African & African Americans [A Hesitant Convo w/ Evelyn From the Internets] | Jouelzy
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- čas přidán 22. 04. 2014
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About Jouelzy
About Jouelzy Jouelzy is an African American woman blogger, vlogger and author. Founder of the #SmartBrownGirl movement she celebrates women of color throughout the African diaspora, curating discussions on Black America, politics, culture, African politics and the expanding experience of being a Black woman in America and Europe. This is her main CZcams channel where you can find weekly videos with witty commentary on current cultural topics that impact women of color, advocating for the smart brown girl so they too can advocate for all smart brown girls. Subscribe and join the #SmartBrownGirl movement.
As a black person I'm confused when people say we don't have culture. We created the most popular forms of music through are pain and oppression. Our food on thanksgiving day comes from the southern food we made with love. Now known as soul food, that's culture. The clothes we wear and how we do our hair is culture. I see so many African's, Asians, and whites emulate or imitate this. To say we don't have a culture is beyond me. If anyone doesn't have a culture it's the white American.
+Jimi Hendrix That's not culture brother , as you correctly put it, they copy your dressing but not everything from you. Just for the avoidance of doubt, the hallmark of a people's culture is their philosophy and religion, and not food , clothing and such trivialities which we all share . Christianity was the backbone of white imperialism. Stay educated
+Bennaars Ongidi +Bennaars Ongidi Culture is a way of life to people. So if the foods we make, the music we dance too, our style of dancing, and the way we dress, our Sunday dinners known as soul food after church, the family reunions we have every year to keep In touch with who we are is something WE created from our own African American experience here in America, then it is our culture and your nobody that can take that away from us and tell us what is and isn't culture. Culture isn't just about religion. So you stay educated brother.
Hey. its not a contest here brother.The point i am driving here is really simple . But you see what you call culture keeps changing every minute of the day due to this factor , a culture establishes itself as way of life when the generations upon generations acknowledge it as a set of agreed upon rules that govern life and thought patterns . it has becomes somewhat embedded within the psyche and is quite hard to detach from. To the point that Blacks, in their quest for ultimate freedom still recognise aspects of culture borrowed from their oppressors , the narrative changes.. its true that the clothes you wear came from European industries, so pointless to have no claim over how to wear them...the foods you eat are not authentically black,,,,most are foreign to you, so again , you cant just go around yapping about them. .....make it worse , the religion you have was given to you. Need i say more? In short , you cant create culture. Dont live under that illusion.....the last stage of conquering a people is obliterating their original culture.
+Bennaars Ongidi Not reading this. I'm African American and proud and proud of my culture:)
+Bennaars Ongidi Ahhh you don't what know culture is then. Please look up the word. Culture has many elements which define it , which is dance, food, dress and other traditions. The way young blacks dress around the world is solely influenced by african americans. Wearing nikes, Jordans, to the way these foreign girls wear their make up now. I know its hard for you to admit but our reach is far when it comes to the influence of AA culture. Again, do yourself a favor and please look up the definition of culture.
I believe that, as Black Americans we do have a culture all of our own and we were conditioned to believe that everything about us is wrong.
Say that again...louder this time so the people in the back can hear you, too. Make no mistake, that tactic is deliberate. It is so much easier to exploit people who do not value themselves.
But our culture is lit🔥and they all dick riding on us...smh
So true. We are survivors and innovators.
Self-loathing leads to self-destructive behavior.
Why do so many of you dislike Africans?
I dislike when people say that Black Americans don't have a culture simply because we can't point to our country of origin. We may not know where we came from, but we have established our own culture in the United States. They never say White people don't have a culture even though white people go on and on how they are "25% this 25%that 35% this 15% that"
It's not that you don't have a culture because of course you do, you don't have an african culture but you have an american culture that was cultivated due to your presence there. That's why i believe you are black americans and not african americans but heyy there's more to it because maybe only you can tell if it's right or not
Latttiful, there is no half and half or % percentage. You are from the seed of your father. Generation is counted by the seed of your father. Book of Numbers...slavery of black Hebrews recorded in deut 28:68, and Joel 3:1-7.
Exactly. Black americans have their own culture in America. Always saying we have no sense of culture
Erya Bolonha you said it right "black american "
jonesbunny thank's it's funny because our artists are often critisized for trying to be americans
My dad is African and my mother is African American. I have been told to my face by an older black woman that I am not a real African. I am a real African. I have had people try to say to me that I am "regular black." Black is never regular. It is full of so many rich nuances that many people have yet to discover. Anywho I know what I am and just because someone has insecurities or does not like themselves does not take away from the fact that I am African, I am African American, I am black. I loved you all's discussion!
Yes indeed, black is never regular! love it. Stay blessed :-)
***** you are a real African--- do not mind that person--s/he was being stupid purposely. :)
No your not
I was told the same thing, but mine was worse. I was told that I wasn't black. I am black, but a couple of Nigerians said I was white. 😪 This really hurt me to my heart.
Believe them when they tell you.
Came to the U.S. from Tanzania when I was 9 yrs old, and let me tell you something: kids can be so cruel. At the time and even throughout middle and high school, I had a deep hate and disdain for many of the Afro-American kids who put me through hell, but when I became an adult (during my Pan-Africanism era), I began to understand why they acted the way they did towards me. Eventually, I was able to come to terms with it and forgive them for my not-so-amazing elementary-high school memories. On both sides, we've been taught to hate each other. We've been taught that the other group is not worthy of our time. We've been taught that we can never co-exist or even unite as one. But I'm here to tell you that you shall NEVER fall into the trap of White Supremacy. White Supremacy seeks to destroy by dividing and conquering. Let's educate ourselves about each other by reaching out, traveling, having these crucial discussions, and eventually healing from any pain we might have put each other through.
+CzarJuliusIII YES!!
+CzarJuliusIII I as a European felt the same thing though, I am from Belgium and I went to college in the US but there were a lot of Aericans that hated me for being European.
Piemelon Trump I'm sorry you experienced that but I'm glad you shared your story because too many times people tend to think they as a person or particular groups are the only ones who go through these type things, especially when it comes to name calling from young people. I'm born and raised in the States and my name and religion was picked on daily. A girl even made a song for every time I walked by! lol
Sheba Newfreedom Americans do seem to pick on anybody that isn't raised in America or thinks america isn't the best and I find that very bigoted because America has to thank the world for it.
Yoo you're from Tanzania I'm Tanzanian too!!!
African Americans have their own culture. We've learned to adapt to where we are born and have created our own heritage. You can never say all Americans or all African Americans are the same and have a unanimous stereotype. It all depends on where you reside and how knowledgeable you are with your culture. I'd just like to remind Africans that bash Africans Americans and try to disown them from their roots, that we didn't ask to be here. Slavery actually happened.
Exactly, its disgusting. They don't do it to West Indians. Only African Americans.
+Ashanti Thomas Great points!
well it goes both ways...trust me. i cant tell you how many times I have seen Africans get roasted back in school being called "African booty scratcher", making clicking noises etc. you name it... i done seen it ALL!!
+Kwesi Kenyatta go to Israrel and see how they treat Blacks like shit...ethiopians and african american..do some research you cant believe eveeything on the internet..there is a reason why in Suriname, Cuba, Brazil etc they still practice African traditions...none of that came from Israrel partna
^what an idiot
I loved this, as a British South Asian, I love learning about cultural identity. Now here is the confusing thing about my identity. My parents like many South Asians in the UK were born in Kenya. My Great Great Grandparents moved from Gujarat on the western coast of India (Where Gandhi is from) to Kenya for work. So many people of Indian original went to countries including Uganda, Tanzania,Kenya and a few other nations in Africa. Then in the 1970's they were expelled from Uganda, causing fear in the Asians of other East African nations too, so as these nations were still British Colonies, they came to the UK!
So the identity of my parents is so mixed, they are Kenyan Indian, Gujarati British people! Sorry for the slightly off topic comment, but just thought I'd share something about identity and see if there are any overlaps with two different world cultures :)
Thanks for an awesome video, I subscribed to both channels and am inspired to continue creating a similar video! :)
+planetparle like seriously, yo parents identity so mixed.gosh!!!!! am only commenting coz am ugandan and know about the expulsion of asians from Uganda.
