What do Africans think of Black Americans?

Question

I had an answer removed yesterday, because I said Black Africans look down on African-Americans as lazy, violent and dysfunctional. I just want to post some support for that position. Since it's not PC for a white man to comment on black culture, I'm including a quote from a black "scholar" and a link if anyone is more interested.

But, almost invariably, whenever the Nigerians talked about African Americans, they would use the term akata. I didn't know what they meant by that and I never asked them. It didn't take me long to figure out that they were referring to American blacks. I did not detect any hostility towards them, or a condescending tone when they talked about these cousins of ours in the diaspora. ... It was not until years later that I found out what the term akata meant after I read an article in the Detroit Free Press by a Nigerian reporter, or someone with a Nigerian (Yoruba) name, who explained what it meant: a brutal wild animal or something like that.

Here's a link to the article by Godfrey Mwakikagile, "Relations Between Africans and African Americans: Misconceptions, Myths and Realities"

http://africandiaspora2005.tripod.com/id1.html

Answer 1

I don't want to be flagged by liberal tattle tales, so I'll just say that there is an interesting interaction that has occcured in Harlem with recent immigrants from West Africa moving there. I would point to google searches on that for more insight.

Answer 2

I don't believe the majority of Africans support that belief about American Blacks. It doesn't make any sense for a foreign Black (of the US) to criticize Black Americans when we strive for equality, justice, and most importantly FREEDOM. You know exactly what I'm talking about, I really don't need to go into detail. Therefore, if it weren't for American Blacks then they would not have the opportunity to come to the United States, live amongst Whites, work a normal job, with normal pay. WE, American Blacks, did this for us as well as THEM.

So...what ever African says 'that' can cut that sh!t out right now. Especially when there are so many examples of successful Blacks, those words shouldn't come out of their mouth!

Enough said...

Good try and on race baiting. Grow up!

Answer 3

While over-seas with my husband in the Air Force I heard Africans refer to the black Airmen as "white black people"

The people we were stationed with at the Embassy were careful not to make rude remarks about anyone-However there was some snobbery when it came to shades of skin colour and/or level of education.
On a personal note -I have never been able to understand the importance of the 'shade ' of a persons skin,Or the darkness or lightness thereof.

People are people . When we start categorizing and generalizing -we are always going to be wrong .

Stereotypes are never correct , are ridiculous, and dangerous on many levels BUT stereotyping/grouping is not new .
As long as there are two people in the world , one of them will think the other is better or worse for one reason or the other -that is an unfortunate characteristic of human nature.

Answer 4

Well calling black americans lazy, violent, and dysfunctional is equivilent to a black american saying Africans have a culture of genocide, rape, AIDS, and starvation. Most judge Africans by the state and culture of thier countries not by the few who were able to get here on visas...Its also odd considering most Nigerians I know act like and refer to themselves as African Americans.

With that said, I get the feeling they probably think about us more than we think about them if they have to invent a term for us. I personally have never had a problem with Nigerians, and still hold them in high regard..

Answer 5

I'd never heard that actually. But I'll never forget what a teacher I had told me about a year ago. She said: "When trying to be 'politically correct' you are really doing just the opposite. You try to correct your speech, but you're more than likely just going to offend somebody either way." So just say what you think is correct, not what others think is correct. As for myself, I've always just said "black." Nothing wrong with that. I can't remember who told me this, but it was an elder of mine, said he'd called a black person "African-American" and that the person said he wasn't from Africa & that he was born & raised in the USA. So because of that, and just because of the ease of the word, I say "black." haha, of course I never call anybody out by the title of their ethnicity/nationality, just food for my thoughts.

Answer 6

Im not sure if you are asking this for racist remarks. But I will answer this HONESTLY. My whole family and culture do in fact look down on alot of black americans for all the generalizations that are put out there about them, but just like every race there are good and bad. I do not know about the Africans but as far as where Im from Black americans are looked down upon...

but not by me.. Im an equal opportunity person, I will have nothing against a person unless they give me a reason nor will I ever have any reason to bash a whole race and base my judgement on lies, generalizations or sterotypes of people, I look at people as individuals

Answer 7

I think is is a very negative and divisive question. I've been to Africa and I've seen that there are good things and some very bad things. But no one should come to this country and look down on African-Americans who have overcome and achieved so much. Most importantly, we've died for the rights of all Americans' and even non Americans. That's to be respected despite the few people that white people say represent our entire race.

EDIT: This question pisses me off. But I changed my answer because really and truly the person asking it and those who support it are promoting racist views against Black people.

Answer 8

Well my family doesn't think that badly about black americans. You got your "information" from Nigerians and as a Kenyan I'm not supposed to be so trustworthly of them (I can't jude though never really met a Nigerian...well I don't think so). Anyway like I was saying, my dad looks down on those black americans who rob and murder things like that, but he is like that with anyone who does bad things. So I don't think so many Africans think badly about black americans. But I also can't speak for everyone in Africa.

EDIT: Oh ok nevermind I see the article. Still I don't think all Africans think badly about black Americans.

Answer 9

Once someone from Africa told me that Black Americans are a "lost" people.

i also agree with lina H
.
zupermodel*
What part of Africa have you been to?
You have been brain-washed by white supremacy without notice, Lots of Africans dont live in villages. There is roads, water and electricty. Most Africans do have jobs in certain parts of Africa. The reason why it is not better is because
it has been broken by white supremacy. African American
are more prone to AIDS then Africa.
Africans have also been brain-washed by whites and it links to stereotyping.

Answer 10

We Africans have a lot of respect for our elders, and for our tribal authorities. Sometimes I find that lacking among the Americans of African descent. I figure things got mixed up, culture lost, during the slave period. I think it is good that some are looking into their roots and trying to find with in themselves that racial pride. I find the "rappers" and their demeaning talk of women and even of themselves discouraging and embarassing.