I read and heard jokes from African-American being happy
they have been slaves and taken out of Africa. They are
actually the first, and hardest attackers and critics of
this wonderful Continent. I'm an American who lived in West
Africa (notably Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana) for 18 years and I
just can't conceive rejecting such a wonderful land if my
origins were linked to it. What do you think the problem of
African-American might be so that they insist so badly on
distaching themselves from Africa?
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Money isn't everything, nor do I know your standard of living, but the MAJORITY of black africans don't have it too easy.
Billy,
I too am American and have observed that most African-American citizens that live here tend to romanticize the continent. Maybe the comments you have heard are from U.S. citizens visiting and discovering that Africa is not their imagined utopia after all but a land filled with good AND bad things. Also, it would take them a while to adjust to "africa time."
Most Americans other than recent immigrants have lost touch
with their ancestral countries of origin, and why should
that be any different for blacks? Black Americans are
Americans, they are not Africans, and I don't find it
surprising that some of them have rejected all the Afro
centric crap that gets flung their way by the media. I
applaud them for that!
Black Americans are clearly better off than Africans, and
to say that they are glad their ancestors were brought to
this country, even if through the evils of slavery,
actually makes a fair bit on sense.
hey where were you living and what were you doing in ghana
and ivory coast?
why is it americans always focus on being americans? More
than any other people travelling the planet Americans are so
self absorbed.
This is by Keith Richburg and is an excellent, if
controversial, book. Keith is a black American journalist
who spent three years in Africa covering the important
issues at that time (e.g. Somalia, Rwanda, etc). He
concludes that he is very happy to be an American as he
doesn't identify with the land of his ancestors and all the
violence & hopelessness that he sees. Well written and
highly recommended book.
well, from what I've heard, there's quite a bit of
animosity towards black-americans from black africans. That
could be what you mean.
In the USA I think that may well be true. African
immigrants tend to want to dissociate themseleves from the
crime and social problems of black Americans, but in
Africa, I saw nothing but great respect for Black
Americans. Africans admire, and want to emulate the
success they see in Black America.
but I spoke with several Black Americans in my time in
Africa and they all were severely disillusioned by "the
motherland." It was not at all what they imagined. One of
them said something to the effect of,"It's sort of tough
coming to grips with the fact that leaving Africa was the
best thing that ever happened to black people. My great-
great grandparents suffered immeasurably in slavery so that
I might prosper." I thought that was a sad, but undeniably
true statement.
When blacks were slaves, white women, stripped to the waist
and starving, were pulling trucks of coal on their hands
and knees through the Welsh coal pits, and white children
were being forced down chimneys. White men were deported
to a life of hard labour in Australia for stealing a loaf
of bread. Slavery was not unique to Africans. It applied
(and still does) to impoverished people all over the
world. If we all recognised that blacks were not the only
people who suffered, there would be a lot less racial
predudice. Think about it.
... Where do you get off assuming that African-Americans
are the hardest critics of Africa or that we joke that we
are HAPPY to have been taken off as Slaves! Screw You! I
call you a liar. Do you hear Jews joking about the
holocaust? No! The same with us ... both were comparable
disasters and we feel it in ourt hearts, you schmuck!
African-Americans so rarely can afford to get out of the US
to go anywhere, so why would they go to Africa and make
comments that I hear from whites in the US all the time?
The poster above who said we see ourselves as Americans
first is absolutley right and Africans see African-
Americans as a "tribe" of unknown people ... who appear
rich. They look right through us just as any two different
peoples in Africa would.
You are the one with the "romantic" image of Africa...why
would you live there for 18 years and all you could come up
with to offer about Africa is this ridiculous topic!! Easy
for a white man to say such things. (ah look! you just got
a taste of my ancient African culture ... resentment of
white interference) I am sure the Africans where you live
say this behind your back all the time.
My question is "Why do white Americans (or Europeans) go to
Africa thinking they are changing the world and living in a
wonderful idyllic world where all is happiness!?" Sheer
fantasy ... when I was in Africa and I see whites waxing
poetically about how WONDERFUL it is there, it is the ONLY
time the Africans look in my eyes and we mentally transmit
the question "What is this European moron talking about??"
I can only shrug my shoulders ... thats what happens when
you're comfortable living on the deaths and exploitation of
tens millions, you anthropomorphize the entire event and
history into a cute cuddly animal or kind wizened, but
shild-like people!
I love my cultural heritage as an African and American ...
jeez we built this country's entire 16th-19th century
economies for FREE! (Scholars say over $10 Trillion dollars
of free labor) What I suspect happened is you heard an
African-American joking around, just as you have, probably
because sometimes living in sub-Saharan Africa SUCKS for
anyone who isn't a native. tell me you've never really
been upset and I'll tell you you never went to Africa.
Take your semi-racist, pseudo-intellectual butt back to
Ghana where you can "master" over people who you don't
really know, don't understand and never will understand.
The reason you are there is because you obviously can't
compete with the modern world so you go to Africa and live
the colonial master's life. Typical loser.
