Ok...i so not good at stating points...so excuse me if this is off base ....**its late should be in bed**
but i just had to put my couple of cents in*
As for one thing… I was raised by Haitian parents…
And the mindset in my upbringing is pride honor and respect.
Not only to respect my Haitian heritage yet the whole African/Black history.
I understand your points; I take very much pride in my culture, both Haitian and American.
Now lets see if I actually understanding what your saying…
Could you explain to me what you mean by :
“some cases openly express how drastically different they are from black people”?
Drastically different how? Besides the obvious.
My dad, makes references all the time. About how so many Americans throw away so many opportunities while people in Haiti are struggling just for someone to take a quick glance at them. I know people from all over the Caribbean who compare the cultures of the Islands to American…and they are major differences. But its part of the upbringing trying to rise and be successful. I wouldn’t really think of it as actually saying they think they are better.
For instance I believe it is in Jamaica …cursing is forbidden you can either serve jail time of be fined.(if I am wrong someone please correct me)…. Here you can cuss up a storm… who is going to stop you? I hope you understand where I am going with this.
For most Islanders its about respect and honor. Most feel we (Americans) lack it.
“They are not mentioning these differences just as an example of cultural pride (because everyone should be proud of their culture) but rather as vantage points as to how they are so much better.”
Ok…a person can eat cheese pizza all there life and think its better because that what they are use to…all there life. Changing someones mindset isn't easy...heck probably impossible. But teaching one, helps the other understand what they can't comprehend.(I know poor example...its late..and I am so not good at this)
"Why is it that these same people (that I have encountered) are so eager to join BGLOs and benefit from the prestige associated with membership if they are even upset for a second that someone would confuse them as Black"
From a viewpoint of a sister friend I feel that BGLO’s extended their membership all around the world to stimulate and provide a sisterhood/brotherhood and unity. To further educate the many aspects of different cultures may be it Black, Hispanic etc. And why wouldn’t a person of Caribbean decent want to be associated with a BGLO? Maybe just for the same reasons you are. Should BGLO’s solely be existent to African Americans yet there are so many other people who share the same views and beliefs of the sisterhood and brotherhood? And I just noticed that you said…that “you have encountered” .
My grandmothers and other forebears worked hard in organizations like the NAACP and joined BGLOs...I just dislike to see those who seem to care little about what was going on in Afam's lives when the glos were founded, and are quick to say their not American but whatever.
So lets rewind… did slavery only affect Afam’s ? Were people of Caribbean decent an exception to Black History? If one suffers we ALL suffer and we ALL feel it. I see no dividing line here… besides the one given. I don’t see Haitian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, American and etc I see black people trying to prosper and make waves… not bring each other down.
Like I said I understand your viewpoints…and I can look at this in both views.
But I am standing behind all that I have stated...
and these are MY opinions....
ok...off to bed