+planetparle alot Indianin in South Africa too.
+planetparle that's actually really interesting. I'm born to Eritrean parents and I saw an Indian couple there as a child, and listening to them speaking our native language was quite a shock. Only because I wasn't used to it. But it's really cool nonetheless.
Have you heard of the Rashaida tribe?
planetparle I'm Ugandan and my mom told me stories about how it was like during that time and how so many innocent people who had lived in Uganda for generations were all of a sudden expelled from the country. I have met many people of Indian decent whose families were caught up in that nonsensical decree like my college friend's family who ended up planting roots in Congo.
African Americans have been in North America for centuries.
Many of us are no longer 100% African.
We are no longer the same . I could go into vast details but it would be a book .
Anyways you're comparing Westerners to people from the developed world . It makes no sense.
I love how us black people have so many beautiful skin tones
S Ali no I don’t. Africans on the continent come in many shades too and they have no mixture. Shut up.
It's a weakness.
Look at us conversing and whatnot!!! Such a beautiful thang. *****, thanks again for the eyebrows.
Also, please note:
Nationality: usually the **legal** relationship between a person and a country.
Ethnicity: a social group of people who identify with each other based on common ancestral, social, cultural, or national experience.
Race: used to = different things but now it's basically a way to group people by phenotype (the way your genes make you look)
So for example, I'm American (U.S.) by birth certificate. I'm Kikuyu by ethnicity (cuz that begat The Country Now Known And Spelled As Kenya) and Black by race/phenotype.
Wuddup to all my first generation americans! brappp brapp
lol EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS!!!!! Lawd, we called it at the beginning of the video.
So I was born in the Dominican Republic, so my ethnicity is Dominican but I live in America and here I'm seen as black because of my skin color. I don't know if I can include myself in the African diaspora, but that's because I do not know the full extent of Dominican history. I believe Dominicans should be included because there was slavery in DR. Idk tho. I hope someone replies :|
I love the way you both address this topic. I don't agree about the definition of race to describe phenotype but I understand the purpose. Well done ladies!
290Sammie Genetic studies of MtDNA, which assesses the direct-line maternal ancestors, found in a 21st -century study that the Dominican Republic's population racial admixture is primarily European and African, but there is also a noticeable Taíno element in the population. According to the most recent genealogical testing testing the average Dominican is estimated to be 58.1% Caucasian, 35.2% African, and 6.4% Amerindian overall.
MsEljay90 those numbers like wikipedia said aren't completley true because there are a lot of afro dominicans that don't associate with black. They have black in them but they will say they are caucasian and indian for exemple because in the D.R people see black as being bad.
I was born here in the states, and My bloodline will always be African. The term black means of African decent in the dictionary. It's just a term. No one can tell me any different. When I look in the mirror I see a beautiful natural African woman and no one can tell me any different. People can say what they want, but we were given to whites in America by our own African people , but now they don't wanna claim us?? I don't claim African for them... I claim Africa for my bloodline, my genes.. For the respect of all of my descendants who came before me.
i think our ancestors were sold because they were hebrew israelites that intermingled with africans guess i'm going to far back but it's kinda a fact they were dark complexed to soooo looking deeper helps with this debate but it goes back to the 12 tribes from the bible
reuben
simeon
judah
isshachar
zebulun
benjamin
dan
naphtali
gad
asher
ephraim
manasseh
african american are most likely descended from the tribe of judah i think the israelites seem to be forgotten are are considered to all white people you know like the egyptians were deemed as white race/caucasian
I mostly agree with, and appreciate your comment, except for one sentence. "People can say what they want, but we were GIVEN to whites in America by our own African people". This theory is highly suspect, in that it's purpose attempts to further extenuate the the most logical facts of the slave trade. They, the Europeans, had the guns, and the chains, thus the power to overpower the African people. They had no say so. This fact reveals itself in that Europeans were colonizing the continent of Africa during the same period they were stealing, and chaining up Africans. We can never blame Africa for how our ancestors were stolen by Europeans. Europeans should take full responsibility for slavery, as it reveals a great lack of human morality on their part. That is, enslaving, stealing, and selling human beings, revealed the lack of European morality. Africa could be blamed, if they were the one's who did the enslaving.
Miharu2020 you make a valid point I personally identify as a Black Hebrew Israelite
GetItRiteWillYouMyPeople i am so happy to find some smart and intelligent African American who understand the context slavery. People are trying to wash our brothers and sisters brains, they want African and African American to hate each other, that's why they say that African Americans were sold by other Africans as it is not the case. they were taken away, they were not given away.
whatdacurl94 so do i
The child of a lion is a lion. The child of a African is a African. Whether you LIVE in Africa, or anywhere else.
I don't agree with you. Some black people hate Africans. Most black people know nothing about Africa.
+Blancita You have to tell the Africans that. Many of us that have experience with them, it has been mostly negative. many Africans I know are very open and honest about their discrimination against us Americans.
+sagan carl what do u mean NO
even born in europe , a lion will be a lion. It wil not act like the wild lion ...because it wont have had the same life ...but will still be a lion.
same for black people, even avais from Africa ....u are still an african. u grow with an other culture "yes " but are still the same genetic origine.
+sagan carl I dont know if u are African or not, but the numbers you give are totally incorrect.
I am a french African ....and in France we have the same problems ...trying to know who is African and who is European African. All this is bullshit! If they were 60% from other races they would not look black. some of them have some mix ....but not all of them.
+Ryo Manga I look just like Kelly Rowland, and I'm really dark skin like African but i'm 50%White 25%Asian and 25% African, so you can be 60% from other races and still look black.
I'm East African (Sudanese) proudly getting married to an African American man whom I love dearly!
"I was too foreign to be considered "black" and too American to be considered [my family's native identity/Congolese]."
I related with this one phrase to a TEE. Growing up I was always in this tip toe between the two. My siblings and myself are the first generation to be born American and all my family from my parents back grew up in Congo. So as much as I was surrounded by the culture, going to American schools especially with other black kids they never really saw me as "America black."
On the flipside I know my roots are in Congo but growing up I never really felt like I fit in at African parties without having to force it. It's like I have perspective from both sides but couldn't fully embrace either.
I can totally relate. best way to describe that is "culturally homeless"....when I tell people I'm from Atlanta, most are shock...I don't have that deep southern accent because I grew up with Nigerian parents...but when I go to Nigeria people call me "American boy" lol
+ebeledi its a freaking joke
Naomi A i am jamaican of maroon heritage (4th generation) and Indian as well also scottish. what i find is that people stereotype too much over thinking things and offending people. I got made fun of for being jamaican because I guess jamaicans are supposed to be running around naked and not showering or some shit like smh..... whats funny is all the stereotypes and stuff are really something I've only seen in America. Jamaicans have a sense of naivete unless they get due exposure to other people because we really live in our bubble .... like i knew who indians were but you were still jamaican we'd call you coolie but thats it.... you were chinese lookin so wed say you are chini but we never really demeaned anybody for their differences matter of fact i wasn't quite aware I was "Black" till i came to America. Thats one thing you learn real fast is where you lie on the totem pole here and i understand now why racial tension is fueled. In JA probably would have been ignorant about all these things. like the n word man i was unaware lol. thanks America i guess. The one thing I hate about America is that to be accepted you must disown what makes you unique. i really hate this stepford wives mentality and culture that Americans display it make them rather unpleasant tbh...
Had to reply because I connected with this sooo much. My family is WAY too much of a melting pot. I honestly never ever cared about my label until I noticed OTHER people were way more concerned about categorizing me. The darker people from my mom's side were always focusing on what "else" was in my blood because I wasn't super dark like them and didn't have their exact features..and that forced me to think about what I was. They were always forcing me to explain what I'm mixed with and I'd be like "what do you mean.." on the flip side, in the US, I felt black...but never 100% Black American due to cultural differences...like growing up Muslim and neither of my parents being American. It's such a mess. I'm still figuring it all out. I think all Black people are mixed...brown with different shades of brown and other colors. Chocolate rainbow :)?
