So There’s a Black Person, a West Indian and an African…
If you saw them from afar, they may all look alike to the untrained eye. Be the unlucky fool to to get them confused and one would cut you with his pocket knife, the other with his machete and the last with his bare hands. Then again, you may not even find them walking together in some areas since the ethnic divides between them are quite deep. Africans don’t like Black Americans, West Indians don’t like Black Americans and Black Americans don’t like either of them. Stupid? Maybe. But it’s all centuries in the making.
It all began hundreds of years ago when some of our ancestors were stolen away from West Africa and others were left behind. Or when some West African tribes corroborated with the Dutch slave traders and sold captured members of rival tribes. All depends on what story you read. Either way, Africans don’t view Blacks as African Americans, but just Americans. A part of the melting pot country that they reside in. Furthermore (and please correct me if I’m wrong my Nigerian and Ghanian friends) most view Black Americans as lazy, whiney and untrustworthy individuals. And don’t even try to bring home a Black American boo to the family, it’s blasphemy. Some would say it’s comparable, or even worse, to the familial problems that a White and Black couple might face.
West Indians are just as jaded towards Black Americans. The morals and values mirror African families to an extent. So, the distrust and disregard for Black Americans is similar. Someone I know once came in my house and said to me, and I paraphrase, that he could tell I came from a West Indian background because of the way I maintained my apartment. I took it as a compliment, but it really put things in perspective for the kid. I realized that West Indians regard Blacks in a bad light too. Then I began to remember the slew of similar comments regarding Blacks’ low ambition as well as their questionable dedication to school and/or work.
Black Americans are just as guilty for being prejudiced though. They feel the heat from their peers and as a result make fun of the Kuntas and Cane Shuckers of the world. At the same time, the ambitious ones feel the pressure of fighting off the stereotypes set by the majority, but also by their ethnic counterparts. So they set out to prove to everyone, including themselves, that they can excel. Tough gig. Props to those who do just that.
I look around at my crew and we’re all across the diaspora. Some West Africans, some West Indians, a few Black Americans as well as some Latinos. We get along, but that’s because we snap on each other’s racial identities all the time. We’ve accepted each other to a certain extent and we know that in the end when the majority looks at us, all they see is Black skin. Not Ghanian, Nigerian, Jamaican or African American. So, why should we?
Now it’s not just the darker skinned folk in the world that have these internal problems, other races have their squabbles as well. Latinos have their racial totem pole, as do Asians, Arabs and Whites. Do you think that we’ll ever see past that? I mean, asking the whole world to get along is a lot, but couldn’t the people with the same color of skin at least come together?
Seattle – I’ll Prolly Still Think I’m Better Than You - Washington
Shout out to my man Mike from the BX for suggesting this topic.
If you have a topic you think needs to be discussed, hit us up.
105 Responses to “So There’s a Black Person, a West Indian and an African…”
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I just sharpened my machete this weekend. You cant just have a dull machete laying around…
Here’s the thing. “African Americans” have a significantly different cultural experience than people from the Caribbean and Africa who immigrate to this country. In typical divide and conquer fashion, African Americans have been taught to perceive Africans as godless savages who wear paint and throw spears at each other, and to perceive West Indians as weed smoking, smily ass grass skirt wearing muhf—as. And I dont care if you want to be ignorant and say that all these things are true about the people that live in their homeland, what you definitely cant say is that you’ve ever seen an African dude running down Lenox Ave chasing a chicken with a spear, nor have you seen a Haitian dancing at a block party in a grass skirt. Never.
Now, as someone who grew up on an island and moved to the States, I can appreciate the fact that New York is much more modern than my island. I could go on forever about the differences between the two, but something as simple as multiple 24 hour gas stations in New York is significant. They just got a 24 hour gas station back home. But you better run outta gas close. Or how bout this…try getting shot on the other side of the island and waiting for THE ambulance to come get you from THE hospital. You better pray that old lady doesnt fall out her pool again. And the list of amenities of living here continues. Shoot, if I get home sick, I can go check my neo on Flatbush. And if I really want to delude myself I can go to Coney Island. My point is, these are all things that Black Americans have been used to for quite some time and from what I and apparently a whole segment of the population have observed is that they take things for granted. You bring a guy from a country where everything is closed, locked up and shut down by 11pm and transplant him in a city that is running 24 hours a day, and give him the opportunity to work a shift that he would not normally be able to work back home, he’ll take it.
I can feel a rant coming on, so I’ll stop now and see what other people have to say and finish my thoughts later. Besides, I have to go round up some more grass for my skirt…
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Intellectual Hedonist Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
you have motivated me to get my machete sharpened…
I have to agree with part of your rant in that many America born and/or raised people of color(not just blacks) have a great sense of entitlement.
I learned at 8 years old when my parents brought me back to Guatemala just what a privilege it is to live in this country. I mean between not having water to take a shower between 6am and 7pm or witnessing the slaughter of student protesters first hand, one really appreciates something as simple as being able to run the water 10 minutes for your shower and telling your elected official he/she is a waste of space.
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Don Gargan Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Keep it sharp!
When I was 6 a hurricane devastated St. Croix. I didnt have electricity from the power company for 2 years. We had to boil water if you want a hot bath. TV wasnt even an option. Me and my pops had to put our pants between the mattress and the box spring before we went to sleep at night so our pants could keep the crease. (Island man cant have a pants without a sharp crease!) And the list of hard ships continue. So yea, I do feel like some Americans, not just the black ones take a lot of what they have for granted.
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temp Reply:
November 28th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
When my moms was born in Columbia, South Carolina she no electricity nor any running water. Everyone that is native here didnt have it good, some were born in 3rd world conditions and some sought to keep them in that place. Just because they are “Americans” means nothing. They may die with less than someone in a third world country (like an Indian here on HV-1 visa-working for an investement firm-they make way more than the Ford workers who go to work with the ax over the heads!!!).
The only difference is if your 3rd world country is not all that you can come here…if you were born here but in poverty and despite working all kinds of jobs you STILL cant get a head, you have no where to go.
I actually read in the Wash Post a South Asian immigrant saying she and her family cant hack it in the States given the current crisis. She is going back home.
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You just educated me… I had no clue about any of this (I feel like one of the whites on The Real World who’ve never been around people that were black, gay, or etc!)
