This is the trailer from a documentary made by an African immigrant about how immigration from Africa and the Caribbean is transforming the “African American” narrative.
-Almost 3 million of America’s black population are foreign born
-Between 1980 and 2005, this population more than tripled
-Haitians quadrupled
-Ethiopians increased 13 times
-In 2005, 1 million US born black children had at least one foreign born parent
-Black, immigrant women are having children faster than African American women
-38% of African immigrants have attained a bachelor’s degree or higher (The national average is about 28%)
Filed under: Race | Tagged: African-Americans, immigration
Dear Brother Tariq,
Thank you for bringing up this topic.
The notion of who is African American is an evolving idea. While we people of predominantly African descent are from diverse origins, there is a cultural difference between those who emerged out of a history of American slavery (e.g., New World Africans) and those who have more recently arrived in this country, often the product of past colonialism.
The tension between the two groups is not new, however. In fact, since the early 1700s there was always the tension between those Africans who had become African Americans and those newly arrived Africans who were not yet assimilated. My grandmother (b. ~ 1880) used to tell me how when the new arrivals (enslaved Africans) would arrive, those already here would have to spend time teaching them how to survive in their new condition. It was arduous and the conflict between the “people of the church” and the “people of the river” lasted through the early 19th century.
What we see happening now, is that a form of repirations (Affirmative Action) targetted at those of African descent whose ancestors struggled through slavery and Jim Crow racism are now, perhaps disproportionately, being appropriated by those of African descent who have only recently arrived in the United States.
I am not inherently opposed to this African appropriation, however, African Americans (with roots in slavery and segregation) should make some demands on those Africans who are benefiting from our historical stuggle. Africans who are able to attend college, get jobs, and generally advance themselves as a result of African American sacrifices do owe something significant to African Americans. One obligation is to become more familiar and conversant with African American culture (i.e., become more acculturated, as Senator Obama has chosen to do).
The second obligation is to use their enhanced status to help, in very concrete ways, those African Americans on whose backs they are standing. These two obligations should be articulated forcefully and reaffirmed regularly.
Africans in America owe African Americans directly and indirectly and there is no getting out of this responsibility. Yes, Africans can become African Americans. We have an inclusive cultural legacy. Their uniqueness will be added to our own; Africans can enrich African American culture. But they must also be a source of help and benefit, particularly when they have advanced in our country as a result of being classified as “African American”
I have several essays somewhere by former students (of mine) who were Africans written on this question of identity with African Americans. Most we quite hostile.
I attribute this to the “love-hate” relationship that most Africans have with African Americans. With each passing year, however, the African students, became more “Americanized”. Given their phenotype, the slot open for these Americanized Africans was “African American”. Some sought to redefine themselves as the “true” African Americans, but this usually belied a lack of understanding of/compassion for real African American history. The whole process is quite amazing, subhana’Allah.
One day in Langley Park, I witnessed an argument between some Central American immigrants and some West African immigrants. The latter were yelling at the former “Go back to your country!”. I thought this was really revealing, since both were immigrants, but the West Africans were pretending to be indigenous.
Dear Dr. Jackson,
I totally agree with you on the imperative for the Neo African Americans to recognize and appreciate the “native” African American struggles which have allowed us to come here and live us free men and women.
However, I get concerned when people bring up the issue of Affirmative Action, or as you have put it, “they have advanced in our country as a result of being classified as “African American.”‘ That assumes they are getting ahead beacause of affirmative action. When you consider the fact that African immigrants are much more educated than the general population, it’s a bit make the case thta they are advancing due to affirmative action. Speaking for myself, I doubt I’ve benefitted from affirmative action, at least I hope not. In fact, when I first applied for college in the U.S., I specifically stated in my essay that I did not want to be considered for affirmative action because I felt it wasn’t meant for me. Besides, I felt I could compete with anyone on an even playing field. And I ended up choosing a college where my scholarship was strictly based on my test scores.
But even if we are benefitting from affirmative action, as one of the interviewees says in the documentary, it is very limiting for us to think of black immigrants as “taking the place” of African Americans. Which place? Are black people limited to a fixed number of academic and employment spots in America? Let’s think of it as expanding the pie, celebrating our joint successes as people of African descent and working to improve the lot of those less fortunate.