@@limecandy7099 I know exactly what you mean. I'm African American since I was born here but my parents are from the Caribbean and i've lived in both places, can't seem to fit myself into one specific cultural identity.
I think the title should have been "African-Americans" vs "Black Americans".
For pretty much everyone else in the world, they only add in another nationality if they're more directly from the other country. Like the Kenyan girl with her parents having been originally from Kenya and moved to the US before giving birth to her. She's the *definition* African-American.
While most black Americans' families have been in the US for so many generations [and usually at some point in time there was a mixing with non-African (nationality) white people...shouldn't have to go into detail], logically, it makes no sense to be referred to as African-American.
heavymetalloverz "what can Africans do for anyone except beg" that's so smart. the reason why i think that African Americans ( i won't stop calling them like that coz i think that's who you are) should try to have some connection with Africa is because it seems obvious to me that many of you guys have some identity issues. i mean i've been in the us for like a year and that's what i've noticed. i am not saying that you should go to Africa because you will make money there, i am just saying to help you guys deal with this identity issue, particularly because you would be more welcomed there than other people as you are black. and the fact of calling yourself African Americans tells you that you are not only Americans and that you come from Africa and that you can go there if you feel like dealing with this identity issue.
and for your information mister heavymetalloverz when you guys say things like, "go and live in Africa, where it is dirty and there is no mc donalds", you are actually saying thank you to white people for bringing you to the US, because they took you away from this place which is so dirty and which is Africa. you seem to forget slavery. you don't have any honor for the same ancestors that you are talking about.
I'm from Africa, originally but i'm actually a french citizen too. and black people from Europe are not like you, they have more respect from their ancestors and would never say things like the one that i hear here from black people. and that's why i say that you really have some identity issues.
@@internationalstudentsettli2877 the root of the issue is Pan Africanism. Instead of getting a firm root of Black American culture, they got a crappy philosophy.
@@Intellectualrigor this is dumb pan African ideology has nothing to do with your self hate no one is forcing you to be African man move
@@enskeez6815, it's not self hating to accept the fact I have an ethinc identity in America and don't have much of a connection to Africa after 10 generations. Most Black Americans aren't Pan African and I'm not.
@@Intellectualrigor no you idiot I’m not saying its self hate to not claim being African I’m saying African Americans self hate has nothing to do with pan African ideology stop trying to scapegoat your faults with Pan-Africanism, self safe hate within your ethnic group has existed long before Pan-Africanism lol
Y'all look alike just different skin tones
they do!!!
CeddieCed
they do not look alike, u can tell the darkskinned girl is African
Yudah El well they do to me, I should of said favored a lot alike
They do. Sistas from the same tribe. They are gorgeous.
Yudah El that's racist and rude if they don't look alike that's all you had to say
My Opinion: As an African-American, Baltimore Native, USAF Veteran, [man] I think we as blacks should touch, talk, and experience one another on our own terms. Stop letting Caucasians define us for us. I've dated Nigerian women, women from Gabon, etc. as well as black women from different parts of the U.S. I'm not stating any preference, but this allowed me to come to my own truth. We in the African diaspora are different and similar at the same time and there is nothing wrong with that. I learned when I left home for the military that a white guy from Baltimore could be more familiar to me than a black Jamaican guy. However, a New Orleans brother I met reminded me of a homeboy in the neighborhood back in B'more. We as people are all different and that is what makes life interesting. The simple truth is, in my travels and/or life; when I come in contact with anyone within the African diaspora I feel as though we are family. However, as with family we sometimes misunderstand one another. The only way to fix this is to sample, and experience each others culture. We must do this with mutual respect and love. Globally we are family and we fight for the same things. Beautiful discussion ladies!!!
I totally get Evelyn. Being a first generation immigrant, is its own unique experience. You're kind of in limbo. You can't fully relate to either side (the country where your parents immigrated to or from). I'm guessing it's kind of similar to a bi-racial person's experience? You can blend into each side, to a point, but both sides will always class you as different from them. Great thought provoking conversation, ladies. xx
Thanks for always supporting GirlsLoveYourCurls
Hey! Where your new vids? Miss seeing u do the girls hair, hope your youngest is doing well, God bless x
***** I totally relate to you. I am from the west indies but since I have been here since I was a youth and sound "american" most of the time people don't see me as anything but "african american". But yet America treats me as a foreigner because I was not born here. Its so hard sometimes to feel like I truly fit in anywhere. Great discussion ladies.
exactly. after my fellow 1st gen friends, I relate most to my mixed peers
AZONTO WILL UNITE EVERYONE...😂😂
Well agreed!!
Rebecca Clement 🇬🇭🇬🇭
I agree 🤣🤣🤣
I am West African, born and raised. I've never been to the US. In Africa, we tend to identify African Americans more with white Americans because even though we are all black, African Americans have adopted a different culture more like a mixture of their slave ancestors and white Americans. Personally, I think African Americans and white Americans have influenced each other in roughly equal proportions, with the former having positively the latter and the latter negatively influencing my African American brothers and sisters.
No are AA brothers and ancestry was destroy by the White mens
tamale26 I feel the same way. For some odd reason, I don't think that I'll fully understand and connect with a Black American. I have learned about the history but never walked in their shoes.
tamale26 No disrespect but not all AA adopted white ppl culture..... As a AA who grew up in the deep south born and raised there are African temples, that does not preach Christianity or any man made religion they focus only on the word of God using a book called the Torah..... So we are just spiritual.... We do not celebrate white men holidays..... Nor do we celebrate birthdays..... We focus on our walk with God and nothing else, so there are a lot of black americans in America who have nothing in common with whites at all..... not being racists but its just our way, we do identify with more of African culture being that the preacher is Nigerian so I am an American but I don't share in the culture, however I do have family who does follow American culture but they are still aware of who they are, they don't fully follow white culture, black ppl have their own culture which maybe similar to white, but it is different ..... As black folks, decedents of slaves some did adopt to white ppl's way but other slaves kept as much of their old ways as possible and passed it on to their children so that once they were free they will remember who they were and where they was from.... That's what some ppl don't understand.
tamale26 us black Americans identify colonized Africans with whites also lmao.
tamale26 I was born and raised in the US to Ethiopian parents and have also identified African-Americans with white people. I was raised in a predominantly black community and to me, black Americans are simply that, black Americans. Not anymore African than white Americans are European.
When you say "their mothers" you are basically generalizing 50+ countries... and the mothers of 300+ tribes per country. Like... and also I feel like that may just be your parents Evelyn.. cuz my parents are Nigerian and very chill. and Jouelzy.. when you say Nigerians may not have the best view of Kenyans.. we don't really think about Kenyans first off because their not in the west.. We don't blanket them.. we just don't think of them negatively like you assume.. But when we do see them we greet them happily because they are still our continental fam. But I agree that being African and African American are very very different. We're both black.. but ethnically..we are very different. Nevertheless, you two do a lot of generalizing in this video, and the African end didn't do as much clarification as is needed for such topic. I'm not sure about the African American end, but my African American friend who is watching definitely feels like Jouelzy generalized with the mothers in a negative fashion. Africans have the most loving mamas on the planet from my experience.. but there are way to many tribes within each country.. with their own tendencies to do much generalization of Africa.
You just refuted our generalizations with a bunch of your own generalizations....lol. I could go tit for tat with what my Nigerian friends have to say on this but in the end everyone has their own personal experience, neither can state one as fact.
***** No need to go tit for tat. Had to state my truth, Mainly because yall mentioned Nigerians so much, so I was giving a Nigerian's perspective since there are none in the vid. Then again each tribe has their own culture as well. But I was just saying the facts when it comes to African mothers, that's written in stone lol. As you said, everyone does have their own experiences that make up their generalizations, but like what the Kenyan girl is saying in the vid.. those are HER parents, not everyone elses. And when your couple of Nigerian friends tell you things about the culture, you are getting .001 of a glimpse of a culture and way of thinking that would take much more background, tribal understanding, and actual LIVING of the culture since birth to even wrap your head around. So your idea of what the culture is will forever be skewed, and vice versa for myself and African American friends of mine. It's like a white person saying, "Yeah I get black culture, my best friend is black" but will he ever really get anything? nah. Even so some Africans try to wash their culture away so much here in America, so they may not even be telling you anything accurate when it comes to the culture. Not even the African friends you have can really depict much for you. But anyway, like you said, everyone has their own personal experience, that you are right about.
