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soulitude78
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![[*]](./images/reflections/default_icon.gif) posted on 3.16.2006 at 05:59 PM |
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What is Black Culture
There will always be someone to tell you that you are not 'black' based upon an activity that you participate in, the clothes that you wear and even
how you speak. Even here on CL we have debated back and forth as to what blackness is.
If a person fails to embrace aspects of african history does this automatically make him a dismissed member of the AA community?
We all have assimilated to western culture in some way shape or form, so when is it ever okay for another AA to tell someone, they are not black.
Also, what is black culture in america to you? And how parallel are our customs or ideas suppose to be to that of African culture.
"Did you read the Article because that's not what she said and your FONT Color is Whack. "
-Waterboxer
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Salehdin
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| posted on 3.16.2006 at 06:22 PM |
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ALl experience is relative. No two people even if born by the same mother on the same day wlll walk into the same room and abstract the same
reality... As for the issue of Afrikans, whether it be here or in Afrika I suspect it would be beneficial for us to realize that our tribal, social,
political, physical differences have been and will continue to be used against us. If you are talking about assimilation into western society, given
the proven skill and affinity western states have exhibited historically as well as right now at using divide and conquer schematics it would be
beneficial to have a game plan. Unlike many other minority groups, Afrikans will never blend in in terms of appearance like the jews, Italians,
hispanics etc. Jews in holocaust Germany had to wear a star of David to be differentiated, ours is our skin. It would be advantageous for us to
realize this as a group and work to fix the relationships between us given that we have been in this position for centuries now. Fighting over who is
blacker and who knows more about what seems to focus our energies on trivial nonsense and simply waste valuable time, while the real issues the ones
we should be discussing we can not because we can not agree on basic fundamentals. I will not contribute to a thread about blaming each other, I would
much rather discuss building relationships with each other so we can do something of value for as many Afrikans as we can.
However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?
- Buddha
Truth, Benevolence, Forbearance.
Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
- Buddha
When you give a shilling to a beggar - do you realize that you are giving it to yourself? When you help a lame dog over a stile - do you realize that
you yourself are being helped? When you kick a man when he is down - do you realize that you are kicking yourself? Give him another kick - if you
deserve it!
-Wei Wu Wei
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Homegirl 50
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| posted on 3.16.2006 at 06:23 PM |
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I don't know. I'm black, know I'm black, any body looks at me knows I'm black. I have no desire to be anything other.
I'm and African American, born in the 50's. I've live through segregation and the Civil rights movement, so I've seen a lot of changes. I live my
life as I please and afford other blacks to do the same. I was born in America as was my mother, grandmother and her mother. I am an American and
proud of it. Just as I would expect Africans to be proud of who they are.
When other people make mistakes, we seek justice.
When we make mistakes, we seek compassion.
The lesson is to give to others what you seek.
--Maura Cullen
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soulitude78
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| posted on 3.16.2006 at 06:33 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Salehdin
ALl experience is relative. No two people even if born by the same mother on the same day wlll walk into the same room and abstract the same
reality... As for the issue of Afrikans, whether it be here or in Afrika I suspect it would be beneficial for us to realize that our tribal, social,
political, physical differences have been and will continue to be used against us. If you are talking about assimilation into western society, given
the proven skill and affinity western states have exhibited historically as well as right now at using divide and conquer schematics it would be
beneficial to have a game plan. Unlike many other minority groups, Afrikans will never blend in in terms of appearance like the jews, Italians,
hispanics etc. Jews in holocaust Germany had to wear a star of David to be differentiated, ours is our skin. It would be advantageous for us to
realize this as a group and work to fix the relationships between us given that we have been in this position for centuries now. Fighting over who is
blacker and who knows more about what seems to focus our energies on trivial nonsense and simply waste valuable time, while the real issues the ones
we should be discussing we can not because we can not agree on basic fundamentals. I will not contribute to a thread about blaming each other, I would
much rather discuss building relationships with each other so we can do something of value for as many Afrikans as we can. |
I agree. Our skin color does make us stand out, It is an ingredient that we cannot hide as others have done so well.
You are right, first things first, let's get on the same page with each other, and we are not. Even in the 60's and 70's, the rise of the 'black
power' movement, we perhaps seemed more united, but we were still divided. There were so many pocket organizations who claimed to be pro-black and
about progress who had separate agendas from other pocket organization. What was left was a whole bunch of black people divided, which in my opinion
is no wonder the so called 'black power' movement faded. I still believe there is power in numbers, especially if we are all on the same page. You
can't (you can try), really address issues if a group of people can't agree that issues actually exist.
