Black People : What is your understanding of family?

[Knowledge Seed]

As black people in America, we tend to have been effected by black nationalism and Pan-Africanism much more than most other black folks. Along with that comes a worldview, including how black people are viewed collectively.

What is your definition of family?
Do you view all black people as one big family?
If not, how do you view family? Nuclear? Extended?
If extended, do you include fictive kin?
How do you define who is and is not a part of your fictive kin network?

 

[Angela22]

What is your definition of family?

Do you view all black people as one big family?

People who have your best interests at heart are true family; all else are simply family by blood relation.

Sure, everyone comes from one place, anyhow.

 

[Knowledge Seed]

When someone says, "We're have a family dinner," what does that mean to you? Dad, mom and the kids are eating together? Or does it mean something else?

 

[Angela22]

When someone says, "We're have a family dinner," what does that mean to you? Dad, mom and the kids are eating together? Or does it mean something else?

It means everyone who's close at heart is coming to dinner.

 

[Blackbird]

As black people in America, we tend to have been effected by black nationalism and Pan-Africanism much more than most other black folks. Along with that comes a worldview, including how black people are viewed collectively.

What is your definition of family?
Do you view all black people as one big family?
If not, how do you view family? Nuclear? Extended?
If extended, do you include fictive kin?
How do you define who is and is not a part of your fictive kin network?

Definition of family to me is linked kinship, either by blood, common interests or geniune inclusiveness.

Fictive kin is very much included in my definition of family.

Black people collectively are included very loosely in my concept of family, insomuch, that in this overly race conscious society and world, me being a part of the Black race that has been historically repressed by others makes me to think in terms of collective. I genuinely wish good will towards all Black people. More importantly though Black is my race, not my family.

Yet my immediate concept of family only includes my blood relations and those people who have cooperative relationships with me or my blood kin.

So family to me is multi-layered, like an onion.