Where I live, there is not much diversity, so I am exposed to black, white, mixed, or hispanic (and sometimes Asian is thrown in!)
I would love for us all to get along and smash those negative stereotypes. We can’t be going around preaching about unity if it doesn’t exist among us.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Honestly, a lot of folks don’t really recognize it. As RightCoast mentioned, there are some great things that come along with living in NYC.
You have the pleasure of seeing all the different people in the world and then you get see how they all remain to themselves.
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ToySoldier Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I didn’t know there was diversity amongst black folks until I went to college!
I thought there was just a regional US difference–either you were from NY- NJ or everywhere else = the Souf.
But color me naive, I still find an inherent pride in “colored” skin.
I visited a couple of African countries this spring and had an experience that rattled me to my core.
I was on a safari truck passing through a small town in Tanzania. We slowed down to let a crowd pass and some children ran up to the side of the truck. I thought they were coming to beg for money or treats. But no. They ran up to the side of the truck and began chanting/yelling “Obama! Obama! Obama!”
I was moved to tears by their pride.
Maybe this comment has no place here. But heck I wanted to share!
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Slim Jackson Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Every comment (spam aside) has a place here at Three Ways to Take it. Word.
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temp Reply:
November 28th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Well it depends where you are as a black. In the South you dont see much other than Mexicans and in Florida no doubt the Puerto Ricans and Cubans, cant forget the Haitains out there. However in NYC you will have a black American friend who you never knew was an “immigrant” until you went to his crib or get in his/her car. (Notrious Big is the most famous example of this-he sound like me-his moms does not)
I have black friends who when we go South or the Midwest-straight f-up the blacks out there when they start speaking Spanish to the Mexicans or to them (no doubt to the ladies) and mind you these cats look darker or as dark as Morris Chesnut). And dont get me started with the blacks I have met out here who speak French-but when not around their family sound like a typical “Nu Yawka”.
This all came to a head with me when I was in NYU talking to a sister from Detroit. She came out of nowhere and asked me “where are our people” I joked and told her I knew what she was talking about. Ironically most of those NYC native born American blacks have moved back south or they are in PA or Conn.
BTW
This also goes on with whites…I couldnt tell you a white guy is from Greece no I mean like he just got here yesterday!!!!
…I woulda told you he just another white guy from Queens on some “Everybody Love Raymond” type $hit.
If you want to know in NYC who’s who come up here when one of those immportant world cup soccer matches are going down.
Genearally speaking the people (b&w) you see that arent interested are second-gen immigrants (born here so they dont care) or someone like me-roots go back to SC and East Texas but the guys goin nuts are either the ones that left the “home” country and “futbol” gives em that ole home feeling or they still follow the game to show a little home pride like a Southerner in LA going to the USC vs LSU or Alambama game.
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“we are not the same, i am a martian”
- lil wayne
That’s how my dad felt when he came to this country. He and other westindian students are queens college were chastised by some of the black american students who were always playing cards in the cafeteria rather than on the study grind, like my pop was.
As he lived more in the US those feelings of being different lessened… Obviously, those experiences will shape the way you view certain people… however this stereotype does not mold the way he views/treats people. yeah, he may be slightly more Cosby than me (in his philosophies about black people overcoming oppression), but i can honestly say he wouldn’t FAVOR one type of black over another.
I see it from a different perspective because I never lived through a moment like my father did. I understand why people feel certain ways about others, and although I don’t think it’s right I think when faced with adversity and oppression black folk align…. cause at the end of the day the kkk don’t know the difference between senegal and martinique.
we just a bunch of niggers to them.
- guns&cocoabread
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BLaCk Bruce WaYnE Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Damn…You’re Pops and my Pops should share some Heinkens or some Guinesses together…My father came from a West African country and he spoke to me about his experience coming here working/grinding out A’s in his courses and how Black American students got on him.
I can say he is more resentful because in the 60s/70s some Africans were well aware of some of the mistreatment of Blacks in society but it floored as to how Black Americans were so negative towards him and saw him as “those people that are taking the jobs away”. He still holds a grudge to this day.
I think a lot of our parents do because coming to a country where you might have people to identify with but come to find out they see you as foreign (martian) it may wear on you. I’ve grown up in black neighborhoods all my life but they have been mainly West Indian/African communities and it’s amazing as to how some of our parents still have that same thought of “THOSE BLACK AMERICANS”.
As G&B said they see us as all the same.
Peace in Bahgdad with cocoa bread with some geloff rice on the side
-BBW
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Don Gargan Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
And some Kallaloo.
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Sisterrhon Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Calalloo is spelled with a C not a K my brother. Peace
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Southern Belle Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I think that Black people, regardless of how they wish to categorize themselves from a nationalist perspective, understand both the Black experience and struggle within the United States. In the same respect, I would argue that all people of ethnic derivation face the same complexity.
Most Indian people you know, with their thick accents and cultural iconography, are clearly immigrants. They came to the States for a few reasons: to make money, provide a better quality of life for their families, or monopolize on the opportunity in this country (be it academic, financial, political, or otherwise.) My parents are immigrants: born in Africa, raised in England, and then settlers in the US. I am a first generation Indian American (red dot not feather, to address the uneducated ignorance.) People at my university who are foreign students from India perceive me, rather openly, as lazy, less capable, unappreciative, westernized, etc. It is somewhat true that my generation will not be as successful as our parents’ generation as the “Hotel/Motel Patel’s” or “Gas Station Sand Nigg*rs” simply because our success is driven out of greed and not out of passion or necessity, like that of our parents.
My parents worked hard to provide a good life for their children, while I grew up entranced by the American Dream which is an ideology built upon selfish gain. There was a time when my father worked two full time jobs as an engineer (8am-3pm, 4pm-12am) for 10 years so that my mom could stay home with us and we could live well. I believe that is a cultural quality, fully embracing ones responsibility as a provider. Young Indian American men and women of my generation would never do that these days! They would just settle for a modest lifestyle, live on a budget, or spend their money on ‘wants’ instead of saving for the ‘needs.’ The value lost from their “we have to save every penny for a rainy day” generation to my “Burberry’s having a 10% sale?! I’m in there!” generation is hard work. They maximized their potential, while I’m out here thinking I’m doing big things by utilizing a minor fraction of mine.