"Did you read the Article because that's not what she said and your FONT Color is Whack. "
-Waterboxer
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soulitude78
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| posted on 3.16.2006 at 06:35 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Homegirl 50
I don't know. I'm black, know I'm black, any body looks at me knows I'm black. I have no desire to be anything other.
I'm and African American, born in the 50's. I've live through segregation and the Civil rights movement, so I've seen a lot of changes. I live my
life as I please and afford other blacks to do the same. I was born in America as was my mother, grandmother and her mother. I am an American and
proud of it. Just as I would expect Africans to be proud of who they are. |
I tend to agree with you, but do you consider yourself just an American or an African American? I ask because I know many black people who do not
want to bring focus to the term 'African' in association to American.
"Did you read the Article because that's not what she said and your FONT Color is Whack. "
-Waterboxer
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Homegirl 50
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| posted on 3.17.2006 at 07:55 AM |
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I concider myself a Black American. I am a black person born in America. I have no problem being called an American though, because I am.
One of the problems we have, is the same one we have with Africans. We don't allow for and respect diversity. We are all different because of
geographics, the era in which we were born and raised, family and upbringing. But we are still black. We are still going to disagree on things (as all
humans do) feel differently about things, but we are still black.
When other people make mistakes, we seek justice.
When we make mistakes, we seek compassion.
The lesson is to give to others what you seek.
--Maura Cullen
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soulitude78
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| posted on 3.17.2006 at 12:31 PM |
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^^^What you said brings us into that sticky area of one black person thinking they are better than another based upon whatever reason.
I think we are programmed to be competitive and in doing so we tend to separate ourselves.
"Did you read the Article because that's not what she said and your FONT Color is Whack. "
-Waterboxer
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wisdom
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| posted on 3.17.2006 at 12:40 PM |
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I feel that I'm a Black man in America but to say that I'm just an American because I was born here I don't agree with. I think we hold on to the
label American because we don't know anything else but this. America in my opinion is our location and nothing more. I have also notice how we as
black people represent where we are from way different from anybody else. A Brotha say hes from Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit or were ever is different
from when a white person from the same place would say it. Its like Detroit, Atlanta and Chicago to a Brotha is more who he is then where he's from.
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Homegirl 50
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| posted on 3.17.2006 at 04:56 PM |
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I don't know. When I have gone out of the country and speak to someone, they say to me "you're American" Not "youre black"
When I was in Dominican Rebublic last year and spoke with one of the people there, that is the first thing one guy said to me. "You're American, but
you look like me"
Only in America, do others say "you're black or this or that.
When other people make mistakes, we seek justice.
When we make mistakes, we seek compassion.
The lesson is to give to others what you seek.
--Maura Cullen
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waterboxer
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| posted on 3.17.2006 at 04:59 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wisdom
I feel that I'm a Black man in America but to say that I'm just an American because I was born here I don't agree with. I think we hold on to the
label American because we don't know anything else but this. America in my opinion is our location and nothing more. I have also notice how we as
black people represent where we are from way different from anybody else. A Brotha say hes from Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit or were ever is different
from when a white person from the same place would say it. Its like Detroit, Atlanta and Chicago to a Brotha is more who he is then where he's from.
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I absolutely agree..
I AM A BLACK MAN IN AMERICA!! No more, No less.
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deep_thinker
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| posted on 3.17.2006 at 07:15 PM |
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I disagree Homegirl. When I was in Costa Rica, they told me I couldnt be American because I was Black.
I think that was the first time I truly began to examine identity politics. But that could begin a whole new topic.
I agree that our innerstanding of ourselves is relative to our experiences. My family chooses not to embrace the culture of KMT as I do, but being
Christians doesnt make them any less Black, nor does it make their ancestors any less Afrikan. The choice to practice a system of Afrikan spirituality
was mine, because of my experiences, but it doesnt make me any more Black than anyone else.
These are simply things that we have been taught to use to separate ourselves, for a divided house cannot stand.
If the wise are not calm their manner is not perfect; if no calm comes in battle the army gets no rest. If there is no calm between feasts the master
and the mistress of the house cannot enjoy themselves and if there is no calm in the temple God abandons it.
Righteous Without Shame.
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Illiest_G
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| posted on 3.17.2006 at 07:37 PM |
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For a person who is an international who maybe goes to america for the first time would likely go with the impression that black americans are just
the bling bling, hip-hop, gangster rap race ! It's not my view of black americans, because I know that isn't true at all ! I know many people, here
in london who believe that,that's all black americans. A hip-hop culture, and not always in a negative mannner . Quite alot of people outside of the
states believe in this day and age that african americans are just a materialistic, gangster rap race because that all they see ! It's really sad,
and whenever I meet people who think this way, I always put them straight.