I am interested in hearing your ideas about how the Neo African Americans can “use their enhanced status to help, in very concrete ways, those African Americans on whose backs they are standing.”
@ kobi
After working for the last 27+ years in euro-american higher education, it is naive for anyone to assume that their admission to college is simply based upon their test scores. I have participated in dozens of admissions committee meetings and the issue of ethnicity is always addressed. In the minds of most Americans, Africans here in the US are lumped with African Americans.
Secondly, a quota system very much exists, whether this is stated explicitly or not. In fact, several sociologists have written about the embedded quota that exists in the minds of many European Americans — a notion of the “right” combination of ethnicities that signals “diversity”. (BTW, many have noted that this continues to require a majority of European-looking individuals and a sprinkling of “others”)
Africans benefiting from the educational and economic inroads made by African Americans have a responsibility to “give back” to the communities that sacrificed for their current well-being. This does not deny the role of personal initiative in contributing to the success of individual Africans. Rather, it is a reminder that no one gets through life successfully by themselves. Each of us is in debt to those who came before. By entering the American system, a system that does not currently distinguish between a black African and a black American, Africans are accessing the byproducts of African American struggle (e.g., voting rights, fair housing, access to health care, educational opportunities, etc.). This should be acknowledged and addressed by helping those African Americans who, for various reasons, do not now find themselves in a similarly privileged position. That’s all I’m saying. The details, at the individual level, have to be worked out on a case-by-case basis and the ultimate accounting is with God!
Fatimah
I am always happy to see people, especially those of color, doing well—immigrant or otherwise.
Kobi:
I know you probably weren’t trying to intentionally sound pompous—or maybe you were– in any case, you defiantly came across as such.
African immigrants are much more educated than the general population? You actually stated a mistruth. African immigrants are the most educated of all the ethnic groups (immigrants) who come to the US to study.
In as much as you, being African, or me, being African American, feel that we can compete on a even playing field in the most prestigious college in the US, the fact remains that Affirmative Action kicks in regardless…even if, in our self righteous minds, we want it to or not. At most, the people who reviewed your essay thought it was a noble (or humorous) gesture for you to make such a statement.
Dr. Fatimah Jackson:
I agree with your assessment on how AAs made it possible for As and other immigrants to be here and, in that respect, some debt is owed.
Unfortunately, for the most part, that does not happen—in fact most AAs are looked down on and viewed from a very stereotypical lens by immigrant, not excluding Africans. I would liken it to an upward turned nose and a spit in the face after hoisting on one’s back to get to an otherwise unreachable platform.
“Their uniqueness will be added to our own” - Umm, there was a group of characters called the Borg on Star Trek who used a similar line to assimilate others into their ‘collective’. I kinda find the phrase funny, but it works on some other levels in the context of this discussion.
Some remarks above also talk about ‘the debt they owe us’. I don’t mean to offend anyone, but I would find those words to be rather insulting. I don’t deny that recent African immigrants may be benefiting from the fight that African-Americans fought for, but if I had just arrived in the US, and I was told ‘By the way, you owe us’, my first reaction would not be ‘Yeah you’re right, where do I pay up’.
I know its been acknowledged above, but if the African immigrant is getting the impression that his/her success is due to the rights won by African-Americans, to the detriment of acknowledging that they’ve personally put in to their own success, or not acknowledging that they may have come here as immigrants from fairly tough circumstances themselves, I can understand why that might create animosity.
K-Dude:
No offence taken.
I do not think anyone has his or her hand(s) out like “Give me something for your being here”, neither was that insinuated.
However, when you have immigrants, African and otherwise, who haughtily look down on AAs just by virtue of being AA (and that alone)—who never bear in mind the fact that the only reason they are even here are through means of the AA struggle, it is only meet that one would expect a little more respect than what is often given—not a cash reward. Again, I would refer you to the current situation in South Africa.
I’ve worked hard to get to the level I am now as an African American through hard work and merit, and I expect to be judged based on this.
This is not something unique to Africans or anyone else nor is it true of all Africans, AAs, or otherwise.
Back in the REAL world, things do not necessarily work this way (hard work, and merit) in America…though we’d like to believe that it does because it gives us that nice, warm fuzzy feeling inside of achievement laced with pride. However, often, it is the other way around.
