America is such a place where minorities are defined based on their skin colour. In other words, America is a place that frequently addresses racial discrimination.
The whites are known to torture the blacks, however, the whites are seen as superior, and blacks are considered as interior human races.
Black or/and African Americans make up the second-largest racial group in the United States and the third-largest ethnic group. However, Latino and Hispanic Americans, as well as White Americans, frequently follow these.
Most of these African or Black Americans are descendants of persons enslaved within a certain area of the modern United States in the past.
Key Takeaways
- “Black American” describes individuals with African ancestry born or living in the United States. In contrast, “African American” refers to those directly connected to enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
- “Black American” is a more inclusive term, encompassing recent immigrants from Africa, the Caribbean, and other regions, while “African American” highlights a shared history and cultural experience.
- Both terms aim to recognize and celebrate the contributions and identity of people of African descent in the United States.
Black American vs African American
The difference between Black Americans and African Americans is that Race-specificity is a term used to describe Black Americans. However, on the contrary, Nation-specificity is used to describe African-Americans. In the United States of America, African Americans, sometimes known as Afro-Americans and Black Americans, are now considered one ethnic group.
Black Americans are individuals with a black skin tone who were born in the United States. People who immigrate to the United States from Europe, the Caribbean, and Central and South America do not identify as African Americans but rather as Black Americans.
When they are unable to trace their true ancestors, some people want to be referred to as Black Americans.
African-Americans are people who moved to America from Africa and have a black complexion by default. African Americans are considered to be a nation-specific group.
Some people still want to be referred to as African Americans or Afro-Americans since they are well aware of their African ancestry. These Black and African Americans are not considered as a separate ethnic group from African Americans or Black Americans.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Black American | African American |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Whose body colour is black and are born in the USA. | Who migrated to America from Africa and possessed a black complexion. |
| Characterised as | Race-specific | Nation-specific |
| Basis of Migration | From Europe or the Caribbean, central and south America. | From Africa directly. |
| Preference | Prefer when they are not able to trace their true lineage. | They are well aware of their lineage, which is African. |
| Also called as | African Americans or Afro-Americans. | Black Americans |
What is Black American?
Black Americans are people of African-American descent who were born in the United States. Race-specificity is a term used to describe Black Americans.
When they can’t trace their true ancestors, some folks want to be referred to as “Black Americans.”
People who immigrate to America from Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America do not identify as African Americans; instead, they call themselves Black Americans.
Although Black Americans, African Americans, and Afro-Americans are now considered one ethnic group in the United States, they are still regarded as separate ethnic groups in the United States. They are not considered an ethnic group distinct from Black or African Americans.
These Black or African Americans make up the country’s second-largest racial group and third-largest ethnic group. Latino and Hispanic Americans, as well as White Americans, frequently follow these.
What is African American?
African-Americans are persons who immigrated to the United States from Africa and have a black complexion. African Americans are described as having a distinct national identity.
African Americans, not Black Americans, are the people who migrate to America directly from Africa. Some people still prefer to be referred to as African Americans or Afro-Americans since they are well aware of their African ancestry.
Although African Americans, also known as Afro-Americans and Black Americans, are now considered one ethnic group in the United States of America, they are still classified as separate ethnic groups.
They are not considered an ethnic group distinct from African Americans or Black Americans. The majority of these African or Black Americans are descendants of those who were slaves within a certain area of the modern United States in the past.
Main Differences Between Black American and African American
- Some people whose body colour is black and who are born in the USA are termed Black Americans. On the other hand, those people who migrated to America from Africa, by default, possess a black complexion and are called African-American.
- Black Americans are characterized as race-specific. On the other hand, African Americans are characterized as nation-specific.
- People who come to America from Europe or the Caribbean, central and south America do not identify as African Americans but as Black Americans. On the other hand, people who come to America from Africa directly do not identify themselves as Black Americans but as African Americans.
- Some people prefer being called Black Americans when they are not able to trace their true lineage. On the other hand, some people still exist who prefer being called African Americans or Afro-Americans because they are well aware of their lineage, which is African.
- Nowadays, in America, although both Black Americans, African Americans and Afro-Americans are considered as one ethnic community only. They are not seen as a different ethnic community from Black Americans or African Americans.
- https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315810201/history-black-yaacov-shavit
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4757-9782-4_32
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
A well-argued approach to explain the difference between these different groups in the US
Very informative and detailed piece about a complex subject, but the suggestions provided are up for discussion
The text presents a very well explained, clear, and detailed comparison between ethnic groups living in the USA
Precise and informative text that could slightly benefit from an even more in-depth analysis
Very detailed and informative text, but it misses a comment about the current situation of these groups
This post can’t be a study’s reference, it contains subjective opinions and controversial statements
An interesting rhetoric that may define a racial group based on where they were born, which may possibly lead to derogation
This text seems to highlight the racial discrimination that still exists in the United States, which is a subject that should be left in the past