When the term "African American" became mainstream it seemed like a good idea. Yeah, 'my people are from A-F-R-I-C-A!' But then it slowly occurred to me that,
1.) I'm not from Africa.
2.) Africa is a continient and not a country. If I'm from "Africa" then what part of Africa am I from?
3.) I've never even BEEN to Africa. In fact, my grandparents, and my grandparents grandparents were not born in Africa.
4.) Most African people I have met know we share a common GENELOGICAL ancestry, but do not consider us African.
5.) I don't speak any native African tongues. All my dumbass can speak is Ameri-cun.
So what about me means that I am Africa? I was born in America. My ancesters built THIS country with blood, sweat, and tears. So it's mine. It is not uncommon for tribes of people to migrate across the world to make a new home. It is unusual to indentify with the old country when you are in a new one - even if the new one wasn't exactly "adopted" by choice.
Fact is, I am American. I am not ashamed to say I am American. Fact is, I have never been to the continient of Africa so why am I compelled to identify with it as my land? Because of the legacy of slavery? That perhaps, were it not for Slavery, I might have been born in Africa?
I was never one to believe in "what-ifs".
I would not be "ME" if I were born in Africa, I would be "someone else" with a different spirit, energy, and understanding of the world. Perhaps, I might believe in female circumcision, perhaps I might be Muslim, and avoid wearing makeup, and writing stories that allow my characters to have s*x. Who would I BE if I were African? Maybe someone great like Nelson Mandela, or perhaps, someone who is the victim of racism or genocide.
I don't know. And if God wanted me to know, I wouldn't be here, I would be there. So what am I? What are you?
In most countries what you are, is determined by where you are a from. Not where your ancesters were from hundreds of years ago.
In short, I'm American and proud to be. What say you?
I struggled with that also. I also learned something recently that we're not Americans either (not exclusively, anyway). We are citizens of the United States of America. North America (Canada & US) and South America can use the term Americans as well.
Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 5:52PM
Kenneth X
Interesting stuff...you might want to read: Is Barack Black or White? There are interesting considerations on this topic within its pages...
Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 6:53PM
Dr. Ahmad Glover
I connect myself with Africa because although my ancestors built this country, its not mine, nor will it ever be. It wasn't built for me to enjoy its offerings. With that said, I choose to find out what it going on over there so that one day I may return and play a role in its resurrection. Black is a color and the fact that we can't even decide on what to call ourselves should speak to the destruction that exists within our community. It goes so deep. I am African-American and I plan to make that a complete and accurate description of who I am.
Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 7:50PM
Tekoah Bellazer
Most of you people who are posting that you have no connectons to the African culture are showing your lack of social studies and/or history. Most Black Americans look for similarities between themselves and Nigerians b/c that's who they come mostly in contact with. There aren't any similarities. For the basic fact that Africa IS such a large continent, we have NOTHING to do w/Nigeria, central Africa. In fact, if white folks had gone to Nigeria looking for slaves Nigerians would have stuck his head up ass and sent him running. Nigerians are aggresive people. If you've had contact w/them on a regular basis I'll bet $100 to $1 that you've tough dealings.
Truth is, most of US are connected to Ghana and the surrounding Ivory Coast. These people are very similar to us. They are laid back and of-times considered docile. I'm sure this is pretty much how they were taken into captivity. And whitey knew this. In fact, we all can have dual citizenship RIGHT NOW if we choose to go visit.
They have maintained the "points of no return" from over 400 years ago to remind them and us of those horriffic, dark times that left them depleted of their youth, future and strength.
That being said, I've been using Black more instead of AA. In fact, I wish they never stopped using Negro. There are only three races of mankind: Caucasoid, Negroid and Mongoloid (I think that's right); so if Caucasian and Mongolian are acceptable why not Negro?
We accepted Black for a generation or two which is "negro" in Spanish anyway; so we were calling ourselves Black before and just didn't know it! Now we're all confused. Which is why we're having this discussion on August 3, 2008.
Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 7:58PM
Craig Amos
Although I was born in these United SNAKES of america, I identify myself as an AFRICAN living in america becuase I understand the history of my ancestors. For those black folds who really think that they are americans, then I say: WAKE UP!! and go visit the Motherland and stop disassociating yourself with the original man and women ? Also, read abouth the rich and true history of african people BEFORE WE WERE CAPTURED and were made PRISONERS of WAR !!
Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 8:52PM
Dietrich Rush
Wow, this is some good stuff. Etana
Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 8:56PM
Etana Busara
E Private,
I know it gets confusing when there are so many labels and identify groups going on at once. Its hard to figure out who we are. Hell there are groups set up in America to ensure you never find out who you are.
But there is a group trying to change that...
I'm typing from my cell phone so I may dork-up the website...if so please google it. The cite should be africanancestry.com
You can pay a small fee and have a paternal and maternal DNA test done to determine your exact origin. Once you know where mom and dad orginated from...then I would like to see if you still feel the same about your identity.
PS. American is not a culture.
Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 9:14PM
Dr. Ahmad Glover
If you think using the term "whitey" was derrogatory (which it was not really intended to be), just look at how "caucasians" really think when they are annonymous -- BTW which is truly the only way to tell how a person really thinks. Click this link:
Oh, BTW, that was specifically responding to you, Isaac. Enjoy.
Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 9:29PM
Craig Amos
E, thats pretty good stuff. I overstand your point of view. Even if agree or disagree with some of it, I get what your saying.
Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 11:02PM
Kenneth X
I actually tend to agree with the blogger. I've had this conversation many times. Of course, it has not been a popular position. Yes, my distant ancestors are from Africa and migrated here involuntarily. As for me...I am American. I have never been to Africa and Africans I've met do not identify with me and certainly do not understand the label "African-American."
Blessings...
Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 11:15PM
Dee Gray
For clarity-
..If you don't believe that you are "African"- American and you've determined that Black is a color...not a race...WHY are you still talking about the bogey-man: "The White man".
Two of our worst problems are that we have no idea who we are or who is holding us back. Not all "White folks (ethnic groups) are against black folks (descendent of the American-Jim Crow or slave system Africans from the western coast of Africa). There are some ethnic groups (White folks) with a long history of opposing the degradation of YOU.
Folks are quoting DuBois...but haven't read his work! People have dug up Garvey...but haven't studied his life! I've even seen discussion of Brother Shabazz...but not the wiser older X....the young mad warrior.
There is info from scholars on this site who are masters of their craft ...but we discredit their words...WHAT ARE WE DOING! Do we want answers or discussion!
People have talked about reading more books or takng more classes...THESE CLASSES DON'T EXIST! There are no classes in the organizational or human behavior world that label folks based on anything other than color. I know because I'm out here fighting to change that...
Our Black in America family is all but crying on on these blogs that we have been labeled WRONG. We hear you...but what do we do now?
As a people we have to start talking clearly about our issues. That means finding out as much as you can about what you are up against (defining your variables). Until then, we will always have conversations about White (The Bogey-Man) vs. Black (all Blacks-dark Asian's too); when you might mean descendent of slave African-American vs. X,Y, and Z country-Americans. People...no...ethnic groups of people have hidden behind the Bogey Man theory for centuries. And you ain't helping the cause!
I think we all struggle. I came across the following article and website. Some of you may want to check this out to see what the other half thinks:
Africans and African-Americans - Both Black In America? "The relationship between Africans and African-Americans is a complicated one. We are connected by blood and by common experiences. But for the greed of both whites and Africans who thought it mere commerce to sell their fellow human beings like so many bolts of cloth, Shaniqua from around the way might have been your cousin Sinachi. "
I can totally relate to the confusion of living in another country and not knowing what to identify your background with. Mine is even worse and sometimes I really struggled with this!
I was born and raised in Suriname, South-America and live in the US because of my marriage to an American guy! However, my background is so diverse, that I sometimes wonder what I should abide to. My skin says "I am black"; my brain sings another song:
1. My fathers parents:
- grandma: the child of an man who was a blue eyed general of the French Army (Gendarme), and an native Indian tribe of the Arowak Indians (one of 3 the native inhabitants before slavery) in Suriname
- my grandpa was the child of two slaves brought from the country of Ghana
2. My mother's parents:
- grandma was the daughter of an out-casted Indian immigrant from India and her father was also the child of 2 slaves - grandpa was the child of a Chinese immigrant father and a black woman who was the child of a slave and a slave owner.