There’s a difference between the ethics of foreigners, of all skin colors, and Americans–the former is driven by values of responsibilities greater than the self, and the latter is driven by sole survival. At the end of the day, foreigners will be forced to assimilated in to American culture if they wish to survive, and unfortunately that assimilation involves modern colonization.
Speaking for myself, I am a citizen of this country, born and raised. My loyalty lies with the country that educated me and has served as my home. To my people from the motherland: Welcome to America, please get like me before you start hating. Thanks!
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Peyso Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
This makes it official, I have an e-crush on you
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Southern Belle Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
*blushing*
aw Peyso…
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SmoothPhiNuPi Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
see now im going to compliment your comment also belle, but im thinking youre going to get gassed…
prove me wrong!
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ife1love Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
“There’s a difference between the ethics of foreigners, of all skin colors, and Americans–the former is driven by values of responsibilities greater than the self, and the latter is driven by sole survival.”
Wow… I way way way disagree. As a Black American I’m kind of offended. Not to take it personally but today there have been a lot of sweeping generalizations made this one I really have to address. I think if more people had one on one conversations they’d realize some of us have very similar values.
My parents were small business owners. My mother busted her behind at her “good gov’t” job and did hair and nails (yes, Black women did nails before the Koreans cornered the market on that for those who don’t know) out of our house to help make extra money so that my dad could take night classes to get certified as a Tax Accountant. My mother eventually went to Barber School so she could open her own shop. In the end my father managed the shop and kept an office to run his Tax Accounting business, and my mom did hair and also ended up running a Travel Agency as well. My parents had all types of jobs and side hustles because they believed in working hard. They both made sacrifices for the sake of family.
This extended beyond nuclear…
My father grew up in a house with all of his aunts, uncles, and both of his grandparents. They all lived in one large house and worked as a unit to support “the family”. Eventually when my grandmother did move out, both of her siblings fell ill and she took in their kids as well as her parents.
Branching out farther, in terms of the community, my family has always stressed the need to share the work. Growing up in a Black neighborhood we all looked out for each other. My father to this day checks with some of the older women in our neighborhood to see if they need him to get anything for them from the grocery store. I grew up with 2 extra grandmothers because they watched all the neighborhood children while all the younger parents were at work.
As far as my personal self-sacrifice, my sister went to a super expensive private school with all the perks and I, without complaint went to hood ass public schools because my parents felt that she needed that boost to be successful. It was a good gamble and we actually both ended up at the same college in the end. My sister and I were expected to contribute to the house. I swept floors, washed towels, ran errands, washed hair, cleaned clippers, made travel calls, worked on spreadsheets for my dad and all w/o an “allowance”. We didn’t get allowances in my house. You helped because that’s what you do. We all work so we all eat. When I was old enough I got a job and I was expected, when working, to pay for my own stuff. Back to school clothes/supplies… that was my money.
Despite the perception. We are not all lazy Americans with no sense of responsibility or work ethic.
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Southern Belle Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Being American, I certainly agree with your last point:
Despite the perception. We are not all lazy Americans with no sense of responsibility or work ethic.
However my response was an attempt to decipher the perspective of foreigners on their American brothers and sisters. You’re absolutely right, somewhere in the future I will be an American mother teaching my children a hard work ethic and I certainly wouldn’t want immigrants to brand my efforts and the efforts of my children as laziness.
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Sisterrhon Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
I like your points. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I’m not American but I am doing research on the differences between African Americans and West Indians (mainly of African descent) and I was very interested to know how Indians view the Indo-West Indian people. Do they view them as real Indians or some kind of pseudo Indian lost people who have adopted an Afro dominated West Indian mentality.
I am Trinidadian and I see my nationality and culture first so I will side with my Indo Trinidadian brother over an African American and I believe my Indo Trinidadian brother will have my back over someone like yourself.
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My dad has a joke he always reminds me of, it goes “What do you call a black man in a suit? A nigger.” They dont care if you’re African, Caribbean, or as my friends like to say, Regular Black, you still just a nigger.
However, when it comes to how those groups interact with each other, I feel like living in NYC, you dont meet any other regular black people. Everyone is Caribbean or African these days. I don’t when the last time I dated a regular Black chick
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Sowhatiff Jenkins Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
A “regular black chic”? lol. geez.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Definitely have heard that term floating around before. Sorry…
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Special shout to Seattle for forcing me to can a post that I had brewing in my Blackberry!
I feel like at least twice a month if I’m surrounded by Black folk in a social setting, somebody always has to ask “So what are you?” I’ll look at them and blink a few times then respond with “Black”. Some of the more oblivious will then say “Yeah, I can see that. But what are you?” At this point, I just say “Southern Slave” which usually ends the conversation.
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InsomniaPoet Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 11:45 am
LMAO! I am gonna have to use that one! “Southern Slave” I literally laughed out loud in the office!
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Nyela Goodness Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 11:49 am
“At this point, I just say “Southern Slave” which usually ends the conversation.”
LMAO! omg I’m sure that would end the convo. I, too, get asked that question all the time. The other night, I was at a basketball game and the Black waiter was like “so where you from?” I responded, “Miami.” Him: “That’s cool. But nah, I mean like, where you from from?” Me: “uhm…Miami, Florida?” Of course, I knew what he meant. But folk always seem genuinely shocked when I say I can’t trace the fam outside of the U.S.
except for maybe Ireland.Especially growing up in Miami—arguably, the biggest Melting Pot—there’s this expectation that
allmost Black folk are either Caribbean or Haitian. When found out that I don’t fit into that mold, there’s always this look of disappointment…like they feel sorry for me…or like I did something wrong.Eff all that. Red, black, and green all day, everyday!
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ife1love Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Don’t get me started Slim…
Here is the typical convo I go through every time I go to NYC to visit friends and meet people out at events:
Random Black person: So where are you from?
Me: DC
Random Black person: Where’s your family from?
Me: DC
Random Black person: No, where are you from orginally?
Me: Yeah, uh we got off the slave ship in DC.
One year during the Caribbean Student Association’s annual fashion show at the PWU I attended. After shouting out every island and country on the continent one of the hosts jokingly gave a big up to all of the “plain old regular black people” and I think much to everyone’s surprise the proud and few stood up and clapped… LOUDLY.
