I was reading the Oct. 27 article in the Iowa State Daily entitled, “Stereotypes more annoying than labels.” I was just skimming the article to see what it was about when I read a caption under one of the pictures saying that the young lady preferred to be called Black-American rather than African-American.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I know the article wasn’t saying anything racist or anything and it was just trying to explain stereotypes, but it brought up a subject that always confuses me.

Why is it that being an American has to have a race or ethnic group tied on to the name if the person in not Caucasian? Doesn’t being an American mean that the person was born in America or that they received their citizenship?

So why does a person have to be labeled as African-American, Hispanic-American or anything else?

Why can’t they just be called American?

I have never heard any Caucasian people saying that they are Swedish-American or German-American, because most of their ancestors are from Europe.

Does this mean that there is a new definition for being an American?

I mean, all human beings are the same, our bodies work the same, we breathe the same.

To me, it’s just confusing and pretty upsetting.

If a person fits the definition of being an American, then that’s just what they are, an American.

It’s plain and simple, and it shouldn’t matter what race or ethnicity they are.

Ashleigh Ward

Freshman

Animal Science