I always wondered where I fit in, as I do feel a strong bound with all my heritages: Amer (?) Indian, Indian, Chinese, and African, even thou I never went to one of those countries. To top it all of, I speak Dutch, as our (?) country was enslaved by the Dutch (Holland). I speak a creaole language called Sranan tongo or taki-taki, a little bit of slang Hindi, some Spanish, a moderate level of English, and understand 0 - no Chinese or Arowak at all!
Still, I do honor them all, as they are part of me: I love the the red dragon, I adore the sari (that is the Indian where of women in India, Pakistan, etc...), I love the way black women in the interior (the jungle)of Suriname dress, I love gold (symbol of the Chise people of my country), I love silver, because it gives me the feeling of having that simple light that lights up my being as a living soul. I can go on and on, and on, why I feel belonged in the races that all come together in my existence; fact is I resemble a part of my past, my ways today, and my future!
This will not keep me from heading towards my goals, and I allow no one to put me down, because I am black! I used to let people know that they do not need to discriminate, because my hair is black (on top of my head), and under my feet is white. I stepped away from that and just let my personality speak. I am above all that since God's light shines for every one on His earth!
Another thing: is it not that we put ourselves down all the time, and allow all others who are not black to make our decisions, live our lives, trample our pride? I believe it is time for us to see that we are equal and that we have the same blood streaming. Yes, there are differences, but that is what makes live interesting and worth living!
Monday, August 4th 2008 at 11:12AM
Astrid Symor - Beighle
As I read this post, I continually returned to the notion that if anyone thinks that Blacks (or whatever term one chooses to use) are a monolithic group, they need to read this thread. Thanks to all of you for the engaging discussion.
Monday, August 4th 2008 at 8:21PM
Dr. S. Maxwell Hines
I would just like to add to this great discussion a unique point of view. First I would like to say that much like everyone else I think that this particular type of debate we have with ourselves and our peers is progressive in the development and better understanding of ourselves and a people.
If we can view our nation from outside the globe looking in and we compare our historical placement along with the movement of the other human life forms upon the earth. I think that we can better envision, and understand our purpose, and perhaps Gods purpose by us. America is sort of like the most modern day promise land or Babylon - it is in retrospect in which we often learn our purpose; but God will indeed soon reveal to the world what was demonstrated from the American Negro. Much like the Israelites a nation of people were humbled by way of slavery (like new plowed earth), then time must be allowed to birth a new generation (for development). Like Joshua from Moses who were two dramatically different generations having to overcome different obstacles of different eras, leading to new levels of leadership in the development of a new nation.
We are indeed from Africa, born in America - our African brothers and sisters (the future African Americans) not only show us how different we are, but they tell us a little more about who we have become. Many of us don't have to look far in our blood stream to find blood of other heritages other than that of Africa. So we are much more than African, and personally I do not reject the identity of Black, but I believe that it is an inadequate representation of who we are. I believe that we have a lot to be proud of to be Americans - no country is established without blemish, or pain (and what the oppressor reap, it surely shall sow. Joshua in the name of the most high concurred 31 tribes, of which 30 of them no one was to survive other than those of the harlot which harbor the spies. We have survived my people, God has spared us and we are gaining strength, God is delivering us, and it will be the later generations who will witness the purpose we continue to serve through it all.
E Private, I suuport Native Americans, too. They were treated aggregiously as well. They were here FIRST and were completely robbed of their land, homes and their lives. They suffered, too.
Tuesday, August 5th 2008 at 5:20PM
Dee Gray
E Private, I suuport Native Americans, too. They were treated aggregiously as well. They were here FIRST and were completely robbed of their land, homes and their lives. They suffered, too.
Tuesday, August 5th 2008 at 5:23PM
Dee Gray
This is very good, I read so many comments I don't know which to concentrate on. However, my question is: Do we really know what part of Africa most of our ancestors came from? I have not read anywhere, that a log was kept when they were kidnapping Africans and putting them on the slave ships of what part of Africa they took people from. I know that I am an American, what type? should not matter as long as I am not offended (not easy anyway) I am good to go. I am in full agreement with support of Native Americans. My great-great grandparents escaped from slave ships and into Indian reservations, that had passed for Indians. So as far as my heritage goes most of it is hear-say and probable cause.
