Do you think that there is a disconnection between Caribbean Africans, Africans and African Americans, when it comes to understanding each other or the way we work together??? The reason I ask is because I keep hearing this.....
Question for African Americans and Black people from different countries..
- Thread starter (0_0)..l.. finger
- Start date
Yes.....
They come here and eat our lunch.......
That will lead to a disconnect......
They come here and eat our lunch.......
That will lead to a disconnect......
Can you expand a little bit on what you mean by "understanding each other or the way we work together"?
Most African American folks think they are better than Caribbean and Africans so there is no working together
the differences are real and strong, unfortunately.
Ive seen it and experienced it firsthand.
It is REALLY based on prejudices and stereotypes...
Finger even "In Living Color" had Jamaican skits back in the day characterizing African Americans as "lazy".
Ive seen it and experienced it firsthand.
It is REALLY based on prejudices and stereotypes...
Finger even "In Living Color" had Jamaican skits back in the day characterizing African Americans as "lazy".
In other words, slavery and colonialism fucked us all up but we'd rather discredit each other than work together.
^^^^^This is what I'm taking about. Where did this belief come from??? A lot of my family is from the islands (Trinidad) don't believe this one bit. But my family from the U.S believe this to be true...
I see what you mean now. Thats fucked up.
Im Haitian and Im touch with peeps from all the islands... I can say for a fact that we do not have a "mightier then thou" attitude.
I have no clue where this is coming from at all.
lol, respectfully, not some of your best work fam.
White folks ate all our food.
But cats from outside the U.S. come here and put in work.
Let it be known, I have nothing against brothers and sisters coming here and excelling. I wish more would. If folks here don't want to take advantage, make room.
America is full of excuses. White and black. Seems like foreigners of all races see the excuses. But with us, it's stronger.
This right here.
For the same reason a Jamaican might think he is better than Trinidadian and vice versa. We just focus on the differences more than we do commonalities
Last edited:
You're Haitian and don't see the difference in opportunity?
Its a culture thing, I know alot of Caribbean folks think they are better than Haitians, I'm guessing its because of all the poverty there they hold their noses up to them
There is a disconnect based on percepton considering that most of us have bought into white supremacy ideology.
It is human to focus on differences. Europeans have similar prejudices against each other. (though everybody hates Greece right now for fucking up the Euro)
As far as African Americans go, it's not that Caribbean blacks think we're superior, we just think (fairly or unfairly) that you don't take advantage of your opportunities. American black culture seems to be rooted in victim hood. More light needs to be shed on your triumphs outside of slavery and the civil rights movement internationally. Also, the African American is the ONLY portion of the diaspora to not be in charge of their own country. That plays a part as to a lack of common identity and the "crabs in a bucket" complex.
West Indians come to the US and open up businesses just like everyone else but black Americans should be well ahead of us. Why aren't you? Some of the reasons are beyond your control, some aren't.
As far as African Americans go, it's not that Caribbean blacks think we're superior, we just think (fairly or unfairly) that you don't take advantage of your opportunities. American black culture seems to be rooted in victim hood. More light needs to be shed on your triumphs outside of slavery and the civil rights movement internationally. Also, the African American is the ONLY portion of the diaspora to not be in charge of their own country. That plays a part as to a lack of common identity and the "crabs in a bucket" complex.
West Indians come to the US and open up businesses just like everyone else but black Americans should be well ahead of us. Why aren't you? Some of the reasons are beyond your control, some aren't.
Look its true...
Africans and Caribbean people do think they are "better"...
the reason is they feel that Americans have so much more opportunities that they should do better with the resources available to them...
when people have no running water or political coups or no shelter etc.
It is very difficult to sympathize when they see individuals on public assistance and wearing $200 sneakers...
of course this isn't FAIR or even true per se, but many feel this way.
Africans and Caribbean people do think they are "better"...
the reason is they feel that Americans have so much more opportunities that they should do better with the resources available to them...
when people have no running water or political coups or no shelter etc.
It is very difficult to sympathize when they see individuals on public assistance and wearing $200 sneakers...
of course this isn't FAIR or even true per se, but many feel this way.
I think the mindset is different. I have no factual basis for this other than my opinion but I've thought about this before and from what I've seen people from other countries, especially where everything..gov't business etc are black... have an ownership mindset, which I think is a GOOD thing. They expect to be entrepreneurs and have their own. Black folx here in the US have a permissive mindset. Traditionally we could only own and control what we were ALLOWED to own and control until were were conditioned to be second class. Whites had hiring and firing power. Often power to allow life or dish out death. Black communities that flourished were attacked and burned to the ground by jealous whites. Others come here and see the possibilities and the oppressed folx here only see the limitations. They don't understand why we don't do more, but we have decades of being denied. It's a social mindset that "common knowledge" says that we will only be "allowed" to progress so far. At times I find myself waiting for permission, approval to do things. I try to monitor my thoughts tho so I don't hold myself back, but I still slip up.
