Many of you guys ask why African American's find the term 'Akata' offensive, it's because of the tone with which it is used. I'm simply asking, where do you get the pride and arrogance to be condescending and what is it based on?

any takers?

RajalAadi:

I'm new to this board, but not new to Nigeria or West Africa or it's cultures as a whole. I have traveled a lot and I've seen the world and much of what it contains. There is a lot of positivity out there and much common ground between cultures. My post is about the the use of "Akata" and why I find it funny. But I'll return to that once I introduce my experiences.

In my teens, I used to really  have a sense of commonality with West African people, it didn't matter whether Nigerian, Ivorian or whatever. In fact, my sister's husband is from Ivory Coast. Traveling to Africa as a teenager was a very pleasant experience and I had lots of fun. Nigeria was interesting and people were very kind and generous offering whatever they had to me.

That being said, as an adult, traveling back and forth to Africa (Nigeria included) and dealing with West African people here in the states, on a more mature level, it's clear, that Africans and African-Americans, really have nothing in common. The only major thing, in fact, is ignorance.

But, from the posts I've read on this forum, it seems that most of you guys (from Nigeria) have only come in contact with a certain segment of Black American culture and use this as your basis for reference or choose to ignore other segments. Fortunately, we (African-Americans) are not a monolithic group and granted neither are Nigerians or West Africans, but you guys seem really in the dark and have an over-inflated sense of self importance. To support that point, I point to how many West African people in the real world and on this forum deal with African-Americans in a really condescending tone. I'm confused why this is and what you're proud of or arrogant about? I could understand if you said, I am proud of my culture or my history - that would be understandable. But, most of you guys (Nigerians) imitate Black American culture, very poorly I might add, or you just imitate European culture. And when you do "dress" in what would be considered "traditional" dress, it's just a shell of a custom or tradition, it's nothing real or impressive.

Which brings me to the point of topic, on what grounds do you find yourselves (Nigerians) able to look down on African Americans or use this term "Akata?" Speaking very honestly, nobody and yes, nobody outside of Africa is impressed with you guys. The accomplishments that were achieved by the hand of West African people is in the past and today, nothing significant has comes out of West Africa by its own hand. Again I ask, what are you so proud of? African Americans, as a race of people, have many problems yes, however, we have education, money, many contributors to the world and society through science, technology, business and the like. How many significant figures have come out of West Africa in the 20th century? I'll give you one, Emmanuel Emeagwali. He's the man that created the computers that allowed for many of the communications we have today. However, those computers were obsolete years ago.

West African people are extremely capricious, immature in mind, and are very narrowly sighted. Just try getting into a debate with a person from West Africa and and no doubt they will resort to yelling as a way to prove their point. Or reverse it, if you ask a West African person, how do you prove a point, they would probably tell you, just yell your point louder. (haha, Just joking) I will say, though, that to every rule there are exceptions and I have met many people who are very good people but they are the vast minority. And when I do run across sober-minded West African people, they will tell you themselves that yeah, you can't deal with "their people" in certain ways or on certain matters.

African-Americans and Africans have nothing in common. African Americans are a people and culture in and of themselves and while I believe African Americans should take from their history routed in Africa, through DNA sourcing, lineal research, study etc., I do not believe that the jump should be made to try and tie the African person of today with the African-American person of today culturally, because we are not the same. Intellectual Americans of any race cannot deal with West African people, in general, on matters of progress or for the common good, unless they are just using them. Only those West Africans I mentioned before with sober minds and the capacity to see the state of their people as afflicted the same as intelligent African Americans would see the afflictions and admit to it, in their own people have anything in common. And what is that common thread between them? Common sense. Most African American's I've come into contact with in Africa who do business there wind up taking the  position of the white people, which is don't wast your time dealing with the local people, they're hopeless to deal with. They say, just make money and keep it moving.

However, it's clear that most of you have been limited to an ignorant Black American class, and yes, who wouldn't feel superior to anyone ignorant. Try speaking to someone with half of a brain or culture from amongst AA's and you guys will fail every time.

