Actually, I don't give a shit if Africans praise AAs or not but when people exaggerate shit about my people and make us look like lost, backwards people I will respond. From being in Germany, I've heard a lot of negative things about Nigerians, even from other Africans, but I don't have a blanket view of all Nigerians, some are cool, some are not, the same with fellow AAs over here.

Trust me, Africans that are merely talking bad about African Americans are not the ones making African Americans look lost/backwards. Trash talking and rumor mongering isn't making people act the way they're choosing to act - whether it's Nigerians, AAs, or any other group. If the whole group's image suffers because of the actions of some or a few, that's one thing. But if a country-wide trend is quite significant and quite real among a large segment of the entire population of a group, that's something that can't be brushed away with assertions about "exaggeration."

That I do know, but damn, I'm not really shocked that some Africans hold such backward views about AAs, but I take it with a grain of salt. I know my history and I know African history.

Except for a few very backward AAs, I think the majority of AAs aren't negative towards Africans, definitely not me since in Paris I've been mistaken for a Nigerian alot and to tell the truth, I was never offended by it. My wife, who is Moroccan, initially thought I was one too, until I started talking and then it was cool.

@ Ron Oneal,

In all honesty, you shouldn't be looking to Africans for a fair assessment of AAs. As I said before, the vast majority of Africans and, from my experience, even  the majority of African immigrants or their kids don't know about AA achievers in various fields (writing, art, music, science, politics, history, etc.) except for the few most popular ones, so most haven't taken the time to really learn all about the group that they're reaching so many conclusions about. My view is different from most but it's not blind praise for AAs (though they definitely deserve praise for how far they've come) or believing only what I would like to believe.

As for the backward views, ethnic prejudice and sectarianism is rife in certain parts of Africa - with Nigeria being one of the greatest hot spots - so trash talking about other groups is almost a culture there.

In all honesty, you shouldn't be looking to Africans for a fair assessment of AAs. As I said before, the vast majority of Africans and, from my experience, even the majority of African immigrants or their kids don't know about AA achievers in various fields (writing, art, music, science, politics, history, etc.) except for the few most popular ones, so most haven't taken the time to really learn all about the group that they're reaching so many conclusions about. My view is different from most but it's not blind praise for AAs (though they definitely deserve praise for how far they've come) or believing only what I would like to believe.

As for the backward views, ethnic prejudice and sectarianism is rife in certain parts of Africa - with Nigeria being one of the greatest hot spots - so trash talking about other groups is almost a culture there.

This is what I don't understand, the Africans I've talked to here in Germany are not very fond of AAs mostly because AA men and African men compete for these German women, in Paris all the Africans are cool with me, some of the Nigerians think I'm an Igbo who can act and talk like an AA which is funny because I dont get offend at being mistaken for an Igbo, but in London its the same like in Germany, Africans there are not very fond of AAs. I guess attitudes will vary according to region.


I have great respect for a lot of things in Africa and know most of what happens bad there is due to the former European colonists meddling in African affairs, not the masses of the people themselves.

I don't think you are one of those backward African Americans but I like I told the OP, this is something you may not fully understand unless you're African and have experienced this. By the way, what are you doing in Paris?

Side note to Ron Oneal: lol, this may sound silly but for some reason the movie "An American in Paris" just came to mind when I asked you what you were doing in Paris.

my wife brought me to Paris, i really wasn't all that eager to go and I enjoy it, I live only 3 hours away from Paris, just right across the border from France. When she met up with other Moroccans that was the only time I go nervous, I thought they would trip at the sight of me being married to one of their women, but since my wife looks black or like a mixed race black they didn't trip at all. The good thing about Paris is that I blended in with the blacks there and wasn't given a second look and even when I said I was AA the people were cool.

Ron Oneal:

This is what I don't understand, the Africans I've talked to here in Germany are not very fond of AAs mostly because AA men and African men compete for these German women, in Paris all the Africans are cool with me, some of the Nigerians think I'm an Igbo who can act and talk like an AA which is funny because I dont get offend at being mistaken for an Igbo, but in London its the same like in Germany, Africans there are not very fond of AAs. I guess attitudes will vary according to region.


I have great respect for a lot of things in Africa and know most of what happens bad there is due to the former European colonists meddling in African affairs, not the masses of the people themselves.

The Africans in Europe are of majority Lower socio-economic class, am i right?

Not all, but lol, most of them are cool as hell, the brothers are cool, the African sisters are something else, lol, they try to be slick all the time, Most are not lower class but work decent jobs, I live in a pretty upscale part of the city where I stay and there are Africans there.

inked nerd When I went to my aunty in Gambia I was surprised to what degree the young boys where seemingly copying and acting like African-Americans. In the way they talked, dressed and they where clearly influenced by commercialized Rap music and looked up to these black rappers as role models. They changed the way they usually talked in favour to an African-American "accent" and choice of words when they where greeting their boys. I was like "how come u all know 2 pac but not Sankara"

pleep:

The Africans in Europe are of majority Lower socio-economic class, am i right?