In america you always going to hear it, because its the job of white supremcy to divide an conquer..
Conversely, Haitians tend to think they are better. if you know anything about Haiti, you should before the Duvalier came to power Haiti exported teachers to many black countries around the world. Haiti today is a result of a brain drain that begun at the beginning of the Duvalier regime. So, we all get to see things differently. Like I said we focus more on differences.
I have no problem with West Indians...usually. Well, not in the past years I have not. In Boston, Southern black folks who are from the South call them West Indians. Both my parents are from the South. I never really heard my parents or grandparents speak negatively about West Indians. I actually thought we were the same people but I have sometimes got this vibe that they did think they were better.
I am already reading posters ignorance of West Indians coming to America and advancing. I don't know what they mean by that. If they cannot provide stats then they should be quiet. I cannot stand people who boast.
I can be cool with West indians it's just many Africans I don't like. What I never understood is why so many blacks in America feel they own Africa and Africans so much respect when they don't deserve none of it. Africa could careless about blacks over here.
I have always noticed that it has been blacks in America who are always reaching out to those Africans. Africans, from what I see, don't reach back. I feel that many Africans are opportunist. They take advantage of black American ignorance by playing like they're brothers to make money off of us.
Also, I don't refer to myself as an African. African is a European term. Also, those Africans are a different bloodline from the blacks brought here in cargo slave shits. Africans are Hametic people. We are of Shemitic blood which connects to Abraham.
Bottom line, I will work with whoever will work with me. If those West Indians or Africans got a problem with me because of my nationality, I will tell them to go back to where they came from.
Foreign blacks come here like they know everything but when that racism starts to kick in, many can't take it.
I am already reading posters ignorance of West Indians coming to America and advancing. I don't know what they mean by that. If they cannot provide stats then they should be quiet. I cannot stand people who boast.
I can be cool with West indians it's just many Africans I don't like. What I never understood is why so many blacks in America feel they own Africa and Africans so much respect when they don't deserve none of it. Africa could careless about blacks over here.
I have always noticed that it has been blacks in America who are always reaching out to those Africans. Africans, from what I see, don't reach back. I feel that many Africans are opportunist. They take advantage of black American ignorance by playing like they're brothers to make money off of us.
Also, I don't refer to myself as an African. African is a European term. Also, those Africans are a different bloodline from the blacks brought here in cargo slave shits. Africans are Hametic people. We are of Shemitic blood which connects to Abraham.
Bottom line, I will work with whoever will work with me. If those West Indians or Africans got a problem with me because of my nationality, I will tell them to go back to where they came from.
Foreign blacks come here like they know everything but when that racism starts to kick in, many can't take it.
Finger, i'm going to break it down too.....
1. A lot of African Americans have Caribbean and African roots.
Those that do understand the big picture.
Similarly Caribbean and African people who have relatives in the US understand the big picture.
2. Immigrants to any country are generally harder workers than the resident population.
An immigrant to Jamaica from St Lucia would generally work harder than the resident Jamaican.
If you leave your home country, it is not easy to leave behind family and friends.
That mentality translates into focus.
Same shit with eastern europeans who come to america.
An immigrant mentality is like this: I came from another country, I have no support system but I am going to do whatever to make it.
An immigrant understands that everything in life is dependent on what he does cause there is no support system.
I visited Ellis Island and saw this same tension when Polish, Irish, italian etc were coming to this country to work on the railroads.
So it is not necessarily a race or culture thing.
It's an immigrant coming to compete for resources thing.
3. White Americans are slick.
In my experience, they have tried talking shit about African Americans and I have had to check them.
They assume that black immigrants don't know their history of oppressing African Americans and they try to get into your head before you understand their history.
I will give an example that I give some years back.
A white Sr VP told me that he hates when AA talk in ebonics, they should speak proper english.
I told him that americans speak american english and then I asked him if he has problems with Indians, Chinese and other immigrants who don't speak proper english.
He told me that it is ok for them but not for AA because AAs have lived here all their lives and they should know how to speak proper english.
I then told him I have a problem with americans who think they speak proper english such as valley girls etc..
So he eventually threw in the towel.
But not everyone is like me. Not every one is willing to put their neck out.
But it is important for African Americans to understand that there exist to an extent a courting process to fill immigrants head with bullshit so that they could excuse their guilt.
4. Immigrants come from predominantly 2 classes.
Educated class (both rich & poor) and poorer class
The educated class come to go to universities, may stay on completion and go on to professional jobs.
The poorer class come to work and save money for family members back home. Typically work consists of baby sitting, care takers etc.
Typical areas are hoods in New York, Miami, Philly, DC and any other areas with good public transport systems.
They typically assimilate into speech patterns, attitude and behaviors of those environments just to survive.
These environments are the harsher ones and often immigrants are ridiculed in them.