Your lands are about to be raped at an alarming rate by the Chinese, Americans and Europeans because your people are backwards. Africa is the only continent, as a whole, in the world where the armies of each country do not fight or defend against other countries. They just kill and punish their own people. Yes dumb African-American youth shoot and kill each other, however, you guys have institutionalized it. How f'n stupid. At least African Americans have a balancing segment of their race. Even college students that come here from West Africa just get jobs and contribute nothing of significance to the world, generally speaking.

Nigerians, pipe down with Akata non-sense. Because outside of African, you play no major role - nor within Africa for that matter.

Many of you guys ask why African American's find the term 'Akata' offensive, it's because of the tone with which it is used. I'm simply asking, where do you get the pride and arrogance to be condescending and what is based on?

mmmmmmmmmm what are u on?

aight akata run along now. we dont care what u think!

@Juquan - Yeah, doesn't look like you guys care at all, at least from the footage I've seen.

Figures though, these are the kinds of responses I'd thought I'd get. Would be surprised if you all could even concentrate long enough to read through the whole post. (sigh) Africans, Yeah, I'll run along, and you run along back to posts about Ibo and Cous-Cous.

Ok, I get your point; I don't use the term 'akata' anyway. But you sound a bit ignorant yourself when you say Africans don't contribute anything to the world, both in America or in Africa. I REALLY don't want to use my humble self as an example.

Yes, you mentioned you've traveled a lot but it doesn't mean you've met and gotten acquainted with all ranges of Africans to come to such conclusions. And before you reiterate on how you stated that there are a 'few sober-minded Africans' who are exceptions to your so-called ignorance, how did you also come to that conclusion? Do you know that there are over 140 million people in Nigeria alone?

It's just like me saying, "I've been to almost all 50 states in the U.S. and all the AA's I've met use the N-word proudly therefore all AAs use the N-word". Because honestly, I haven't met one who doesn't. So why complain about 'akata' when you gladly accept a term given to you by slave masters?. Beats me, really. Oh, and don't say 'nigga' is different from 'nigger', really doesn't matter. The former was made to deride the victim, just like you believe the term, 'akata' was also formed. same thing, buddy.

Alright, but when did I say I was fine with the word "nigger" or "nigga?" I didn't.  So, I don't know how u just tried to prove a point on a view i didn't state. Nor did I state that I met all Africans. I'm talking based on a representative sample of west African people based on experiences of my associates and I, and from reading things like I've found on this forum. Which is valid however not conclusive, no. I'm not saying I'm all right, of course I could just be an asshole. I'm just looking for an unemotional rebuttal. At least that I could respect. Anyway, no one has attempted to answer my question, which I even widdled my entire post down to. So, waiting,

PS.
I even stated that african-americans are ignorant in large part, my issue is just why do the majority ignorant from your people feel superior? That's what I wanna know. And, I also said, in so many words, in my post, that the only people from both cultures that can get along are those who think. But, both nations are screwed up. So that's why I think it's funny you guys have this derogatory word 'akata' when really, it's nothing noteable about you guys TODAY. In the past yes. But, not TODAY, where at least with African-Americans, there are still many people of note TODAY.

Akata is not a derogatory word. It just means overseas.
Anyway, a lot of people are only having fun and its nothing personal when they give you a verbal punch; get a thick skin. Of course there are people who have never met an African American, but see representations of "African American" life as proudly depected by snoop dog and 50 cent all over tv.
Its ignorance on both sides.

Also, when you say Africans have never contributed anything to the World and other derogatory things, what sort of response do you expect? Worship? You're not even white so I could say, "oh its the genuine racist KKK".

akata simply means african american period. There is no other word for African American in our culture. How do you expect me to be speaking my language then immediately switching to english just to say African American? Isn't akata a shorter word?

@rajalaadi: my friend don't you know that hating on west africans is practically hating on yourself? They say a boy who throws a stone into the market place later on finds that the stone landed on his mother's head. what you have raised is a legitimate problem but you prevent the solution when you choose to engage in deriding comments (most of which are false and do nothing but taint your reputation). My simple advice to you is continue on your decision of zero-tolerance of the use of the word "akata".
Oh and the part about the loud West-Africans? its simply a cultural thing, nothing personal, so don't read too much into it (kinda like different personalities). Personally i like to refer to West Africans as more animated than the average African. If you come to phrase your observations this way i think it affords you a better outlook.
For the record, i despise the word "akata" myself. I think it is ironic to refer to your brothers as akata (especially when you do no consider yourself an akata).

