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The problem is, the liberals, and this is primarily a problem that originated from the left, decided that it's not important what you are now, it's where you came from or what the color of your skin is or what protected class you are a part of that really matters. African-Americans is just a code-word for being black, even if your ancestors never came from Africa, but if you're a white guy that grew up in South Africa, you can't be an African-American because you're white, even though you have even more claim to the word than some black guy whose family has been in Detroit for generations. To be honest, I'm surprised it hasn't gone farther than it has. Why not gay-Americans and female-Americans? I'm sure that's coming soon.
In the past in the USA people were taught to be ashamed or afraid to acknowledge their background if it wasn't Anglo-Saxon. Now we can all appreciate and enjoy our heritage and diversity. I don't see the problem. I suspect its just the same old rigid minded European American guys pissing and moaning because being a white man no longer gives them instant privileges.
African American is a better term in my opinion since "blacks" can be a wide variety of colors, with some being lighter skinned than some "whites." The terms black and white imply a significant difference like night and day, while terms like Asian American etc. only implies a tie with a continent. I have no problem with "whites' who grew up in Africa describing themselves as African Americans, but it is less confusing if they just say "I was raised in Kenya." Same with "blacks' who grew up in Africa.