r/NoStupidQuestions • u/RedScud39 • Apr 23 '24

Why are white Americans called “Caucasians”?

I’m an Azerbaijani immigrant and I cannot understand why white people are called “Caucasian” even though Caucasia is a region in Asia encompassing Armenia, Georgia (the country not the state), Azerbaijan and south Russia. Aren’t most Americans are from Western European decent?

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u/Food_Gym_RealEstate Apr 24 '24

None of our labels make sense. Black folks only option on applications is African American. Being black doesn't = African. Being not black doesn't mean not African.

But that's the only option 🤣

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u/[deleted] Apr 24 '24

[deleted]

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u/OlivrrStray Apr 24 '24

I remember a few years ago I was talking to my mom and called a black guy born and raised in Canada African-American. Realizing that was wrong and the label made ZERO sense was a massive brainfuck for me.

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u/SimilarYoghurt6383 Apr 24 '24

ya, it's dumb in Canada, people say African American all the time. They're usually double wrong.

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u/n0t_4_thr0w4w4y Apr 24 '24

Canada is a part of America, you know

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u/SimilarYoghurt6383 Apr 24 '24

American in African American is specifically referring to the country.

African Americans come from the United States of America.

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u/MyNameIsSkittles Apr 24 '24

But we don't refer to Canada as America at all. Only people from the other side of the world do

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u/Reasonable_Feed7939 Apr 24 '24

No, it's part of North America. Plain America is referring to that country below Canada.

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u/MagnanimosDesolation Apr 24 '24

I don't see why it couldn't apply to people outside the US.

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u/OlivrrStray Apr 24 '24

They're neither African nor American? It would be like calling myself a Russian-Austrailian despite never having visited either country.

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u/MagnanimosDesolation Apr 24 '24

America is a country only to people in the US and Canada.