I wouldn't say that hating on West Africans is hating myself because historically I acknowledge the common origins of us both. But in a contemporary context, I see minimal relation. Most Nigerians do not seem to know themselves the origin of the word which makes it even more ridiculous. I've heard every explanation for where the word 'Akata' has come from it meaning, fox, cotton-picker, cat or lost cat, to just someone away from home. However, the use of the word belies whatever false cover of justification the spouters of the word have. The bottom line is, the word doesn't mean me, A black man nor does it mean anything that I would call complementing or respectable. You seem pretty down to earth, but you are a drop of water in an ocean of capriciousness. Anyway, I don't think I'll get any real answers here. Don't try to offer advice to me, as a way to avoid answering my question. I'm already aware I'm not perfect and that my views may be skewed, but the simple answer to my question remain aloof.

Akata isn't derogatory.
Like I said earlier, the only African Americans that we find annoying are those that glorify all things negative like snoop and 50 cent. Those that can't wear their trousers properly yet proudly refer to their mothers, sisters and wives as hos. The ones who walk like one knee is missing and they should be on a crutch. Those that can beat a woman with staggering violence; those who think that guns are jewelry and jail time an honour. The type that proudly calls his newborn baby n1ga. Those  fools "above Africans" that screen movies like "coming to America".

To summarise, its those that are whiter than white and those that have evolved into some sort of despicable creature.

By the way, I married a lovely black babe from somewhere in the diaspora, I can see those who are positive and a joy to be with.

Who cares about the origin of the word - Akata?

Akata has always been the word to describe Black Americans. Not derogatory or anything. However, when ignorant Black Americans ask Americanized Nigerians who probably want to get one over them, they get told different things.

I have been around long enough to know that Akata is not a derogatory term. One Nigerian artiste even used the term on one of his songs after a visit to America. these Black Americans always see the negatives in their lives. . .

Mr. RajalAadi, when you people call Africans 'booty scratchers' or 'kunta kinte', what gave you that right to feel superior? Mind telling us what even gave you that notion that you were? Now, those two terms are pretty concise that any idiot will know the ridicule behind it. You, on the other hand I don't believe you're fluent in any Nigerian language. What makes you think the 'akata' word is derogatory?

Oh yeah, who are these AAs that are currently contributing so much to America? I bet I already know your answer.

And the whole loud thing is associated with AA women, I didn't make so but it's a general understanding. I don't know how you came about West Africans being loud.

Yeah, I hear all of you guys talking. And just see denial of the true meaning of the word. If it really meant nothing then you could just call black American's 'cousins' or something like that. It's not hard to come up with a word. And if you guys can't even narrow down a definition, then it must not be an important word in your language. I mean, I if chose a word for you guys like, Ferels. As in Ferel Cats. Meaning something that was captive or tame and now is living freely, then How would feel about that? I could twist it and turn it and say "look guys, we call you guys ferels because you escaped bondage of the white man and now are free, but ferel is not a negative word man, it just means African people now. We don't mean anything by it." How would feel about that?

"Oh yeah, who are these AAs that are currently contributing so much to America? I bet I already know your answer."




http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Business/story?id=2247424&page=1

http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventors/a/Patricia_Bath.htm

www.robertsbrothers.com

http://www.bookrags.com/highbeam/news-and-views-blacks-at-stanford-this-hb/

RajalAadi:

Yeah, I hear all of you guys talking. And just see denial of the true meaning of the word. If it really meant nothing then you could just call black American's 'cousins' or something like that. It's not hard to come up with a word. And if you guys can't even narrow down a definition, then it must not be an important word in your language. I mean, I if chose a word for you guys like, Ferels. As in Ferel Cats. Meaning something that was captive or tame and now is living freely, then How would feel about that? I could twist it and turn it and say "look guys, we call you guys ferels because you escaped bondage of the white man and now are free, but ferel is not a negative word man, it just means African people now. We don't mean anything by it." How would feel about that?