I think you r right.
In Sweden Africans are mostly the ppl cleaning the subway and driving trains, buses and taxi even tough many of them are educated lawyers, doctors, economists, and engineers. Recently I have seen more shops popping up owned by Eritrean ppl. Before It was Asians only who sold hair products aimed for Africans.

Before It was Asians only who sold hair products aimed for Africans.

Have you noticed that it is always Asians who sell stuff marketed for black people? like weaves and hair products also tobbaco shops and gas stations? its kinda annoying actually, especially in the U.S because it takes money out of the community. Asians make so much money off us.

Africans SHOULD be extremely proud of African Americans. A.A's and the struggles they endured and surpassed are the reasons Africans can come

to the U.S. in the first place! If African Americans had not fought, resisted, had dogs and hoses turned on them and in many cases DIED how

welcome do Africans think they'd be in the United States. Africans would have been grouped with American Blacks and made to sit at the back of

the bus, not be allowed in most restaurants, CERTAINLY Africans would not have been privvy to the U.S.'s educational system etc. African

Americans made ALL of that possible for Africans. So why not say 'Thank You' and come to the realization that had it not been for African

American's there would be no YOU in this country!

My question is when are Africans going to stand up in their country like MEN and WOMEN in their OWN country and demand to be treated

as human beings? When are Africans going to make African Americans proud?!

Thirst4Lif:

Africans SHOULD be extremely proud of African Americans. A.A's and the struggles they endured and surpassed are the reasons Africans can come

to the U.S. in the first place! If African Americans had not fought, resisted, had dogs and hoses turned on them and in many cases DIED how

welcome do Africans think they'd be in the United States. Africans would have been grouped with American Blacks and made to sit at the back of

the bus, not be allowed in most restaurants, CERTAINLY Africans would not have been privvy to the U.S.'s educational system etc. African

Americans made ALL of that possible for Africans. So why not say 'Thank You' and come to the realization that had it not been for African

American's there would be no YOU in this country!

Kua aka gị. 

Truth is, Africans have their perceptions and Blacks (who still calls them African American?) have their perceptions. I still get asked questions like "So, can you teach me Swahili?" and comments like "How long have you been in America? 'Cause your English is pretty good", and when I see a black person walking about as if they have nothing to do with their life, I think "hmph. . . idleness; where are your books?" Don't get this wrong, Africans and Blacks can easily associate with each other, but the fact still stands, we both perceive a rift between the two worlds and that's just how it is. Plain and simple.

@ everyone.

I think we can all agree the the rift between Africans and African Americans in primary socio-econonomic in nature.

In the united states educated, higher class Africans do not get along well with A,A's that are of lower class. but when those same Africans meet highly educated A.A's we get along fine.

And in Europe were African Americans are popular. African immigrants make it harder for A.A's to assimilate or vacation (the u.s once had a warning advising black people not to travel to Spain) especially in Southern Europe were illegal Africans are often involved in crime.

Circumstances often dictate that Africans and african americans from different socio- economic groups meet, thus the animostity.

On this thread i only talked about the bad experiences i have had with African Americans growing up. And i neglected to mention that older African American people are some of the friendliest people i ever met, they always give you a nod or wave even if your complete strangers and always help you out when your in need. I also didn't mention my A.A friends who always had my back in elementary school.

buts whats really important is not how we get along in the west. Its how A.A's and African americans get along in the motherland Africa. And the A.A's that travel to Africa as tourists usually get along wonderfully with the locals.

Lol as far as north africans not caring about blacks-

    Thats false. North africans engage in rap and look up to black americans just like other africans. And if anything north africans should look to the black american civil rights era for inspiration in their own countries. North africans are fighting for rights in third world countries. Black americans were fighting for rights in a 1st world country and had the same obstacles. The difference is north africans are doing it with violence, black americans did it with non-violence and got the job done. North africans have alot to look up to with black americans

pleep:

@ everyone.

I think we can all agree the the rift between Africans and African Americans in primary socio-econonomic in nature.

I certainly agree with you.

I feel proud when I hear good things ex. Oprah, Obama ( although technically he is also African) etc
but disappointed about other things ex lil wayne, gangsters etc

these are extreme examples but I think you get my point.

I'm married to a North African woman from Morocco, never had any problems with Moroccans or any other North African group, at least not in Germany or in Paris and much of France where there are loads of Moroccans.


As for my fellow AA people and the struggle, well, we have accomplished a lot, who would have ever thought that a black man would be the leader of a country where whites once enslaved us and the majority of the population is white? The struggles we have to day are way more subtle than before when it was outright overt racism, its just a different way to fight, so we haven't regressed.

Afro-Americans have problems they need to deal with and Africans or black Africans have problems they need to deal with. Can we all agree on that? Now, how about we put a rest to this dumb thread?