How do you get off like that Malcom? Why so much animosity
towards someone you don't even know. You're making some
preposterous comments such as my thinking I am the "Savior"
of Africa. Well, how can you talk about Africa if you've
probably just been there as a tourist? Let me tell you
something sir, I lived there, worked there, fought there in
the hope of ameliorating the social condition of the
citizens. Do you think I was endowed with millions of
dollars in exchange? This is an aberration! At least I can
say that I share something with the citizens of Ghana and
Ivory Coast. I speak Bete, Baoule and tshui fluently. Let me
return the question to you: What contribution have you
brought to Africa. You're sitting in the comfort and luxury
of a country that provides social security to its less
fortunate elements and your apathy does not permit you to
realize that in Africa, if you don't fight for success,
you're left for dead in the street like a miserable beggar.
Yes, I had my share of tremendous poverty there, but my
pride is to say that, unlike you, I WAS THERE.
Malcom, the truth might hurt sometimes but Billy's opinion
is not so far from the truth. Where in the US have you seen
a jew making silly jokes about the hollocaust or the social
condition of their fellow comrade in Israel? Have you ever
come across an Italian-American making racist jokes against
Italians? NO, personally I haven't. Do you follow these
comedy show on BET sometimes, or these Appolli theater
comedy shows? True African-Americans making jokes about the
poverty and misery of Africans. This comedian, Eddy, from
the TV Show Malcom & Eddy, made a joke on BET about flies
flying around the Ethiopians they show on TV. I am really
sorry but I do not think that this is not a sign of a deep
rooted shame towards Africa from the African-American.
However, I do not blame my Afro-Americans compatriotes, I
believe that shame towards their origin was forcefully
induced to them during the time of slavery by the white man.
I believe it was a strategy to divide Afro-Americans so
that, by taking away their pride, they could not possibly
fight back. What makes the American-jews so strong? The
fact that they know their history, and, therefore are able
to stand strong and united. Unfortunately, this notion of
shame has sinked deep in the mind of some African-Americans
and Liberia is the perfect example of it. If you need to
know more about the history of Liberia then let me know and
I will be glad to enlighten you my brother.
I couldn't said it better myself. The Whites don't know a
clue of the oppression Black Americans suffered during
slavery. As a Black American I'm proud of my heritage and
don't want to be White. I read about Africa for years and
the individual countries that made the continent. Who wants
to be "enlightened" on the interpetion of a racist
individual who has not set foot in a African land? Besides,
your countries are not perfect either.
I couldn't said it better myself. The Whites don't know a
clue of the oppression Black Americans suffered during
slavery. As a Black American I'm proud of my heritage and
don't want to be White. I read about Africa for years and
the individual countries that made the continent. Who wants
to be "enlightened" on the interpetion of a racist
individual who has not set foot in a African land? Besides,
your countries are not perfect either.
I couldn't said it better myself. The Whites don't know a
clue of the oppression Black Americans suffered during
slavery. As a Black American I'm proud of my heritage and
don't want to be White. I read about Africa for years and
the individual countries that made the continent. Who wants
to be "enlightened" on the interpetion of a racist
individual who has not set foot in a African land? Besides,
your countries are not perfect either.
I couldn't said it better myself. The Whites don't know a
clue of the oppression Black Americans suffered during
slavery. As a Black American I'm proud of my heritage and
don't want to be White. I read about Africa for years and
the individual countries that made the continent. Who wants
to be "enlightened" on the interpetion of a racist
individual who has not set foot in a African land? Besides,
your countries are not perfect either.
Raymond, no offense but have you ever read my comments? Are
you saying I have never been to Africa? Get with the program
my friend, and re-read my post if you have to. My first
contact with Ivory Coast in West Africa was when I was an
envoy of the World Bank. My goal was to determine the funds
needed to improve the quality of schools in the Northen
regions. So much for my contribution right? I fought these
"jerks" at the World Bank who did not deemed necessary to go
on with this program because of some racist view that it
would be useless. Now, my friend Malcom, talking about my
fear of the "competitng world". If I'm afraid of the
competing world, but strive to put schools on a faster pace
so that they can better serve the young minds of the future
generation of Africa to take part in the Global economy,
then I think it makes you a bigger sell out of your origins.
I do not need you to call me a "romantizer" of Africa,
because I know the reality of things there, being that I was
born In Accra Ghana. I repeat my question, what have you
done for Africa? You are a bigger loser if you went there as
a mere tourist and probably acted like a rock-a-fella
flashing your dollars. If you know that you haven't raised
a finger to improve anything in Africa, then to not step on
my toes you sell out.
Raymond, no offense but have you ever read my comments? Are
you saying I have never been to Africa? Get with the program
my friend, and re-read my post if you have to. My first
contact with Ivory Coast in West Africa was when I was an
envoy of the World Bank. My goal was to determine the funds
needed to improve the quality of schools in the Northen
regions. So much for my contribution right? I fought these
"jerks" at the World Bank who did not deem necessary to go
on with this program because of some racist view that it
would be useless. Now, my friend Malcom, talking about my
fear of the "competitng world". If I'm afraid of the
competing world, but strive to put schools on a faster pace
so that they can better serve the young minds of the future
generation of Africa to take part in the Global economy,
then I think it makes you a bigger sell out of your origins.
