Not African Enough in Africa
When I was 10 or so, my father won an all-expense paid trip to Senegal. “We’re going to Africa!” my mother gleefully exclaimed. So we took the Amtrak train to New York to fly out of JFK and ignored the warnings of a pending Nor’easter, thinking the sheer and desperate determination of three Black Americans to make it to Africa would hold off the worst of the snow until we were airborne.
It didn’t. New York City was shut down for three days, and by the time the airports opened, it didn’t make sense to fly out. We pushed the trip back indefinitely, and never made it. And so began my obsession with Africa, the place my even-tempered mother spoke of like it was some sort of Disneyland for Black people.
Some Black Americans, and I’m referring mostly to those that call Mississippi, Georgia, and South Carolina their “Old Country,” tend to be awe-struck at the idea Africa, like Nas at the end of Belly. Once we get a full picture beyond what we’re taught in school, where the largest continent and birthplace of all mankind is reduced to being the starting point for the Atlantic Slave Trade, there becomes an eagerness to migrate back across the Atlantic. The yearning is not unlike some immigrants who seek entrance to American shores. Except we’re not seeking the opportunities and streets of gold that Fievel and his family expected; we’re seeking the “home” that the Middle Passage erased.
I get why. For many American Blacks, the overall American experience has never really felt like a place where you can kick up your feet and recline all the way back. You get moments where that happens, of course, but then you also get a startling awakening— like when people are surprised you don’t have any children out of wedlock, or you happen to be “so articulate,” or despite carrying a purse while you shop, you find yourself explaining “No, no, actually I don’t work here.” Those things remind you not to get too comfy. America is home in the sense of being the devil you know, a bit like a stereotypical step-child, the one you tolerate but don’t really love like your own.
In recent weeks those feelings have surfaced again for many who struggle to make sense of the injustice of Trayvon Martin’s killer walking around freely, the ignorance displayed in conservative columnist John Derbyshire’s piece for The National Review where he wrote of advising his children to avoid Black folk, and the obnoxiousness of those Twitter-racists who found outrage in a sympathetic book character being Black or Awkward Black Girl landing the Shorty Award for best web-series. I find, similar to Cinderella, we dream of an escape to a place where we fit, like a glass slipper on the correct foot. For me, that place was Africa, any country, any part.
I completly understand how the author feels. I’m nigerian but have grown up in the UK all my life. When I visit nigeria I feel completely out of place. I don’t even have to open my mouth and people know I’m not a native. My mother (who still lives there) even got into a huge arguement with a few women on the street because they didn’t like the fact that I was “imposing” on their territory. Nigerians don’t accept me as a nigerian, british people don’t accept me as british -its a catch 22!
Being West African but born in the states, I can relate.
In my last trip “home”, I literally decided not to give a fuck about other people opinions of who I am.
People create arbitrary lists of what is/what ain’t so they can play a game of hierarchy and come out on top.
Being West African but born in the states, I can relate.
In my last trip “home”, I literally decided not to give a fuck about other people’s ideas of who I am.
People create arbitrary lists of what is/what ain’t so they can play a game of hierarchy and come out on top.
Same here Im from Barbados, I have duel citizenship , I even own land. But in everybody eyes even my family. im American first because I didnt go to school there and experience life there on daily basis.
The author is in no way is putting down Africa or south africa she is pointing out a simple truth. No matter how black you are when you set foot on africa you are viewed as American or British FIRST!!
Being West African but born in the states, I can relate.
In my last trip “home”, I literally decided not to care about other people’s ideas of who I am.
People create arbitrary lists of what is/what ain’t so they can play a game of hierarchy and come out on top.
Well I guess you guys squashed my theory. I was reading a post from a young Black Canadian who was confused about Black Americans because we just can’t relate to him (culturally). He was saying that he finds it easier to relate to British Blacks, French Blacks, and Africans (I assume then he means Africans who now live in the U.S) because you all have a stronger cultural bond from your parents.
But I can TRULY see how we would all be seen as the identity of our country first in Africa. I just assumed Canadian and/or British Blacks could assimilate faster into African culture then most (not all) American Blacks. I suppose I was wrong.
