Pan Africanism : Do African Americans not undestand?

[Therious]

Do we make to much of "the Continent?" It seems that we post a lot about what europeans and arabs are doint to Africa. Yet I hear so much that Africans themselves think we African Americans complain too much about racism. To quote one African " we black americans are wrong to think the white man is out to get us". Ths guy literally thinks racial profiling is good, he really thginks blacks commit all the crimes sad!

It seems sometimes that us black americans are the only black folk who are not completley brainwashed in this world. It seems many foreign blacks like to come to the U.S. and smile for white people , while taking on european views towards black americans.. In Africa they let the europeans take their land, AND they are doing so again today. It seems europeans have a stronger mental hold over foreign blacks!

Are we AA's just ignorant to the cultures of Africa and so forth? Do we simply not understand that "they" have less of a problem with europeans and actually are flat out ignorant to the history of the u.s.? Should we AA's spend less energy thinking about Africa since many Africans share white views of AA's AND ARE LETTING THEMSELVES BE OVERRUN BY FOREINGERS, CHINESE , EUROPEAN ECT..

I know that everyone does not think the same way, I do not mean this in a geNEralized way. But it seems time and time again I just can't tell the difference between white mental state and African continental mental state. They say African taxi drivers don't pick up black pedestrians in NY, I guess the enemey is within as well....or is there something to the African continental approach to things? Do we as blacks think to negatively? do we not focus enough on money making? it seems many continentals come hee and get rich...

I put this here because this is the 'pan african" forum. is it possible to connect with people who think you are beneath them?

sometimes I see no difference in continental Africans and europeans. many seem to have no flavor or style. they resemble stiff, stuffy whites.they seem not to seperate themselves from whites but just blend in, these people are not our brothers and sisters are they??? again i don't mean all people from the continent, just the ones who make comments like the ones outlined in this thread....

 

[King Tubbs]

Do we make to much of "the Continent?"

No, I think so, maybe you could make that claim against Destee (I dont agree) but definately not in the "real world".

It seems that we post a lot about what europeans and arabs are doint to Africa. Yet I hear so much that Africans themselves think we African Americans complain too much about racism. To quote one African " we black americans are wrong to think the white man is out to get us". Ths guy literally thinks racial profiling is good, he really thginks blacks commit all the crimes sad!

Sadly even some African Americans believe that too, I seen them (not suprisingly) wheeled out on Fox News many times. Neither they or the African you quote can be used as a barometer of African American or African opinion.

It seems sometimes that us black americans are the only black folk who are not completley brainwashed in this world.

How many other black countries have you traveled to and spoken at length with the people in those nations? Please dont do an "Aljahiz" and tell me its just the ones you've met in the USA.

It seems many foreign blacks like to come to the U.S. and smile for white people , while taking on european views towards black americans.. In Africa they let the europeans take their land, AND they are doing so again today. It seems europeans have a stronger mental hold over foreign blacks!

And you think no AA's "take on European views and smile for white people"? Clearly some do, the expression "Uncle Tom" wasnt invented for "foreign blacks".

"They" no more "let" europeans take their land, than AA's "let" white americans control the economics in black neighbourhoods. Their are numerous historical reasons this happens, there are many threads here in Destee on "White Supremacy" that explain better than I could.

Are we AA's just ignorant to the cultures of Africa and so forth? Do we simply not understand that "they" have less of a problem with europeans

I dont think saying "they" have less of a problem with europeans and actually are flat out ignorant to the history of the u.s. is a fair analysis.

Firstly not living in a country with any or many white people means by default you are likely not to have any preconceived notions about them, and in this world of white supremacy you may look up to them.

I have no preconceived notions about eskimos.....because I live in London England and never see any, but I got plenty to say about white people (mostly negative) because I have grown up surrounded by them my whole life, maybe if I was born in Ghana or Senegal I might be different.

and actually are flat out ignorant to the history of the u.s.?

Flat out ignorance is not restricted to Africans. According to Brother Oldsoul "Americans" in general, especially Black Americans, are more ignorant of the world outside the US than any other nation on earth. (You'll have to ask him how or why he came to that conclusion but he's an American himself!)

