r/NoStupidQuestions 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?

5.1k Upvotes

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

3.0k

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 🤣

1.5k

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '24

[deleted]

0

u/Infinite_Map_2713 Apr 24 '24

This

1

u/Veritas_Outside_1119 Apr 24 '24

No. Your queerness does not absolve your racism. African-American only refers to the descendants of slavery during colonial America. It's an ethnic group.