Why "African American"??

I find this increasing annoying and something that makes no sense at all. Why is it that black people must be referred to as "African-American". What do you they know about Africa anymore than any other ethnic group? My ancestors are from Germany, should I be called "German-American"? And I have lived in Germany. My wife's ancestry is from Sweden, should she be referred to as "Swedish-American"? I do not see the Japanese or any other culture for that matter demanding that they have this surname in front of "American". We are all Americans. The majority of black people in this country have never set foot on African soil, in fact, you could probably go back several generations that have not either. To me, placing this surname in front of "American" is segregation, something that black people have been trying to abolish for so many years. Racism will continue until we stop segregating ethnic groups by name, giving special rights to those of a different color or sexual orientation just because they exist, this is nonsense.


John Wilson
Longview, WA.