Except that it wouldn't make much sense since African Americans were are the ones in bondage.

girl22:

"Oh yeah, who are these AAs that are currently contributing so much to America? I bet I already know your answer."




http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Business/story?id=2247424&page=1

http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventors/a/Patricia_Bath.htm

www.robertsbrothers.com

http://www.bookrags.com/highbeam/news-and-views-blacks-at-stanford-this-hb/

Amazing invention by Patricia. She should be awarded the nobel prize.

* Air Conditioner Unit Design Frederick Jones 4/28/42 D132,182

* Art Museum Design (Philadelphia) Julian Abele 4/29/1881 Born Abele (pronounced "able") was the Chief Designer at the prestigious Horace Trumbauer and Associates architectural firm from 1938-50. He attended the Institute for Colored Youth, which has since been transformed into Cheyney University, and in 1904 was the first African to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Architecture. (Refer below to the section captioned "Library.")

* Baby Carriage- Safety Leveler William Richardson 6/18/1889 405,599
This essential invention ended the constant and serious problem of babies falling out of carriages, most of which were inherently defective because they were built without a leveler to keep the carriage safely balanced.

* Bicycle Frame- Folding/Separating Version Isaac Johnson 10/10/1899 634,823

* Blimp (Air Ship)- Modern Version John Pickering 2/20/1900 643,975
This blimp (i.e., air ship) was the first to be powered by an electric motor and to have directional controls.

* Blood Bank Dr. Charles Drew 1940

* Bridge Safety Gate Humphrey Reynolds 10/7/1890 437,937

* Chair- Folding John Purdy 6/11/1889 405,117 & Daniel Sadgwar

* Clock (Refer Below To Watch) Benjamin Banneker 2/6/1753

* Clothes Drier- Modern Forerunner George Sampson 6/7/1892 476,416

* Curtain Rod Samuel Scottron 8/30/1892 481,720

* Dry Cleaning Process Thomas Jennings 3/3/1821 3306X
Jennings is the first African to receive a U.S. patent. After earning money from his patent, he used those funds to buy his enslaved family's freedom and to support the abolition movement. Also, in 1831, he served as the Assistant Secretary for the First Annual Convention of The People of Color (which, by the way, was held in Philadelphia).

* Elevator- Automatic Electric Shaft Closing Alexander Miles 10/11/1887 371,207
This invention has saved hundreds of thousands of lives by drastically improving upon pre-existing and quite dangerous ascending/descending contraptions. Those contraptions (i.e., primitive elevators), when stopped on a floor other than that desired by a passenger, required that passenger to manually shut a door to cut off access to the shaft, which often caused that passenger to fall into that deep shaft.

* Fire Escape- Portable Daniel McCree 11/11/1890 440,322

* Fire Extinguisher Improvement Thomas Martin 3/26/1872 125,063

* Firemen's Mobile Ladder Joseph Winter 5/7/1878 203,517

* Gas Mask Garrett Morgan 10/13/14 1,113,675

* Golf Tee Dr. George Grant 12/12/1899 638,920
Prior to this invention by Dr. Grant (who, by the way, graduated from and later taught at Harvard Dental School), golfers had to use their hands to make a mound of sand and then place the ball on top of that mound. Despite his innovative genius that greatly benefited golfers worldwide, he was barred- and still would be barred- from many country clubs because of his race.

* Heart (Open Heart) Surgery Dr. Daniel Hale Williams 7/9/1893
Dr. Williams performed this miraculous feat by removing a knife from the heart of a stabbing victim, after which he sutured the wound and the patient recovered. He also founded the Provident Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, IL, which is the oldest free standing Black-owned hospital in the country.

* Heating Furnace- Ventilation System Alice Parker 12/19/19 1,325,905
This invention provided a mechanism for routing heat to various rooms throughout a building.

* Ice Cream- Method and Recipes Augustus Jackson 1832
Jackson, a Philadelphian and a former White House chef, uniquely used ice mixed with salt to lower and control the temperature of his special mix of ingredients, which proved to be a major breakthrough in the creation of ice cream as we know it today. He also created various ice cream flavors. However, he never applied for a patent.