Lol you're just proving my point as you keep generalizing. Basically you want to stand for what you think is right and that's fine, feel free to do your own video and get people to join in your discussion. Be blessed.
***** Eh, I don't see me proving your point. It's the truth. But yes, my friend and I were just planning to make a vid to clarify this one; thanks for the boost! Still chose to subscribe, def appreciate you being respectful in this disagreement. Buttt, thank-you, you be blessed as well ma.
Emani Odumosu no she was actually right. Ethnically, meaning ethnicity-wise: ethnicity is the community you come from; which can be identified and compared to another ethnicity by its culture. I.e: Ade's ethnicity is Yoruba whereas Elofu's Fon. ***** Again, I believe Oma Nessence was right. Your videos generalized Africans way too much and in a negative way (especially Nigerians). West Africans do not think much about Eastern Africans because they are not part of West Africa or the Maghreb. My mother is Beninese and from the Fon tribe and she by her culture is very lowkey and chill and loving to her daughters-in-law.
This conversation was so skewed, for good reason too, Evelyn is african but she has only known life as a black
American. Mostly she apologized for "African" behaviour in the diaspora. You should have had an African who's lived in Africa for a more nuanced conversation. Lord know Africans in the diapora go through some foolery at the hands of African Americans.
Exactly
African americans have also been mistreated by eachother, we teased and fought eachother for being too light skin, or to dark skin, or living in a different neiborhood.
If you grew up in a black neiborhood you got the same treatment as any other black person who lived or went to school with someone who was ignorant and not happy with themselves and picked on evryone. Not just african folks have had these exspierences.
But we all think it's just our own isolated group, it's not.
communication and understanding, it can go a long way when we see things from other peoples perspective, sometimes we think it's just me that got picked on, but naw that experience isn't unique to just african immigrants or first gen africans or ...now I know just african americans.
guess it's good that some folks from Africa and african Americans, stopped listening to there bigoted parents.
bullies are in every group of people. I've been called oreo by black kids, african booty scratcher.... by white kids.
I got Punched in the ear by some random kid on the first day of school having never been there before. Man if I had saw who did it I woulda ...well u know the rest.
Children can be cruel.
Welcome to the black experience of growing up black in america.
Mostly in the hood though. That's my black american childhood.
My kids have not for the most part had to deal with it though.
It seems that being smart is now cool. Plus I left the hood long ago.
@@newthought5807 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 This comment is 💯 accurate!
The funny thing is I have never described myself as African, It has never gotten that far. I have always been a Yoruba girl from Nigeria, or just a Nigerian to foreigners.
Exactly. Then, if people ask "where is that?" (in my case Senegal), I say Africa.
Brown February Same here too. I tell other Africans the tribe that I come from or that I'm simply a Ghanaian to foreigners.
Most people really don't know were the word Africa comes from ,it definitely has nothing to do with people that are black.
Kindly Educate them bro
Tribalism is one of the main reason Africa an Africans are so divided,besides european occupation,then this spreads to colonialism,this is the majority of the reason why Africa as a whole will probably never rise,because they have been conquered within,then we were enslaved,an freed ourselves an built American culture,engineering an science,now they come here to the place were we built an criticize us abundantly.
Lol yes, I'm scared. My social anxiety follows me everywhere.
I remember as a kid actively thinking, as an African American, that I had no culture. This made me want to learn about other cultures. This made me enjoy learning about other cultures. So when it came to a college degree I picked that, Cultural Anthropology. I spent my freshman year in Intro Cultural Anthropology consciously realizing I had a culture. And how that doesn't just play out in holidays, food, and traditional garments (which was younger me's definition of culture). It was much more than that. The internet also played a role in this because it allowed me to learn about the vastness of African American culture too.
When it comes to where I stand in the diaspora, no matter how shitty the world feels right now, I'm 100% proud to be African American, to be Black, to be apart of the diaspora. Just alone thinking about what my ancestors went through for me to be here today, to think about what my great-grandma went through -- to imagine myself not being proud makes my eyes water. I spent so much of my life thinking that if I could say I'm from X country in Africa/ I'm X ethnicity it would be better. I wouldn't be "regular" Black anymore. But after learning what I know today being descendants from enslaved Africans is just as culturally rich and beautiful as having more recent ties to ethnicities in Africa. I am proud of who I am but it took work and unlearning and learning to get here.
This is the best convo I have heard on CZcams with this subject. Literally just had this talk with someone ! I’m not crazy! Love this
I'm an African American from southwest Louisiana, and where I'm from we invented a whole genre/culture of music called zydeco. My mom's side consists of people from the Lafayette area. I also have french and Haitian roots. So yes, I do feel like I have culture. We do things differently, our food is different, I'm proud of my Louisiana culture and if I could I wouldn't change it.
*****
yes I have, that's awesome!
ayyye! i grew up in Lafayette! now i want some boudin
*****
I live an hour from the flats in lake charles.
ayyye! i woulda gone to lafayette high if i stayed there xineotheoneix
That's what I love about black Americans. Every black community in every state has a culture though. I'm from Chicago, the home of R&B. we have different food, we sound different and we have our own dances that we've been doing for at least a century. Just like Memphis and Atlanta are different and have their own customs and traditions.
This conversation was really interesting to watch! i was born and raised in the U.S. My parents are from Ghana and came to the U.S. in their late 20's. I had a difficult time growing up because although I am an American by birth, I was really assimilated into Ghanaian culture. My parents spoke their native language in the house, we ate Ghanaian food, visited Ghana for summer vacations, and had family from Ghana visit us. They raised me the same way people raise their kids in Ghana, it's just that we were living in Northeastern America.
In school, a lot of the Black Americans fun of me for "acting white" which to them meant getting good grades, using proper grammar, and having white friends. Basically because I didn't fit in with the stereotype what a black person is thought to be, they didn't like me. For example, I had a group of about 4 black students who teased me all the time because I my name was always on the board of students who got A's on weekly social studies quizzes. Apparently I was trying to be white by getting A's and thought I was better than them because my parents are African. But when a popular black American girl had her name on the board for getting A's, they were proud of her for "representing the black people".
On the flip side, a lot of my white friends flat out told me that they liked me because I wasn't "ghetto, lazy and stupid like the rest of 'them'". I wasn't "black black". It was a tough situation because I had black students making fun of me for "being white" when I was just being myself, and then I had white people who flat out told me that they think black people are ghetto, lazy and stupid but they liked me because I was 'different'. Because of my Ghanaian heritage, my sense of "blackness" wasn't about fitting a stereotype so I wasn't going to change myself to fit in with the Black Americans. At the same time, I was offended that white people had a negative view of blacks and only seemed to like me because I didn't really seem "black black" to them.
I found it really interesting that Evelyn doesn't identify as being Kenyan. I don't know anything about Kenyan culture, but in Ghanaian culture, you're from where you're parents are from, so I consider myself to be Ghanaian.
Loved reading your comment
Wonderful and enlightening conversation, and Evelyn has such a calming voice!
The question is, What is Regular Black?
NATURALLYOLINA
African, of course
Feonalilly huh... African Americans tell me this mess all the time. Regular black..
NATURALLYOLINA some one who is Black American, a descendant of slaves in America. It's not that hard to deduce considering most immigrants of the African diaspora to America are very quick to tell you that they are not Black, they're [insert country + ethnic group] first and only Black because that's how they are perceived in the states. There's nothing "mess" about it when I've been given plenty of xenophobic speeches from others bout why they are different or someone won't let go of questioning why I don't know where my family is from...