Thursday, August 28th 2008 at 2:03PM
Cheryl Hendrix
I agree wholeheartedly. I have been saying this for years and nobosy seemed to understand what I was saying.
Tuesday, September 2nd 2008 at 11:41PM
Siddeeqah Duncan
Lots of information for my students..thanks E Private!! and no as an anthropologist I have no commnent because everyone is correct in their views of "Acculturation" and "Assimilation"..now if I take off my anthropological mantle, and put on my cloak of "ethnocentrism" my answers would burn through the computer..Your are good..I would have loved to have had a student like you in my class ,though they were wonderful also!! God Bless them all..and you..keep growing and knowing
Thursday, September 4th 2008 at 4:22PM
Marta Fernandez
BIA is an online community for African American men, women, and families, and want to shatter negative stereotypes and misconceptions.
a MAJOR stereotype of the PAST is NEVER finishing anything, and not knowing where one is at.
Oh the Great Intelligent and Courageous Writers of BIA History, -------Marta, Ahmed, Mozell, Craig, Clark, Dr. Thomasina, ETC ........We African Americans ---- NEED your return
...and one last thing E Private. Please let me know the answer to this that is happening today. And, please let me know if theit is color of skin or not one: Dark skinned person, "African-American, Black,or what ever label you choose to put on thesse people of which I speak as not qualified.
1. How many African-Americans do you see as ANCHOR on CNN?
2. How many darked skinned African-Americans do you see as co-ANCHOR on CNN?
3. How many TV weekly programs with majority jAfrican-American cast not comedy? 4. How many leading roles , co -star roles do you see on Tv (weekly)that African-American do not play a role that has a gun involved, violence and pain, human suffering, as the main theme in the main action ?
Again, it is not accpetable to me that there are not qualified African-American to do more than be limited to this nagative image or continue to put a stop to what I as a Proud African-American see as major degrading to our race (color of skin)to work on in the real world...
I say good night and a great, great, bolg. It gets a 110% rating from me. good night.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Here Irma goes with Black history/facts again. This time I ask that every individual look to them selves for an hosest answer to how tied "we" are to the African cultured. Today it is called "attitude" when this is done. A Black woman taking a stance and putting that hand on her hip and pointing with the other hand to get her point across? If you have ever seen this done, or you have done this in this life time, you did not get this from out side of A-F-R-I=C-A!!! but much like R-A-P it has been taken over over the 400 years, but yet we still use these in the century. So, think about this as I learned thi s , guess where???(smile) Hint, it was not on CNN or FOX!!!!
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
"if G-O-D had meant for man to fly, he would have given us wings" Another is, "WE see the world through the eyes of our culture" "What is in a name", and so on and so forth....so.with these realities in mind and because you know exactly who and what you are, I wll say this...The Paris Hilton -"American" can get out of jail eventhough going to jail was a court order!!!!! I use this as an example because, I do believe that Ms Hilton was also not born in Africa, but in America.Would the E Private-American be granted the same Constitutional Rights as a Paris Hilton American? Do not worry if you do not get my point as the name African-American in in the same "BOAT" as you, O.K.?
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Sheila, God will bless you (and America it self)for the comment you just made, and countless thanks to you for saying it.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
And, my sister friend who have friends from this part of Africa, there are African-Americans who still speak that original language as they went undiscovered until after the second WWII. When I say "discovered" I mean that they had been living off of the N.C.coast(and yes in America) all alone since slavery time. I f you think I lie got to the African-American study department and take some classes about the U.S. different version of Black in America than CNN's, right?
Right now they are trying to save their land from (gusee who????) taking it to build golf courses. but, the most important thing for them right now is to get living recored information, and their language, etc. recorded by their elders. before it is taken and changed and mulated,etc Remember we as African-Americans have no use on this planet past( you alredy know all of this)
But, the main thing that a lot of us have still have it to never allow our ties to the Mother Land uncensored....