* Ice Cream Scooper- Spring Loaded Alfred Cralle 2/2/1897 576,395

* Ironing Board- Improvement Sarah Boone 4/26/1892 473,653
This invention, which was a narrowed, curved, and reversible appliance, made it possible for the first time in history to easily and efficiently press and crease parts of clothing like sleeves and types of clothing like uniquely tailored women's garments.

* Lawn Mower- Improved, Rotary Blade John Burr 5/9/1899 624,749

* Lawn Sprinkler- Swiveling Joseph Smith 5/4/1897 581,785

* Library Design (Free Library- Phila.) Julian Abele 4/21/1881 Born
Refer above to the section captioned "Art Museum."

* Light Bulb- Electric Lamp Improvement Lewis Latimer 9/13/1881 247,097
Latimer, the son of parents who had escaped slavery, was an inventor, draftsman, engineer, and scientist, as well as an author, poet, musician, and philanthropist. It is a little known fact that he was the person who actually drew the blueprints for Alexander Graham Bell's telephone in 1878. Three years later, in 1881, he and assistant Joseph Nichols were the first persons to receive a patent for the direct forerunner to today's commonly used light bulb. Prior to this, the electric lamp by Thomas Edison and others had no real practical use because it could not emit light for an extended period. But the new light bulb by Latimer (with assistant Nichols) used a revolutionary method of manufacturing carbon filaments that produced light for effectively extended periods. It was because of this ingenious invention that Latimer was asked by numerous countries, states, and cities- including Philadelphia- to write an instruction manual (which he did in 1890) and to supervise the installation of incandescent light plants. In addition, it is quite interesting that he was the original draftsman for Edison (inventor of the 1879 temporary electric lamp) who relied on Latimer as the expert witness in Edison's patent infringement suit.

* Lock- Modern Washington Martin 7/23/1889 407,738
The innovative lock invented by Martin is precisely what made today's locks possible. It creatively included a cylinder and spiral spring coiled around a metal pin, thereby frustrating thieves and burglars throughout the country.

* Mail Box Phillip Downing 10/27/1891 462,093
This invention is also known as a letter box and a letter drop.

* Overnight Delivery Computerized Tracking Folarin Sosan 1997
Sosan, through his Package Park (Maita) company, made it possible for overnight and next day package delivery providers such as Federal Express, United Parcel Service, and the U.S. Postal Service (as well as other major and small businesses) to have all of their deliveries immediately and accurately tracked by computer.

* Pants- Modern Suspenders Archia Ross 11/28/1899 638,068
These suspenders, called "trouser supports and stretchers," included practical and stylish features such as metal clasps.

* Pencil Sharpener John Love 11/23/1897 594,114

* (The) "Real McCoy" Elijah McCoy 4/2/1843 Born
The term "The Real McCoy" is used to describe anything that is of excellent quality. People began using that term about 130 years ago in honor of one of the most talented and skillful inventors in American history, a man with more than 50 patents beginning in 1872. (Although his year of birth is often listed as 1843, it might be 1844. The exact year is unknown because his records, like the records of most Africans during that period, were often inaccurate because of the indifference of slave-holding and other racist whites.)

* Refrigeration Transport System Frederick Jones 7/12/49 2,303,857
Although he patented it in 1949, he actually invented it in 1935.

* Security System- Home Marie Brown 12/2/69 3,482,037
This home protection system was the first to include television and video surveillance.

* Statue of Liberty- A Black Female 1875
French historian Edourd de Laboulaye, who was the chairman of the French Anti-Slavery Society, proposed to the French government that the people of France present to the people of United States, through the American Abolitionist Society, the gift of a Statue of Liberty (with construction beginning in 1875) in recognition of the role of Black soldiers in ending slavery by winning the Civil War in this country. When the statue, sculpted by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, was presented in 1884 to the U.S. Minister to France, the minister replied that the Black female statue with broken chains at her feet and in her left hand would be offensive to American southerners. Later, the statue's "Negroid" facial features were altered to Caucasoid and the hand chain was removed.

* Thermostat and Temperature Control System Frederick Jones 2/23/60 2,926,005

* Toilet- Modern Bathroom Features Thomas Elkins 1/9/1872 122,518
This invention, which was called a "chamber commode," featured all of today's creature comforts such as a toilet stool, wash stand, mirror, bureau, and book rack.

