How important is your ethnic background?

[ceothachosen1]

maybe ethnic group stick together in reaction to discrimination..............just maybe

 

[ceothachosen1]

My ethnic background is a rich and detailed one.

I feel privileged honestly to know my family history compared to other folks who don't know if they came from African royalty or from European royalty or just their family lineage.

I am French Creole by the way. But to white folks, I'm a black man, to black people, they just consider me mixed.

I can trace my roots to a plantation in Louisiana to a black woman who ended up marrying her slave master and him fathering many kids. She eventually ended up being the only black woman to own her own plantation and bought back all her children that were sold off as slaves. It's located in the oldest parish/city in the Louisiana purchase. Melrose Plantation of Natchitoches Parish. (pronounced Nak o tish) The slave owner was a French man and I have Native American (got my census number on the way), African, Italian, French, Austrian, Polish and other flavors sprinkled in there.

Some would say it's just a fancy way of saying 'mutt'. But we have our own history and culture. If you ever been to New Orleans or even just Central Louisiana you would hear or see creole this or creole that. Sometimes confused with cajun, but two different things entirely.

So to answer the question, my ethnic background is very important to me. And if everyone was ignorant to being only involved with their own race, my heritage would not exist.

*Steps off soapbox*

so your great great gma was a black plantation/slave owner?

 

[chilly]

Living in america, I fully embrace my heritage. If not its easy to get brainwashed into hating other people that look like you and forming ideas that the majority lie about. I prefer to be around my own people, but I have no problem working or befriending other races of people.

 

[garv]

Its important to me, i don't care what these other coons say.

 

[garv]

My ethnic heritage is a part of who I am. I'm not a nationalist or a separatist but I am pro-Black African unity. I can't imagine going through life not feeling some kind of connection or belonging to a group. You can say 'I'm just human', and I would agree that race, culture, ethnicity etc. are morally irrelevant characteristics, everyone's interests deserve the same equal concern, but the nature of love/empathy is necessarily discriminating. I view African people in the same way that most people view extended family members.

I doubt humans will ever really think of themselves as 'human' until they come across some kind of alien life-form with human like intelligence, or even create artificial intelligence with a human-like consciousness, who we can compare and define ourselves in contrast to (we're not the only sentient beings on the planet but we can't verbally communicate with most non-human animals so our relationships with them are different, they're not relationships between intellectual equals).

It's not surprising that Whites wouldn't identify as 'White' or feel connected to other White people if they were raised/live in a predominately White society that has never been historically subjugated by any non-White groups, no one became 'African' or 'Black' until the slave trade and colonialism of Africans/Africa. If you lived in a predominately Black environment, you would be reminded how unlike the majority you are on a regular basis, you would probably feel some self-consciousness (not necessarily bad) for that reason. When people are in the minority (not just racially/ethnically but even when it comes to hobbies and interests, views etc.), they tend to feel a connection other people who differ from the majority in whatever way they do.

Good post....

 

[Seriously]

My ethnic heritage is a part of who I am. I'm not a nationalist or a separatist but I am pro-Black African unity. I can't imagine going through life not feeling some kind of connection or belonging to a group. You can say 'I'm just human', and I would agree that race, culture, ethnicity etc. are morally irrelevant characteristics, everyone's interests deserve the same equal concern, but the nature of love/empathy is necessarily discriminating. I view African people in the same way that most people view extended family members.

I doubt humans will ever really think of themselves as 'human' until they come across some kind of alien life-form with human like intelligence, or even create artificial intelligence with a human-like consciousness, who we can compare and define ourselves in contrast to (we're not the only sentient beings on the planet but we can't verbally communicate with most non-human animals so our relationships with them are different, they're not relationships between intellectual equals).

It's not surprising that Whites wouldn't identify as 'White' or feel connected to other White people if they were raised/live in a predominately White society that has never been historically subjugated by any non-White groups, no one became 'African' or 'Black' until the slave trade and colonialism of Africans/Africa. If you lived in a predominately Black environment, you would be reminded how unlike the majority you are on a regular basis, you would probably feel some self-consciousness (not necessarily bad) for that reason. When people are in the minority (not just racially/ethnically but even when it comes to hobbies and interests, views etc.), they tend to feel a connection other people who differ from the majority in whatever way they do.

