Do Africans and African Americans get along??

Jells · #1 06-09-2005, 09:26 AM

Do we still have beef with each other? I had a conversation with an African American friend who feels that it still exists. Why can we not get along? How do Africans feel they are being treated by their black American counterparts and vice versa?? Having immigrant African parents and living in the US has caused a lot tension with my black American friends throughout the years when we get into these types of conversations. What are your thoughts??

ladygreek · #2 06-09-2005, 11:55 PM

The large number of recent Somali immigrants has caused some problems here in MN. Mainly because they are considered the "good" African Americans by many in the mainstream. As a result, social service funding, academic scholarships, etc. that once went to American-born African Americans are now going to African-born African Americans.

Jells · #3 06-10-2005, 10:39 AM

That has been an issue with some of my friends who are in graduate school. The thought is that Africans living in the country are grouped into the African American pool when applying and therefore could potentially be "taking opportunities" away from American-born AAs. Now, I can't really speak on either side because my father was one of those Africans living who got the opportunity to go to undergrad and grad school here. But he worked his butt off to make straight As to get a scholarship to go to grad school. Who can fault that? But it seems that someone else gets kicked out of the running because he was put in the same bracket. They do not deem them as foreigners, so they cannot put them in that bracket either. Where would they go??

Little32 · #4 06-10-2005, 10:52 AM

But it seems to me that there should be some sort of separation in the funding, particularly if the people in question are not citizens at the time.

I don't not get along with the Nigerians, Ghanians, and Ethopians I know.

However, it seems to me that issues of opportunity have always been a divisive factor for all cultural groups. It is yet another string through which some allow themselves to be manipulated. And that divisiveness only serves a few interests in the end.

Jells · #5 06-10-2005, 11:08 AM

Is there some sort of reason that you do not get along with those particular groups and not others or are those the only Africans that you know (as I am Nigerian)?

Most students who are foreigners would get a student visa specifically designed to JUST come to school and leave when it is obtained, so the "special" funding has already been applied. I believe that the issue of discussion (or rather, what I have brought up) is the case of Africans who are citizens, but have the desire to eventually want to return to their country of origin when they obtain what they want from the US. It is felt that they don't "care" about the U.S. The mentality is "get mine and get out"

I think some of the other tensions arise because those who are AAs rather than American born AAs do not share the same perspective when it comes to being black in the US. I know that most of my African friends (foreigners and those 1st or 2nd generation Americans) feel that it is their hard work, tenacity, and sheer will to succeed because they have no other choice that gives them that push to succeed. It is the thought that hard work can overcome all. My American born AAs feel that although that it is the case, the long term affects of slavery is what keeps us down and despite our best efforts, there will be new and improved ways for us to stay there.

There are merits to both sides, but I wanted to see what others feel about it.

The Truth · #6 06-10-2005, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jells
Is there some sort of reason that you do not get along with those particular groups and not others or are those the only Africans that you know (as I am Nigerian)?

Quote:

Originally posted by Little32

I don't not get along with the Nigerians, Ghanians, and Ethopians I know.

The use of the double negative indicates she gets along with those groups. So don't fret, she loves you!!!

Jells · #7 06-10-2005, 12:09 PM

Ahh...I see. Sorry about that. My mind glossed over the "not" part. I was about to say....that's very specific!

And don't worry, it's all love. It is an interesting topic indeed because it comes up more often than not. A friend of mine feels that he has nothing in common with some of his African counterparts in grad school and most of the "black people" are African. He feels that he is under represented even within that subcategory.

Steeltrap · #8 06-10-2005, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ladygreek
The large number of recent Somali immigrants has caused some problems here in MN. Mainly because they are considered the "good" African Americans by many in the mainstream. As a result, social service funding, academic scholarships, etc. that once went to American-born African Americans are now going to African-born African Americans.

I've also seen this in California, to a smaller extent.

On a related note, a soror who I know has said that many of her chapter's scholarship recipients are Ethiopian immigrants or first-generation Americans. We have a UG soror who is a first-generation American of Ethiopian parentage.