***** Africans do think they're black. I think maybe in America they might say they're not because it's interchangeable with African-American. In the rest of the World 'black' refers to skin colour. A black person can be Caribbean, American, African. We're all black but what separates us is nationalities and the country we're from.
simplyshama I second you on that. I'm African and I'm black. There's no such a thing as "regular black". I live in Canada and here if any black person gets ask were they're from, black wouldn't be an answer. Still, they wouldn't say they're not black.
I am SO loving the way you two gorgeous women are articulating yourselves. Life. I am belizean american. Both of my parents were born and raised in belize, they too, like Evelyn's parents moved here in the 80's. I could write an essay on my feelings about this but I'll just say this lol, our melting pot of beautiful chocolate black folk gumbo is everything. I appreciate all of our cultures and I absolutely LOVE learning about the diversity our people, its refreshing, We are so broad generalized by race that the fact that a lot of us are of different ethnicity and culture isn't even considered at all. I loved loved LOVED this topic! Do more vids together pleeeeeease!
Couldn't have said it better myself. Btw I was just watching your recent videos then moved to Jouelzy's page & found you here. Love your personality & watch your videos like a fiend. You inspire & always offer a different perspective on life. Thank you!
Are you of Garifuna decent ?
No I'm Sudanese.
Yoshi more yes i believe rae is of garifuna descent from one of her past videos. I remember because I started researching about their culture.
I asked because i am from Garfuna decent ^_^
Lovely to hear this perspective from 2 lovely Black women. I am Jamaican, but my children are African American. Love all my Black peeps from all over the world.
How are ur kids AA & ur Jamaican?
Because they were born in America and lived here all their lives. I migrated to America from Jamaica and then my children were born here. Similar to the young lady in the video whose parents come from Africa, but she and her brother are Americans
Susie Warmington most of the island kids 1st generations I grew up with identify themselves as Haitian-Americans & Jamaican-Americans. Obviously, When we check race on an app it's going to Black(African Descent) so you technically do not have to identify as that on a personal level. Why do you drop your ethnic group when u come here?
Aren't you dropping your ethnic group when you say Haitian American or Jamaican American? My children are African American or Black American. I am a Jamaican period. Please stop trying to school me on my opinions as I am not trying to attempt to school you on yours. Lets leave it at that.
Ah yes the lovely commentary of Black solidarity...So loving...and the next thing you will be telling me I am not Black...I am 50 years old dear and there is very little you can school me on I promise you....Such hostility...I am teaching my children and Grand-Nephew about love of self and love of their race, and I have no time for this kind of conversation so troll on my dear with all your various ghost identities because this conversation is over...
What a beautifully open discussion. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this video. We all family and I think the more we connect, the more united we can become. All love.
I love that part about you have two identities "the one you believe, and the one others project unto you" awesome
I am a African American and am engaged to a man from Cameroon. He has told me a lot about the stereotypes he believed about African Americans before moving to this country (mostly from watching music videos), and how many of them were shattered once he moved here. I enjoy the differences in cultures that we have. I love learning about how different he is, although we both just look black. I also enjoy learning from him how his Cameroonian customs compare to those in other African countries in which I know people from. Great video topic!
I totally identify with Evelyn... Being 1st generation born American to Haitian parents, I certainly can relate to being black/ haitian -american /caribbean american more so than being African American. So much of this discussion makes me think of w.e.b du bois double consciousness. I really loved this video
It if helps, a lot of whites will get similar treatment in Europe as well. I don't want to pick on any country in particular, but one example would be France where they tend to look down upon French Canadians and their dialect compared to their own. Or Italians who often laugh at how Italian - Americans portray themselves at times. Humans are unfortunately very good at create divisions between themselves.
Love the video, BTW!
you both are 100% right. it's so refreshing to hear duch solidarity
This is the story of my life. I am Liberian, came here after the civil war. Most of my friends are ethnic immigrants because we understand each other. I feel like my African Americans friends won’t understand if I whip out some fufu and soup to eat, or why I have 50 aunties, or why an A- is JUST NOT GOOD enough...lol. It’s tough correcting older Africans about African Americans because it can go really right or really wrong i.e being disrespectful. I defiantly relate to Evelyn because I grew up in two cultures and I am constantly trying to explain both or prove that I am African because I don’t have an accent.
So because we don't eat the same foods we can't be friends. Welp... :/
I'm also American-born with parents who were born & raised in Kenya. Oddly enough, African-Americans (as in, born in US) have almost always called me African, while Africans (as in, born in Africa) have almost always called me American. So call me "Black", "African", "African-American", "American", whatever. I don't care. I just know my ethnicity, where I was born & raised, and that I have hella melanin.
+Ken Otieno "that I have hella melanin" haha
I'm also german-born with parents who were born & raised in germany, Oddly enough, german-germans (as in, born in germany) have almost always called me german, while germans (as in born in germany) have almost always called me german. So call me "white", "european", "german-european", "german", whatever. I don't care. I just know my ethnicity, where I was born & raised, and that i don't have hella melanin.
THAT'S REAL.
GREAT VIDEO JOUELZY AND YOUR GUEST EVELYN WERE ON POINT TO SHOW HOW KENYAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN DIFFERENCES AND SIMMILARITIES.
I absolutely loved this conversation, this needs to happen more
Great vid!! A discussion on this exact topic was put on by the African Student Union at my school a few months ago. As an African American woman I believe that we do have our own unique culture. Great things have come from African Americans that have influenced not only the US, but the rest of the world. Unfortunately, all of the great things we have contributed are often overlooked by pop culture and negative stereotypes perpetuated by the media. I agree Jouelzy, there is ignorance on both sides and I believe it's the responsibility of black people (African and African American) to dispel those negative stereotypes...."United we stand divided we fall"
I've been to Kenya twice and it's a beautiful place!! It changed me so much!
What a lovely discussion! Even amidst some..."side-eye" moments, (it was great to see you both looking directly into the camera even while responding to what the other person said. This was of course much too huge to approach in a short video, but it was a great summation of like bullet points. Also, I really enjoyed the transatlantic loop tangent. great chat. The main issue is the way that dominant/hegemonic ideologies help maintain ignorance, misunderstanding, and hatred or self-hatred. Like hearing about people through the news and feeling that's an accurate representation is really problematic. One of the many issues to work out. Great stuff
thanks!!!
Two faves in one! I honestly hadn't watched this before because I didn't know who Evelyn was and i'm selfish about my Jouelzy. Then I discovered Evelyn and binged her vids and so now this is like the best treat in the world!
This was so dope. Great conversation.
In africa, we have blacks, coloured (Mulatos) which in america is considered black and here in africa to us is a mix of white and black
It is absolutely time to update this with a 2018 Part #2.
Love this!! we need to have more conversations like this.
omg such an interesting conversation. both of you are so insightful and intelligent, loved this video!
As far as I know I can only say I am black American. Although I have awful experiences with black Americans because they literally cannot stand the idea of being black let alone being from Africa, me being someone who REALLY takes pride in the skin I'm in, this is something that really hurts. My own friends talk down on Africans so bad you'd think they weren't even black. I just can't seem to relate to the ignorance. I'm learning about Africa and the different cultures and I love every second of it and my black American friends just DO NOT understand why I choose to learn and love myself. They poke fun at the "poor" (I know Africans are not poor) Africans and seem to forget that they are Africans as well. Young black Americans need to get closer to their culture and learn to love themselves like ALL OTHER RACES before we end up going insane!
i hate to say it but its to late for that kid smh
@sapphiretruthe Please continue your journey of learning your roots young QUEEN it's the best thing one can do!
Also, ancestry.com had genetics test available to further your genetic search. As well as other places just goggles genetics tests and things will pop up.
Throughout your journey you should learn about the Pan-African Ideology.
I have often felt that I lacked a culture in comparison to native Africans and even Carribeans. I have caught African shade as a black american with comments about us being lazy and not appreciating what opportunities we have in America,however I know my history and I love my people all across the globe. I think that you have helped me to look at my African American culture from a different perspective thanks!
I like this channel. I am born in New York City but had a lot of Bajans in my family and extended family growing up. So, I'll look at the Caribbean video next.
Great conversation!!! I am glad that you shared this.