Should we AA's spend less energy thinking about Africa since many Africans share white views of AA's

Again you say "many" Africans, how many? There are 800 million folks in Africa, did you ask all of them, or is this based on the tiny few you meet in the USA?

AND ARE LETTING THEMSELVES BE OVERRUN BY FOREINGERS, CHINESE , EUROPEAN ECT..

AA'S ARE LETTING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BE OVERRUN BY FOREIGNERS, KOREANS, ARABS, JEWS ETC (and its not because AA's want it to be that way)

I know that everyone does not think the same way, I do not mean this in a geNEralized way. But it seems time and time again I just can't tell the difference between white mental state and African continental mental state.

You really sound like an scholarly expert, you must have travelled to many states in Africa and written and full and detailed analysis.

They say African taxi drivers don't pick up black pedestrians in NY, I guess the enemey is within as well....or is there something to the African continental approach to things? Do we as blacks think to negatively? do we not focus enough on money making? it seems many continentals come hee and get rich...

Who is "they" who allege this about African taxi drivers? "They" have convinced you even though "they" dont have a name!

From memory:

Eddie Murphy circa 1982 "The Pope is really brave, he went to Harlem, I dont go to Harlem, and I'm a black man!!"

Chris Rock circa 1998 "People say why am I so negative...[about black crime]...they say 'its the media', well if I go to a cash point machine, I dontlook over my shoulder for Ted Koppel, I look for n*****s!!"

Those two AA's seem to agree with the alleged African taxi drivers...
a) Are they the only AA's who think like that? The mostly black crowd roared with laughter at those so called jokes I quoted
b)should I judge ALL AA's by those two.....or accept there are many voices amongst any group of people?

I put this here because this is the 'pan african" forum. is it possible to connect with people who think you are beneath them?

.....is it possible to connect with people who YOU think, that they think you are beneath them based on some ill informed comments by some of their number?

What would a continental African assume AA's thought of them if they listened to these two fools........

Eddie Griffn circa 2000

I aint no African, America may have problems but what would I do in Africa? I dont know nobody, I cant get a taxi and say take me to Abubububu's Hut!! If I tried doing stand up, they'll be throwing banana's and s*** at me!!!


Eddie Murphy circa 1996

I dont want no American girl, they too smart and will rip you off, I wanna go to africa and get some naked bone through the nose back of a zebra b****!!!

sometimes I see no difference in continental Africans and europeans. many seem to have no flavor or style. they resemble stiff, stuffy whites.they seem not to seperate themselves from whites but just blend in, these people are not our brothers and sisters are they???

I really really doubt your knowledge and experience of continental Africans in Africa. In USA they maybe doing what they think they need to do to get ahead, but they arent Americans and wont have "flavor" and "style" like a"brotha" or "sista" that is not inherently "african" its american!

again i don't mean all people from the continent, just the ones who make comments like the ones outlined in this thread....

Ever heard a white person say "I dont have anything against black people....just the ones who cause trouble!!!"

You sound awfully similar.

 

[IntelligentNoir]

Do we make to much of "the Continent?" It seems that we post a lot about what europeans and arabs are doint to Africa. Yet I hear so much that Africans themselves think we African Americans complain too much about racism. To quote one African " we black americans are wrong to think the white man is out to get us". Ths guy literally thinks racial profiling is good, he really thginks blacks commit all the crimes sad!

It seems sometimes that us black americans are the only black folk who are not completley brainwashed in this world. It seems many foreign blacks like to come to the U.S. and smile for white people , while taking on european views towards black americans.. In Africa they let the europeans take their land, AND they are doing so again today. It seems europeans have a stronger mental hold over foreign blacks!

Are we AA's just ignorant to the cultures of Africa and so forth? Do we simply not understand that "they" have less of a problem with europeans and actually are flat out ignorant to the history of the u.s.? Should we AA's spend less energy thinking about Africa since many Africans share white views of AA's AND ARE LETTING THEMSELVES BE OVERRUN BY FOREINGERS, CHINESE , EUROPEAN ECT..

