If I went to africa..

Question

Okay,I am an african american teenager and I am 1/4 white,1/8 native american and it shows alot.I have light skin and curly long hair.I've heard stories about people who've went to africa and were light skinned and the africans rejected them:( I wanted to go when i got older,but I am somewhat afriad.And I've even heard they consider you white if you are light?.....is this true..?

Answer 1

Some of it is probably true, but they are more likely to reject you because of cultural differences.

Answer 2

You'll have problems because of cultural differences. I know of many very dark skinned Americans who thought it would be a walk in the park because of similarities in skin color, but their experiences turned out to be everything but! Incidentally, how in the heck do you measure with such precision your racial composition? 1/4 white and 1/8 native American? What races make up the other 5/8 of you? :-)

Answer 3

Yes and no ... it's most likely cultural differences and gaps

Answer 4

There are all different shades of "Black" in africa just like there are here.

Have you ever heard of the Berbers of Northern Africa?  Some of them have white skin.

Do some research.

Answer 5

I suppose it depends on the area. I've been to Eritrea and everyone there was very welcoming. In fact, you would probably fit in quite well.  

Answer 6

The problems you'll most likely face will be more cultural than anything.  You'll find that some Africans will be upset with you for no reason.  

Answer 7

Expect to be shouted at by children and named by older or uneducated adults as "whitey" (mundele, muzungu).

There is no racism in this, it is simply their way of addressing foreigners.

I have heard that some African Americans tended to patronize native Africans and this led to rebuffals.

Also remember that as an American, you are supposed to have deep pockets, lined with greenbacks (this is less true since when Africans have met USAID volunteers). So, if you refuse to give freely, you will often be sen as a rat and treated as such.

I've lived for 25 years in Africa and with ONE exception, I and my family, including my African wife and our beautiful children have been welcomed everywhere.