Huruma, where are you from and do you know your ancestry? I'm planning on doing a paper on pan africanism so I'm very interested in this topic. It seems that this position is mostly advocated by those who have not been in contact with their regional origins or those who are not quite aware of their ancestry. Pan africanism movement was started by black americans and mostly advocated by them.

Being that I know my origins (Half-Cape Verdian, Half guine Bissau) and I have good understanding of the commonalities and differences between mostly Portuguese colonized countries I find it very hard to push for this kind of movement.

There is no commonality that unites all of Africa and african descendants besides oppression by Europeans. So I don't think there could ever be one successful pro-Black African unity movement. There is although a commonality between some of the african countries and most importantly some of the tribes even if they are in different countries.

Even with the example of the European Union, trying to push for this kind of movement is, in my opinion, is a bit cultural unsensitive.

And to answer the original question of this thread: No, I DGAF about which ethniticity a person is, as long as we have a basis for friendship. I have dated black/creole african, white european and most recently asian men. My best friends are actually: black african, white european and middle eastern (turkish).

(Actually never thought about this before, probably why i despise racists...)

 

[Huruma]

Huruma, where are you from and do you know your ancestry?

I was born in Zambia and my ancestry is Bemba.

I'm planning on doing a paper on pan africanism so I'm very interested in this topic. It seems that this position is mostly advocated by those who have not been in contact with their regional origins or those who are not quite aware of their ancestry.

There are/were many African pan-Africanists (Nkrumah, Lumumba, Azikwe, Diop etc.)

Pan africanism movement was started by black americans and mostly advocated by them.

The person (Henry Silvester Williams) who actually coined the term 'pan-Africanism' was Trinidadian, if I'm not mistaken. I think the movement can be traced back to Edward Wilmot Blyden (also West Indian) or Martin Delaney, I don't know.

Being that I know my origins (Half-Cape Verdian, Half guine Bissau) and I have good understanding of the commonalities and differences between mostly Portuguese colonized countries I find it very hard to push for this kind of movement.
There is no commonality that unites all of Africa and african descendants besides oppression by Europeans.

I disagree, I see cultural similarities among all sub-saharan Africans (in comparison to non-Black Africans) and I think they share a common heritage and a history of European colonialism and similar political/social struggles is enough.

So I don't think there could ever be one successful pro-Black African unity movement.

I disagree. My saying that I'm pro-African unity doesn't just mean I'm for some kind of political end-goal (like a United States of Africa), I identify with (most) Africans in a personal way, they're my people.

There is although a commonality between some of the african countries and most importantly some of the tribes even if they are in different countries.
Even with the example of the European Union, trying to push for this kind of movement is, in my opinion, is a bit cultural unsensitive.

I wouldn't downplay or ignore the cultural differences among Africans.

And to answer the original question of this thread: No, I DGAF about which ethniticity a person is, as long as we have a basis for friendship. I have dated black/creole african, white european and most recently asian men. My best friends are actually: black african, white european and middle eastern (turkish).
(Actually never thought about this before, probably why i despise racists...)

I don't see a contradiction between being a pan-Africanist (pro-African unity, however you define 'African') and dating/befriending/identifying with non-Africans. Like I said, I'm not a nationalist or a separatist. People relate to other people for different reasons. Someone born in Texas to Nigerian parents can relate to other Texans (who aren't of Nigerian origin) in a way that they can't relate to Nigerians raised in Nigeria, they're culturally Americans and the U.S is their home, but, being raised by Nigerian parents, they can also relate to other Nigerian descendants living in Nigeria, Texas, Canada, the U.K etc. in a way that they can't relate to White fellow Texans.There's no conflict between a Nigerian-American identifying as American and identifying with people who share a similar ethnic heritage, even if that heritage doesn't come from the U.S. This is why I don't understand the idea that you're either completely assimilated and have no racial or ethnic consciousness whatsoever or you're a complete separatist. Most people feel connected to their family members in a way that they don't to strangers but this doesn't mean they want to segregate themselves from the rest of the world, it just means that they share a unique heritage with their family members that they don't with others.

