back home in ny i used to deal with those issues. yankee vs west indian. you would be surprised at how little this issue means in a different country..shoot a different state.
my advice is to just let it be. be proud of who you are and dont sweat those who want to look down on you because you arent 'mixed' with something else. this is just one more thing to keep our communities divided. it is they who are ignorant, not appreciating the fact that although culturally there maybe some differences, we bleed the same and have ancestors who were killed or enslaved so that you and i can have this dialogue.
screw 'em and keep on truckin'.
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Originally posted by MsFoxyLoxy77
DISCLAIMER: I have mixed emotions about even posting this thread and trust I am the last person who wants to start drama. However, this is an account of MY opinion and mine alone and is in no way meant to generalize any group and is a reflection in part of my experiences.
I am African-American (as much as anyone can consider themselves one thing these days or in any past days for that matter) and to my knowledge no ancestry in any island. I have through the years become annoyed with the comments I have received in reference to black culture from some of the Caribbean brothers and sisters I have come in contanct with. I am tired of being asked what I am(in reference from what Island I'm from)...and when I answer African-American people are shocked as if I'm rare or apart of some dying breed of people. I'm tired interacting with some Caribbean folks who imply and in some cases openly express how drastically different they are from black people. 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. Normally this would not be a problem because again you may be entitled to few your culture as better than others, its called ethnocentrism. However, I can't help but feel these same people who are so quick to call Afams "Americans" and "Yankees" (in a negative connotation) are benefiting from the Civil Rights Movement and the struggles of my Afam ancestors. What does my dilemma have to do with this post? 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. Yes, I understand that organizations like Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. serve all and have chapters around the world but the organziation is rooted in African American history and anyone that joins should have a level of respect for African American people. 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..., but have yet to start a Caribbean sorority if they are so far off from black association (Of course people will assume they are black if there skin is black after all for most people that is the basic race criteria for African Americans)...I could go on but I have vented enough.
P.S. Again these are just my opinions and I know I will probably be viewed in a less than favorable manner but I am open to hearing and incorporating a knew perspective from these responses.
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