Question:

Is it wrong that my African friend does not identify himself with Black Americans?

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when he lives in the States?

He lives in a really racially segregated city and errs towards the "white side." He says he gets nothing but gripe from black people, etc etc...same 'ol story...yet he claims he's always fair.

When someone asks his viewpoint from the Black perspective, he is quick to say he is Senegalese.

Does it matter that he doesn't identify with Black Americans but as Senegalese American?

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  1. whatever he wants to do! I do not care because we are all human.


  2. No

  3. i think it is okay. if i was in trinidad or the domincan republic, i would be REALLY quick to point out that I am not one of them because i am proud to be a black american and would not like to be identified as domincan or trinidian. i think this is the same concept. if i went to cuba and someone asked me about the life of black cubans, i would also be quick to point out i am a black american, my being american prevents me from being able to speak intelligently on such matters.

  4. No, nothing wrong

  5. No it's not wrong at all. His life experience has probably been completely different from an African Americans. This is actually very common. I have known blacks from Jamaica, Kenya and Libya and they all felt the same way. I've also known Mexicans from Mexico that felt the same way about Mexican Americans.

  6. His choice. That's reason enough to leave it alone.  

  7. No he is not wrong. I do not identify myself as an Africa-american or black american. I am a Black Haitian-American because I do not act like African-American. There is a cultural difference that is why it isn't wrong.  

  8. When I was in Africa, I asked many native Africans what they thought of African Americans.  The great majority of the time, they expressed frustration and confusion over the behavior they saw from the African-Americans.  The point of view of many Africans is that black Americans are not working hard enough and that they are not applying themselves when they have the opportunities to do so.  They can't understand why they complain all the time about the white man.  One African told me specifically that he was teased by black Americans when he worked hard at his job.  He was told by the black Americans to not work so hard for the white man.  I have been to Senegal and the people there were very polite and kind to me.  They literally invited me into their homes and let me sleep there, even with only a few hours notice.  The plain fact of the matter is that blacks in Africa are different from blacks in the USA.  Africans are much more polite and easy-going, and they avoid assertiveness and aggression.  Your friend, I would imagine, sees these same differences and does not want to be identified with African-Americans.  

  9. he's senegalese

  10. He is Senegalese American if he was born there that is otherwise if he was born in the USA he is Black American

  11. no im ethiopian n eritrean n I dnt identify myself with african americanz im juz african

  12. no because black americans don't identify with africans

  13. No, not at all, I consider myself to be a black -American.  I don't consider myself to be African American, even though my biological mother is African/Lebonese and my father is American.  Truth be told I can't stand most Africans.

    Most the Africans think they are better than us, and when they get called the N-Word, thats when they want to claim being black.

    Black Forever!

    Peace!

  14. No matter what he says he is racially Black.

  15. Why should he fit you mold?  He has a different heritage and world perspective.  I have spent a good bit of time in Africa and have great respect for the many cultures there.  Learn from his perspectives.  Don't so easily classify him by skin tone.

    I have an issue with placing race or ethnicity before American.  This in itself is divisive.  We seem to be main ones to hyphenate nationality.  I have met German citizens of African decent, but never did they refer to them selves as the equivalent of "African-German".  The same with the other 40 plus countries I have been in.

  16. It is not wrong.He is not Black American he is Senegalese.An entirely different culture.He will gravitate towards whatever culture is closest to his own...not the color of skin.  

  17. No. Why should he identify with them, if he is part of a different "culture".

  18. Why should he have to identify with anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That in itself is racist.  I am Italian, do you think I only hang out with other Italians?  It is the same concept.  

    *If I am around a racist white person, I refer to myself as Mediterranean..  

  19. No because he is of a different culture. African-Americans and Africans are COMPLETELY different from each other. Africans don't have to identify themselves with them and vice versa-i've heard there actually a bit of conflict too between them sometimes.

    Its like an Italian from Italy meeting an Italian from New York and hoping they can identify-truth is, even though they may both speak Italian and are the same race, Italian culture is different from American Italian culture.

    Same thing with blacks.

  20. Black cultures around the world despise each other, and wish to be superior to one another.  However, your friend isn't doing anything wrong.  I'm a Black American, and I have no connection to the African continent whatsoever.

  21. be proud of your culture//race

    embrace it! it makes you a special, unique person(:

    answer mine ?

    http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

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