> Being an African-American I am familiar with
> this term and especially it's connotations
> for minorities.

> I don't consider myself a minority and
> attempt to disassociate myself with such
> terms. To me, they only lead to
> non-self-actualizing behaviors and
> attitudes.

Taylor,

First, I was born and raised in a land that does not - at least until very recently when a newsreader called someone a Chinese-Australian - add heritage/race onto nationality, I don't understand it.

WHY do you call yourself an African-American? (and why do any and all races and nationalities feel the need to do the same - Irish-American, Asian-American, etc.)

And, when do you decide to use a race-specific add-on as opposed to a more country-specific add-on?

For example: Asian-American vs Japanese-American.

(I've never heard anyone call themselves a European-American)

To my simple Australian mind, if you are born in a country that country is your nationality. So if you are born in the USA you are an American. Plain & simple.

If you are born elsewhere and migrate to American, you are the nationality of the place you were born UNTIIL you revoke that and change your citizenship. So if you are Japanese and migrate to the USA, you remain Japanese until you become an American citizen - taking the oath and all that is required.

At what point does this self-labeling end? How many mixed generations does it take before someone decides they are no longer a part of their label? Half cast? Quarter cast? One eight cast. One sixteenth cast?

Does it extend to states? Could I be a Texan-Californian? HA!

And what does the child of an African-American and an Asian-American call themselves? African-Asian-American? And what if that child marries an Irish-American (Irish-African-Asian-American)?

And with such a push to NOT be placed (lumped) into groups, WHY do it yourself by adding these labels?

If I migrated to America, would I be called an Australian-American?

And doesn't this self-labeling keep you a 'minority' in your own mind?

I ask these questions because I truly don't understand this. It baffles me. I have asked before, but no one was actually able to answer WHY hyphenated nationality/race terminology is used. Perhaps, this time, someone can educate me about this American 'habit' I don't understand.

Respectfully,

Michael Ross.