* Traffic Signal Garrett Morgan 11/20/23 1,475,024
After he saw a crash between a car and a horse-drawn carriage, Morgan decided that is was absolutely essential for him to invent some type of traffic safety device. As a result, he was the first person to apply for and receive a patent for an inexpensive "hand-cranked semaphore traffic management" mechanism that would control vehicular and pedestrian traffic, thereby protecting humans from injury and even death and protecting cars from damage. This led directly to today's red, yellow, and green light signals. General Electric bought his patent for $40,000 and in 1963 the U.S. government awarded Morgan a citation for his invention that has saved millions of lives and body parts and has avoided billions in property damage. (He also had this invention patented in Britain and Canada.)

* Trolley- Electric Railway Elbert Robinson 9/19/1893 505,370
Robinson creatively used electricity in overhead wires to propel passenger-carrying vehicles.

* Typewriter- Improvement Lee Burridge 4/7/1885 315,366
& Newman Marshman
Unlike previous bulky and exclusively upper case "letter-writing machines" that were described as a cross between "a small piano and a kitchen table" and that blocked the user from being able to see what he was typing as he was typing, the novel invention by Burridge and Marshman was quite practical. It printed both upper and lower case letters, was a much smaller device, and allowed the user to see what he was typing as he was typing. Also, it required fewer parts and movements to operate and allowed for the use of any paper length.

* Watch- U.S. (Refer Above To Clock) Benjamin Banneker 2/6/1753
Benjamin's grandmother (who was an English indentured servant) married an indigenous African whose name was "Banna Ka." Later, white people began calling him "Bannaky" and thereafter started spelling his name "Banneker." Benjamin's invention was not really a clock but instead was an ingenious wooden pocket watch. In addition to his status as an inventor, municipal surveyor, almanac author, mathematician, scientist, mechanical engineer, and astronomer, he also was a vocal anti-abolitionist who on August 19, 1791 petitioned slaveholder Thomas Jefferson to end the "absurd and false ideas" of white supremacy.


* Wrench- Updated Jack Johnson 4/18/22 1,413,121
This is the very same Jack Johnson who became the world's first Black heavyweight champ by winning "The Heavyweight Championship of The World" in 1908 and who had won "The Colored Heavyweight Championship of The World" in 1903. His updated wrench was a tool designed specifically to tighten or loosen fastening devices. This wrench was important not only because of its practical use and not only because of the person who conceived it, but also because it was invented while he was in Leavenworth Prison on trumped up racist charges involving a 1912 alleged violation of the Mann Act stemming from his out-of-state trips with his white girlfriend. (The Mann Act made it illegal to cross state lines to engage in "immoral activity" with white women.) It should be noted that in addition to his wrench invention, Johnson also received a patent (number 1,438,709) for a car theft protection device on December 12, 1922.
* Wheelchair- Stair Climbing Rufus Weaver 11/19/68 3,411,598

carribeans, south americans, guyanans, cubans, puerto ricans, black in europe were in slavery. why no special word for them?

why just apply it to african americans when blacks all over the world have been enslaved?

@savannah

i think she did receive one.

@ Savannah

but africans suffered their own bondage colonialism. so it would be rude for african americans to create a derogatory term or anyone to create a term just because they were colonised.

calling someone a cat based on something than ended 120 years ago does not make since to me. but that's just my opinion.

RajalAadi:

Yeah, I hear all of you guys talking. And just see denial of the true meaning of the word. If it really meant nothing then you could just call black American's 'cousins' or something like that. It's not hard to come up with a word. And if you guys can't even narrow down a definition, then it must not be an important word in your language. I mean, I if chose a word for you guys like, Ferels. As in Ferel Cats. Meaning something that was captive or tame and now is living freely, then How would feel about that? I could twist it and turn it and say "look guys, we call you guys ferels because you escaped bondage of the white man and now are free, but ferel is not a negative word man, it just means African people now. We don't mean anything by it." How would feel about that?

Akata has always meant overseas. This is bordering on the ridiculous. Are you trying to force a new meaning for the word?
There really is nothing offensive about the word, Why would we use derogatory words on our blood?
We could call black American's 'cousins', but that is an English word. . . We aren't English, we only use the language out of neccesity.

