Why Do Africans Dislike Us So much?

[Moe17]

Afro Chat family, I want to come right out & ask this question. Why do our descendants hate black americans so much? I try to be open & get to know about their culture more but I just get really frustrated, because I dont understand the hate towards us.

We resemble them, dont we? Do Africans resent us because they think that Europeans are also are descendants, so they resent us for being "forced" to mix with Europeans?

In my opinion, a phony African is WORSE than a white american...they are supposely "our people" & its like the dont give a amn about us...personally I am just clueless about the situation.

I really want to know about this...

I noticed this most in college but in the real world, I hardly notice it.

[sephari]

Originally Posted by Moe17

Afro Chat family, I want to come right out & ask this question. Why do our descendants hate black americans so much? I try to be open & get to know about their culture more but I just get really frustrated, because I dont understand the hate towards us.

We resemble them, dont we? Do Africans resent us because they think that Europeans are also are descendants, so they resent us for being "forced" to mix with Europeans?

In my opinion, a phony African is WORSE than a white american...they are supposely "our people" & its like the dont give a amn about us...personally I am just clueless about the situation.

I really want to know about this...

the word 'descendants' means your children and their children and so on. i'm not quite sure what word would best replace 'descendants' so i'll use 'cousins'. now only some of them hate us. others love us, and still others are completely indifferent.
i think that it is great that you try to get to know them and their cultures, i wish more of us were like that. usually when i meet some one and i find out that they are foreign i usually ask what country they are from. our cousins from the Continent usually tell me "africa" because in their experience most americans especially black ones know next to nothing about the rest of the world and may not have even heard of their country. so i probe a little more and find out that they are ethiopian or nigerian or what ever. so i ask if they are from the capital/largest city or it they are a particular ethnic group. 100% of the time they are surprised and more likely to open up you should try that approach next time.

as for looks there are some ethnic groups that look so much like americans it ain't funny. so we being mixed has nothing to do with it. in some countries a huge number of them are mixed just like us.

overall i strongly suggest that you thoroughly research africa, the music, art, languages, cultures geography, everything. and remember that just because they all don't feel the same kind of kinship with us doesn't mean that they hate us.
hope all of that helps.

[Moe17]

Originally Posted by sephari

the word 'descendants' means your children and their children and so on. i'm not quite sure what word would best replace 'descendants' so i'll use 'cousins'. now only some of them hate us. others love us, and still others are completely indifferent.
i think that it is great that you try to get to know them and their cultures, i wish more of us were like that. usually when i meet some one and i find out that they are foreign i usually ask what country they are from. our cousins from the Continent usually tell me "africa" because in their experience most americans especially black ones know next to nothing about the rest of the world and may not have even heard of their country. so i probe a little more and find out that they are ethiopian or nigerian or what ever. so i ask if they are from the capital/largest city or it they are a particular ethnic group. 100% of the time they are surprised and more likely to open up you should try that approach next time.

as for looks there are some ethnic groups that look so much like americans it ain't funny. so we being mixed has nothing to do with it. in some countries a huge number of them are mixed just like us.

overall i strongly suggest that you thoroughly research africa, the music, art, languages, cultures geography, everything. and remember that just because they all don't feel the same kind of kinship with us doesn't mean that they hate us.
hope all of that helps.

Hey Sephari,
Thank you, I appreciate your reply.
Yes, Africa has alot more to offer when it comes to having knowledge of the culture, people, etc. I was actually going to do some research on Brazil, but the more I find out about Africa, the more interested I get.
What you said is very true; Ive meet people from Ethiopa, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, etc. they have various looks to them (also extremely attractive). True about them resembling Americans.
Do you know how I can find out about Africans being mixed, just like us?

[sephari]

in most of the countries were they make up a large part of the population they are a separate ethnic group usually called 'colored'. there are huge numbers in south africa, mozambique, namibia and angola and also some of the island countries. also during the Maafa many of our ancestors were taken to plantations on islands off the coast were they were they mixed with each other rather than with the europeans.
wikipedia is a great resource and i prefer clusty.com as a search engine

[Terrie]

The Africans wonder why American Blacks don't take advantage of all of the opportunities that America has offer.

[Auset32]

" so i ask if they are from the capital/largest city or it they are a particular ethnic group. 100% of the time they are surprised and more likely to open up you should try that approach next time.

as for looks there are some ethnic groups that look so much like americans it ain't funny. so we being mixed has nothing to do with it. in some countries a huge number of them are mixed just like us.

overall i strongly suggest that you thoroughly research africa, the music, art, languages, cultures geography, everything. and remember that just because they all don't feel the same kind of kinship with us doesn't mean that they hate us.
hope all of that helps."
I agree that most Africans have been shocked by how little we know about Africa and how insulting we can be by our questions. But if you learn something about the continent you will see a change in your response. I remember I was in a cab and I asked the driver where he was from and he said Africa I said where, he said east . I then said I had come back from Ethiopia and thought he looked Ethiopian. He turned around with a big smile then he told me he was from Somalia. We then had a great conversation and discussed world problems.
So all Africans don't dislike us,just like All African-americans are not ignorant about Africa.

[Auset32]

Originally Posted by [QUOTE

so i ask if they are from the capital/largest city or it they are a particular ethnic group. 100% of the time they are surprised and more likely to open up you should try that approach next time.

as for looks there are some ethnic groups that look so much like americans it ain't funny. so we being mixed has nothing to do with it. in some countries a huge number of them are mixed just like us.

overall i strongly suggest that you thoroughly research africa, the music, art, languages, cultures geography, everything. and remember that just because they all don't feel the same kind of kinship with us doesn't mean that they hate us.