Please take note of what I say my people before you unlearn what little we still can retain...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
mozell, what comes with ethnic groups being classified and their history being written(and falsely believed)by those who conquored them, has a lot to do with the comment you just made. Very little is known about the fact that the Natives of America refer to themselves not as "tribes" but as "family". Like the Crow family...."tribe" is an insult to these ethnic groups. A lot like calling us "black" was an insult=to being called "*****"
When we own the name 'Black' we then became "African-American" thus causing a lot of former NEGRO to resent and refuse to accept being called African-American. Call it "Black in America" or freedom of choice....
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
E Private, I am sorry if I am the one you refer to about go read a book, because if you have not "read" how I am 'living' history and in the comment I tol d you about these "living" Black in America . I said it here because this is something you willl never find on a CNN special.All you need to do is take a trip to N.C and see for your self. These people went to Africa because the ruler of that nation invited them to come. They spoke the same language, it was still unchanged. It is called Gulla, a little like Ebonics, but more pure as it has not been mixed with the" born" in America language. So please, I said where I learned it from...I am born and raised in N.C. not very far from these African 'cousins of mine who like me were born in America also. And, please note, I am not in any way speaking about, skin color, race, racism, religion, nor about where one is born or not born. My thing is MY culture that I am so proud of did not begin in America. This also I did not learn from a book as being a "person" that is judged/ valued by the color of their (my) skin can not be taught, it can only be expericed as a "Black in America".I am Black by nature, Proud by choice.
I leave you with tis, I did not learn about the Civil Rights members and what they went through. Nor did I learn about ropes on schools in a school yard form TV or print media. But, I will admit that htis was the first time I had ever seen a rope on a tree that had been put there by a White person that did not have a black skined person's neck in that noose!!!!I afor tis I am grateful as this was not "joke" or act of innocence for those of us who are "living history"!
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
E Private, once again I find I must try to explain my selfbetter. The Paris Hilton thing is more like this,and why I try to leave out skin color in my comments to a subject like. Using Ms Hilton was a way to get my point over about more of how one is judged as "nagative" because of the color of the skin. If we as a Black race could just get to be seen as "individuals" this would be the best start.
Yes, I am an African-American, but you have no way of knowing this and yet you have linked me to O.J. Simpson. Why did you do that? The majority of Hollywood is up set with that MCcain ad using Ms Hilton. do you know why they are so upset? They donot want anyone to believe that Paris or Britney is representations of who/ what they are. Now E Privet can you in any way get my oint now???!!?fI know that you have heard this before. black steal, on drugs. in prison, school drop outs,etc. Or haven't you...
Oh, I speak of the past, but if you come to where I live today and go sit in our local Dominic Pizza you will be ignored and you will never get waited on if you are deemed to be African-American.Eventually you will just get up and leave... becaus everyone deemed not Black will be waited on.I repepeat, I (we)am living history about Black in America. I believe that this is all do to my survival need /my ties to Africa that I can in no way help to prove that Black people are "violent", but, has this worked???you be the judge, my Sister freind.
Oh, by the way, I live 35 miles north of Sacramento, Ca.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
E Private, thank you for trying to get some attention to most of what is wrong with too many of us "African-Americans" mind set; and please never give up on this...what you mentioned about religion...almost always ends up not just in denial but as an 'offensive to God' then just muted out.
For everyone of us on American soil and in any way believe it to be a Democracy / gives credit to the American Constitution. Religion had to be put second or the Constitution would have never come into being.Notice the seperation of Church and State as it is there for this reason.
Like a few more things that must be done before we can come together ,get up nerve to admit the fathers of this Democracy were not the Christians that you are. If you are then stop complaining about "slavery"!!!!!!
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
E Private, once again I say goodnight to you my sister friend. I will leave you with this. Remember my saying how WEB Dubois said, "each one teach one"?
Well it seem the power of 'some' as a protector of our race has gotten through(smile). I learned from you today to not let the White man bother me with what he says bad about me(us). Your statement about this hit me with a bolt of reality check that WOKE me up!!!! Thanks.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
E Private and Rondale, both of your points are of the: past, present and future.This makes them exactly what we need for this unity we must both start and continue to make as a part of our own reality. I once read this wisdom some place long ago and it still sticks with me for it is some thing that we as a "human" race too often ignore.
