Joined: 10 Aug 2006 {Posts: 110 } Location: Somewhere...
Posted: Thu 19 Jun 2008 13:11 Post subject:
Richard Miller wrote:
dahlin wrote:
caribj wrote:
No they dont and I know this because I have loads of cousins who were BORN or grew up there. Ask how many still live there. ONE. She was born in even porer St Kitts. Ask how many of her kids are still in St Thomas. Only the ones too young to leave.
The USVI has some of the lowest wages, highest cost of living and worst educational and health care facilities under the US flag.
True, very true...
I can only speak for what I saw in St. Thomas, but I'd rather live there than some parts of San Antonio, heck many of the place I've seen in the Gulf states.... I'd choose St. Thomas over them as well!
You know as well as I do, that there are much worse places in the US to be than St. Thomas - if presence of opportunity is why they may look down on African Americans, would they still look down African Americans from places like, say, Prichard, Alabama?
Where did you go in St. Thomas and how long were you there?
Well, to be honest I dont accept any labels, African American. They dont call white Americans, European-Americans, so why should I call myself African American. I am of, African descent , but I'm Canadian. Why should there be Afro, African, or anything before that. I'm Canadian, that's all anyone should know. I was born here. Now if someone calls me Afro-Canadian, or what , I really dont care. That's their bad , but I know I am Canadian. About black, why am I being called a color that I'm not. I'm not black, if my skin is brown. Do you understand?
You might want to hit the quote button so it's easier to follow your thought, it seems you were replying to someone. with the Do you understand?
HastaLaPasta wrote:
I've noticed that there is slightly more reluctance in Latinos(especially those with lighter skin) to be grouped as African American then there is for say black Caribbean Americans. But in general, most second and even third generation Americans with African ancestry don't seem to mind the label. My question is why?
Latino/Hispanic is an ethnic label in the USA. Regardless of Hollywood stereotypes it is not a racial label.
Black in the USA, like white is a racialethnic label and carries all sorts of cultural political significance. As other non-US people of SubSaharan African ancestry have discovered, black in the USA is often used to mean African American which has nothing to do with them. This doesn't mean they don't know or self-identify with any SSAfrodescendancy.
I don't know what you mean by especially 'Latinos of lighter skin', majority of Latinos are of mixed background. They have a different concept of what constitutes 'black', someone in LatinAmerica who looks like Alisha Keys would not be called black, no ODR in LatinAmerica.
They have a different concept of what constitutes 'black', someone in LatinAmerica who looks like Alisha Keys would not be called black, no ODR in LatinAmerica.
Right, but would a dark skinned multiracial person be called "black" or would it be the same treatment as Alicia Keys?
They have a different concept of what constitutes 'black', someone in LatinAmerica who looks like Alisha Keys would not be called black, no ODR in LatinAmerica.
Right, but would a dark skinned multiracial person be called "black" or would it be the same treatment as Alicia Keys?
I would have answered this question "yes" (even while admittedly ignorant of LA because I have never been there) until recently. I was talking to a woman at a company event and she asked me whether I was part African. It was hard not to burst out laughing or wonder whether she'd had too much to drink, because I have lived on two continents and in many different cities and not one person I've encountered has ever questioned my African ancestry, which I think is glaringly obvious. I kept it together, though, and told her what my background was. Turns out she is from Brazil, and looked to me to be a mestiza (EA/NA mix). Now I always thought that even in LA people with majority SSA like myself would be called black, but maybe not. I thought it would be impolite to question her further, but I was really curious about her notion of "race" given her question. Or maybe in Brazil it is polite to ask about ancestry rather than assume (as in the U.S.)?
I'm headed to Brazil in February so I'll report back on my findings!
I've noticed most immigrants who come to America automatically assume Americans (of all races) are ignorant of their country. They tell you all kinds of stories that they want you to believe.
If they are WI Blacks they normally try to tell you that they are a mixed people from very mixed countries. If they are Black African they normally tell you CNN is all wrong about their country, and that the people live better in Africa than here. If they are Hispanic they insist that they are "Spanish" no matter how dark and Native they look. European Whites normally insist that there are very little differences between America and Europe...........
