Not too long, an Haitian born friend of mine commented about the misguided and misplaced disdain and lack of respect for "African Americans" by the a significant portion of the rest of the African world. He said it always amazes him how immigrants of African origin and/or African descent tend to look down on "African Americans". He accurately noted that if it was not for the struggles of African Americans, Caribbean and African immigrants to the US would never have been allowed to come to the country.
This leads me to a few experiences. Being married to a native Ghanaian, I have heard my people being referred by Ghanaians as either Akata or Duncatti. My mother in law is notorious for calling an US descendant of African slaves "that Akata person" or "that Duncatti person" when speaking to another native born African but calling us African American when she is talking to one of us.
This past week my mother in law was in town staying with us. She has lived in America for 24 years. My kids are homeschooled so I was doing school work with my oldest daughter and we were discussing the Chicago River. I told my daughter that the city of Chicago was founded by a Black man. My mother in law interjected and said Obama.I thought she was playing but she said Obama again as if to imply Obama founded Chicago. I said DuSable founded the city. My mother in law looked kinda confused so I said Jean-Baptiste.
Then I asked my daughter what month was it. She replied Black History Month. We continued and touched on Harriet Tubman. I told my daughter that there were 2 Underground Railroads. One going to Canada and the other going south to Florida. My mother in law interjected again and said "They were talking about having one from California to Las Vegas but Congress killed the idea." She was talking about the modern commuter train in discussion a few years back.
We live in a suburban master planned community and our next door neighbor is white. My daughter asked "would Ms. Andrea have owned slaves back in slavery?" I tried to give a diplomatic answer and I wouldn't know. My mother in law interjected for a 3rd time, questioning my daughter about her comment. My mother in law told my daughter "Ms. Andrea is nice. She wouldn't have owned slaves. She is a good woman." My mother in law asked my daughter why she even would think like that.
This leads me to a few experiences. Being married to a native Ghanaian, I have heard my people being referred by Ghanaians as either Akata or Duncatti. My mother in law is notorious for calling an US descendant of African slaves "that Akata person" or "that Duncatti person" when speaking to another native born African but calling us African American when she is talking to one of us.
This past week my mother in law was in town staying with us. She has lived in America for 24 years. My kids are homeschooled so I was doing school work with my oldest daughter and we were discussing the Chicago River. I told my daughter that the city of Chicago was founded by a Black man. My mother in law interjected and said Obama.I thought she was playing but she said Obama again as if to imply Obama founded Chicago. I said DuSable founded the city. My mother in law looked kinda confused so I said Jean-Baptiste.
Then I asked my daughter what month was it. She replied Black History Month. We continued and touched on Harriet Tubman. I told my daughter that there were 2 Underground Railroads. One going to Canada and the other going south to Florida. My mother in law interjected again and said "They were talking about having one from California to Las Vegas but Congress killed the idea." She was talking about the modern commuter train in discussion a few years back.
We live in a suburban master planned community and our next door neighbor is white. My daughter asked "would Ms. Andrea have owned slaves back in slavery?" I tried to give a diplomatic answer and I wouldn't know. My mother in law interjected for a 3rd time, questioning my daughter about her comment. My mother in law told my daughter "Ms. Andrea is nice. She wouldn't have owned slaves. She is a good woman." My mother in law asked my daughter why she even would think like that.