That wisdom I spoke of says this"We must use the past so that we can enjoy the present while we make plans for the future" I am trying to get us to under stand that all of us here in this, so much needed, discussion are actually all right-correct in what we say on this blog. This is because to all of us it is our own truth. Right now on this blog, we are trying to step into the other person's shoes. When we do this we can never ever be wrong or be able to tell a lie.
We are right now the DREAM that Dr. King was tallking about in his famous speech..."I have a dream"
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
E Private, I found it very, very interesting how you left out what I said about Dubois knowing about the 'consicous" and gave you the resaon why he should knowabout this and more. you just left out why I said this and went to only skin color. Why did you do this?
And, I was born in Jacksonville. N.C. When I first went to school in Philadelphia, the children laught at How, I talked. Now this was in America This had nothing to do with race,nationality, etc. My southern accent was something 'new' to them. Some loved it and some were turned off by it. I hope that you can now can you say this is not all about Africa? As, I said before you are so innocent because you are so younge still. Life is a process of changes due to some of every thing changing, plus every thing is "relevative".( by the way I am the only Black family in my neighborhood) Most of this all has to do with domination and being superior. It is done in every: race, classs, religion.It can even be called, "survival of the fittest" And, speaking of religion, which religion in Africa that is the most offensive to you? The Christian, Jewish, Muslim or those that still believe in protecting this planet from what is now being called Climit change? but, as I keep saying you are young... and, I love and respect you for your power to think with that open mind of your and your pride in your self.
I mean it this time. I must turn off this computer. Fasinating blog...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
AMAN, my sister Sheila, AMAN.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
And, with this I really must stop reading this blog and get off of the computer. I just remembered somethning I heard with my own ears. I admit that this was in 1991 and so many things have changed since then. But, one of my African-Americans freinds told one of the Africcan students, here in America. for just a attending the University here in Ca., how she had always dreamed of visiting the Mother Land. His reply to her was do not come because as an American, you will not be welcome. Needless to say this did shock us. But, as he was from there, we took him as the expert. I can not remember which part of African he was from. I do know that he came from a rich African family there as did all of the other African student that "I" have ever met.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...we must stop allowing to let the White race choose our leaers for us. Like another example, Sharpton and Jackson were the media darlings until they started 'acting' like Black leaders. There is no way that we can lie to ourselves and say that we now see as much of these two as we did before Jena. La. Think, Wake Up....
Here I use race as it gives me much more comfort than saying White Power dispite this is exactly what it is.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
E Private, from your out look on religions, there is not one obsticle, in this life time of yours on this Earth, that you will ever face you will not be able to over come!!!! You are a part of the Universe that is really up there in that sky herefore you go(reach) for it , my sister.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
You were making a comment to me while I said good night for the hundredth time . I will answer you before I do leave. This is why I keep talking about living history. The public never get to learn about those Indian resevations where as I write to you abouthow all Indians are not poor or drunk. Many of them are Civil Rights attorneys who right now and have been for years trying to get money from "their" resevations that most of that oil comes from we use as gas in our cars today. I will tell you more later. To get "our minds "off in forcing B vs Board the government started replacing wood Black Only schools with brick schools like the White schools. but Black children(badly need to help on their farms) still had to leave at dawn to get to the only Black school in thier nearst town. to help not getting the Indians with more than the one political native American in Congress, this was the beginning of the Indian casinoes. do you get my point about Indians being poor? In Utha where those Indians onl their resevations depended on pine nuts as they already have... just go to the Native _American study department and see those pictures(videos) of the U. S. government's sanctions of those trees being pulled up by the roots!! Go talk with that living history of those children who as adults are suffering from the test run on them as the government opened up uranium mines to let them play inthen for scientific study. Much like the test on the black men, right? Only this was not way back then. you see the native Americans do not have a lot of cancer. Need I say more about the need for research on these children????
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Sweetheart, I am so glad that you are so young and innocent, but most of all you are so willing to learn... from others Me, my insterest in what goes on in Dufar is how could American political leaders ignore it for so, so many years? And, how could they have made plans to hand over our American ports with out knowing? It was a White Actor that first forced attention. So much so we do not have our ports in this war. And, I want to know more about those Clinton's and Mrs, MCcain's money earned from what was happening in this country. No, I am not limited to skin color or Africa the spot on this planet!!