I agree that most Africans have been shocked by how little we know about Africa and how insulting we can be by our questions. But if you learn something about the continent you will see a change in your response. I remember I was in a cab and I asked the driver where he was from and he said Africa I said where, he said east . I then said I had come back from Ethiopia and thought he looked Ethiopian. He turned around with a big smile then he told me he was from Somalia. We then had a great conversation and discussed world problems.
So all Africans don't dislike us,just like All African-americans are not ignorant about Africa.[/

[Istlota]

1) We African-Americans don't admit it, but many of us have picked up a few of europe's prejudicial attitudes toward Africans. The most anti-African book I read in the past 10 years happened to have been written by an African-American.

2) Many of us African-Americans are pretending not to know, but Africans are perfectly aware that Condi Rice, Jendayi Frazer, and General William Ward are not motivated by a love for Africa or Africans. Also, Africans understand that the African-American GIs stationed at bases in Africa will shoot any African that their white commanding officer tells them is the enemy.

3) Blacks come here from countries that _they_ govern, and see that we African-Americans have more money, more education, and more black politicians than they had back at home. Yet, every morning, on their bus ride to a job many of us would not take because it is beneath our dignity, they look out the window and see a group of brothers sitting on a beat-up old couch, under a shade tree, waiting for the liquor store to open and complaining that they can't get ahead because the white man is holding 'em back.

[Ambassadeur]

Don't cry for Africa




For quite a few years now, Africa has been the West's flavour of the month. Whether it's in Making Poverty History, or adopting wide-eyed babies from one of the continent's 53 countries, it is very hip to talk aid. And to talk Africa.

Darfur is finally getting some attention in the mainstream press, but as always, there looms that danger of the entire continent paying a price for one tragedy. The image of Africa has always been one of doom, gloom and despondency.

Celebrities and their causes, which are accessorised by over-the-top concerts have resulted in a definite increase in the number of words in the newspapers and air-time on TV.

But, more often than not, the news is bad. And Africa continues to suffer as a consequence of this repeated portrayal of its negative side.

Treated as a monolith instead of realising the potential within 53 countries, Africa is being "Darfurdised" in the mainstream media. The genocide in one part, leads to a negative perception of other parts that not only have enormous potential, but are also fairly prosperous.

The African continent has more than 900 million people and it is true that there are a few unnecessary deaths. However, it is the same in countries such as India and China.

As an example, malnutrition in children under five in India, is at about 46 per cent, making it worse off than sub-Saharan Africa. And yet, it is being endlessly courted as a yummy economy, with investment pouring in.

Of the 47 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, how many have active conflicts? At last count it was Sudan, Chad, Uganda, the DR Congo and Somalia.

According to economists, last year, Africa recorded its highest GDP in 20 years. Also, 16 African countries have positive sovereign credit ratings. It is reported - not widely of course - that Botswana's is higher than Japan's, but it still fails to realise its potential of foreign investment.

Change direction

For far too long, the voices of celebrities such as Bono and Bob Geldof have spat out figures of deaths by malaria, HIV and malnutrition.

It is, of course, thanks to them that the continent received some of TV's lights. However, it is high time that their rants changed direction and started talking of Africa's potential instead of its poverty.

Africa is not a continent of war-torn refugees, infected with HIV and living under a dollar a day.

Africa in the 21st century, is a continent that has doubled its mobile phone and internet use every year - for the last seven years. The amount of foreign capital entering it is higher than the amount of foreign aid.

While the intentions of aid are noble, the results have shown the creation of lazy governance and bad bureaucracies that are neither responsible nor accountable.

Like India and China, whose people immigrated westward but returned, the same trend is observed in Africa. Africans are now returning to what they see and believe as a land and time of opportunity. Brimming with ideas and enthusiasm, they're singing the same song as Bono and Geldof. But, the lyrics are different.

They don't want to Make Poverty History. They want to Make Africans Rich.

The people of Africa are slowly gaining a voice on the international stage. For quite a while, there has been a growing distaste at the manner in which their people have been represented. It has generated charitable donations.

However, at a recent African conference, Ugandan journalist Andrew Mwenda, best summed it up when he asked: "What man or nation has ever become rich by holding out a begging bowl?"

Africa today, needs trade. Fair trade. Why not for instance, campaign for letting African cotton farmers compete fairly in Western markets instead of asking for aid?

As another example, the African film industry is at an interesting crossroads. Young filmmakers and talent are desperate and bursting to tell stories that aren't about starvation and genital mutilation.

Their stories are set in real Africa and are told in an honest way without stereotyping and showing the promise of a people that want to move on. And away from the poverty tag.

However, when it comes to financing from Western powerhouses, it is the films that conform to a pre-determined notion of what Africa is about that are smiled at and blessed with capital.

The Other Africa is quite different from the one we're used to reading about and seeing on TV. Its children are sprightly and not sick with flies sticking to their faces. Its men and women are resourceful and not refugees. And its landscapes are quite simply, stunning.

It is this Africa that needs to be celebrated. Not the way we want to. But the way it really is.




By Vinita Bharadwaj, Special to Gulf News

Published: August 02, 2007, 23:15. Vinita Bharadwaj is an independent writer based in Dubai.

Gulfnews: Don't cry for Africa