I do get quite offended and frustrated when after explaining my cultural heritage, West Indians and Africans I meet give me a look like somehow being “just Black” is not good enough.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I considered making up a flag and putting it on the rear view mirror of my car. Then I realized that anything I could probably think of is a country. So for the time being, I’ll just ride around plain and regular with a touch of swag.
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Yeah Whatev Reply:
November 21st, 2008 at 3:23 pm
There are really no Black Americans that are “just Black.” With the history of raping of black women during slavery; just about every black american bloodline has something other than black in it even if it is just a single instance.
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Sam Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Dawg I can’t tell you how much that happens to me. “Where you from?” America mofo. And it don’t help that I got these dreds…. Everyone wanna talk to me in some dialect.
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SmoothPhiNuPi Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I hear it about being light skinned, where people assume that one of my slave ancestors was raped by her ma’sa. While this may be true, I dont really know so dont start guessing where my lightness comes from. Im light because I stay out the sun. Word.
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Don Gargan Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
LOL…a light skinned nupe. Today must be stereotype day.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I like fried chicken. I guess it is!
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Don Gargan Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
LMAO @ Slim
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This one hits really close to home for me. My mother was actually disowned by her West Indian family for marrying my Black father. I grew up hearing that my mother was “stuck up” from my dad’s family and hearing that my father was “beneath us” from my mom’s family. I could go on for days about the experiences I was forced to face from BOTH sides but no use crying over spilled milk.
The thing that is craziest to me is that the division goes so deep. When I am in the states, yes I bond w/ any West Indian just because, but when its just me and my West Indian friends we start getting on each other about which island is the best and fussing because not every West Indian is Jamaican despite popular belief. Maybe it isn’t division but just pride in where you come from.
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As much as there is a perceived divide amongst the black Diaspora I feel that blacks from Africa & the west Indies envy/mimic black Americans rather than despise them.
I’ve recently taken up watching African movies and I watch a lot of Jamaican movies (maybe its because of my half Jamaican background)…and speaking American slang, dressing in American brands/styles, coming to “foreign” is considered cool.
Now I’m not denying there is a divide, but this stems from the educational and cultural structure of the countries that Africans & west Indians originate. For example, in a lot of these countries you have to pay for education from kindergarten to post-secondary, that places education in high priority.
So when you have come from a country where you have bust your ass to get what we take for granted over on this side of the ocean, there will be a bit of resentment on their part. (kinda like what right coast lex steele,di gal dem sugah love that name said)
Really when it comes down to it we have the same skin, hair and flavor that the rest of the world envies…
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leggy Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
lol…no,you are so wrong…africans dont envy black americans..you sure haven’t met one.before they leave home,you have to hear how their parents warn them about black americans…and mind you africans speak like that because they were colonised by the english,so their official language is ebglish..so please get your facts right.they are not mimicing anybody.
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Sisterrhon Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
My dear I am West Indian too and I watch alot of Nigerian and Ghanian movies.
Everything is about going to the States and “London” (for some reason they never say the country – England) LOL. They dress in American brand name clothing and some even have fake American or semi American accents…(that always kills me). Although I don’t believe everything I see, art does often imitate life. It also “kills” me how the Ghanaians especially think fair skin equals beauty and talent but that’s another funny story.
It’s also funny how Africans warn their children about African Americans. People in the Caribbean warn their children about Africans and African Americans, who are usually viewed as con men/women and lazy respectively. Funny huh!!!!
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You bring up some good ish. I’m an African American and for me growing up, my father would always stress the importance of black solidarity. My middle and oldest brother would crack jokes on each other occasionally cuz my middle bro was a lil light skinned while my older brother was a tad darker. And the minute one of them would crack a light skinned/dark skinned joke, my father would smack the shyt outta them. He’d say “no matter what shade you are to white folks you still a nigger”. Boom. He hated when black people were ‘racist’ to other black people. And he didn’t tolerate it either. So I grew up not really looking at were you came from and all this west indian or african stuff. I just saw a different shade of black.
I personally hate it when people do that. “I am West Indian not black”. WTF? At the end of the day you are of African decent. The police pull yo tail over they not gonna say, “Oh he’s not black he’s Jamaican. He’s good”. My girl is West Indian and we got into a discussion because up in NYC they had some type of law about not giving illegal immigrants drivers licenses and what have you a while back. She got all heated cuz a lot of her family came here illegally. But from my point of view the only reason cats (the government) do that stuff is because foreigners try to separate themselves so damn much. They only live in certain parts of the city with they countrymen. They all got 10 flags on their car, none of which are the American flag. They try not to speak english every chance they get. I have no problem with people keeping they roots and what have you. But to these white folks it probably looks like you come over here by sneaking in the country and then throw all this stuff in they face….like ya’ll tryna take over lol. Like you too good to speak English and have an American flag around. You get the benefits of the system as an American but don’t fully accept the place. Then you have your children here, who are citizens but bring them up almost hating the U.S. So why did you come here? Certainly, not every case is like this. I was a bit extreme. But bits and pieces do match up. Me however, I could care less. Do your thing. But at the end of the day it still shows no solidarity. We can’t even agree that we are black or African American or of African descent. My roommate of almost 2 years is Nigerian and I’ve never stepped foot in his parents place even though its 10 mins away. How about that. But at least we got Obama in office…. But I read a response to an article about Obama the other day and the person said… and I qoute
“Happy? Sure I am. I just want to say that the term African-American meant the descendents of slaves. Since Obama is not a descendent of slaves, he is not African-American. I think the writer of this article understands that and has been careful in his writing. But he is black and I am proud that America could take that big step.”
WTF? Why is that the only thing she got outta the whole article? This quote from an African person, who was probably born here in the states too.
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Sowhatiff Jenkins Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Wow. Can you link the article you read?
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Sam Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Sorry I can’t. It was copied and pasted in an email to me…
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Gyal Dem Sugah Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Slow your roll homie. The only people that didnt come here illegally are the native americans. There were no immigration laws when Columbus came to handle his biz, they killed all the Mexicans and Native Americans then closed the borders. America is the land of opportunity for everyone.
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Sam Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Well duh…if you wanna get technical. But we talking in our lifetime homeboy. Not the 1400’s where there were no immigration laws. Otherwise this whole conversation is pointless. There are laws on the books now, right? And lets face it, in our lifetime and our parents life time, who ran this country?
