Africans, African Americans, West Indians & Afro-Latinos Vol: Why is there a rift between us?

8pm at msg

8pm at msg

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Oct 18, 2011
Alright I'm randomly sitting in my room today and I was wondering what causes this rift between these three groups? I mean, aren't we all black? Do we all not face the same problems at the end of the day when it comes to things such as unfair treatment and so on? Where did the ignorance come from? As someone who is pretty much caught between groups (Parents are from St. Kitts, I'm a first generation American) I would like to hear some insight on your thoughts.
 
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Its like asking why all asian people don't get along.

We have NOTHING in common other than how we look to outsiders. 

My parents are from Jamaica, but only because of growing up here do I have connections to black people that have more roots here. 
 
When I was in school, the black people not from America felt like we ("African Americans") were on some level bringing the race down, complain too much, value ignorance instead of hard work and education like they do, or not making the most of the opportunity we were given being from here. It's well known, immigrants from Africa come over and become way more successful (not just than American black people, but than white people too and even Asians and that even holds true in Great Britain). Of course, AAs would talk about our upbringing and the hood with oppression and violence or whatever, but when juxtaposed against the countries they immigrated from, even that argument gets a :rolleyes

It's moreso their parents though. The people my age weren't as bad.
 
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Problem is we don't really know each other.

We don't properly express our culture to one another.

All we know about each other is stereotypes.

I'm a first generation American myself. People are from the West Indies as well.

All my American relatives think my West Indian relatives live in the jungle and are primitive bush people with no access to electricity and education.

All my West Indian relatives think my American relatives are fat, lazy and depending on handouts all the time and are not hard workers.

Being stuck between all that stuff sucks and has kept my fam at battle stance even before I was born.

I think black people across the world need to identify with a new and updated cultural awareness of who they are, what they are, things they contrast on and also have in common.
 
FutureMD said:
Its like asking why all asian people don't get along.

We have NOTHING in common other than how we look to outsiders. 

My parents are from Jamaica, but only because of growing up here do I have connections to black people that have more roots here. 
Click to expand...

But that shouldn't excuse the ignorance between the groups though, should it? Don't we all face the same negative stereotypes of being lazy, or savages or lacking morals? That might be the only thing we have in common but its a big enough blip that should be recognized across the board that we should know better than to stereotype each other based on a perception created by groups outside of ourselves, don't you think?
 
8PM at MSG said:
FutureMD said:
Its like asking why all asian people don't get along.

We have NOTHING in common other than how we look to outsiders. 

My parents are from Jamaica, but only because of growing up here do I have connections to black people that have more roots here. 
Click to expand...
But that shouldn't excuse the ignorance between the groups though, should it? Don't we all face the same negative stereotypes of being lazy, or savages or lacking morals? That might be the only thing we have in common but its a big enough blip that should be recognized across the board that we should know better than to stereotype each other based on a perception created by groups outside of ourselves, don't you think?
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Eh...but again, this question only gets asked by outsiders.

Like I wouldnt put a japanese, south korean, north korean, taiwanese, and chinese person in a room alone. 

For instance, I know tons of first generation africans that really think that black americans are this that and the other. 

You'd THINK it would excuse the ignorance...but you know then we'd get into a pissing match of "should have, could have, would have...etc" 
 
Wr said:
Problem is we don't really know each other.

We don't properly express our culture to one another.

All we know about each other is stereotypes.

I'm a first generation American myself. People are from the West Indies as well.

All my American relatives think my West Indian relatives live in the jungle and are primitive bush people with no access to electricity and education.

All my West Indian relatives think my American relatives are fat, lazy and depending on handouts all the time and are not hard workers.

Being stuck between all that stuff sucks and has kept my fam at battle stance even before I was born.

I think black people across the world need to identify with a new and updated cultural awareness of who they are, what they are, things they contrast on and also have in common.
Click to expand...
This response is a part of the problem I have with black identity.

Black people ARE NOT THE SAME. They're not.

They never were.

They never will be.

The only reason black people feel the need to come together is to overcome racism...not that they have anything in common. 

Having a bit of melanin doesn't make me share anything with you more than skin color.

Black people, especially in the new world, don't really have much of a sense of ethnicity or unique culture that their "less melanated" counterparts do so we try to feign sincerity in each other where there is none.

