A recent question was posed in one of my favorite social media hangouts and I was loathed to see how what seemed to be an interesting question morphed into a hate-filled diatribe. The question was “what are you mixed with?”
Now typically, I am one who would rally against this line of questioning because more often than not Afrikans in the United States have a tendency to bend over backwards to claim every ethnicity and race group other than their own. Foolishly, I thought that because of the particular group I was in, there would be more of an enlightened discussion, so I jumped right in, only to be shocked by the vehement and virulent condemnations of everyone who tried to discuss their national and ethnic identity, as opposed to their racial identity.
Sometimes I can’t tell if we engage in these conversations to express our opinions, or just to find ways to fight and argue, as opposed to help UNITE AFRICANS as I was hoping the group was purported to do …
So while the war of word continued, I stepped away and ran to google as I am so apt to do, especially when I think perhaps I may have misconstrued my own knowledge base (which I might allow my ego to say is rather broad, thank you very much 0_0 ) …
So my google searches only further re-emphasized my basic notions about this particular issue, that terminology is dreadfully deadly, and when we ASS-ume that everyone is operating from the same understanding of said terms, the level of conflict can, indeed, become astonishing.
So I re-entered the fray, as it were, with a renewed sense of hope, that as a referree of sorts, I could barter a truce and re-engage the conversation with a spirt that would ensure UNITY and shared understanding, so as to create an embracing of differences with admiration that harbors unity. ONLY TIME WILL TELL…
BELOW, IN PART, is what I presented.
It would be nice if we at least tried
to come to an understanding on the need for a shared agreement on the definitions of terms so that perhaps UNITY can actually shine through —- “what are you mixed with?” is the original post question — 
I suppose we are all operating from the assumption that “race” is the only element that is proper to be dealt with — but then again, depending on where people are from – they may have a completely different take on what the question is asking …
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1) national identity – the country you were born in, have (or are supposed to have) rights and even duties, the country from which you are allowed to get a passport – in which you are allowed to vote during political elections, be they national, regional, or local (whether you care to participate in such flawed political practices [shenanigans] or not)
2) racial identity – dividing people based on physical or biological characteristics (which usually result from genetic ancestry) despite the fact that race is a social construct and not entirely rooted in “hard” science – race still exists as a perception based upon the basic colors of the “crayon box” – Black, Brown, Red, Yellow, White corresponding loosely to African, Latino, Indian, Asian, European
3) ethnic identity – based on a real or a presumed common genealogy or ancestry – shared cultural practices, perspectives, and distinctions that set apart one group of people from another — ethnic groups are based on shared ancestry, a sense of history, shared language, shared religion, and shared forms of dress. Ethnic differences are not inherited; they are learned.
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One reason I pose these classifications is because if, for example, I assume that someone from Dominican Republic thinks the same way as I do, that their experiences and perceptions about race, nationality, and ethnicity are the unequivocally the same as mine, then I am pre-supposing 0r rather IMPOSING my reality upon them. Now my reality as an AFRIKAN in these united states leaves quite a lot to be desired, in the grand scheme of racial, ethnic, and even cultural identity to say the least.
So if I, operating on this pre-judged perspective, say “well, do you realize that we both are black?” – and their response is “Hold up, I’m Dominican!” – unless we define our terminologies – neither of us really know whether we are on the same page or not –
If in reality the DR person’s concept of claiming “black” is defined as “denying citizenship status” of one’s homeland – he or she will definitely get insulted and tell me where to go –
yet I never intended such a definition –
The lack of understanding of each person’s perspective and definitions of terms – and by definitions, I mean the denotative and the connotative definitions, is the root of the problem —
so our DIS-UNITY is harbored, fostered, promoted, continued – based upon poor communication
I dare go out on a limb and say that Africans in Latin countries are well aware of and choose to embrace their African identity. They may do so in ways that differ from the ways that Africans in the United States do so. After all, not too long ago, we rallied to the term NEGRO! But it is this barrier that we must find ways to overcome. Until we do, we will continue to be dis-united and cuf off from our TREE OF LIFE.
This is of supreme importance as the AFRICAN seeks to re-create the age old business operations that we had well in tact prior to the coming of the European pirates, empire killers, and enslavers.
If, for instance, I am selling a book – I need black christians to buy it no matter who they envision jesus to be
I need black muslims to buy it no matter who they envision Mohamed to be
I need black nationalists to buy it no matter if they relate to africans on the continent or not
I need africans to buy it whether they prefer the term africa or afrika or al kebulan
I need Jamaicans to buy it whether they call themselves AFRO CARIBBEAN OR JAMAICAN or AFRO-HATIAN OR just Hatian
I need Dominicans to buy it whether some variant of english is their first or second language, whether they call them selves Dominican, Afro-Dominican, Afro-Latino, Black etc . . .
Nation Building is about bridging the gaps that have divided the African all across this planet, and celebrating our different cultures and our shared values. The differences exist, primarily, and particularly in the Western hemisphere because of the African Holocaust (the Maafa) — we can not continue to let semantics divide us. We had trade routes and methods of business transactions prior to our first defeat – we shall re-constitute our international community – we must!
A luta continua !
Independent Black Dude 