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Poor People Governor Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I’m not being technical. I like to dabble in this thing called reality. We dont have to go back to the 1400’s, we can go back Ellis Island. We can talk about all the refugees from Mycountryiscrapistan and all the other countries that come over here then bring their entire family over on the same damn papers. They all came over here and tried to keep their culture in tact, lived in their own communities and did not adapt to “American” culture. It’s not that we come over here and end up hating the US, but there are just some things about BABYLON SYSTEM that are flawed. It’s not that I think I’m better than someone because I’m from the Caribbean (Seattle does tho) but it’s the little things like people walk into a room in America and dont say “good morning/afternoon/evening.” I mean, you could do that back home but then people want to know “Ah who braisen pickney dat? Likkle dutty bway nuh even have nuh manners! Ay bwoy, yuh nuh see big people in di room, yuh nuh muss seh “MAHNIN?”
“Like you too good to speak English and have an American flag around. You get the benefits of the system as an American but don’t fully accept the place.”
A. Not too good to speak English. We speak it and speak it rather well. We just have the privilege of speaking another “tongue” if you will. And isnt that part of how the slaves lost their culture? Forgetting their language…………………
B. Got my own flag. Dont need yours. And for most Caribbean people, America represents Babylon. Check up on it, my yute…
C. Hey, Land of Opportunity. Dont have to embrace it because as soon as we mek enough money and di pickney gahn ah school, a yahd we ah go back straight and count out we coil!”
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Sam Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
My point exactly RightCoastLexSteele (Pause). You got your own flag and don’t need mine. Don’t embrace it. Keep doing what you been doing and acting like you’re better than Black Americans and causing confusion…..just like white people probably want us to do. Black on black “segregation” if you will. No true solidarity. Exactly what I said earlier in my post. Make your money and bounce.
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Mikey The Great Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
“My roommate of almost 2 years is Nigerian and I’ve never stepped foot in his parents place even though its 10 mins away. How about that. But at least we got Obama in office…”
Have his parents ever expressed to you that you were unwelcome because you’re African American? If so, have you ever spoke about this w/ him???
In general I feel everyone has pride in where they or their family is from. You see it with the Irish, the Italians, the Albanians, etc. It’s universal. The problem arises when one tries to put down others just because of that different background.
My parents were born and raised in Ghana and have dealt with their fair share of b.s. harassment during their come up in America. I have to admit that resentment sometimes did trickle down into the life lessons they instilled in myself and my siblings. I can’t front I’ve heard the “You’re not Black American” from them more than once. It stems from the frustration they felt. But for every one time they shot me with that line, they told me one hundred times to be proud of where my family was from. My pride should have nothing to do with where anyone else is from.
It’s in our human nature to divide and categorize. We do it unconsciously. Not saying it’s right but it’s true. I’m far from perfect. I make the ethnic Black American/ West Indian/African jokes all the time {Black Bruce Wayne (fellow “spear chucker”), Seattle Washington (too many slurs to list) & RightCoastLexSteele (beef patty farmer) can all co-sign on this, lol.} We’ve had some of the most spirited sessions time after time about this topic. It’s all about tolerance. When it boils down to it I know lazy and useless Africans and West Indians the same way I know hard working, classy and prideful African Americans. The kind of home you’re from will dictate what type of viewpoints you will adopt. As you get older you will decipher, modify and apply the lessons learned from your familial elders.
I agree with 100% about Black solidarity though. As optimistic as I am about things in general, I’m not sure if solidarity in it’s purest form can be attained. I feel there’s too much ignorance and too much deep-rooted animosity around. In Africa you see tribal wars all the time. With Caribbeans it like Jamaica vs. the West Indies; and God forbid that you’re Haitian, you won’t hear the end of it. I’m not some peace loving hippie. Gotta be somewhat realistic about this. I love that your pops instilled that mentality in you. At the end of the day it all starts in the home. Stereotypes are bred at the dinner table. Just have to educate the generations ahead on tolerance…
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Don Gargan Reply:
November 21st, 2008 at 12:28 am
Beef patty farmer…LMAO…I’ll be sure to update my list. Pat Babar on the head for me when you see him…
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Sisterrhon Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
That is so true about Jamaicans against the rest of the West Indies. Each island has it pet peeves with the other one but I still feel the Oneness with my West Indians bros and sistahs.
But yeah we usually say the Jamaicans are the Nigerians of the West Indies, hostile, con artists etc. but they also very smart people, resiliant and talented and that’s coming from a proud Trini gyal. Luv all yardies still…Big up and God bless!!!
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Growing up with Black American and Jamaican family, I have seen and heard from both sides as to what makes one brand of Black folk better or worse than the other. Each side finds some detriment in the way the other talks, what they eat, how they dress, the values they hold, etc etc. It’s pretty interesting, and annoying sometimes, but in reality, a lot of the differences aren’t made up. Socialization in different societies definitely impacts how folks can view and experience the same things.
At the end of the day, I love curry goat, stew peas, rice & peas, greens, candied yams, and corn bread.
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Gyal Dem Sugah Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
“Dem yankee dont have no broughtupcy”
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Sowhatiff Jenkins Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
lol!! heard that one before…
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One more thing to add…If their was a Pulitzer Prize for Blog topics or Rookie Team of the Year for BLOGS…you guys are killin’ it with the topics…3 the hard way style !!
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Black & Trapped in Toronto Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I second that!!!!
At work I can actually zone out and look like i’m doing shit at the same time
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InsomniaPoet Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Yea, I have to jump on this bandwagon. I love this blog! My boss comes by and hears me typing a million words a minute and assumes its for work when it is actually for 3ways.
Thanks guys!
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Nyela Goodness Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I concur. Y’all do a great job of keeping me mentally
stimulatedmoistengaged. Thanks, 3ways!P.S. – I’d so be okay with spear-heading the making of an info-mercial. Any commentors ready, willing, and able??? lol
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Seattle Washington Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Good looks folks. Y’all keep visiting, we’ll keep posting. (There were so many innuendoes I could’ve said, I got stuck.)
Oh yeah… tell a friend to take it three ways!
L’Chaim!