I absolutely love both of your insights! I'm a proud Congolese born young lady with blended roots of Belgian, French & Portuguese...I came to America at age 9 with my family from Belgium (leaving DRC at age 3..) Talk about culture overload lol.. I can say that this is a complex subject matter, but it's wonderful to see intellectual individuals as yourselves speaking with sounding point of views. #REPRESENT #PEACE #LOVE :)
This is just something kinda funny AND kinda sad - and even a bit long but hopefully it will still be relevant to this topic. It's how being ridiculed by Africans actually ENRICHED my life and brought me some unexpected peace.
First off, I have to let you know that in all of my encounters with Africans (mostly Nigerians)most of them seemed to somehow end up implying or tell me that even though I call myself African American, most of my bloodline probably wasn't of African descent because my family has been here for too many generations. They essentially called me too 'watered down' to count. This was particularly distressful for me because even though I didn't owe them an explanation, what could I say to myself when I didn't even know where I came from? So, when this became a "thing" in my sociology class amongst the Africans (if I heard "watered down" one.more.time!) I decided to get my DNA tested by 3 different companies!
Lo and behold, I finally get my results and this is what it said (and there's a point to this so hold on ya'll)....All 3 companies said that I was 92-93% African.......30% was from Benin & Togo (and there's a lot of Nigerians in both of those countries), (18%) of me was of Nigerian descent, 18% was from Cameroon, 8% was from Senegal and then there were small breakdowns after that!
MANNNN..........CAN I TELL YOU that I walked into that class with those papers held out like it was my FREEDOM PAPERS and I JUST hit the Mason Dixon line????!!!! I did a combination George Jefferson/Soul Train Line/ Presient Obama walk like no one has ever seen and dropped it down on their desks like *BOOM!!!!*
Do you know what their reactions were?
The Nigerians were like,"My sista.......we knewwwww you were African....we think you are probably Yoruba because you're too pretty to be Hausa (huh????) but you don't look Igbo. Yes you are probably Yoruba......" Wow.....ok.....(In my mind I had no idea why this was a "thing" so I just nodded).
Meanwhile, when the Cameroonians and the Ghanians saw the results, they politely and quietly told me that it would NOT be a good idea to tell ANYONE that I descended mostly from Nigeria because "[Nigerians] are smart but they will steal the white off of your rice!"
Woooowww! Ok! LOL!!!
So the moral of the story is that even though I have a better idea of where I come from and I felt an odd sense of relief that I can't explain, I noticed that once it was found that I was mostly of the continent of Africa, that still didn't stop people from classifying me! They just drilled down deeper to countries and tribes! Still, I realized at the end of the day that I may know more about my genetics but I'm still the very same person that I was the day before I found out! Still, knowing gave me an unexplained sense of peace that I didn't know that I needed and reinforced to me that I need to have more patient with people who assume I'm watered down. It also gave me a sense of comraderie because I know from which I hail and now, NO ONE can tell me different. Even my African brothers and sisters. Stay up ya'll.
I love this :)
Cool story! What companies did you use for your test? I'm thinking about doing one.
I used AncestryDNA and then I cross references it with familydna.com. They both came out with the same results. BUT, as someone who works in the digital forensics field, I would stay away from 23andme if I were you because 1/3 of that company is owned by Google and as you know, they know enough about us already! But I got both of those back and I swear, I looked at it and I can't even describe the feeling. I felt like something I valued more than I knew was returned to me. I hope you get to do it too! :)
This was a very good entertaining story. Thank you for sharing sis
this video is brilliant. i'm not of african descent but you have me researching all sorts of things about creole and Geechee peoples in south carolina.....and your understanding and knowledge about african influences (ex - congolese) on jazz, funk etc....and the connection between afrobeat and soul is soooooo on point. im fascinated. this makes me love the world a lil more in spite of all the hate thats out there
This discussion is so interesting to me. I have had this very discussion with my African-American friends (I am a very light skin Afro-Caribbean Black). Kuddos ladies in your efforts towards eliminating the ignorance!
I don't agree with African American meaning black, because they are BLACK people living outside of North America.
Obviously Evelyn has self hate issue! She is Kenyan! Just because you are born in another country of continent doesn't erase your bloodline! If we took do a DNA test on her, she would be found to be Kenyan!
Nationality is just on PAPER! It is not in your DNA, so I found it insane of her to sit around and flat out say I'm black American, I'm not African! Self-hate at its best, so sad!
Jouelzy made more sense! Love her!
ummm....I can promise you Evelyn does not self-hate herself. It's about cultural identity and if she had a DNA test it wouldn't return as Kenyan, because "Kenya" is colonial lines drawn by a small collective of European countries in the 19th century without any regards to the ethnic groups that currently lived there. Her DNA would reveal her ethnic makeup, which she addressed in the video and in the comments. Please be respectful of other peoples experience and outlook, and thanks for joining the conversation!
Well, I am well aware of that. I used Kenyan for demonstration purposes. I know Ancient Afrikans did not name continents nor country.
But I guess Ima stop the convo there as you suggested.
Agree with you Sava!
agreed like the actress lupita who says she's latina when she's obviously african i mean completely obvious me i'm black american born and raised in this country generations of my family are all from here sooo and yes i know i have african heritage but i'm not from africa
Miharu2020 I'm gonna share a beautiful quote that really changed my life:
*We are not Afrikan because we are born in Afrika, but because AFRIKA was born IN US.*
That sums up the discussion of who is what.
I feel this conversation needs to happen a lot more.
This is such a great conversation!!! Thanks for sharing this!
The very beginning has me laughing already. Y'all are gorgeous!
My family is from Eritrea (East Africa), but i was born in Chicago. People always ask, "What are you mixed with and where are you from?" Or they question my authenticity because of my features, or because my hair is "long and silky." That bothers me! I'm quite literally African American. I can't fully identify as one or the other.. However, I do think I lean more towards identifying as an Eritrean.
Generally speaking, African's have a superiority complex. They don't only think that they're better than African American's, they also think they're better than Africans from other countries, Caribbean's included. I don't get that vibe from African Americans, I don't feel like they think they're better than Africans.
I tend to ask that when I see a "black" person who does look ethnic like how ive been programed to think a black person looks...I travel a lot and bc ive seen so many people I want to know if your from the states or not....and why your features are the way they are...just curiosity.....does that offend you when people ask that....
Candice Williams Yeah, I can understand that! That's not what bothers me. I just get annoyed when someone tries tell me that I'm not really black because of whatever reason.
***** Yes, Euro countries have definitely exploited Africa; they also utilized South America, Asia, the Caribbean, Fiji, and every other country in this damn world. It really annoys me how people forget that.
I completely agree with you on all black people allying themselves. I don't know what you mean by inferiority... and I can't really speak on West Africa, I don't know very much about there circumstance.
***** Your comment is very ignorant, have you met every West African to make the decision that West Africans think that they're superior to African Americans? Its vice versa. Don't try to label West Africans as the bad group vs East Africa being the better group. And for you information most West African countries are more developed than any other African country or it being the same. Our pride is what makes Africans proud don't be confuse and take it as "superiority." Good day.
***** What your saying is quite ignorant so I have no means to even touch on that but please at least know your stuff. You saying that "The most developed West African country is South Africa" is really sad. South Africa is amongst the southern countries in Africa, it is NOT considered a West African country due to the fact that it is NOT in West Africa..if that wasn't clear already.
I get why Africans look down on Black Americans/African Americans over in America. They probably feel like we've lost touch with our roots but the thing is a lot of us don't know our roots because it was taken away from us and our ancestors a long time ago, so we can't be expected to know exactly where we came from. Sure there are people that give Black Americans/African Americans a bad name, but they shouldn't lump everyone together as one big mess. But I guess it's the media portraying us and history portraying us as the bad guys. *sighs* we just need to learn to stop hating on each other.
