This iReport is part of an assignment:
Reclaiming the dream
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Posted July 9, 2008
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Blacks in America
I Am American In the past White America was proud of its integrated population. They were third or even fourth generation Americans. Now, suddenly, it is "in" for Whites to trace their roots. We started hearing that she is Irish-American. They are Italian-Americans, or is it Greek-Italian-Americans? Not to be outdone, Black Americans hungered for their roots too. But where exactly were we from? Ghana?... Nigeria?... No problem. Africa will cover us all! We were no longer Blacks. We were no longer colored. We were not even Negroes. We were given a new name. We became African-Americans.
There are over 40 countries in Africa. Some countries have six or more distinct ethnic groups, each with their own language, religion and customs. Just as Europe has France, Denmark and Italy - three countries with different ethnic groups, languages, religions and customs. In African there is Ethiopia, Niger and Angola. Africa is not a race; it is not even a country. It is a continent. Ethnic groups in Africa may have no common link. Somalia and an Angola are both Africans countries, yet their peoples have different religions and customs. Proponents of the term African-American say the dictionary defines African as: "of or from Africa or belonging to the black race of Africa; Negro." America, they say, is country of immigrants and to have a cultural identify you must have a country. By tagging "African" on our names we Blacks are locking onto a "country," and gaining an identity. But do we really need this prop?
Leaders in Africa, in Europe and in Asian recognize what Americans have yet to learn. If within a country one or more group identifies with their ethnic origin rather that with their country, sooner or later there will be a war. There is loyalty not to the country, but to ethnic origin and its designated leaders. Thus ethnic and race wars have been fought in ancient civilizations for centuries. Just recently the former Yugoslavia and in Angola there were wars ethnicity. In simmering conflicts in the Basque region of Spain, in Armenia and in Kenya, religion and ethnic origin is the issue. America is a country of immigrants yet instead of coming together the country seems to be pulling itself apart. With seven continents and close to 200 countries in the world, name linking can be infinite. After all, if the Europeans and Asians continue to identify with their mother country three generations removed - why, so can Blacks. So soon we will have Ghanian-Americans, Jamaican-Zimbabwean-Americans... the possibilities are endless!
Historians have debunked the myth that Blacks brought only muscles to the New World plantations. Much of the culture that developed in America derives from African customs and language. The same is true in countries in the West Indies. Immigrants from the Caribbean are just as Black, yet just as cultural as the average White immigrant. They are as aware of their culture as are the so called Greek- or Italian-American. These people of African descent are no longer looking for a culture to identify with; they have their own. They are Jamaicans, Guyanese, Dominicans and Haitians, to name just a few. Also, in South Africa after just over 300 years the Afrikaners, descendants of early Dutch and French explorers, have a culture, a language and an identity. The diverse culture found in various Caribbean Islands is derived from Africa but it is not African. So too the distinctive culture of Blacks in American is derived from Africa... but it is not African. It is American! Culture is not genetic nor can it be inherited. It has to be taught. Blacks do not and should not need to grab hold of an entire continent to gain an identity. Blacks in American have a culture a language and an identity. We should stop looking elsewhere for our culture. Black American's culture is unique, it is individualized, and it is real. Blacks in America should be celebrating their rich cultural heritage... Blacks in America should remember: Our heritage is our history, it is the legacy of our ancestors but it is not what we are today. Some of us were brought here involuntary and other made their way here by choice. My point? We are now here. Rather than looking to the past and adopting a custom that is foreign we should cultivate our own customs right here in America. We are Americans and our customs are distinctly American. Blacks in America should be teaching their children to be Americans... After 400 years Blacks in America are Americans. I am American. I am an author, an educator and a radiographer and write regular columns for radiologic journals and newsmagazines. In addition to my first fiction Linked,I have also published health care related text books.
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