Consider that the term "crippled"
became offensive, & was replaced by "handicapped", which became offensive, &
was replaced by "differently abled", which was so unwieldly, that I don't know
what general term would serve this purpose now.
This is particularly vexing when I was a real estate broker. Under MI license law,
we had a revolving door of terms which were considered by the state to be
generally illegal to use. (Yearly continuing education by state agents would
update us on changes.) I was very glad to let my license lapse.
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Poeticus
| abhyAvartin |
Most African-Americans are mixed, however.
The identification of being African-American is a
collective notion, just like White-American. As far
as I know, weren't it the reductionist schools that
urged declassifying such collectives into German-
American, Irish-American, Polish-American, Anglo-
Saxon, etc.? Personally, I do not find a White-
American classifying him/herself as European-
American to be incorrect, even if various Europeans
may find it tenuous.
collective notion, just like White-American. As far
as I know, weren't it the reductionist schools that
urged declassifying such collectives into German-
American, Irish-American, Polish-American, Anglo-
Saxon, etc.? Personally, I do not find a White-
American classifying him/herself as European-
American to be incorrect, even if various Europeans
may find it tenuous.
This can get tricky with mixed-heritage individuals;
therefore, I understand any frustration or concerns
you may have. From my personal experience, many
White-Americans are mixed, yet they are still
collectively White/European-Americans; and thus,
finding an ethnic identity based on "pureness" can be
and usually is quite problematic.
therefore, I understand any frustration or concerns
you may have. From my personal experience, many
White-Americans are mixed, yet they are still
collectively White/European-Americans; and thus,
finding an ethnic identity based on "pureness" can be
and usually is quite problematic.
Lol, MV. As for myself, I just say I'm mixed or "grey". 
Ancestry is a very nebulous or vague thing, except if you come from some remote tribe that has been isolated for thousands of years. But even they can trace the migrations of their people from somewhere else. We're all Africans in the end.
Ancestry is a very nebulous or vague thing, except if you come from some remote tribe that has been isolated for thousands of years. But even they can trace the migrations of their people from somewhere else. We're all Africans in the end.
Poeticus
| abhyAvartin |
Caladan
Agnostic Pantheist
Well the solution I offered is already in the beginning of my post; simply state that you are an American from European descent. However I felt it is needed to say that in many parts of the world it is quite a meaningless statement unless you also state where exactly in Europe and from which culture. Europe is not a single historical country, culture or ancestry. In genealogically conscious societies saying I am European is akin to saying I am a homo sapien, and considering recent quests to trace Neanderthal blood in our society this may also become meaningless in certain future discourse.
I'm not totally sure what the difference is between saying "I'm European American" vs "I'm an American of European descent."
Caladan
Agnostic Pantheist
In my country saying that you are a Russian or Ukranian or French normaly means that you immigrated from these countries. Many other people here have roots in Russia, or Germany, or France in their family history but they were not born there nor necessarily speak the languages or carry the cultural norms of these societies. Normaly people stress their European background when they think it is relevant, saying I am European American, Israeli or Australian would make many people assume that they were born and raised in Europe.
If I heard you say the former, I'd assume you're white, but that you prefer this label.
If I heard the latter, I'd still think you're white, but oddly long winded.
Labels won't survive unless they're brief enuf for common usage.
When faced with a question of race on a census form, I just throw it away.
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Caladan
Agnostic Pantheist
By the way, saying 'white' is not a standard nor accepted definition in my country either. It is as meaningless as saying you are European.
Another thing I think I should point out is that you are not technically European. You were born in America (north), and don't share much with European culture beyond speaking American English. Which poses the question, what is the most accurate connotation/definition you aim for by using the term European American? Is it a cultural label or genetic label, or something else?
I can't speak for Americans, but outside the states your term would not have any significance, and considering the reactions you say you receive when using it, it doesn't seem to make much sense for Americans either.
Another thing I think I should point out is that you are not technically European. You were born in America (north), and don't share much with European culture beyond speaking American English. Which poses the question, what is the most accurate connotation/definition you aim for by using the term European American? Is it a cultural label or genetic label, or something else?
I can't speak for Americans, but outside the states your term would not have any significance, and considering the reactions you say you receive when using it, it doesn't seem to make much sense for Americans either.
Personally I keep finding it funny that so much discussion revolves around skin color or even ethnic groups.
When people raise the idea that, say, George Zimmerman is of a racial minority and that may taint judgements, my reflex reaction is to wonder which minority would that be.
When people raise the idea that, say, George Zimmerman is of a racial minority and that may taint judgements, my reflex reaction is to wonder which minority would that be.
It's complicated here. Hispanics will often take that label instead of "white", even though they're of the same skin color as many white folk. It seems that being half Hispanic (like Zimmerman) is still "Hispanic". But racial politics surrounding the Martin shooting required that he be "white" for the purpose of highlighting traditional black (Martin) victimhood at the hands of whites. Labels have long been weaponized this way.
Maya3
Well-Known Member
I prefer to speak of ethnicity instead of colors. Colors have been used historically to differentiate between groups of people and to put some people down to different levels depending on which one of the four colors they were perceived to have, as if the human species come in four colors.
Maya
Maya