The most important thing, IMO, for black people to do is to recognize that the ONLY thing we share is oppression...beyond that, we are all different.

We should recognize a common struggle, not a common history...because frankly we don't have a common history. 
 
FutureMD said:
Its like asking why all asian people don't get along.

We have NOTHING in common other than how we look to outsiders. 

My parents are from Jamaica, but only because of growing up here do I have connections to black people that have more roots here. 
Click to expand...


How do we have nothing in common?

What an idiotic statement.
 
FutureMD said:
Black people, especially in the new world, don't really have much of a sense of ethnicity or unique culture that their "less melanated" counterparts do so we try to feign sincerity in each other where there is none.

The most important thing, IMO, for black people to do is to recognize that the ONLY thing we share is oppression...beyond that, we are all different.

We should recognize a common struggle, not a common history...because frankly we don't have a common history. 
Click to expand...

:x

Stop it, b.

You sound real STUPID right now.

This is one of those times where anyone with a bit of knowledge on this subject can drop an ether bomb on your head with a few keystrokes and mouse clicks.

Quit while you're behind.

Its amazing to me how you can come of so knowledgeable in one subject and completely ******ed in another.

I just hope readers can differentiate between your two extremes.
 
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FutureMD said:
This response is a part of the problem I have with black identity.



Black people ARE NOT THE SAME. They're not.

They never were.

They never will be.

The only reason black people feel the need to come together is to overcome racism...not that they have anything in common. 

Having a bit of melanin doesn't make me share anything with you more than skin color.


Black people, especially in the new world, don't really have much of a sense of ethnicity or unique culture that their "less melanated" counterparts do so we try to feign sincerity in each other where there is none.

The most important thing, IMO, for black people to do is to recognize that the ONLY thing we share is oppression...beyond that, we are all different.

We should recognize a common struggle, not a common history...because frankly we don't have a common history. 
Click to expand...

Where in my post did I saw we are all the same.

The theme of my post was that we need to recognize our differences and establish ground from there.

You are just problem oriented.
 
goldenchild9 said:
FutureMD said:
Its like asking why all asian people don't get along.

We have NOTHING in common other than how we look to outsiders. 

My parents are from Jamaica, but only because of growing up here do I have connections to black people that have more roots here. 
Click to expand...

How do we have nothing in common?

What an idiotic statement.
Click to expand...
I'm a Jamaican American.

Unless I go back 600-1000 years ago depending on how versed you are in the pre-columbian theories, then the fact that I have melanin in my skin doesn't mean that "culturally" or "ethnically" that we are similar.

I share as much with an Ethiopian as I do with someone from the Caucasus Mountains or an Arab. 

I don't have links to Nigerians or Congalese or Moroccans. 

You can keep making it seem like Africa was like his homogenous society when it benefits your pro-black arguments, but you can't ignore this. 

You don't get to reinforce "blackness" when merely its a genetic allocation of melanin that you're using to make this distinction.

Treating all black people as if we're the same isn't going to help anyone. We're not the same. We're incredibly diverse and until we recognize that, then you don't get anywhere.

I say all of that as someone who gets closer and closer to nihilism, that "race" and "culture" and vapid "rituals" and "customs" don't really ever exist outside of those who say it does. They're just barriers we use to distinguish ourselves. But I realize its important to some people so they can "identify" themselves. Its all nonsense at then end of the day, so unless you're going to recognize it, you're not doing anyone any justice by ignoring their differences if you then want them to come together. 

I'll say it again. The only thing that drives black people in America together is a REACTION to their treatment, not an innate linked origin. 
 
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Just cause we have melanin in varying degrees doesn't mean we're all in the same boat.

There are language barriers to consider, and a host of other factors.
 
Nobody is making it seem like Africa is a homogenous society or that all "Black people" are the same but there were and are "Black people" who routinely traveled between the Caribbean and mainland North America.

Almost 100 % identical genetic makeup between broad swathes of "Afro-Caribbean" and "Afro-Americans", similar foods, culture, history etc.

The hell are you talking about?

How could there be NO similarity between us besides melanin?

Stop spewing nonsense.
 
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goldenchild9 said:
FutureMD said:
Black people, especially in the new world, don't really have much of a sense of ethnicity or unique culture that their "less melanated" counterparts do so we try to feign sincerity in each other where there is none.

