An Indian American born in Bombay doesn’t want to be considered a hyphenated American.
It’s considered correct to put a hyphen between someone’s nationality and the word American. Thus you’ll see Asian-American or Chinese-American or Italian-American with a hyphen placed before American.
AsAmNews purposely leaves the hyphen out as do many people from the Asian American community because we considered our culture uniquely American. It is not American in the sense of the majority European Americans, but is uniquely our culture and together these cultures makes up the United States of America.
But that’s not why Sarwar Kashmeri doesn’t want to be considered a hyphenated American.
In a blog for VPR, he recalled these lines from a book he received when he became a naturalized citizen.
“Today you have become a citizen of the United States of America. You are no longer an Englishman, Frenchman, Italian, or a Pole. Neither are you a hyphenated-American – a Polish-American, an Italian-American… henceforth, you are… a Citizen of the United States of America.”
In Kashmeri’s words, “I am not an Indian-American, actually I am an American who happens to have been born in Bombay.”
As we celebrate Independence Day in America today, its a good time to reflect on this topic.
Do you use a hyphen when describing your nationality? How do you describe yourself?
Share your thoughts below.
From Chris Tashima via Twitter RE: should a hyphen be used to describe Asian Americans?: "No. Please no. Stop with the hyphen already "
From Pierre Nguyen via Facebook: RE: How do you describe your nationality: "American."
RE: I am not a hyphenated American: So you don't see the need to make a statement by omitting the hyphen and you are obviously proud of your heritage. I just think its a stronger statement to consider your culture unique by omitting the hyphen. But I can see why others wouldn't make a big deal of it.
RE: I’m not a hyphenated American: Your blog contradicts itself. Instead of it calling itself, ‘AsAm’, it should drop the ‘As’ and just refer to itself as ‘Am’. Perhaps, You’re not targeting Asians, but Banana’s 香蕉。丢脸
RE: Will's comments on I'm not a hyphenated American: Whoa, Will. Where did this come from. Have a nice day.
From Pierre Nguyen via Facebook RE: How do you define yourself: "American"
From Qiu Wei via Facebook RE: How do you define yourself: "Murican"
RE: How do you define yourself: Asian American or Chinese American. Both are American, but the term Asian American or Chinese Americans acknowledge that my cultural background is unique. Together we are all Americans.
RE: I’m Not a Hyphenated American:I recently learned that the hyphen is offensive to some. Identity is an intensely personal concept in America and is constantly evolving. Perhaps there will be a time when the pendulum swings back towards identifying more with Asian than American.
RE: I’m not a hyphenated American: I agree, it is offensive. Usually if a person is white, no one asks him “are your ancestors from Britain or Germany (etc.)?” There is an implication that only white Americans are “full Americans,” whereas others must be pinned down to a group if they are Asian. Ironically, it is usually non-white people who insist to no end that I identify my ancestry rather than just consider me an American.