“Don’t call me African” – Black America’s identity crisis

[Madrasas]

EVERYTIME someone makes a thread like this you're bound to have a muthaphucka saying Blacks from this side got more in common with cacs than Africans. :thisdude:

Yes, I know the pan-Africanist/Black nationalists types don't like hearing it, but in terms of values, culture, language, and general way of life, a black person from America is much, much closer to a white person from America than to a black person from Africa. And I don't know why people speak of 'Africa' like it's some monolithic region- it's a vast continent made up of people with vastly different cultures, languages, and histories who often don't get along with each other.

 

[Pazzy]

For me. It's like this... I know my ancestry. I have no probs, issues or shame talking about it as i acknowledge it. Why is it that someone else who doesn't know me keeps on telling me where they think im from based off my skin color? I live here and was born here. Why the fukk can't I be called an american like anybody else living in america. There were many blacks in america that fought and died to be called american, to be acknowledged as a citizen. I feel that calling an black person in america thats from here an African American based off of their skin color without knowing their background is like saying that you aren't from here so they call them that shyt to let them know they aren't apart of this country. A citizen.

 

[BigMan]

There'd be way less confusion if African Americans were called something else besides black/Afican American IMO

 

[Deutsche Bank]

I'm sure all these six figure Africans with degrees and homes and businesses are heartbroken by this lol.

 

[Diyhai]

what african traditions do black americans hold? none
I understand why some people from africa have a problem with the african american term being used for some people
American blacks are so far removed from african culture

 

[curz]

Off topic i guess but do the same people that have a problem with people identiffying as black american and not african american have a problem with black people from Jamaica calling themselves Jamaicans? or Bahamaians or Trinidadians? etc?

shyt is mad weird

 

[EndGame]

Let me guess, you're Hebrews from the tribe of Judah?

 

[↓R↑LYB]

what african traditions do black americans hold? none
I understand why some people from africa have a problem with the african american term being used for some people
American blacks are so far removed from african culture

Black people in the west have a lot of European customs. Does that make us more European than African?

 

[Bald Head Ba$tard]

What a clown.

 

[DrBanneker]

Personally speaking, I don't want to be labeled as African either. I am African-American, and I only want to be labeled as such. People always want to denigrate African Americans when it comes to intelligence and education attainment; so when I do well academically speaking, I ALWAYS want to acknowledge that I am African American. It's just personal for me.

I have no problem with African American. I typically think of it as a sociological term whereas in regular conversation I will say I am Black or Black American. I will however never renounce the "African" part. Whether people want to admit it or not, that is part of our heritage and I am not running to hide it while everyone else calls themselves Scots-Irish, Italian, Chinese, or whatever. I have actually been back to the continent and forged links (personal and business) and we could do great things together. Unfortunately I think I am realizing only a small portion of us will ever realize this.

Be honest, part of it is Africa is in rough shape for the most part. If Africa was doing what China was now, people would be flocking to "rediscover" their heritage. But for now we have to deal with people trying to sanitize our history and ancestors' struggles to look post-racial. We've been American longer than the vast majority of other groups here and I won't do identity contortions to prove my patriotism or loyalty.

 

[DrBanneker]

How many Coli "Africans" have been to Africa. Probably less than 10%

How many Italian-Americans been to Italy or Irish to Ireland? You going to challenge them too?

 

[devizelle]

 

[DrBanneker]

Black Americans and Black Africans have very little in common with each other, other than skin color. In fact, the average Black American has far, far more in common with the average White American than with the Average Black African.

I would never deny the commonality I have with other Americans. On most basic cultural, economic, and political perspectives we can be very similar to Americans of any color.

But I call BS on us having little in common with Africans. Yes, I know Africans and I have been to Africa (not on some Safari vacation crap but living (not in a hotel) and working). Once you get beyond the BS and talk to people you realize our cultures and struggles to find a place in this world that is often hostile are remarkably similar. Don't let the bougie people that come here and look down on us fool you, there are many connections to be forged back in Africa.

You got people from Europe, China, Korea, Lebanon, India, White American missionaries etc. all going to Africa seeing its great potential while nikkas here are always on that 'I'm just American' crap. Get with the program people...

 

[ridedolo]

You got people from Europe, China, Korea, Lebanon, India, White American missionaries etc. all going to Africa seeing its great potential while nikkas here are always on that 'I'm just American' crap. Get with the program people...

this is something i've noticed recently. africa has been demonized in the media, yet cacs and others are always there. "researching", "charity", "building"...everyone else is over there raping them for their resources while many of us feel little connection to the place that birthed our ancestors.

 

[Uncle Kendrick]

We get so caught up on labels we are black plain and simple.