Why do we keep using foreign labels to describe African…
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Why do we keep using foreign labels to describe African identity and to overshadow our ethnic background/roots?
I’m all for unity with Africans and the African diaspora but not at the expense of overshadowing my roots and ethnic background which I see as the forefront of my identity. If we can’t accept our differences how can we come together and celebrate our unity? The funny thing is it’s accepted for everyone else globally to identify how they wish but when it comes to Africans why do other people have to police what we are called whether it be non Africans or Africans themselves?
As for the ones who are against people that don’t identify with race, why can’t you accept people for who they are? I wouldn’t go around identifying people on their behalf even though I do have my opinions on how it’s odd to center your identity on a foreign label. However, if someone wishes to identify as such I respect their wishes. Why can’t they let it go and allow others to avoid using European labels to identify themselves with? & I wouldn’t even call it a social construct because for it to be that it should be a shared understanding but no that label was made on the same table that the scramble for Africa was planned on, I do not accept to honour unaware European people’s labels in replace for my own native label.
I think people who use foreign labels to identify themselves with should be getting more backlash than the ones that don’t. Also let’s not confuse not identifying with race as being “Anti black” that’s another issue and I think it should be called “Anti African” if referring to hate against Africans. The world doesn’t revolve around the USA & the west and we need to stop normalising using terms that fit more for other groups of people. When you travel around the world people are more likely to call you African than black or they will try to guess your country.
What’s your thoughts?
#local
source
I’m all for unity with Africans and the African diaspora but not at the expense of overshadowing my roots and ethnic background which I see as the forefront of my identity. If we can’t accept our differences how can we come together and celebrate our unity? The funny thing is it’s accepted for everyone else globally to identify how they wish but when it comes to Africans why do other people have to police what we are called whether it be non Africans or Africans themselves?
As for the ones who are against people that don’t identify with race, why can’t you accept people for who they are? I wouldn’t go around identifying people on their behalf even though I do have my opinions on how it’s odd to center your identity on a foreign label. However, if someone wishes to identify as such I respect their wishes. Why can’t they let it go and allow others to avoid using European labels to identify themselves with? & I wouldn’t even call it a social construct because for it to be that it should be a shared understanding but no that label was made on the same table that the scramble for Africa was planned on, I do not accept to honour unaware European people’s labels in replace for my own native label.
I think people who use foreign labels to identify themselves with should be getting more backlash than the ones that don’t. Also let’s not confuse not identifying with race as being “Anti black” that’s another issue and I think it should be called “Anti African” if referring to hate against Africans. The world doesn’t revolve around the USA & the west and we need to stop normalising using terms that fit more for other groups of people. When you travel around the world people are more likely to call you African than black or they will try to guess your country.
What’s your thoughts?
#local
source
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Foreign labels stick because they are the words outsiders already know, and then politics and solidarity start treating that shortcut like the real name. I am with you. Unity that only works if ethnic roots move to the back is not unity, it is a cover. Differences are not what blocks people from coming together. Refusing to say them out loud is.