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Being from a Caribbean family … I didn’t finally realize the divide until some point in high school. My mom literally made some comment about lazy Black Americans and it all hit me like bricks.
The difference became a lot more profound in college …
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“THE FIRST HUMAN being in Ethiopia … Anthropologists have unearthed the oldest human skeletons in East Africa in places such as Hadar, Olduvai, Laetoli. …”
I GOT 4 QUESTIONS!
1) So if the FIRST HUMAN BEINGS skeletons were unearthed in AFRICA, wouldn’t that make us ALL BLACK?
2) Since 9/11, haven’t we all been NIGGERIZED? (EVEN WHITES, ASIANS, SPANISH, ETC…)
3) Does it urk anyone else that LATIN FOLKS don’t realize that they’re just SPANISH SPEAKING NEGROES?
4) Can’t we all just get along?
JUST MY 2 CENTS…
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Gyal Dem Sugah Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Uh…
4-uh….no.
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ife1love Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
# 3… YES! Good luck convincing them of that… I’ve given up.
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Guns & Butter Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
yeah, i would answer “no” to all those questions.
1. white people are not black.
2. white people in america have never been niggerized.
3. latin folks are not simply spanish speaking negroes simply because they are naturally a mixed race.
4. we can’t get along because global capitalism does not promote that…
-g&b
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ife1love Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
G&B I must disagree with your response to #3. They are no more naturally mixed than Haitians or African Americans. Latino is a cultural group not a race. Just because their colonizers spoke Spanish doesn’t make them a different race. Latino as a race is a construction of the US Census Bureau to make sure that “Latinos” who had migrated to the US did not identify as “Black” on the census.
When people from francophone countries get their own race then maybe I’ll get off my soapbox until then…
Latino=Black with a pinch of Adobo.
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Brooklyn's Own Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
OK GUNZ & BUTTER, So if the first human beings were BLACK how is everything that came after that not BLACK?
Also, if certain white folks haven’t been “NIGGERIZED”, do you really believe OBAMA would be President?
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Southern Belle Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I think each one of your questions deserves an answer much greater than ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
I’m slightly offended by number 2, but I’ll be back after I get my nails done so I can handle that ass in style.
jokes…not really..but a little..
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My observation and assessment of the situation is that African Americans who have been here for a while have lost very strong aspects of their culture that were significant to generations before them but are now lost on them. No fault of their own, they have become products of their environment. And this is not something exclusive to African Americans, because growing up there were certain things that my parents are well versed in culturally that have been lost on me. Also, globalization is playing a part in “Westernizing” other parts of the world.
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Black & Trapped in Toronto Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
a dat mi a seh
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Seattle Washington Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
You allude to the fact that West Indians/Africans losing some part of their culture is inevitable in your comment.
Do you think West Indians/Africans will ever become fully “Westernized” seeing that these two ethnic groups still have a “homeland” while African Americans don’t really have one?
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Nyela Goodness Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
“Do you think West Indians/Africans will ever become fully “Westernized” seeing that these two ethnic groups still have a “homeland” while African Americans don’t really have one?”
Really, though? Is America not our homeland? This country was built on our shoulders. The streets of Washington DC still echo the sounds of silent marches, while remnants of the tired feet of those marchers still remain embedded in the concrete. Gospel music, as we know it today, was birthed right here (arguably in Chicago), resulting from the culminating struggles of our forefathers. Hip-Hop was created based on similar struggles, different circumstances…right…here.
While I realize we are a minority here, I think it far-stretched to say that we don’t have a homeland. And I’m proud as hell to say it’s right here in the United States of America, where our president looks like me.
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Poor People Governor Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Cant speak for Africans cuz I’m not African. I do know with the expansion of modern technology to the Caribbean, you are exposed to more Western cultures and ideologies as time passes. So while I still have someplace to call home, by the next time I go there, young cats gonna be running around doing the “Birdwalk’
(why do I know what that is? BABYLON!!!) instead going to check Mr. Armstrong for some lessons in Quadrille dancing. Also the more people travel back and forth, they want to bring a lot the things they’ve seen in America back home whether it be a certain style of dress, mode of operation, etc. In my lifetime I probably wont see it, but as time passes, even people back home will start to lose appreciation for a lot of what we grew up on.
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ife1love Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Co-sign Nyela!
I too have a homeland it’s called the District of Columbia. My family landed right here. I am a very proud fifth generation Washingtonian. With the birth of my niece there is now a sixth generation and I’m sure the legacy will continue. Every time I travel or live away from home, there are always steamed crabs covered in Old Bay, wings with mumbo sauce, Go-go music, and some dude calling me youngin’ to greet me soon as I hit the urea.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I concur with Peyso (please see response #18). I can take pride in this country, especially since the President-elect is African American. Truly African American. However, do I embrace America? You must be out of your cotton picking mind (wonder where that common American term came from).
Lest we forget, the U.S. is the same country that would rather have me smoking crack and shooting my brother than working in the job I have currently. And I’m supposed to love this country? Forget that. It’s me against them. Been that way since I was born and I doubt Obama’s going to change that before I die.
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Gyal Dem Sugah Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Nyela,
I respect your point of view. But just speaking for myself, I can never call America my homeland. For me it’s much more than a flag and some land. It a sense of belonging. It’s funny, while everyone was dancing in the street after Obama won, my man The Cultural Icon, a native of Trinidad (I really think he’s from Tobago though) sent me a text saying “I dont know what all these people so happy about…our leaders been black since we born”. And that’s real talk. All my life, the majority of the senators were black, the Governor was black, the judges, principals right down the line. If you are familiar with the Bible, they talk about Babylon and the slackness that was going on there and how God was going to strike them down for their sins. (Tower of Babel-World Trade Center…anyone…anyone?) Babylon system is not just talking about America; it’s about the Western ideology that judges a man by the color of his skin and not the content of his character. And UNTIL that changes, there will always be WAR. Me seh WAR!
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Sisterrhon Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Dumb question, what is “Westernized”?
Do you mean “Americanized”? Because West Indians live in the Western World and are already westernized, it’s just that our view of Westernization and AA’s view of Westernization isn’t the same.
Westernization to me, a person from the Caribbean is both negative and positive, it is being able to become more educated and independent than my parents i.e. having the ability to improve my financial status and life in general but it also means coming to terms with capitalism and its good and bad effects on my society as a whole. Yeah sure my grandparents and parents were poorer than me but they shared a greater sense of community and love.
