Why do americans consider themselves as irish, sweedish, etc. and not just...

[Your worst nightmare!]

...caucasian, phillipino,etc? i was just thinking about this the other day, and it seems like most people never just say they are white or black or whatever. If people ask me about what my nationality is, i'm always like, "well, i'm Swedish, irish, english, scottish, french, german, and native american." but i just was wondering why don't people just consider themselves american? its not a bad thing, i'm just curious.

 

[Stan P]

I am a proud caucasian American.

I guess that sounds too generic to some, so others like to point out their different heritage so they can identify with some group in particular. Kind of like others in this country, who buy the flags for their cars and the like. Some people like to strive for some identity or belonging. It is to set them apart from the rest, I guess...

 

[leila]

ok well the only true americans are the native americans....Indians.
The rest of us are transplants. People who live in Spain have had lived there for 1000 years, we have only been here around 200 years.

 

[Emily]

because of their heritage

 

[Eddie B]

I think you are wrong only the African-Americans hyphenate their ethnicity. I see no reason for me being white or caucasian to call myself any thing other than that.

 

[rbabz]

Because it's obvious what race someone is and if a person is living in America they can classify themselves as an American, so if someone is asked that question why state the obvious?

Depending on the context of the question I may answer differently. But most of the time if people ask that question they want to know more than your skin color and that you're American, unless you are in a country other than America.

 

[Perdie]

Maybe they think it makes them sound more interesting?

 

[Tracer]

Because we are a nation of immigrants, and in most cases it's redundant to point out that we're American.

 

[Wagon Burner]

People are proud to name their different backgrounds, that's why.

Im half White and Native American.

I could go into what Tribes.

-Lenape
-Cherokee
-Chickasaw
-Shawnee

On the White Side

-Irish

I usually dont go into all that talk. I just say Im Indian.

 

[Barack Obama]

America is a mix of all cultures, anybody who says ''your becoming into the American culture'' hasn't understood what this country really stands for (*cough* my dad)