Why the confusion between Africans and African Americans?

Question

I've spoken to a lot of Africans and a lot of African Americans. Each seems to have negative views about the other. To me, we are one in the same. Why can't we get along? Why don't we repsect one another? And why do Africans and African Americans separate themselves?

Answer 1

I think it goes back to the fact that Africans are all the way African and African Americans can not and some will not go back to their roots yes some of us were slaves and we were made to for get where we came from so we have no use for our roots once we took on the ways of Americans we can not relate to Africans and they can not relate to what we have been through. I'm an African American and when i talk to Africans i feel a almost displacement knowing that from what history has said that blacks came from African but yet many African Americans don't know their roots. I come from a mix background and i do not see my self as a African i see my self as a American or black American and I'm proud of my ancestors that were from Africa but i live in American and i have all the rights of an American but every day I'm learning about the roots that was lift behind and yes a human is a human no difference in us really we are just from different places.

Answer 2

Honey, when a country was founded on hate and destruction it is difficult to remedy the problem in the blink of an eye. We have so damaged ourselves to the point that we cannot even accept the obvious differences between us. Instead, we use those differences to belittle one another, hurt one another, kill one another. It is not just African and African americans that have this conflict of self worth. Talk to some other groups that have this issue and you will see that it's not just a black thing.

Answer 3

Good question.

I wonder also about the confusion between African Americans and Americans. Cultural heritage should be embraced and celebrated, but what about all these labels and distinctions?

Answer 4

African-American appear to be hostile in their gestures and communication, believe they are entitled to special treatment and they rule the world...........Africans are such sincere, they are the authentic Africans.......who value sincerity and respect and family. the African-Americans are differ generation. The Africans they carry the true values of the culture.

Answer 5

africans are born in africa and african-americans are born in the united states....sure they're both have the race labeled as "black"...but their cultures and their way of living, is very different, so it isn't exactly the same...the only thing in common is the color of their skin

Answer 6

Africans do not like Blacks from America because of how blacks are portrayed in the media and in movies...They do watch TV in Africa and they say that they believe every black in America has a gun or is going to kill someone or is on drugs....They see what is shown on tv to them so really I guess the are scared..

Answer 7

well.. I'm German... and I'd have to say it's the same reason Germans and German Americans don't get along to well... Americans are 'Americanized' ... you don't understand how completely different our culture, as Americans, is from any other culture on this planet.... wake up and read a book.

Answer 8

Africans were born in Africa, and hold citizenship in one of the countries therein.

African-Americans were born in Africa, but have become citizens of the U.S. They may be black or white.

Americans were born here, or naturalized and do not feel it necessary to make reference to their country or origin.

Hope this clears things up!

Answer 9

cause of the diffrence of their background how both sides, grew up? i guess africans think they struggled more then african americans, and africans americans, just see themselfs as americans, and forget their african background..

Answer 10

I am with you on your question. Both are from the same continent and were only separated by the evil of slavery.