This does not take place (I haven't seen it, may exists) at the professional level. All groups, African Americans, Caribbean, Africans at this level know the game.
So that is my take in a nut shell.
1. A lot of African Americans have Caribbean and African roots.
Those that do understand the big picture.
Similarly Caribbean and African people who have relatives in the US understand the big picture.
2. Immigrants to any country are generally harder workers than the resident population.
An immigrant to Jamaica from St Lucia would generally work harder than the resident Jamaican.
If you leave your home country, it is not easy to leave behind family and friends.
That mentality translates into focus.
Same shit with eastern europeans who come to america.
An immigrant mentality is like this: I came from another country, I have no support system but I am going to do whatever to make it.
An immigrant understands that everything in life is dependent on what he does cause there is no support system.
I visited Ellis Island and saw this same tension when Polish, Irish, italian etc were coming to this country to work on the railroads.
So it is not necessarily a race or culture thing.
It's an immigrant coming to compete for resources thing.
3. White Americans are slick.
In my experience, they have tried talking shit about African Americans and I have had to check them.
They assume that black immigrants don't know their history of oppressing African Americans and they try to get into your head before you understand their history.
I will give an example that I give some years back.
A white Sr VP told me that he hates when AA talk in ebonics, they should speak proper english.
I told him that americans speak american english and then I asked him if he has problems with Indians, Chinese and other immigrants who don't speak proper english.
He told me that it is ok for them but not for AA because AAs have lived here all their lives and they should know how to speak proper english.
I then told him I have a problem with americans who think they speak proper english such as valley girls etc..
So he eventually threw in the towel.
But not everyone is like me. Not every one is willing to put their neck out.
But it is important for African Americans to understand that there exist to an extent a courting process to fill immigrants head with bullshit so that they could excuse their guilt.
4. Immigrants come from predominantly 2 classes.
Educated class (both rich & poor) and poorer class
The educated class come to go to universities, may stay on completion and go on to professional jobs.
The poorer class come to work and save money for family members back home. Typically work consists of baby sitting, care takers etc.
Typical areas are hoods in New York, Miami, Philly, DC and any other areas with good public transport systems.
They typically assimilate into speech patterns, attitude and behaviors of those environments just to survive.
These environments are the harsher ones and often immigrants are ridiculed in them.
This does not take place (I haven't seen it, may exists) at the professional level. All groups, African Americans, Caribbean, Africans at this level know the game.
So that is my take in a nut shell.
and there u have it.
2 of my best friends are not from here. 1 from west africa and 1 from jamaica.
from being around their fam i have definitely heard it all...
and from being around my fam im sure they have too.
You did it right there. Yall caribbean folks claim nationality before race to not be misidentified as African American. Or when it is convenient.
"Yall", huh?
You are the mofo that dropped that comment in the thread yesterday.
What was that about?
Are you even black? Or is your motive to sow discord?
I don't see whats the difference between a Caribbean and a African American and i do not understand the beef. In the Eyes of Whites Your a Dirty Good for nothing Negro. anyways 
. (You ever check a Job Application?) I do not see Caribbean American's check box anywhere?
We Blacks should be Unified because at the end of the day all of our Blood lines are traced back to Africa. Nobody is better, we are all the same shit.
Black people are the sleeping Giant, if we were unified we would take over the planet. But we have a crab in the barrel and are some of the most selfish people on planet earth.
I watch movies like Blood Diamond and i say to myself. The movie should be about Blacks killing Whites trying to take there diamonds. Not Black on Black War
Africans Should be Rich, Africa has Oil, Diamonds, Gold, Ivory, etc.. But most the African WarLords Take the money and unleash hell on there own people. Its that Divide and Conquer and White People will always be on top because of it. Let the dirty negros do the dirty work
. (You ever check a Job Application?) I do not see Caribbean American's check box anywhere?We Blacks should be Unified because at the end of the day all of our Blood lines are traced back to Africa. Nobody is better, we are all the same shit.
Black people are the sleeping Giant, if we were unified we would take over the planet. But we have a crab in the barrel and are some of the most selfish people on planet earth.
I watch movies like Blood Diamond and i say to myself. The movie should be about Blacks killing Whites trying to take there diamonds. Not Black on Black War
Africans Should be Rich, Africa has Oil, Diamonds, Gold, Ivory, etc.. But most the African WarLords Take the money and unleash hell on there own people. Its that Divide and Conquer and White People will always be on top because of it. Let the dirty negros do the dirty work
From another thread:
Funny how we have come so far..........
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Water color on paper titled "Punishing Negroes at Cathabouco [i.e., Calabouco], Rio de Janeiro"; shows unclothed black man tied to stake, being whipped by another black supervised by a white man.
[/font][/font]
Yup Once Black People Realize that No matter how much money you have or how smart you are, You will never ever be accepted or equal in the eyes of whites. You can become a powerful force.