I know many AAs who have worked very hard and have a surplus of credentials yet they are not awarded that promotion or position.
Perhaps one thinks that casually approaching a white person and demanding that they are given a fair playing ground would do the trick.
Beyond this, why would your animosity be towards me as an AA when, in fact, it’s not the AA who is taking away from your success. If anything, they are giving more to it because without it, some opportunity simply may have been lost—merit or no merit–just based on your being non white.
It’s a lot deeper than “my woe is greater than your woe”.
Dear Indigoblu,
I aplogize for coming off as pompous; that was certainly not the goal. The goal was simply to state some facts, some of them personal, to illustrate a point; the point being my mindset at the time I entered this country for college. As I mentioned, I chose a college that had clear guidelines for different scholarships and so, for me, there was some comfort in knowing that it was my test score that “earned” me the scholarship. Interestingly, for whatever reason, most of those scholarships were taken by international students–of all races.
That mindset has evolved over the last ten years as I have come to better understand America and the African American experience. Nevertheless, many new neo African Americans have the same attitude as I had back then, and it’s because of the different context in which we are socialized vis a vis native African Americans.
Another example: I first came here with the goal of becoming a filmmaker. Before I left home, people wished me luck in becoming the next Steven Spielberg. When I came to the States and I told people my dream, they would wish me luck in becoming the next Spike Lee! Spike Lee is a great filmmaker and I really admire him, but I was very uncomfortable with the idea of my aspiration being racially constrained. I wouldn’t have minded if they wished me luck in becoming the next Hype Williams, becuase I thought he was the best music video director–of all races.
In fact, I believe we should get over the idea of black role models for black kids, becuase it could serve to constrain their sense of possibility. On the other hand, finding black, white, Asian, Hispanic role models for black kids reinforces the message that their potential has nothing to do with race.
To Dr. Jackson’s point about African immigrants giving back, I can assure you I have done more than my fair bit, and I still want to do more.
Anyway, my goal with this documentary to illustrate how our different social contexts shape our attitudes and for us to have debates such as this one. I hope you both get a chance to see the documentary. As Tariq will testify, it is much more multidimensional than the trailer may suggest.
Keep the conversation going. Each one teach one.
IndigoBlu,
I hear you. I think we’re on the same field. My caution is that I think the tension being created between AAs and African immigrants might stem from how these things are approached. If an African immigrant feels like their personal achievements are not being given their due credit, they may get a little defensive.
My feeling is that with most of the African immigrants, it may take a number of years, perhaps a generation or two before they realise the implications of what made it possible for them. At this point, they may be a little pre-occupied with settling and adapting (I’m not saying they should ignore the points you bring up, I just think they’re not paying much attention to other things yet).
I don’t look down on AAs personally, but I don’t disagree that a lot of immigrant groups do. I think its more a socio-economic thing rather than a racial thing, but nevertheless there is a problem. I also have a greater concern for the indigenous population (ie Native Americans), because I think they’ve been COMPLETELY forgotten.
Kobi:
You have a very valid point here, and I agree entirely. In fact, I understand all the points you made. I just have to wonder why being black (African, African American, Caribbean, etc..just black people) restrains us (mentally), even those of us who have worked hard, overcame the barriers, and earned everything we have….hinders us in the sense that one always has this slightly unquenchable thirst of trying to “prove” one’s self “worthy”, so to speak, to be on the same playing field.
Do we place the value of ourselves ultimately on our comparability/competitiveness to whites? To some–almost everything “white” seems so much better, especially compared to those things “black”. “Worthiness” proves almost by default when you have white skin—but should not “worthiness” come by virtue of being human?
K-Dude:
I agree that it is more socio-economic but still racial/ethnical/national stands on its own as well. It’s quite evident actually. I see it as just another means of separation added to a very long existing list.
The problem with all of this is that many people loose the essence of who they are in the process. I was talking to a African friend today—it’s important that I mention he is African because it holds value to the rest of this story…..
He informed me of the social construct that existed while the British were in control of Kenya, physically, and that the damage still holds….in spite of the British’s physical absence for the most part.
I thought he meant the exploitation of resources as damage, but he quickly informed me otherwise. Although he could not deny the economic aspect of it (now neo colonialism), he told of me things I never imagined and never had any clue or hint of.