I know that everyone does not think the same way, I do not mean this in a geNEralized way. But it seems time and time again I just can't tell the difference between white mental state and African continental mental state. They say African taxi drivers don't pick up black pedestrians in NY, I guess the enemey is within as well....or is there something to the African continental approach to things? Do we as blacks think to negatively? do we not focus enough on money making? it seems many continentals come hee and get rich...

I put this here because this is the 'pan african" forum. is it possible to connect with people who think you are beneath them?

sometimes I see no difference in continental Africans and europeans. many seem to have no flavor or style. they resemble stiff, stuffy whites.they seem not to seperate themselves from whites but just blend in, these people are not our brothers and sisters are they??? again i don't mean all people from the continent, just the ones who make comments like the ones outlined in this thread....

I feel you on this. Albeit my introduction to a rather harsh reality as to how some Africans percieve us was on Youtube. I have seen everything from accusations of us trying to steal "their" culture to we are over sexualized , thugs and drug addicts. This came from an African Woman living in France mind you. I once use to look upon the continet of Africa with great wonder and a sense of loinging for what was lost, but thanks to the internet my child like idealization of a people I thought would get me has been sadly, but thankfully shattered. I no longer idealize Africans as I once did. A stiff lesson in growing up I guess you could say. The sad part is, I could deal with them having their own ideas of how they belive us to be based on their interaction with us,but that's not what i hear comig from them at all. You have people who have never even met a African American in perwon spouting nonsense.

I mean, a lot of what I hear come out of their mouths is reminiscent of white racist. And they make no secret about how they feel about us. I have seen those from the eastern parts refer to us as apes, and say they are better then us . And that's just the way it is. Now I take Africans like I take my meds, one at a time. I mean, don't get me wrong, I have met some cool Africans but I have met more who are not so cool . Sad real sad.

 

[IntelligentNoir]

No, I think so, maybe you could make that claim against Destee (I dont agree) but definately not in the "real world".



Sadly even some African Americans believe that too, I seen them (not suprisingly) wheeled out on Fox News many times. Neither they or the African you quote can be used as a barometer of African American or African opinion.



How many other black countries have you traveled to and spoken at length with the people in those nations? Please dont do an "Aljahiz" and tell me its just the ones you've met in the USA.



And you think no AA's "take on European views and smile for white people"? Clearly some do, the expression "Uncle Tom" wasnt invented for "foreign blacks".

"They" no more "let" europeans take their land, than AA's "let" white americans control the economics in black neighbourhoods. Their are numerous historical reasons this happens, there are many threads here in Destee on "White Supremacy" that explain better than I could.



I dont think saying "they" have less of a problem with europeans and actually are flat out ignorant to the history of the u.s. is a fair analysis.

Firstly not living in a country with any or many white people means by default you are likely not to have any preconceived notions about them, and in this world of white supremacy you may look up to them.

I have no preconceived notions about eskimos.....because I live in London England and never see any, but I got plenty to say about white people (mostly negative) because I have grown up surrounded by them my whole life, maybe if I was born in Ghana or Senegal I might be different.


Flat out ignorance is not restricted to Africans. According to Brother Oldsoul "Americans" in general, especially Black Americans, are more ignorant of the world outside the US than any other nation on earth. (You'll have to ask him how or why he came to that conclusion but he's an American himself!)



Again you say "many" Africans, how many? There are 800 million folks in Africa, did you ask all of them, or is this based on the tiny few you meet in the USA?



AA'S ARE LETTING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BE OVERRUN BY FOREIGNERS, KOREANS, ARABS, JEWS ETC (and its not because AA's want it to be that way)



You really sound like an scholarly expert, you must have travelled to many states in Africa and written and full and detailed analysis.



Who is "they" who allege this about African taxi drivers? "They have convinced you even though "they" dont have a name!

From memory:

Eddie Murphy circa 1982 "The Pope is really brave, he went to Harlem, I dont go to Harlem, and I'm a black man!!"

Chris Rock circa 1998 "People say why am I so negative...[about black crime]...they say 'its the media', well if I go to a cash point machine, I dontlook over my shoulder for Ted Koppel, I look for n*****s!!"

Those two AA's seem to agree with the alleged African taxi drivers...
a) Are they the only AA's who think like that? The mostly black crowd roared with laughter at those so called jokes I quoted
b)should I judge ALL AA's by those two.....or accept there are many voices amongst any group of people?