 

[Seriously]

I was born in Zambia and my ancestry is Bemba.
My point exacly know barely nothing about this country and zero about this tribe

There are/were many African pan-Africanists (Nkrumah, Lumumba, Azikwe, Diop etc.)
You can find anyone to advocate for anything, the fact is pan-africanism was in fact conceived by slave descendant like DuBoius and Garvey, the fact that this theory was brought to light for discussion in the African political scene by africans is only to be expected and encouraged.


The person (Henry Silvester Williams) who actually coined the term 'pan-Africanism' was Trinidadian, if I'm not mistaken. I think the movement can be traced back to Edward Wilmot Blyden (also West Indian) or Martin Delaney, I don't know.
Well some peole agree it was Dubois but even if it was Wiliams he, when coining the term, simply followed a clear logical path (pan is greek for god/all so pan-africanism=all africans or unity in africans, the same logical path can be found in the word panacea = cure for all evils that fact alone is not very relevant)


I disagree, I see cultural similarities among all sub-saharan Africans (in comparison to non-Black Africans) and I think they share a common heritage and a history of European colonialism and similar political/social struggles is enough.
I disagree. My saying that I'm pro-African unity doesn't just mean I'm for some kind of political end-goal (like a United States of Africa), I identify with (most) Africans in a personal way, they're my people.

This is where we differ I don't believe a bond of opression is enough to justify any type of political union (and notice when I talk about Pan-Africanism I'm talking about it in a strictly political sense since that's what I study) for there to be a union there has to be a common gold and direction which I do not think all sub-sahara countries have specially because they are not all developmentally equal nor their temperaments are the same.The direction that an economically exponent Angola should take for the betterment of its people differs greatly from the direction of growingly impovorished Guinea Bissau. Cape-verdians don't die of hunger, Ethiopians do, and those differences are to glaring to be ignored.


I wouldn't downplay or ignore the cultural differences among Africans.
Exacly what I mean there is not enough substance there for a political union. After all this oppression and grouping different tribes in one territory without looking at the differences I just want to scream: We are not all the same: I'm of creole and mandjaco ancestry not mandinga (ST.Tome and Prince) nor Zulu and I want affirm my independence before being put in one bag with all others

I don't see a contradiction between being a pan-Africanist (pro-African unity, however you define 'African') and dating/befriending/identifying with non-Africans. Like I said, I'm not a nationalist or a separatist. People relate to other people for different reasons. Someone born in Texas to Nigerian parents can relate to other Texans (who aren't of Nigerian origin) in a way that they can't relate to Nigerians raised in Nigeria, they're culturally Americans and the U.S is their home, but, being raised by Nigerian parents, they can also relate to other Nigerian descendants living in Nigeria, Texas, Canada, the U.K etc. in a way that they can't relate to White fellow Texans.There's no conflict between a Nigerian-American identifying as American and identifying with people who share a similar ethnic heritage, even if that heritage doesn't come from the U.S. This is why I don't understand the idea that you're either completely assimilated and have no racial or ethnic consciousness whatsoever or you're a complete separatist. Most people feel connected to their family members in a way that they don't to strangers but this doesn't mean they want to segregate themselves from the rest of the world, it just means that they share a unique heritage with their family members that they don't with others.

Never said there was any contractions between being pan-africanist and dating/befriending/whatever people of other races. But just in terms of example I can tell you with no doubt that an st.tome mother will relate better to an chinese mother than to an angolan mother in terms of parenting style. Nor did I ever said that peple cant feel a special relation of belonging to a group without being assimilated; I feel a special belonging to the Cape- Verdian and Guine- Bissau community but I don't feel a special belonging to for example Zambia a country I know almost nothing about why should I because we're from Africa? Your history is not my history is all I'm saying.