And yes, it was very funny to me that Americans were so happy in 2009 to finally have a “black” President when we in the West Indies are used to Black leaders, Indian leaders, Female leaders….been there, done that, but I do understand why they would be happy.
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What does a white man call a “regular black”, African or Caribbean person?………. A NIGGER
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so yeah… i’m happy this topic finally came up!
there are so many issues/views that comes with this for me:
1. I’m proud to say that I’m a Jamaican American. Both of my parents were born in Jamaica, and I was born in NYC. I hate it when people say I’m not really Jamaican because I wasn’t born there…. that’s when i’m like “&;#$#$ both of my parents are Jamaican, what culture do you think I was raised in??”
2. Over the summer I was on vacation in DR, and I went with two girls: one was Jamaican-American, the other was African American. Tell me why the whole trip the American one was complaining about how she doesn’t understand why caribbeans don’t want to embrace America, and they say that she doesn’t have any culture since her fam is American, blah blah blah. So while, I sympathize with her for facing the criticism, at the same time, I didn’t feel too bad for her because I feel like Caribbeans also catch a lot of ish for NOT being American. I mean… are we supposed to abandon our culture so that YOU can feel comfortable? I dont think so.
3. My parents def hold the same negative viewpoints about African Americans, and they always try to tell me to find a Caribbean dude. At the same time, I’m only really allowed to date another Jamaican because they seem to find something wrong with the other Caribbean countries… that leaves my options very limited!
4. When I was a kid, my mom scolded me after she heard me speaking patois…. she was like, don’t talk like that because I dont want your classmates to think your stupid! I def agree with what LexSteele said earlier about immigrants super-appreciating the opportunities they receive in the USA… my parents are def like that. And the main reason why they came to the US is because they wanted my sister and I to have opportunities they never had growing up in Jamaica.
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Poor People Governor Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
It almost breaks my heart to say this, but in my opinion, you arent Jamaican. I had this argument almost 17 times a semester with cats in college. And this is just my opinion (you know what they say about opinions…they are like a-holes…they both usually end up on blogs)
For me there is a difference between being raised by people from somewhere and actually growing up there. I cant call it, I wish I could explain it to you, but that’s just how I feel about it. Naturally my perspective is from having grown up on an island then coming to NY and meeting people who said they are *fill in island* and then you ask them “Oh word, What part” and they say Flatbush. Flatbush…really…is that closer to St. Mary’s or Seaview? Then…stutter, stutter,…stutter, stutter….
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Vanessa aka Miss V Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
i see what you’re saying… but at the same time, my whole thing is, there is no standard list of what makes someone truly a part one culture/heritage or another. so who are you (or anyone else) to say that what i am and what i’m not? thats the part i just don’t understand.
so yeah, shoot me because i dont know what kingston 11 or kingston 13 is! lol
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Gyal Dem Sugah Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Lol…like I said just my opinion. I dont have the power to make you un-Jamaican. And honestly, there are alot of people like you whose parents were born there but they were born here and they dont embrace the culture, so I definitely respect you for that. And if you know what Kingston 11 and 13 is, you’re good. And I wont be the one shooting cuz as you know, if you guh dung ah Kingston, ah dem ah guh shoot you, not me daughta!
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Mikey The Great Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
He let me know that I wasn’t Ghanaian during one of those semesters. It hurt but I had to respect it. I was raised in a Ghanaian home in NYC, but I’m American. If I was to go to Ghana tomorrow, they’d tell me the same. (and they have, those rude ass pricks!)
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but yeah, at the end of the day, we are all black, so we should just appreciate our differences, and be united… something like what Obama would say.
PS – Sorry if my comments sound all jumbled, I was trying to respond before I got out of Miami!
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Admin Note:
Can we lay off the N-word for the rest of the discussion? For those of us at work, it’s kinda awkward to have that on the screen with co-workers around.
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Poor People Governor Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
And your co-workers are saying, “Hey guys, can you keep it down on the N-word?…the black guy might hear you….”
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Slim Jackson Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
They usually wait til I leave the office without sayin bye to do that.
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Black & Trapped in Toronto Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Slim,you start braiding your beard yet?…I keep clicking send/receive..while the work piles up..and up..and up
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Slim Jackson Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Yeah, my hand has gravitated toward my face a few times today.lol
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I have some issues with what everyone said. Firstly, have you noticed that there are only like 3 or 4 regular black folk are commenting on these blogs. Everyone else is something else (I mean that in a nice way). Now understanding that this blog is visited/inhabited by a very educated bunch, doesn’t that say something.
I would also like to reitterate that it is not only West Indians and Carribbeans that hate but Black Americans hate on everyone else. I beg you to sit in a car with my grandma as she talks about slinky eyed chinese ppl, hatian ppl that cant dress, nasty jamaicans, dirty white ppl, wanna be italians, cheap jews, smelly arabs and every other negative stereotype you can think of.
Also, I read here that people take offense to someone not really taking pride in this country, not embracing it. I was born in Brooklyn, my parents were born in Brooklyn, three of my grandparents were born in different places in the deep south and my other grand dad was puerto rican. I’m just about as american as they come, and i dont like this place now. Sam telling me to embrace a country that aint embrace me first fcuk outta here.
Also, to my fellow Bruh, the Right Coast Lex Steele, no homo, (NWWT) but dont think that you talking in code when you talk that cross the water talk (I know its an ignorant term but my grandma uses it and it makes me laugh) I can understand you. A whole bunch of times foreigners be using other languages and speak in heavy accents when I’m around, I’m from brooklyn where on the same block, we got the african bootleg man, the korean dry cleaner, the dominican hair salon, the jamaican restaurant, the arab store, the associated supermarket is run by a whole bunch of puerto ricans, the bajans play dominoes, the guyanese fix tires, the small island folk drink guiness, the chinese spot, the mexican cleans the glass for the black ppl that own the liquor store and b/c we’re gentrified they putting in an authentic sushi spot. i can understand when ya b talking about me
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Slim Jackson Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I stand firmly behind (pause) this comment.
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ife1love Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Your Grandma sounds like mine. She hates Black people, White people, Africans, Mexicans (she is not familiar with the term Latino), Jews, I-talians, Chinamen… the list never ends.