.....is it possible to connect with people who YOU think, that they think you are beneath them based on some ill informed comments by some of their number?

What would a continental African ***-ume AA's thought of them if they listened to these two fools........

Eddie Griffn circa 2000

I aint no African, America may have problems but what would I do in Africa? I dont know nobody, I cant get a taxi and say take me to Abubububu's Hut!! If I tried doing stand up, they'll be throwing banana's and s*** at me!!!


Eddie Murphy circa 1996

I dont want no American girl, they too smart and will rip you off, I wanna go to africa and get some naked bone through the nose back of a zebra b****!!!




I really really doubt your knowledge and experience of continental Africans in Africa. In USA they maybe doing what they think they need to do to get ahead, but they arent Americans and wont have "flavor" and "style" like a"brotha" or "sista" that is not inherently "african" its american!



Ever heard a white person say "I dont have anything against black people....just the ones who cause trouble!!!"

You sound awfully similar.

I understand what you're saying about contact and misconceptions, but most African Americans are in no position to pay the thousands of dollars in travel fes to visit Africa unlike whites who are far wealthier. So what now? Do we continue to be ignorant of one another and spout unfounded nonsense? Or do we reach out and try to connect? Although I have read a post here that in a nutshell says that Africans could care less about African Americans which then leads to the question of what would be the point of trying to readh out if they feel that way?

 

[King Tubbs]

I feel you on this. Albeit my introduction to a rather harsh reality as to how some Africans percieve us was on Youtube. I have seen everything from accusations of us trying to steal "their" culture to we are over sexualized , thugs and drug addicts. This came from an African Woman living in France mind you.

ONE woman on Youtube is enough to give you a harsh reality on how SOME Africans percieve you? What do you think an African would make of the Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock quotes I gave above, I could give many many more.

I once use to look upon the continet of Africa with great wonder and a sense of loinging for what was lost, but thanks to the internet my child like idealization of a people I thought would get me has been sadly, but thankfully shattered. I no longer idealize Africans as I once did. A stiff lesson in growing up I guess you could say. The sad part is, I could deal with them having their own ideas of how they belive us to be based on their interaction with us,but that's not what i hear comig from them at all. You have people who have never even met a African American in perwon spouting nonsense.

You relied and even give credit to the internet (!!!) for teaching you Africans dont like AA's......oh dear!

I mean, a lot of what I hear come out of their mouths is reminiscent of white racist. And they make no secret about how they feel about us. I have seen those from the eastern parts refer to us as apes, and say they are better then us . And that's just the way it is. Now I take Africans like I take my meds, one at a time. I mean, don't get me wrong, I have met some cool Africans but I have met more who are not so cool . Sad real sad.

But many AA's views on Africans are reminiscent of white racists too, I'm not denying the existence of what you and Therious say, but neither of you seem to admit it works both ways and both sides are largely relying on WHITE controlled media for our views on each other.

I understand what you're saying about contact and misconceptions, but most African Americans are in no position to pay the thousands of dollars in travel fes to visit Africa unlike whites who are far wealthier. So what now? Do we continue to be ignorant of one another and spout unfounded nonsense? Or do we reach out and try to connect? Although I have read a post here that in a nutshell says that Africans could care less about African Americans which then leads to the question of what would be the point of trying to readh out if they feel that way?

Thats a good question.

I wasnt suggesting anybody needs to fly to Africa, I was just highlighting the fact we cant judge a continent of 800 million people because "an African" said this, that or the other.

We seem to use the most negative comments made by some confused/misguided Africans to justify an attitude of "well they dont care about us, so why care about them", but ignore many examples (some are right here in Destee, you dont need to physically go to Africa to find them!) of Africans reaching out to us, apologising for their past role in slavery, setting land for us to settle on etc.

Where do we go from here?

Forget the dumb Africans both you and Therious mentioned (their not going any direction we want to be going anyway) and concentrate solely on the positive constructive ones......and dont use the former to write off the latter.

Ghana set land aside for Diasporan Blacks
More about Fihankra mentioned in the above thread
Example of an intelligent Continental African
Africans asking for forgiveness