Other than that this convo as been beyond sexy and I think you should help me with my school assignement (which i lied its actually going to be a documentary even though i was considering just doing a written essay) so let me know what you think, now I must sleep.

ps: Sorry if i had many spelling mistakes, i'm not a native english speaker and I don't feel like going to the dictionary for everything

 

[wiseoneseekstruth]

so your great great gma was a black plantation/slave owner?

Further back than Great Great Grandmother, but yes she actually is the only known black plantation/slave owner who bought back all her children that had been sold off as slaves. Also the plantation has the oldest original plantation houses standing to this day.

 

[Kushington]

Just about everything wiseoneseekstruth posted in this thread applies to my ancestry, i found his posts ironic considering my fam is also originally from louisiana, the only difference is rather than identifying as creole, i see it simply as black, white and native

id like to find out more about my ancestry as far as the specific african and european nationalities, but my ethnicity isnt important to the extent that it determines who i associate with or date

 

[Paul Hate.]

Important but not Very important.I dont dwell on it everyday.Thats a problem I have with american black people,most seem to think about race or color tone issues every single day.Like are you serious?lol.With latin people its not that serious.

Yea I prefer dealing with and dating hispanics,american blacks and then carribean people basically in that order.Some white chics are cool..I dont really fuck with white dudes they come off gay or arrogant as fuck usually.I rarley deal with the other races maybe a couple indians that live and work around here.

 

[nex gin]

I don't care about ethnic background. I judge people on their actions and character. I would prefer to be around people of all races as it just makes life more interesting.

 

[Lincoln]

Important, but not excessively.

Pretty much daily, I get mistaken for something I'm not really, or not completely.

My racial background determines how I talk, and what I eat.

I have friends of all races (except middle-eastern, nothing against them, i just have never met any), but most of my friends seem to be of the same ethnicity of me.

Coming from a mixed background seems to affect my view on the world and different races. When it comes to this, I don't think the same way that my non-mixed friends and family do..

 

[NothingButTheTruth]

I prefer being around other Black folks. Black females, Black homies. That's just how it be...

Its important to me, i don't care what these other coons say.

.........................

 

[chilly]

what does that even mean though.
"your own people" ?

culturally, or physically?

black americans. rich or poor. at the end of the day, we all get looked at the same. thats what i meant by my people. now of course out of all black americans i'd prefer to be around certain ones over others, but i feel for the most part i can relate with them better than any other race.

 

[chilly]

Just cause they look similar?

no. you aint understanding me at all.

 

[XIII]

I am though. You'd rather hang around black americans that are culturally different to you and behave much differently, than whites/middle eastern/latinos/asians that are culturally the similar and behave as such

right?

it isn't as segregated over here as it is down south. even in the gta the closest you could get to segregation is those areas where apparently its all asian people. there's no strict black neighbourhoods here though but then again there's hardly any black people compared to south/east asians. there's pluses and minuses with living somewhere 'diverse' imo ...

it would be cool as fuck living in an all black middle class neighbourhood tho

 

[mryounggun]

In terms of who I associate with, not really that important. I'm down for whoever. I enjoy living in a place where it's crazy diverse. But I'm from a place that
s pretty much ALL black and I miss that sometimes, as well.

 

[chilly]

I am though. You'd rather hang around black americans that are culturally different to you and behave much differently, than whites/middle eastern/latinos/asians that are culturally the similar and behave as such

right?

nope. never said that.

 

[XIII]

Iono why they dont exist

when immigrants come here, they go to areas they know indian people are, and eventually there is a large indian population there (i.e. brampton)
why dont black folks do the same thing?
there would be a few all black middle class neihborhoods already

yea brampton has a shit-ton of indians, but i think black folk are the second largest minority after them. places like markham and thornhill is apparently all asian but i don't know how true that is.

what i like about brampton tho is that it is kind of evened out with people. the funny thing is that once you move a bit up north is where you find the people who white flighted their asses outta here a long time ago, the real rednecks. i think the best way to describe the situation in toronto is that the immigrants mostly hang with the immigrants. cuz wherever there's minorities its usually mixed, its the white people who usually want to isolate themselves