Jells · #9 06-10-2005, 12:45 PM

And this is part of the tension. Whereas first generation Americans would like to think that they were awarded those scholarships based on individual merit, others would think that they are taking those scholarships away from the "rightful" owners....Can they help it when it was earned?

My friend argues that American born AAs are shut out of these opportunities because of the ingrained inferiority complex that AAs have felt for generations and/or the agenda the government puts in play to keep us away from those opportunities.

I tend to be on the side that says individual merit will get you far, but that doesn't mean that we don't feel our share of discrimination as well...if not more so. Not only do we have to fight harder because we have a dark skin color, we have to fight for those that do not trust foreign accents, funny last names, and overall, people that DON'T look and sound American.

rho4life · #10 06-10-2005, 01:26 PM

In the Bay Area I [and other Af-Am's] have had conflicts with African taxi drivers. Now, I avoid their cabs when possible, b/c I have had so many bad experiences. I've had people yelling at me, demand to see money up front before they start driving, taking a LONG route to increase the fare. Other than taxi drivers, I haven't had too many problems with Africans. Maybe it's something about the tempremant of those who decide to drive taxis. I haven't had nearly as many problems with taxi drivers that are from other places.

ladygreek · #11 06-10-2005, 02:05 PM

To clarify my point. The funding to which I was referring are set-asides for Somali immigrants. But instead of them coming from expanded funding pools, they are re-allocated from existing pools, thus decreasing the funding available to American-borns that previously qualified for the funding.

I don't want to get into an argument about African immigrants. And like I said, here in MN it is specific to Somali immigrants. We have the second largest number in the US. These problems did not present themselves before.

Also, I have found Somalis to be rude, to look down on American-borns, and to not want to associate with the larger African American community, which here has always included other African immigrants. So they do not just disassociate themselves from American-borns, but other African-borns as well.

Jells · #12 06-10-2005, 02:29 PM

I have not had that experience with other 1st generation Africans including Somalians (I've actually had really good experiences with the ones I've met) but we do have a commonality that our parents were African.

I hope that your comments weren't meant as a sweeping generalization because I'm not looking forward to the reactions of those that are of that origin, but it might be because they do not understand American-born AAs.

The fact that many of them had to work so hard (sometimes just getting lucky to win the "lottery") to come to America and find sooo many opportunities to make money, it's absurd to them to see others complain.

The poorest part of the US can't even compare to an average neighborhood where my father's from, so I can see that. I just am able to see things from both sides.

Taualumna · #13 06-10-2005, 02:48 PM

[hijack]

What you are experiencing is VERY TYPICAL of the immigrant generation. Many immigrant parents, no matter what country of origin, tell their kids not to become "too American" (or in my case, too Canadian) because they don't want their kids to forget about their heritage and traditions. The immigrant generation likes the better opportunities offered to them here, but often don't like or don't understand the customs of their adopted country. Don't get upset. Things will change as families are hear longer.

[/hijack]

treblk · #14 06-10-2005, 03:10 PM

This is an interesting topic. I too am Nigerian. I was born there, but raised in the States. In terms of funding for school, the funding I received was not due to my foriegn status, rather my merit. I haven't had to deal with that issues.

In terms of relationships between Africans and American AA, alot of the attitudes and disassociation given to American AA comes from societial influences that have been around for years. For example, Many Africans believe, to a large extent, the sterotypes that have been placed on American AA. All negetivities that one would assume/think of when referring to American AA, many Africans believe it is the truth. So with that mentality, Africans do not want to be lumped into the same catagory as American AA and strive in may ways to seperate themselves. It's sad, but ture. I have family members like that.

ladygreek · #15 06-10-2005, 07:13 PM

@ Jells,
I was informed quite pointedly that they are Somalis not Somalians. And as I have emphasized, what I have described is what is happening here in MN. I am talking about MN. I have not met any other Somalis, so I could not make a sweeping generalization if I wanted to. And as I have stated, I have not experienced negative issues with other African immigrants here--from Nigeria, Liberia, or Ethiopia. Nor have they experienced the advantages given to Somalis or isolated themselves from the greater African American community.

As for seeing others complain. The Somalis here are complainers and intimidators. That is what is absurd. And I won't even get into the struggle that American-borns have had over decades to get to where we even are now.