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Homegirl 50
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| posted on 3.17.2006 at 08:37 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by deep_thinker
I disagree Homegirl. When I was in Costa Rica, they told me I couldnt be American because I was Black.
I think that was the first time I truly began to examine identity politics. But that could begin a whole new topic.
I agree that our innerstanding of ourselves is relative to our experiences. My family chooses not to embrace the culture of KMT as I do, but being
Christians doesnt make them any less Black, nor does it make their ancestors any less Afrikan. The choice to practice a system of Afrikan spirituality
was mine, because of my experiences, but it doesnt make me any more Black than anyone else.
These are simply things that we have been taught to use to separate ourselves, for a divided house cannot stand. |
and perhapes that is how they feel over there. I only know what I have experienced in other countries. I have had Africans in Portugal tell me I'm
not black,( because I was not born in Africa) but American, that I don't even look black.
It all deends on where people are coming from and the way they have been taught and raised.
When other people make mistakes, we seek justice.
When we make mistakes, we seek compassion.
The lesson is to give to others what you seek.
--Maura Cullen
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shangoschild
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| posted on 3.18.2006 at 03:39 PM |
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 doctor abu boahen says" colonialism created
a new breed of africans, and elite,of welle ducated africans,who are dettached from their culture and their traditions and their way of life" i dont
think rap,hip hop
are determinants of black culture,what we have to do,is do away with the denominations such as being barbadians,grenadian,trinidadians,st
lucians,because we all are african descdants,one way or the other,dont forget that,africans have to be re ducated about the importamce of the african
continent and to the world,due to christianity and the rise of islam,africa has become fertile soil for arabs and european to steal the natural
resources from africans right under their nose,secondly,i like the term african culture,better than black culture,black is always associated with some
negative term,black cat,black hole,blacvk monday,etc,african culture is what defines us as a people GLOBALLY1
african culture have been under attack,by christianity by islam,by those who have vested interested in the destruction of african cicilization,i must
ackowledge that african cullture has evolved,people in brazil and else where have adapted to the circusntances,we are the master of our own destiny
and we are the ones that defines ourselves,no europeans do never did,never will be,knowledge is never stagnant,is what we pass it on from generations
to generations will always remain intact.
' a man without knowledge of his past is like a
tree without roots" marcus garvey"A people losing sight of their origins are dead, a people deaf to purposes are lost. Under fertile rain,
in scorching sunshine there is no difference: their bodies are mere corpses, awaiting final burial." ~ Two Thousand Seasons by Ayi Kwei Armah
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bintalshamsa
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| posted on 3.18.2006 at 07:24 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shangoschild
doctor abu boahen says" colonialism created
a new breed of africans, and elite,of welle ducated africans,who are dettached from their culture and their traditions and their way of life" i dont
think rap,hip hop
are determinants of black culture,what we have to do,is do away with the denominations such as being barbadians,grenadian,trinidadians,st
lucians,because we all are african descdants,one way or the other,dont forget that,africans have to be re ducated about the importamce of the african
continent and to the world,due to christianity and the rise of islam,africa has become fertile soil for arabs and european to steal the natural
resources from africans right under their nose,secondly,i like the term african culture,better than black culture,black is always associated with some
negative term,black cat,black hole,blacvk monday,etc,african culture is what defines us as a people GLOBALLY1
african culture have been under attack,by christianity by islam,by those who have vested interested in the destruction of african cicilization,i must
ackowledge that african cullture has evolved,people in brazil and else where have adapted to the circusntances,we are the master of our own destiny
and we are the ones that defines ourselves,no europeans do never did,never will be,knowledge is never stagnant,is what we pass it on from generations
to generations will always remain intact. |
If you believe that we should stop using descriptors like Trinidadians, Barbadians, etc., then why do you use the term "European"? Isn't that also
just a name for African descendants too? As a matter of fact, most Arabs are not even African descendants; They are Africans.
If you really want to change things in a positive way, I think that it would be most helpful to stop giving in to the notion that being "black" is a
negative thing. If we are to be self-defining, then it doesn't matter how others may associate black with negativity. Black is beautiful. Africa is
beautiful. Both roll off my tongue just as easily and pleasantly as the other.
"Thou shalt not be a victim
Thou shalt not be a perpretrator
Above all
Thou shalt not be a bystander"
--Holocaust Museum, Washington D.C.
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