The natives of Kenya were not allowed to wear pants, only the British were allowed to. This may seem trivial, but it made me think about slavery in North America when blacks were subjected to Jim Crow laws and segregation—it was simply a means of placing “white” above “black”, to make one feel superior and the other inferior. They bowed to the British, addressed them as “Lords”, and got public floggings if they “misbehaved”.
He told me that speaking English was seen as something positive and “correct” while speaking their native tongue or Swahili was looked down on, especially by other Kenyans—even forty-five years after the fact and the British are mostly long gone.I thought to myself….In a lot of ways it was similar to slavery, except without the field aspect.
There are some wealthy British remaining who have a lot of land in Kenya, so they decided to stay. He says, they can do whatever they want and get away with it, in board daylight. Recently, one of them, on Delamere farm, shot and killed three Kenyans (three disparate times) simply because they were somewhere close to his property.
Of course authorities were summoned, but the results were negative all three times. Three peoples lives are taken in vain…all in the name of power, and the law had nothing for this man but for him to go to his nice home (Kenya)– where he had killed three Kenyans with no just cause— and sleep peacefully.
The first time, nothing happened to him, the same happened the second time. The third time, the Kenyans in surrounding areas were upset and burned his farm and some of his land, but he still relatively peacefully lives there and three lives were still taken at his hands with no just cause.
His face became sullen as he continued to tell me that many of the people he knows who are from “back home” (Africa) really adore white people and many in the states would, in a heart beat, marry white, not necessarily for love but for status, even before they would marry African, and this is again mostly a socio-economic move most of the time.
Africans, he concludes, are usually treated “differently” than AAs by whites and he suspects that in the grand scheme of things, it is the second making of the “field nigger” and the “house nigger” in the US. Although the ladder was given a little more privilege, he/she was never equal or even close to his/her master’s “status”, though it gave the illusion, which was entirely based on believing that they were a step higher than those in the field on their master’s “hierarchy”.
Yes, it is a sad thing for all of us.
The Native Americans legacy is lost somewhere between gun and arrow western movies and Land O’Lakes “Indian” butter.
For the most part, psychological affects of “white is right”, “white supremacy”, and colonialism, even now, grips, in terms of “race”, “class”, and “education”, all people who have ever been a part of colonialism or slavery.
Beloved Brothers and Sisters:
This is quite a spirited and illustrative discussion, and there’s one point that need to be added to it. It is the FACT that African Americans do not accept other Blacks not born in the US.
It has been the experience for me, for my older brother, younger brother, and even for my stepbrother. Because we were not born in the US, AAs do not consider us members of the Black race. Something else I have noticed, even before I migrated up here (I come from the Republic of Panama), is the FACT that African Americans do not think of Blacks in other places as their kin. They believe that the slavery masacre (because it was a masacre), happened just to them, here in the US. Therefore, this mindset belittles the slavery experience in Latin America, in the Caribbean, in East Africa and in other places. We, all Blacks in this country, need to open our eyes to our brethren overseas. That will give us the real perspective of our power as people that own a genetic memory of struggle, but also of power!
If my opinion offends any of you my siblings, please forgive me. It was never my intention to do that. I just thought that it will make the debate more interesting by bringing another opinion on board.
Fi Amanillah,
Farhanahz
This is a very complex issue and I think it all depends on what one is talking about. In my experience I think that American blacks (descendants of slaves) can be very accepting of others blacks as part of the race, but perhaps not CULTURALLY.
The point is to recognize all of the diversity that is “blackness” and humanity in general without looking down upon another culture. Nigerians, West Indians, Ethiopians, black Latinos, black Americans are all what one would call “black”, but each have unique cultures and experiences that can be celebrated. That is what this film is about.
Kobi (the film maker) and I are going to see what we can do about showing this film and having some sort of discussion on this issue
Sister Farhanahz:
I guess that is the jest of it all. We all have different experiences, and it’s unfortunate that you had a bad one with AAs. I’ve have a few bad experiences with people from the Caribbean, Africa, and Central America as well…. for the same reasons you mentioned but as the recipient.
I could hold that against every person from those areas that I meet, but I try to look at people as individuals. That is the most important thing. I think Tariq is right about the cultural aspect for all blacks, and of course, the stereotypes don’t help much either.
Thanks for joining in