And, as for that special on the family on CNN, I turned from it as soon as I got the point about single Black women having children by a White man produces, children: not on drugs...you know the rest of tha story. Me, I stick with my culture where the head of the family is the Mother figure. I take pride in the African and native Indians's female were always treated as an EQUAL this is why a lot of Native Americans are gettin their lands back. Those treatys they made with the 'White head" of the family (back then)would not allow the "female" to have a vote in these agreements. Thus making those treatys in the eyes of the American Constitution illegal. Love it is about being honest and treating your fellow human being as just that way , as human beings to be treated with "humanity" This is bigger than:race, religion, gender,etc. I speak of the big picture....I have no limit in this fight for equality for all. We just need it more than any other skin color here in America.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Thank you sister Mouton 9 and God will bless both you and America for saying what you just said. And, I will add religion to you discription of the language. Remember (that during you life time) how Barack H. Obama even though he is a Constitution attorney himself, he has found him self in a position that he can not fight for his right of Freedom of religion of choice.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...forgot, I rejected Rev. Jesse Jackson for the same reason, Mrs. M. L. king did. Once again, "living" history, so the White majority can not eleminate Black in America at will by using CNN to do this. I refuse to allow them to suceed. My African Pride says "NO"!!!!
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...and E Private, WEB Dubois should know about that "double conscious".(once again the light skin vs the dark skin issue in America) When you get into some African-American study class like I had, you will Know what I mean. It all has to do with the distruction of the first major working Black big business in America which had a lot to do with getting the NAACP money backings Dubois needed. Once, again having a lot to do with,say , Why did you not see Dubois as a welcome member of the Civil Rights' movement? Hit those books harder(smile)as you have a long ways to go to catch up with this "living" history.by the way, you have heard of THE BLACK STAR LINE haven't you?
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
E Private, you are what WEB Dubois meant when he wrote, "each one teach one" this blog of yours has taught "us" just how important it is that we talk about this subject amoung our selves.TAke a look at the many blogs like yours that are being placed on the site. Now you have become a part of "living history"your own self(smile) and continue to be so.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
E Private, please take note "I am not trying to 'support' the Native_American or the African-American. I am trying to tell the truth about what goes on in America by way of miseducation. I became interested in Native Americans because our cultureand eexperiences in the country are almost the same is very similar. We were used as free labor, we gave our females voting rights, we put our children first, we are consider what is "wrong in America"with out looking at the worth of a race of people because they are not considered "individuals" and this is just the begining of why you are wrong in the manner you use "supporting" the Native-American because they are against us.
My sister, many of our own people are against me because I own so much land!!
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Dr. Glover, you are so right in what you say.Maybe if we do get into Marcus Garvey we can begin to stop limiting the Black Muslims as a blite in America. Then may be we can go on to learn their efforts to keep us off welfare, keep drugs and gangs out of our neighborhoods( they sure do in their neighborhoods- check this out in WAshington, D.C).Are so against smoking, alcohol, eating that killer "pork" so we can have a lot less high blood pressure,etc.Oh, almost forgot, teach "Black in America" and our 'true" worth as a race of people in grade schools.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
..and, learn about Ida B. Wells because if you do then you as myself will may be be against why Susan B. Anthony got that coin with her image and her being so "respected" in America.Learn of these two women's fights with Congress. One was for taking the rights of the Black man to vote and give it to the White woman. The other one was against this. I do not need to tell you which female was before Congress doing what now do I?
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...forgot again, I am almost 100% sure that the works of Ida B. Wells is why Michelle Obama was born in Chicago and not in the south. Ms Wells was the person who after failing to get this government to raign in the record setting hangings of our people i led them to strikes, then led them to Chicago to get away for being hung!!!
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...Now E Private, not at any time did I say the "African-Americans" are against me? I said, SOME!
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
For clarity-
..If you don't believe that you are "African"- American and you've determined that Black is a color...not a race...WHY are you still talking about the bogey-man: "The White man".
Monday, August 4th 2008 at 9:34AM Dr. Ahmad Glover
An American is a lawful Citizen of America
an African is considered a person from the Area of Africa Asia
an African American then is a Citizen of America from Africa Asia
a 'black'-----?
a 'black' What-----?
a 'blackWhite' What-----?-------------Nothing but racistlyIgnorant nonsense......