The most important thing, IMO, for black people to do is to recognize that the ONLY thing we share is oppression...beyond that, we are all different.

We should recognize a common struggle, not a common history...because frankly we don't have a common history. 
Click to expand...
sick.gif


Stop it, b.

You sound real STUPID right now.

This is one of those times where anyone with a bit of knowledge on this subject can drop an ether bomb on your head with a few keystrokes and mouse clicks.

Quit while you're behind.

Its amazing to me how you can come of so knowledgeable in one subject and completely ******ed in another.

I just hope readers can differentiate between your two extremes.
Click to expand...
Look at west africa right now and tell me all those people are the same.

I dare you.

And I'm not talking about after colonialism, i'm talking before. 

You're so willing to discredit modern africans or caribbean who want nothing to do with modern black americans for that same reason. They realize you all have nothing in common...why don't you? 

The only thing that drives black people together is their response to oppression, not because they have a common origin.

Of course its easy for me associate with other black people. They look like me. But thats it. 

I honestly think that me having a background that isn't immediately linked to the US at least helps me to integrate a little better. I'm not focused on reinforcing "blackness" as much as I am reinforcing equality and fairness. 

"blackness" doesn't mean anything to me. If you go to jamaica, you'll see the same thing. Racism was never a big thing out there as it was in the US. Its just classism, but thats everywhere. 
 
goldenchild9 said:
Nobody is making it seem like Africa is a homogenous society or that all "Black people" are the same but there were and are "Black people" who routinely traveled between the Caribbean and mainland North America.

Almost 100 % identical genetic makeup between broad swathes of "Afro-Caribbean" and "Afro-Americans", similar foods, culture, history etc.

The hell are you talking about?

How could there be NO similarity between us besides melanin?

Stop spewing nonsense.
Click to expand...
So this goes back to the original premise.

Whats wrong with me overlooking "black unity" and just focusing on "collective unity?" 

You clearly recognize that there are differences between entire segments that you're trying to overlook and pretend don't exist...but then reinforce this notion of "blackness" 

What is that??? 

Oh, and there isn't a 100% genetic make up. You're going to have to do better than that. If anything I might have the SLIGHTEST link to Ghana, as most slaves to jamaica came from there (so I heard) but how does that relate to TODAY?
 
FutureMD said:
Look at west africa right now and tell me all those people are the same.

I dare you.
Click to expand...

I'm just going to ignore you if you continue your pattern of making up ridiculous statements attributing them to others and then arguing with yourself.

NO ONE SAID THAT, so dead it now.
 
Alot of truth in this thread. I myself have westindian blood, and find the cultural differences a truth, not an abomination. Igbo and Yoruba tribes hated each other long before white colonists came along. Vultural differences should be embraced, as it in a way keeps the distinct cultures distinct.
 
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FutureMD said:
This response is a part of the problem I have with black identity.

Black people ARE NOT THE SAME. They're not.

They never were.

They never will be.

The only reason black people feel the need to come together is to overcome racism...not that they have anything in common. 

Having a bit of melanin doesn't make me share anything with you more than skin color.

Black people, especially in the new world, don't really have much of a sense of ethnicity or unique culture that their "less melanated" counterparts do so we try to feign sincerity in each other where there is none.

The most important thing, IMO, for black people to do is to recognize that the ONLY thing we share is oppression...beyond that, we are all different.

We should recognize a common struggle, not a common history...because frankly we don't have a common history. 
Click to expand...
sick.gif


You cannot be serious......
 
goldenchild9 said:
Nobody is making it seem like Africa is a homogenous society or that all "Black people" are the same but there were and are "Black people" who routinely traveled between the Caribbean and mainland North America.
Almost 100 % identical genetic makeup between broad swathes of "Afro-Caribbean" and "Afro-Americans", similar foods, culture, history etc.
The hell are you talking about?
How could there be NO similarity between us besides melanin?
Stop spewing nonsense.
Click to expand...
THATS what I'm saying(on your side goldenchild9). Seriously, these ignorant statements shows how misinformed we are about each other. To say the only similarity we share is the color of our skin is JUST SAD. No wonder why we can't get along.
 
So do black people from Southern California share any similarites with Black people from Southern Florida besides their skin color?

See how ignorant a question like that sounds?
 
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