I am an African American, from what we call the "south", I have always, ALWAYS loved all things African (food, dance, music, attire) and so on and so forth. Even as a child. Now being 28, I didn't know that so many Africans had such a distaste for "us". We call ourselves African American to hold onto the little that we could. I find some Africans are more accepting of Afro Latinos, most of whom don't even like to call them selves black or admit to having African ancestry.

This can go both ways, there are a lot of African Americans that do have a ignorant view of Africa in general, but those are not the type of people I associate myself with in the first place. And I HATE when I read posts of people saying things like African Americans are lazy, uneducated, in jail, and so on and so forth, I pains me, deeply! I read a post, old but still painfull that said "African Americans don't like Nigerian films, or don't like Nigerian films, then some one said something along the lines of, ("who cares what African Americans think, my grandfather probably sold their ancestor for salt lol". I didn't think it was funny at all, in fact I think its sad. Any one who thinks that is funny is obviously mentally challenged.

Why does it have to be this way? I love ALL black people, I can care less if they were born in Sudan, to Mexico, to Argentina, you get my point. Why is it, when an African American like me tries to connect with my past, my ancestors, my roots, I am denied? Contrary to popular belief, I KNOW MY HISTORY, excuse me OUR HISTORY. Contrary to popular belief, I am not on welfare, I don't have a job, I have a Career and soon to open my own company. My mother and father BOTH raised me and my siblings (MARRIED PARENTS), in a safe home and neighborhood.

I was just wondering, what is with all the hate? Why all the name calling and generalizing (both sides)? I have lots of African friends, one of my best is from Liberia. This lady that cooks for me is Liberian. I buy all of my movies from a Nigerian lady, who I love and respect very much. I just think if people took the time to get to know each other and respect each others cultures, we wouldn't have this problem.

Well for now that's all I have to say. If no one takes this post seriously, that's OK. I love you! IN THE EYES OF THE LORD YOU ARE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS SO TH ATS ALL THAT MATTERS. AND FOR THE ONE THAT SAID THEIR ANCESTOR PROBABLY SOLD MINE FOR SALT, HIGHLY UNLIKELY. YOU WERE PROBABLY IN THE SAME "BOAT" AS MY ANCESTORS, SO LAUGHING AT ME IS LIKE LAUGHING AT YOURSELF.

Your first problem is "liking all things African"

Africa is a VERY [size=20pt]BIG[/size] [size=40pt]PLACE[/size].

Nobody wants to be generalized and it is extremely irritating when African Americans go on about "Africans"

I am NIGERIAN! I am IGBO!!!

This is the age of the INTERNET.

There is NO EXCUSE for not knowing this information especially in African Americans who claim that they want to connect with their roots or they want to know about their ancestors.

I HATE it when African Americans talk about "African culture" or "African food" or "African Music"

Guess what?

There is no such thing as African culture! There is no such thing as African food!!

Either get it right or forget about it!

I will not be homogenized into one huge monolith for your or anyone else's convenience. You have no idea how irritating it is. I wasn't even African until I came to the damn United States and suddenly everyone was asking me all these stupid-as-f uck questions about Africa.

If you want to know about your ancestors that's cool. If you feel kinship with us that's cool, but get your facts and information straight or bloody forget it.

Rant over.

And no this rant was not directed at you in particular. It was directed at African Americans in general.

I know Africa is a BIG place, and it is fine, I don't blame you at all. You can rant and even direct it to me personally. I don't need the internet to find out about Africa, or any African country/nation because I took the time to read books and do research from child hood.

As for no such thing as African food, culture, music I beg to differ. I think there are many different kinds of each. Still being African. The US is sort of big, but we still have different types of "AMERICAN FOOD" see. And I don't need to get my facts straight, I think I have them straight,  I can say the same about people who talk trash about African Americans, and that's not even what I am doing. I am simply asking a question. So much for peace talks, 

I am happy with who I am, where I came from and where I am going,  MY POINT is, why all the hate and ignorance towards each other? Your tone is that of a bitter person. I am sorry that people asked you all those "questions" but the fact of the matter is, they probably really didn't know.
But its cool, you can't change people. There are people like me that try to get along, and then there are those, that no matter what will remain bitter and uptight.

Well maybe I'm bitter because African Americans keep on perpetuating the same stupid prejudices and ideas about Africans. Last term in college I had two African Americans ask me if I had a toilet in my house in Nigeria. Wow. Seriously. F ucking wow.

@sugabelly

yes africa is a big place and the "liking all things African" has to stop but so does the whole "wester" thing.  just like nigeria is far different from kenya.  germany is far differnt from france