I currently live in the UK. So to those back home, I am Akata as well. Why would we want to offend you?
As for Akata meaning feral cat, there is a term for those back home as well; it is Ologbo (means cat too).
The "Akata" issue that seems to stem from immigrant Africans not liking the unserious attitude of the rougher AA's.

This thing seems so serious that there are counter definitions on the web. . . Jesu!
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=akata
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akata

I'm beginning to think we should consider dumping use of the word in the US.

In the Uk, people refer to Carribeans, especially Jamaicans as "Jamo", its not a derogatory word, but they dont appreciate being called that.

Its not really about the origin of these words, the simple fact is that those who are referred to as "Akata", "booboo" or "Jamo" largely would prefer for it to stop, so on all sides we should begin to stop refering to people as such, simple.

girl22:

"Oh yeah, who are these AAs that are currently contributing so much to America? I bet I already know your answer."




http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Business/story?id=2247424&page=1

http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventors/a/Patricia_Bath.htm

www.robertsbrothers.com

http://www.bookrags.com/highbeam/news-and-views-blacks-at-stanford-this-hb/

Cool, the last two links don't seem authentic though.

the roberts brothers are two siblings own just about half ot the property in st. louis, MO

That one about stanford came from a coirce you have to suscribe to see the rest.

girl22:

the roberts brothers are two siblings own just about half ot the property in st. louis, MO

That one about stanford came from a coirce you have to suscribe to see the rest.

This is a terrible topic - please stop providing further proof that African Americans can be hard working, thats obvious

This is just a misunderstanding of the most horrible kind. It would seem that the derogatory use of the word rose among slaves in the US (one of the Urban Dictionary definitions suggests this).
Regardless, we need to stop using Akata, God! After reading a bit about this I feel drained. I'm quite sure only fools would use derogatory words to describe their kith and kin; whilst I'm sure is not derogatory, we must be sensitive and stop this thing.

I don't use the word akata because I don't know what it means. I am Igbo and in Igbo language there is no such word.
I have seen hard working an intelligent African Americans. My wife is one, and I love her with all my heart. She has given me two lovely kids and she is a God sent. I respect her and I have never cheated on her; she respects me more and she thinks highly of everything in the Igbo culture. It was her decision that we raise our kids completely the Igbo way. All my family, even my mother treats her with love and respect.
I am saying all these to show that I am not prejudiced and I have met good African Americans, and I have always defended them even in this forum.

That said, I completely disagree with RajalAadi. He is obviously ignorant and biased. Everyline in his post speaks of ignorance and prejudice. I let my wife read RajalAadi post and she wants me to make it clear to Nairalanders that RajalAadi's opinion does not represent the opinion of the entire African American community.

The funny thing about RajalAadi's post is that he kept saying that African Americans are completely different from Africans, with only minimal historical origins. If that is the case why go by the name African American. Why not remove the African in your name since you have nothing to do with Africa which you are not proud of. This makes you really ridiculous. How can I call myself a "male human" and turn around and argue that I am not male.

RajalAadi:

I wouldn't say that hating on West Africans is hating myself because historically I acknowledge the common origins of us both. But in a contemporary context, I see minimal relation.

If so why go by the name African American. DNA has shown us that the whole world is related genetically; therefore even white Europeans are related to black African genethically, thus there is a minimal relations. One can correctly say that all mankind have historically and biologically common origins, but the white man in Europe does not call himself African European.
Why proudly call yourself African American when you have only minimal historical origins with Africans? By your analogy you may even be more related to Europeans than Africans. Why not go by the name European American? Or just American?

Please explain this to me.

You would have made more sense if you had refused to be addressed as African American. I have seen some black Americans who hate Africans and refuse to be called African Americas. Their position commands more respect because they don't identify themeselves with something they claim to be alien to. But yours is a ridiculous position; for you to identify yourself with a continent that you have only minimal connection with, a continent that you are not proud of, speaks volumes of you.

Also saying that west Africans have not contributed anything to the development of the world is laughable. I don't need to waste my energy on that one. Read your history.