Oh, if you were wondering (since she hate Black folks), she considers herself to be Colored.
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Sam Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Whoa Peyso. I ain’t never TELL you to embrace nothing. Calm all that down. And I quote,
“Me however, I could care less. Do your thing. But at the end of the day it still shows no solidarity.”
I just gave you a point of view that a lot of Americans probably feel. And that’s why you have the federal system throwing laws around like not letting immigrants get drivers licenses. It doesn’t bother me when people always ask me “Where you from?” and I have to explain I’m an American. Yea I get judged by West Indians, Africans, Whites and Latinos cuz I’m a ‘lazy’ or ungrateful Black or African American dude from the south who talks slow cuz he’s dumb….. with a masters. (I’ve been told all of that to my face too…..just cuz I’m a black dude from the south by the way) So what tho, its just a paper right.
I tell you this though. We all already minorities. As bad as it sounds, until we all realize that and show some solidarity we gonna stay in the crab bucket pulling each other back. “Make my money and bounce” like Lex said. Eff er’body else. Then just wait to see how long it takes America to embrace you when you can’t embrace the people who look like you. Everyone always focusing on the difference but never on the stuff that I think should bring us together…..
Hey just my thoughts though. I don’t speak for all of Black America.
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Gyal Dem Sugah Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Bruh…not offended at all. Trust me, just like Seattle I chill w/ heads from every where and we snap on each other. “Cross the water talk”…dude, buy your granny a guinness for me or whatever she likes to drink cuz that is HI-LARIOUS. Not trying to talk in code bruh, just flexing the accent for comedic purposes, that’s all. And I do have a problem with some of what you said…for example:
1. Not just us small island people drink guinness. All island people drink guinness, hence our pum pum conquering abilities.
2. Bajans just match cards. They dont play dominoes.
ROO!
Yes, Seattle I barked at one of my frat brothers on your blog. Deal with it.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Huh? Excuse me, my mind was still stuck on Guinness. I need one right now.
You can have all that kennel talk, I just want my Extra Stout and some oxtail.
I’ll throw the scraps out to the street later. Y’all dogs can have at it.
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RightCoastLexSteele, Di Don Gargan Reply:
November 21st, 2008 at 12:45 am
Birds eat scraps too buddy…
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Why does every one feel the need to say pause after typing my name? BADMAN NUH HAFFI PLEH PAUSE!
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I am loving all the Bajan talk, makes me want a Banks…
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i was going to comment on this because i just had this conversation with my boss last week. But dam 85 comments my ass is too lazy to read all that. lol
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I come a strictly West Indian heritage: Jamaican and Montserrat (Google: West Indies Volcanoes). I am so PROUD of my heritage. I can really relate to what you are saying about West Indian view of Black Americans. My parents curse about “those damn prejudice, ignorant Black Americans” all the time. One thing though is that I have never heard anybody West Indian refer to Black in American as African-Americans. We consider African Americans to be African immigrants or has parents from Africa i.e. Barack Obama is a truly African-American in my parents eyes due to his Kenyan heritage. Now back to what my family members think about Black Americans: 1) Black Americans who speak “ebonics” as their sole language make fun of West Indians who speak perfect grammatically correct English with a slight accent. 2) Black Americans don’t like to experience any other cultures food. If its not soul food or fast food, it’s nasty. For example, lady at our Christman dinner “What’s that?” Me: “Curry Goat” Lady: Goat Meat?! Ugh unh! I don’t eat that stuff.” To be continued…I have to run.
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Wow, so surprised how people are getting at us (Black Americans). First off, everybody things we are lazy and what not or that we are ignorant. Wow…..
Little history lesson. Most of the culture people are talking about is from inner cities where immigrant blacks make up the majority of the black population. So someone you may think of as black american may actually be 2nd or 3rd generation black immigrant. Second, y’all giving no love to black latinos right now. Third, if we are lazy here what would be said about your countrymen who didn’t come here or aren’t as “successful”.
I’m just saying that all of this is bullshit like the author of the article stated.
Also, not all black americans had it easy. My mom and grandma lived in a house with no electricity or running water. In fact, she was delivered by midwife. no doctor or hospital. think about that.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 pm
My mom was actually born via a midwife as well. She doesn’t even have a birth certificate actually.lol. Thanks for dropping in to comment though.
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Sisterrhon Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
One thing about West Indians, we generally don’t consider those island nations who were not colonized by the British last, so the French, Dutch and Spanish speaking islands are kinda like distant relatives.
The British West Indians stick to their own because of our similar culture etc. So when you mention that the Latins get no love, that’s not really true but they are like step-sisters or cousins you know the extended family not the immediate ones.
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Anonymous Reply:
December 27th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Your gay
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To a white person we’re all just “black”. But I personally do see the difference between a West Indian and a black American. I have a jamaican background and a Bajan background so alot of my friends are West Indian because I can relate to them more. But I also have a couple black Amercian friends, so I can see the difference in the way they carry themselves to how my West Indian friends carry themselves. I was born and raised in America, but I go to Barbados and Jamaica alot to visit family, and I’ve noticed the difference in the cultural backgrounds.
But at the end of the day I guess we’re all “black”.
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I too am West Indian American. I was born in the NYC and my parents are from Grenada and St. Vincent. What bothers me is the constant phrase “to a white person, we’re all just black”. So what?! We as Caribbean, African, or Black American people are not defined in the eyes of white people. We may all look alike, but have different cultures and should not be forced to conform because white people think we’re all the same. Every other nationality makes their distinction and proudly displays their heritage, ie. Italians, Russians, etc.and we should do the same. I am Afro-Caribbean and proud of it!
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Anonymous Reply:
February 21st, 2010 at 9:50 pm
I agree with you 100% … especially the part that we shouldn’t be forced to conform because we all look alike to white people. In reality, we’re really not all the same because we do come from different cultures.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
February 21st, 2010 at 10:15 pm
I think the phrase of us all being black in the eyes of white people comes about when people try to distance themselves from black when anything goes wrong. I don’t think anybody is suggesting burying your cultural heritage. It should be celebrated, however we all do ultimately come from the same place. I just get a little miffed when people claim to be black when things are good and then turn to crickets when there’s some adversity or unpleasant occurrence. Appreciate these comments though!
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