Wow, that's ridiculous. *sigh* and it's stupid because in reality we should be lifting each other up not tearing each other down. The only reason I mentioned that it seemed like Africans hated Black Americans is because whenever I came in contact with Africans they were always very nasty towards me and my mom and we're in the city. Maybe I just bot the wrong impression XD
Uki Kirkland.... Blacks in America are the real Israelites. They fullfill bibical prophecy, that they would lose their identity. They were sold from Africa , but they are not African. You don't see any nation selling their own people to another people. Black Americans are not same people as Africans . They have same colors . But is a Greek the same people as a British ? Blacks don't research , not even for answers in the bible. The answers are all there in the bible, ie deut, Isa, Joel , Luke , Romans .
it's not that blacks in america don't do their research. a lot of us do our research, but it's difficult to research something like that.i'm not saying that what you are saying is false, i'm sure there is a lot of truth. but i don't think ever black person in america is not from africa. granted not everyone in america is 100% black because of everything that happened. sure some might fulfill biblical prophecy, but the others are here by chance of history. the only way the number of people that were bought and sold could have been caught were by people from their own home. otherwise they would not have found so many. these are just my thoughts.
Uki Kirland... It's nice and respectful how you responded. It is not my opinion. But it was written in the holy book by great men inspired by God , before time. In the book of Hosea, it was said that The Israelites( blacks fr slavery) cannot be numbered, and be like the sand in the sea. And in that place ( like America) were we are not called Israelites, we will be called His people, sons of the living God. The prophets wrote that the book was written for our learning. That we would not get justice from our oppressor. And deut 28 , because we disobeyed God , that we will depend on our oppressor for everything , unless we repent and return to Him.
The names you use ( African, American , Baptist, Jamaican) are not our names , but names given us from slavery. I meant to say as well, that blacks don't question anything given to them by our oppressors or teachers,and most do little research. Blacks do the same marching , and get same results- nothing. But we were called black in the bible. And we were called " Niger"too..acts 13:1. We spoke Hebrew and the bible is black's history . And strangers was/is amongst us.
what you say makes a whole lot of sense. some answers are in the bible, but i think there are still things left to fate as we've seen in history. also similarities are uncanny. but i do agree with you that african americans are probably not all from africa. but israel is in africa in between jordan and egypt, that's probably where a lot of confusion started.
Shout out to Shreveport!!!
This was a very nuanced and balanced conversation. Y'all are so smart!
What an super interesting conversation. As a mixed person from the 60's, who studied African history, it is lovely to see this conversation from a new perspective. Thank you both for your openness.
As an African-American (I usually don't call myself that but for the purpose of this comment, I will), I feel I do have a culture here. It's not as old as people who live in other countries, it's relatively new, but it is a culture. We have our own food (soul food), our own style of music, our own similar family stories, similar beliefs, similar history, etc. It's sad that it was a culture we were forced to invent but it's here. Just like she said, she travels outside of America and people readily identified her and knew what she meant when she said she's African American. Good or bad, it is a culture. It's what I am. And for Africans who judge black people, just like the other girl said, when you come to America you're linked with the rest of us...black. America is very race driven. Based on appearance, you're not Nigerian, Kenyan, Ethiopian, etc...you're black to everyone else until otherwise stated. So don't be so judgemental.
I liked this video before I even watched it, lol. I love these beautimous peoples :)
Where are you????? Are you going to stop making videos?? We Miss You!!!!!
dwone jones jealous cause you are single
You two are GORGEOUS! Ijs. Great video.
I absolutely love this video so much ! This has been a conversation i've been waiting to have and to listen to
I have a few African friends and have actually never discussed this topic. For a long time, I identified as African American and now just identify as black or black American, however, I have always been interested in tracing my roots to find out where in Africa (if possible - the tribes) did my ancestors come from. Though I am proud of our black American culture, I am still very interested in learning the culture of my ancestors.
Best thing to do is to come and live here in Africa for yourself and talk about it cause until you see it and experience it for yourself it doesn't matter how much u read about us you will still get it twisted somewhere somehow and that's annoying
I love that this is a fair conversation between two people who are unbiased by one thing or another. I feel like there's an abundance of knowledge between you two that I wish I could sit and watch all day.
I'm subscribed to both of yall and saved this video over a year ago but just been able to go through my saved list, still makes me happy to see y'all collaborating. Agreed, on both sides of the fence there's misinformation, I'm Jamaican but mostly experienced African American culture and I saw these types of misconceptions growing up so there are a few things I had to find out on my own as I got older. "Not as much now because I don't care", I felt that so much, I do the same. You have to limit the energy you invest into things. I went through the same thing as a Jamaican as well, even non-Jamaican's strongly telling me I'm not Jamaica. Yes, definitely have to correct the older biased, I'm so comfortable with doing so now. Africa has 50+ countries, I had no idea, smh. I'm messy, I love the honesty, Only up until recent years have I felt like the black culture does exist which is mostly due to the biased education system I went through.
Oh gosh I'm catching up on all my YT vids so forgive me for late comments. But this deserves a forum on TV somewhere. This is such a layered discussion. I've been told many a days I'm not black enough and I'm dark brown Lol. Only because of the way I talk. I love knowledge and information, ambient dubstep, and my style of dress. I could go on but I won't. I will just say this is a video I am definitely sharing.
This whole conversation was needed and is necessary to be discussed but the main thing that everyone commenting seems to forget about is that black is a race. You can be black and African. You can be black and African-American. You can be black and Caribbean. Stop confusing race with ethnicity.
This was a good conversation. There should be more discussions re different African / African Diaspora experiences
Great video guys. Very great conversation amongst two beautifully different women. Love it!
it doesnt matter if you are african american or african we all are ONE black family
Hiphophead1 but at least the Kenyans know where there located.
you two look like you could be relatives!......amazing
Giiiiiiirl, I can’t believe I’m four years late to this video. It is a god-send and needs to be required viewing imo for all black/ African Americans. I was also born in Kenya, raised in middle class New Jersey. I dated an African American in college and I remember all my African friends and family telling me to be “careful” because he was from the “hood.” That relationship taught me a lot about diaspora relations and I also took it as an opportunity to learn about black history in America beyond just slavery as we were all taught in middle school.
Please remake this video- I think it would be great to revisit the topic given today’s political climate.
This is quite interesting. I'm glad y'all posted this.
whats funny about this whole thing to me is that whether your specifically from a country in africa or african-american, those african roots are soo strong, we tend to like similar things, act in a similar way, like similar music have similar mothers lol... the only real difference between the two is one know exactly where their roots come from and the other doesnt... and thats neither persons fault, just a victim of circumstance but we're still the same people from the same place and if a non african person look at the 2 of us no one would know the difference lol... i just feel its stupid constantly remind eachother of the difference, like light vs dark its just stupid... focusing on race period is just stupid, when theres so much we can learn from each other... we all laugh, cry, eat sleep and bleed.... and in the dark we the same color lol whatelse is there to say really lol
+Jon'Vieve TheInfamous you're making up shit African Americans and Africans are nothing alike...
Africans don't actually like Black Americans they think they are too whiny and aggressive and unpatriotic they don't see you as African they see you as American and they personally find it offensive when you say you are African and say you hate your own country (America)
+indeed lol quit lying with your bullshit
indeed
You know what its this type of thinking that keeps the world ignorant and divided.... i pray that you open your eyes someday
+indeed you know what you're talking about.
The most beautiful coment in here.
We're continuing the convo tonight on Twitter 7pm EST #BLACKLIKEME w/@eveeeeezy(5 e's) ***** & myself @jouelzy
I started watching this and had to pause it until I have time to really site and absorb what you two ladies are saying. Thank you for bringing this excellent topic to us for discussion.
I like this.....honestly if u were to darken your skin yall would look very much alike....yall do anyway....both of you are beautiful queens and I love my people here and abroad
I did too queen
Tim Jones i was totally thinking that, that they could be sisters
Gd
I loved this discussion!
My parents are Nigerian but we live in Texas now ( I was born here).
One of my favorite videos on this topic.
Another child of Jamaican parents here! I say I'm Jamerican. Honestly I identify more with the Jamaican culture than anything. I don't like having to check african-american on any documents. Like what does that even mean though... Sometimes I'll be stubborn and just put "other"
***** Me too! I'm a Ghanaian, raised in Ghana before immigrating to America. I don't like checking that box either because I'm simply not African American.
Twia O. I feel you.