Our President Baraaka Hussein Obama is the Greatest American Leader and President and NEEDS American citizens THROUGHOUT America to Vote in 2014 for Help in Congress
What happened at BIA?
Sunday, October 19th 2014 at 9:32PM
Steve Williams
This blog and all its comments were before I joined. Look in the mirror Robert.
Monday, October 20th 2014 at 8:12AM
Steve Williams
you, selfProfessed 'whiteMan' steveORadamOR just plain DNA LIAR have been here always
why do you THINK you can ask this Question at BIA, an African American Family site?
".......What happened at BIA?
Sunday, October 19th 2014 at 8:32PM Steve Williams
****************************Lets relive What happened!
1.You started to describe yourself as a 'whiteMan', 2.you posted steveORadam, 3.you posted Racist blags About LEGAL justification for Slavery of the African During slaverAmericana 1492-1864(1964) 4.and you befriended a selfProfessed 'whiteCountryPreacher' that CALLED Our Father Elijah Muhammad a DRUNK that called me a ***** for confronting his DISRESPECT, Falsehood and 'whiteMan DNA LYING....... AND you POST these European Racist FALSE thoughts? ****************************
Ethnic groups in Africa (11 hits) Ethnic groups in Africa number in the thousands, each generally having its own language (or dialect of a language) and culture.
Posted By: Steve Williams Monday, October 20th 2014 at 5:50PM ************************************************* From the Mediteranean to the Atlantic to the Indian to the Pacific, and the Antartic Oceans THERE is one CULTURE and LANGUAGE of AfricaAsia ---- AlIslaam and Arabic
shatter steveORadam, YOU LYING ebolaLike Disease of the African American Family
When the term "African American" became mainstream it seemed like a good idea. Yeah, 'my people are from A-F-R-I-C-A!' But then it slowly occurred to me that,
1.) I'm not from Africa.
2.) Africa is a continient and not a country. If I'm from "Africa" then what part of Africa am I from?
3.) I've never even BEEN to Africa. In fact, my grandparents, and my grandparents grandparents were not born in Africa.
4.) Most African people I have met know we share a common GENELOGICAL ancestry, but do not consider us African.
5.) I don't speak any native African tongues. All my dumbass can speak is Ameri-cun.
So what about me means that I am Africa? I was born in America. My ancesters built THIS country with blood, sweat, and tears. So it's mine. It is not uncommon for tribes of people to migrate across the world to make a new home. It is unusual to indentify with the old country when you are in a new one - even if the new one wasn't exactly "adopted" by choice.
Fact is, I am American. I am not ashamed to say I am American. Fact is, I have never been to the continient of Africa so why am I compelled to identify with it as my land? Because of the legacy of slavery? That perhaps, were it not for Slavery, I might have been born in Africa?
I was never one to believe in "what-ifs".
I would not be "ME" if I were born in Africa, I would be "someone else" with a different spirit, energy, and understanding of the world. Perhaps, I might believe in female circumcision, perhaps I might be Muslim, and avoid wearing makeup, and writing stories that allow my characters to have s*x. Who would I BE if I were African? Maybe someone great like Nelson Mandela, or perhaps, someone who is the victim of racism or genocide.
I don't know. And if God wanted me to know, I wouldn't be here, I would be there. So what am I? What are you?
In most countries what you are, is determined by where you are a from. Not where your ancesters were from hundreds of years ago.
In short, I'm American and proud to be. What say you?
When the term "African American" became mainstream it seemed like a good idea. Yeah, 'my people are from A-F-R-I-C-A!' But then it slowly occurred to me that,
...............All my dumbass can speak is Ameri-cun.
Posted By: Sunday, August 3rd 2008 at 5:32PM
Tuesday, October 21st 2014 at 7:56AM Adam Fate
In short, .....What say you? Tuesday, October 21st 2014 at 7:56AM Adam Fate
I Robert Powell ----write to the anoymous author of this BIA, African American Family site IS selfProfessed 'whiteMan' steveORadam OR just Plain racistLIAR or just-- dumbass.... Ameri-cun