I do not need you to call me a "romantizer" of Africa,
because I know the reality of things there, being that I was
born In Accra Ghana. I repeat my question, what have you
done for Africa? You are a bigger loser if you went there as
a mere tourist and probably acted like a rock-a-fella
flashing your dollars. If you know that you haven't raised
a finger to improve anything in Africa, then do not step on
my toes you sell out.
For those who don't know it yet, I am what the Americans
call Bi-racial: I'm partly French, and partly from Sierra
Leon (which is a country in West Africa for those who are to
lazy to check on a world map). I know you Billy, we met at
the Economic Commission for Africa last U.N conference.
English isn't my first language so bear with me. Malcom, I
agree with you when you say that most white people are the
ones who make such statements as "African-American are happy
they became slaves because they are better off now". It's
undoubtfully true. But I would also have to go with Peter's
opinion on the fact that, unlike the other Americans with
various origins, SOME, and I said some, African-Americans
have imbeded this notion of shame towards Africa (even
though they probably don't know much about it). I also
agree with Peter on the fact that it was a colonial strategy
to weaken any plan of unification amongst the blacks. The
solution would be to better inform the young ones on the
continent of their origin. If only they knew that Africa
wasn't just a land you visit to see some animals; but, also
a continent with people, cities, sky-scrappers, and an
economic system, they could be prouder. How can we blame
the young African-Americans when, on CNN, the only time they
talk about Africa is to tell some gruesome tales of
massacre. Have you notice the bad choice of words the media
employs when it comes to Africa? "There is war in Africa"
(can somebody tell them that it isn't a country, but a
continent?), "Barbaric massacre", "savagery","slaughter"
etc...(especially in the case of the genocide in Rwanda,
which was obviously not worthy of attention to the media
being that it was "Niggers, killing niggers", so "less
niggers in the world"). Have you notice the choice of words
when it comes to the same kind of genocide happening in
Yougoslavia? "the killing of the mass", "genocide", "clean
death", "execution", and the heavy media coverage of the
situation. Billy is a white man, but one who fights the
racist bastards in the financial institutions and struggles
for a better Africa. Let's not be too unfair with him.
Black people in France where I live, are more united and
more aware of Africa than the African-Americans due to the
fact that there isn't such a big negative propaganda on
Africa here. African do in fact admire African-Americans,
but they are often disapointed when they come accross a
Black American who interact with them in the same way a
white man would have had.
I read about Africa from the pages of Ebony,Jet,Emerge,and
The Final Call along with major Black newpapers. For Billy
I don't think that a White man like yourself has any
authority on Africa then the typical African. To call me a
sell out in league of Sambimi,Thebmbe,and the homeland
Black leaders of Apartheid South Africa is a outrage. My
countrymen in Black America gave a lot to the Motherland so
check yourself.
So all you know of Africa takes essence in your lectures? I
hope you'll have the chance to experience the homeland in
your lifetime. I do not recall calling you a sell out Sir.
However, I disagree when you say that black America gave a
lot to Africa. If you get a chance to elaborate your
opinion, then mind doing so. As far as I'm concerned,
Africa has been overexploited by the western world, and no
significant compensation have been given up to today.
Macha, the slavery you are labelling as "the white slavery"
is not identical to the black slavery. The people sent to
Australia were actual criminals (whether be a piece of bread
they stole or other) and were serving a sentence. They were
forced to work on the field but not lynched. The black
slavery functionned on a different note; it was colored with
racism. Sons and daughters of African Kings, priests,
members of the high nobility, and common farmers as well,
were taken together, without regard to their title and
without commiting a crime, to America to serve as slaves.
Why? Simply because they were black, and believed to be
inferior. It is both a mental and physical slavery,
contrarily to the slavery you described. Not only were they
brought here, they were hunted down like animals and lynched
for the fun of it. Even the jewish hollocaust is not
comparable to the African Hollocaust which prevailed for
centuries. Sorry Macha, but it would be unfair to compare
both cases of slavery.
I have never been to africa and once only briefly to
america so may ignore my comment.
I simply wish to point out that many africans were
themselves involved in selling slaves - it was a common
thing to do with POWs from an enemy tribe. Many people
and many races were to blame for the mass slave trade to
america.
I am in no way attempting to absolve the white europeans of
their enourmous guilt at basically buggering up the
contintent and generally thinking they were superior.
With the "how black americans view black africans" debate I
think overriding influence is that you have people from a
1st world nation looking and comparing their situations with
a 3rd world country.
That is an interesting point you've mentioned Microkid.
However, I do firmly believe that the statement made by
numerous European historians affirming that most slaves were
sold by their own African companions is totally mendacious.
It is just another way for them to justify slavery, and cast
the blame on someone else. I am not neglecting the fact that
indeed, a very few minority of African salves were sold by
some kings. Here is a perfect reason why: I come to your
place with canons and riffles, break your door at night and
ask you, as an African King, to either provide me with 15
people or suffer that I slaughter every member of your
community- including your own family. You don't have much
choice now do you? Here is something that historians
intentionally omit; it was give a few or I take the whole.