I wont judge Africa by actions of some in south africa a place thats very westernized. No desire to go there. I wanna go to west africa where its still very african. Next
Totally normal and relatable. Do not take it personally. I am of Rwandan origin living in Uganda. My first visit to Kigali, i imagined i would instantly fit in. I am as tutsi as they come, tall, and with sharp features that make me look like president Kagame is my father. I even speak Kinyarwanda although not as well as the locals, but well enough. But as soon as i started to blend in, i realized it felt alien. Where as i was not offended by that, it came as a huge surprise.
Excuse me?! You are going to generalize/judge a whole continent, based on your ONE South African experience. The tittle should have read, not African enough in South Africa!
The lady that spoke to you with “disdain” only did so, because a lot of kids are now embracing the English language, foregoing their mother tongue. In essence, forgetting their culture and seemingly embracing the West. The roll of eyes was coming from a good place oo!———-> and no, I was not in her head to know exactly what she was thinking, BUT you will get a lot of those-
I would roll my eyes too if I read this! It drips of uppitiness. When in Rome do as the Romans do-it ain’t that hard!
Mami I normally agree with everything you say but i guess we have to have disimilarities somewhere(I am crying-I call you my long lost twin sister) .
I think what she is saying is that she expected to feel a sort of coming-home feeling in arfrica but did not, and not not in a snobby “i’m generalizing and i cant be bothered with primitive africa” kind of way, but in a “hmm: this a moment to dispel some myths” way.
@ Guest
Do you go by another name?! Or did you ever?! Feel like I may know you…….
She is indefensible at this point in time-
“The tittle should have read, not African enough in South Africa!”
THANK YOU.
@African Mami, I agree with some of what you said.I’m also tired of the generalising, indeed the title should be “Not African enough in South Africa”! Africa is a continent not a country!
I feel she displayed a bit of naivete by assuming she would feel at home just because the people there look like her. However, I don’t blame her for wanting to feel at home in Africa because there are many experiences in the U.S. that would a black person NOT feel like they belong. But I do think African Americans should approach Africa just like they would Greece, China or any other country, with a sense of curiosity and a desire to learn something new. Even though their ancestors came from Africa, slavery and the oppression that followed served to erase their heritage, the U.S. is in fact their home!
Just because the lady responded with disdain does not mean that she should not explore other African countries. FYI,sometimes Africans experience the same thing in their own countries! Anyone who has lived abroad will also attest to feeling a little out of place when they go back home. It’s okay to want to belong, to be proud of your country and culture but really we are all citizens of the world.
This “aticle” is ridiculous. What was the point really? Did you expect to be made a queen mother? Maybe you were feeling ou of place and so FOUND a way to be made to feel out of place with her “disdain”. “my American-ness was announced long before I opened my mouth.” Uppity Syndrome. “the way I dressed” WHAT were you wearing tha they have never seen? ugh. I typically like your work but when it comes to foreign matters you end to act like “i’m so cultured” but really, going to brunch, essence festival and studying abroad isn’t culture. You may have stamps in your passport but far from cultured.
I just read your comment and started singing.
*Jesus is the answer for the world today, above there is no other.*………..>random, I know!
PREACH!!! “going to brunch, essence festival and studying abroad isn’t culture. You may have stamps in your passport but far from cultured”…I will have to use that on many of my “cultured” friends. SMDH.
You all have really missed the message of this article because of your own ignorance.
I’ll take being ignoant-we all are sometimes. I was born inGhana and moved to America at ten. Went back and lived for four years of highschool. I’ve goten the ” you are not Ghanaian” “Your wi is not correct” etc but I woulde NEVER say any of it was said with disdain. I say I am Ghanaian but I KNOW my short stint doesnt culturally MAKE me Ghanaian.Define who/what you are don’t think because you stepped foot somewhere you will be looked at as ” Oh look at this open minded American. She is one of our own” I have a white girlfriend who was interested in visiting africa but wanted the full experience–no brunch and typical tourist trips. What did she do? She STAYED with a Ghanian family, she cooked, cleanded, washed like the “average” African. Belle went to Sa and talked about how Brooklyn, Miami SA was..ha! on her first few days she complained about lack of power/cell phone/technology. When I travel I want to EXPERIENCE LIFE. I can eat brunch in DC, skype in DC why do that while away?