Cause honestly actual "African Americans," aren't "African" American. You're more of an African American than the average African American. If that makes sense...
+Mansa Musa It doesn't make sense. I'm more intuitive with my Ghanaian culture than the American culture.
***** You are not Jamerican. You are an Israelite from the Tribe of Benjamin. Stop identifying yourself with the name given to you by your opressors.
Um. Hi. Thank you for trying to tell me who I am, but I know already. I don't know about being from the tribe of Benjamin because I have no proof of that. I do have Sephardic Jewish heritage and I acknowledge it as well as my Jamaican/West African heritage, so I'd like it if you would refrain from trying to tell me my ancestry when you don't even know me. Also stop it with the oppressor stuff. Everyone has been oppressed at some point in history. It's tiring.
Great thought provoking topic! I was born overseas and spent my formative years there as well. My parents were in the Air Force and are both deeply rooted in America. I was always conscious of being black but was also conscious of being an American. I remember speaking Italian outside of my home and English inside of my home with my mom. We always spoke English. My mom has a thick Jersey accent, that I didn't pick up but it was always interesting lol.
I can relate to Africans who arrive here to the US and don't fit in with the "general" black populous. The kids who bullied me didn't know any better and neither did the ones who bullied African students. And it wasn't their fault. They were born to circumstances out of their control. This may sound UnAmerican, but America is very poisonous to traditional Black Americans, in my opinion. If you can travel abroad, seize that opportunity. There's more to this world than the bitter dregs that America force feeds us.
However, I get quite annoyed at Africans who experience something similar to what I did, but come out of it with a disdain I expect from a Klansmen. I understand some of the resentment but at the same time, I feel that there's a lack of understanding of where we're coming from. The idea of "We made it. What's your excuse?" is very condescending. Africans don't have the same crosses to bare as African Americans, in respect to living in America.
Such a great vid! Wish it was longer. You're spot on about the locale thing. I ID so strongly with New Orleans/Creole culture and wouldn't change it for anything. I also strongly identify with Black American culture, and what we've created here. Our music, food, literature, our social and political movements, the Harlem Renaissance to name a few. We've managed to create one of the most imitated cultures in the world. We should totally own it, be proud.
I just love to listen to young intelligent Black sisters like you, such a pleasure.
Keep on raising awareness onto the depth and diversity of black culture and history.
Thank you.
Loved it ladies. I don't reference myself as a African American, I'm plain ole Black Girl also who is from the South. In America, that is a huge difference in and of itself. I think what you two have done is great and I'm looking forward to the tweet chat.
I don't reference myself as African American either. I've explained this to white people who feel comfortable hearing the word, "black." Black isn't a bad word guys... This was good.
i never understood why white Americans are called Americans and not European Americans, while all other races have to put their ancestral country of origin as a prefix. I would have thought one would only do this if their ancestral root were closer ie 1st or 2nd generation Americans
I identify as a Black American also or like Jouelzy "regular Black." Lmao. My parents, grandparents and greats were born here in the USA so I don't relate to the hyphenations white America wants to classify non-whites as.
We as Black Americans absolutely have a culture - every ethnic group does. I think that's a given, to be frank. Culture exists everywhere no matter what race or ethnicity you are.
I love videos like this that cause us to discuss and acknowledge real life issues!
fascinating conversation ladies! 🙌🏾
This is a cute video and I love it because we are having these discussions and I hope this will help Africans and African Americans become closer and more united as one. :)
This video is what I've been trying to articulate for a while. My dad is Jamaican and my mom is from North Carolina. It is just uncomfortable to not be close enough to Jamaican culture to identify with it. Also, my mom's family is very educated and classy meaning I didn't grow up with many typical aspects of the black experience. I have a very nondescript accent and I don't quite know what it is about be, but I've never been accepted into the black community. It's frustrating to live in a world where there is no one quite like you. But maybe it's a great blessing ☺️
Wow coming from Sénégal raised in France, I can't really relate to this question as we have completely different topics :) But I can relate with the not being african enough, not being american enough ! Pretty tough ! But awesome video sisters !!
What a beautiful conversation. Thanks for this ladies.
This is wonderful I have always found this topic very confusing and I glad this video was made. Jouelzy you are so intelligent!
Yes to the Fela Music. I had to delete my first comment because I sounded salty as hell lol. But I do know my roots. I was born in America but spent 10years growing up in Nigeria. My parents are Nigerian, so yes.. I am Nigerian. However, I do claim to be African American but I don't really understand what it is. Like Evelyn said, I never had the primary source to be completely honest. Anyway.. I have received hella shade about my Nigerian accent, complexion, weight etc. Im embrace everything though!!
But in general I noticed that African Americans tend to automatically look down on Africans. Its either they think you live in huts or are suffering. I respect the ones that asks questions without trying to be funny or ignorant.
agreed
1perle Thank you hun!
Well let me help you understand what an African American is we are Africans forcibly taken from West Africa we are composed of the following ethinc groups from West and Central Africa IGBO,AKAN,YORUBA,FULANI, ANGOLAN,SENGAMBIAN. As well as about 40 other ethnic groups from Central and West Africa.We say African Americans cause we are made up of West and Central African ancestry.Hence African Americans
I feel like there will always be the misconception of How AA's and Africans feel about one another. I've heard a lot of what you just stated about how AA's stereotype Africans but at the same token as an "African American " (Black american) I've been treated badly by Africans as well when they didn't even know me! Africans also go by the stereotypes that AA's are lazy and all we do is spend our money on frivolous items , when that's not the case either. It wasn't until I got into my Career of Health and fitness and started aiding people in improving their lifestyle is when I saw the change in approach of Africans. But when I was in college working my little college job at party city, they treated me like I was the help. Talking down to me as tho they were of higher class. And the crazy thing is I've dated a Nigerian guy for whole year and half and his family loved me because they got to know me and not fall for the stereotypes placed on AA's.
I agree w/ Evelyn from the Internet: I am born in the U.S. (Black/African-American) have been treated poorly by professional blacks from Africa and the West Indies...Sometimes humiliated/sabotaged by these women the same way as I might be treated by a prejudiced White American. In some cases I have observed Africans align themselves w/ White Americans POV in the professional setting. But of course this was a distinct few individuals b/c of course not all ethnic Africans/West Indies, just like not all White Americans are not prejudiced. I will agree that these individuals have a more positive self identity and they discussed/flaunted it openly. I do appreciate the positive self image that they possess. I am glad to have had these varied experiences. Of course, I have not travelled and my viewpoint of the world may greatly be influenced by meeting more of the people who live in it. I do admit that I avoid Africans, Jamaicans/West Indies blacks in the professional setting to avoid feeling poorly about myself based on the few experiences described above. I try to avoid people who might look down their noses at me, it hurts.
By far the most constructive commentary on this subject!
Evelyn's eye makeup and brows look fantastic!
When I came to the realization that I was perceived as being Black American, I made a conscious decision to learn about B.A. culture. There is definitely a history and a culture that supersedes slavery.
During this openness, I became aware of the "divide" or "difference" between Black Americans and African Americans. First from studying the "Back to Africa Movement" then from personal experience.
I usually have random conversations with strangers. One of these convos was with an African American cab driver who shared that I looked like I was Ibo - I get that a lot, especially when I wear a head wrap. He then began sharing his disdain for Black Americans. He went on this rant about B.A. not being worthy of the title African American. How some of them have never step foot in Africa so how could the possibly be called A.A. etc.
It was a rather enlightening experience. It is too easy for us to group people with more melanin into one lump and tack on a label, "Black." We truly should be more cognizant of the diversity of "Black" Culture.
The idea of "race" is certainly to blame. Race is truly an inadequate form of aggregation. Additionally it is just as gauche to muddle the diversity of "Black" Culture as it is to muddle the ethnic diversity of "Latinos," "Asians," and "Whites." Saying that Puerto Ricans, Cubans and Spaniards are all the same or saying that Chinese, Japanese and Koreans are all the same, is just as inconsiderate as saying that Nigerians, Black Americans and Black Caribs are all the same. Totally different cultures, beliefs and people - although grafted from the same tree.