"Because you have to be from Africa and then become an American citizen to become an ""African American"". She's from Chicago! 

 If you come to America from any country and become a citizen then you can become.... 
 African American. 
 Chinese American. 
 Mexican American. 
 Italian American. 

 If your born here, your an American with ""blah blah blah"" decent. 
 Jeff ""an American"" 

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