Joined: 10 Aug 2006 {Posts: 110 } Location: Somewhere...
Posted: Thu 23 Oct 2008 04:29 Post subject:
girlfromthenc wrote:
I've noticed most immigrants who come to America automatically assume Americans (of all races) are ignorant of their country. They tell you all kinds of stories that they want you to believe.
If they are WI Blacks they normally try to tell you that they are a mixed people from very mixed countries. If they are Black African they normally tell you CNN is all wrong about their country, and that the people live better in Africa than here. If they are Hispanic they insist that they are "Spanish" no matter how dark and Native they look. European Whites normally insist that there are very little differences between America and Europe...........
What exactly is that supposed to mean? There are very mixed West Indian nations and people. Frankly, there are many Americans that don't know much about WI nations as there are numerous countries. Many tend to be somewhat familiar with a few and then apply that understanding to all the others.
I've noticed most immigrants who come to America automatically assume Americans (of all races) are ignorant of their country. They tell you all kinds of stories that they want you to believe.
Often this assumption is accurate.
girlfromthenc wrote:
If they are WI Blacks they normally try to tell you that they are a mixed people from very mixed countries.
In general, English-speaking Caribbean blacks embrace U.S. conceptions of blackness currently. Most will tell you that there are mixed people in their countries, but most won't tell you that they are from very mixed countries, at least in my experience.
girlfromthenc wrote:
If they are Black African they normally tell you CNN is all wrong about their country, and that the people live better in Africa than here.
I've experienced this as well, but I think this applies to pretty much all Third World immigrants here in the U.S.
girlfromthenc wrote:
If they are Hispanic they insist that they are "Spanish" no matter how dark and Native they look.
Spanish is usually a synonym for Hispanic or Latino. It's used by many non-Hispanics in New York and elsewhere to describe any people from Spanish-speaking countries.
girlfromthenc wrote:
European Whites normally insist that there are very little differences between America and Europe...........
Haven't encountered this one. Many are quick to tell white Americans they have nothing in common with them.
Joined: 10 Aug 2006 {Posts: 110 } Location: Somewhere...
Posted: Fri 24 Oct 2008 00:37 Post subject:
G-Man wrote:
girlfromthenc wrote:
If they are WI Blacks they normally try to tell you that they are a mixed people from very mixed countries.
In general, English-speaking Caribbean blacks embrace U.S. conceptions of blackness currently. Most will tell you that there are mixed people in their countries, but most won't tell you that they are from very mixed countries, at least in my experience.
It depends on what nation you are coming from. When it comes to Trinidad, Guyana, the Cayman Islands and such, we are mixed people from mixed nations.
However, if they come from Jamaica, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Vincent and some other smaller islands that are predominantly of African descent then they will not make such statements.
So I'm not sure what "try to tell you" this poster is talking about or what "stories" being referred to. Some Americans seem to think they know all about the Caribbean because they see Jamaica on TV, visit one or two islands or have some friends who are "from the islands." Not so. Real exposure is key.
HastaLaPasta wrote:
I've noticed that there is slightly more reluctance in Latinos(especially those with lighter skin) to be grouped as African American then there is for say black Caribbean Americans. But in general, most second and even third generation Americans with African ancestry don't seem to mind the label. My question is why?
Latino/Hispanic is an ethnic label in the USA. Regardless of Hollywood stereotypes it is not a racial label.
Black in the USA, like white is a racialethnic label and carries all sorts of cultural political significance. As other non-US people of SubSaharan African ancestry have discovered, black in the USA is often used to mean African American which has nothing to do with them. This doesn't mean they don't know or self-identify with any SSAfrodescendancy.
I don't know what you mean by especially 'Latinos of lighter skin', majority of Latinos are of mixed background. They have a different concept of what constitutes 'black', someone in LatinAmerica who looks like Alisha Keys would not be called black, no ODR in LatinAmerica.
I am aware of all this. I should have clarified as I was referring to Latinos of SSA ancestry.
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