Inked_Nerd:

SIDE NOTE: A.D.M., where in Brooklyn are you?

I'd like to tell you via personal message, but there's no link on your profile.

Some of these AA posters act like we owe them something. We do not owe them anything. Using terms like "look up to them." What kind of condescending statements are this? They should be looking up to us, because we are there cultural forbears. We are their Alpha and their Omega.

When will they realize that they need to go to the source and that is Africa?

They have forsaken their African roots, and would rather be considered a Native America such as the Iroquois or their favorite, Cherokee indian. 

Even if they have remotely Native American blood, but most do not have any. Caribbeans and Brazilians understand that their roots are in Africa. Only a few AA or should say I Black Americans have realized this.

EzeUche_:

Some of these AA posters act like we owe them something. We do not owe them anything. Using terms like "look up to them." What kind of condescending statements are this? They should be looking up to us, because we are there cultural forbears. We are their Alpha and their Omega.

You complained about condescending statements, then you went and made a condescending statement. ("They should be looking up to us, because we are there cultural forbears. We are their Alpha and their Omega." 

@poster and y'all supporting him,

Shouldn't the topic be 'Are Africans Proud of Africans? The more you label yourself AA, the more the white man become conscious about you being minority and all that.

The other day, an AA woman was called an African by someone and she immediately got angry and became irate. I was like, damn, whats the difference? Ofcourse it's a good thing that a black man is the president of the United States, but does this black man represent us in the white house? What policy has he got in place to better the lot of the AA's and the Africans?

The only issue with the AA's and Africans is that of cultural difference. We grew up apart but share the same beliefs and are in the same struggle. Being proud of the AA's should never have been the topic in the first instance, but rather being Proud of Blacks all over the world.

We do  understand what the likes of Rosa Parks, Dr Martin Luther King, Malcom X, The Knoxvilles civil right fighters, Frances Willard, Robertt Williams,, the likes of Andrew Young, Correta Scott King, Jesse Jackson and more recently Al Sharpon have done, ok. We are grateful for what they've done, especially helping we Africans by making our voices heard. Beside that,  bleep everything else.

More importantly, don't forget what our great fathers have done too; Usman Danfodio, Tafawa Balewa, Azikwe, Awolowo, Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, etc

Some of these AA posters act like we owe them something. We do not owe them anything. Using terms like "look up to them." What kind of condescending statements are this? They should be looking up to us, because we are there cultural forbears. We are their Alpha and their Omega.

No, I never said Africans or African Americans should look up to anyone, but no, YOU are not our Alpha and Omega, in fact the same people we descend from are also the same people that sold us to the white man in the first place, thats why AAs shouldn't have to look up to Africans. After being sold to the white man and being enslaved, we have overcame, multiplied and became some of the most influential people in the world, thats not me bragging just thats the truth, be a hater if you like. To me, Africans and AAs are no better than each other, so you can kiss my ass with your stupid statement about us looking up to you, who the Bleep are you anyways? lol.

When will they realize that they need to go to the source and that is Africa?

We know our roots, thus thats why we call ourselves African Americans, we may not know the exact ethnic group we descend but we know the continent they came from. Actually knowledge of the specific groups we come from was taken away and stolen from us at no fault of our own. Also, ethnicity in Africa itself is fluid, a person who is Igbo, Yoruba, Swahili or Sudanese Arab today may have ancestors who may not have identified as such hundreds of years ago.

They have forsaken their African roots, and would rather be considered a Native America such as the Iroquois or their favorite, Cherokee indian.

Even if they have remotely Native American blood, but most do not have any.

Some African Americans do have Native American ancestry, some do not and despite any white or potential Native American ancestry, damn near all African Americans identify as black, so quit your cliched bullshit, what about that Africans that claim to be Arabs and or descendants of Mohammed who are too ashamed of their African roots and consider Arabs to be superior?

Caribbeans and Brazilians understand that their roots are in Africa. Only a few AA or should say I Black Americans have realized this.

Brazilians have a shit load of racial terms to describe themselves and they know their roots more for the simple fact that in the Caribbean and Brazil the slaves were allowed to retain more of their African culture than in American, not because AAs have forsaken any African roots you dumb jackass. When some of us finally do learn our roots in Africa we are proud and even emotional like Judge Glenda Hatchett:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEHv9yy0vWc&playnext=1&list=PLF98901139F5D008E

PhysicsMHD:


You complained about condescending statements, then you went and made a condescending statement. ("They should be looking up to us, because we are there cultural forbears. We are their Alpha and their Omega." 

Out of all the Nairaland posters, I loathe [/b]and [b]admire [/b]you at the same. I know your type very well, in which I see your kind daily at my university. The ones who think they know everything about the world. However, let me tell you this, as much as you think of your intelligence, there will always be those who have sharper minds. Anyway, I still have forgiven you for "outing" my name of [b]Akhenaten [/b]and [b]Rousseau.