I hopped into the back of the cab and gave the driver directions. The Ethiopian cabbie smiled, drove off and then said, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” I replied. I thought he might need additional directions. “Are you African-American or American?” he asked innocently. “What do you mean?” I asked. I’d never been asked the question quite like this – and I truly didn’t know what he meant by it. It was obvious he was an immigrant, maybe he was confused? He went on to say, “You look African. Your skin tone and your hair looks African, but you sound American.”
The Shade Spectrum
I went on to tell him that in fact I am a 5th generation American…born and raised in Michigan. He seemed perplexed by this. Purely ignorance or something else?
This is not the first time I’ve experienced this. Several years ago while visiting Egypt everyone kept asking me, “What are you?” When I said “American” they chuckled, literally chuckled. It was upsetting at the time and frankly still upsetting.
Have you ever encountered this?
Why do you think there’s STILL CONFUSION over our history and our place in America?
Headline Photo Courtesy: Brina Head
7 comments
elaine says:
Mar 26, 2011
Well in America, I am Black….considering society, but definitely America. I sometimes get this question from other cultures mostly men and from the east. I will sometimes discuss that my great grandfather was white from default and slavery. I hate to admit this but associates from Africa or from the islands consider themselves different.
NaturallyHairObsessed says:
Mar 27, 2011
I can’t recall being asked “what are you?” as there is no mistaking I am black – “stereotypical” black features – dark skin, full features, kinky hair. I have been mistaken for Nigerian and Liberian. I’ve been told I’m “cultured” by recent immigrants.
I think there is still confusion over our place in America because our history in this country started not as equal citizens but as slaves, only a fraction of a whole human. We weren’t American, and stlll weren’t long after slavery ended.
We’ve been fighting against this history and the subsequent media that painted/paints us as less intelligent, lacking morals, violent, criminals…
The world gets those messages as do we (the doll test – we’re bad!!). That’s not the image of “America” that’s broadcast around the world.
How can we be American? I think that’s why when asked to self identify, many may say “black” or some equivelent before a “American”. I don’t think the blackened image of African-Americans is what some associate with America – the (white) girl next door, Hollywood, rock-n-roll etc…
I’ve rambled and I’m not sure I’ve made sense but my two cents.
Angela says:
Mar 28, 2011
I think there’s still confusion over our place in America because we’ve been separated, literally and mentally, from our roots. Many Black/African Americans really don’t want to be associated with Africa due to there own ignorance about it. On the other hand, some Africans don’t want to be associated with us African Americans. A Cameroonian asked me, “why do you call yourself African American? You’re not African. Whites don’t call themselves European American.” While I was hurt and offended I felt he had a point. While I feel close to Africa for many reasons (hair, skin, ancestors, African friends, etc.) I consider myself to be Black American, because this is where I’m from. But it is confusing, I guess it’s all in how you look at it.
Devona says:
Mar 29, 2011
It is all very confusing. I have been asked several times if I was Nigerian then on the other hand I had a woman from Latin America begin speaking spanish to me and caught herself once she realized I had no idea what she was saying (we both had a pretty good laugh from that).I prefer to just call myself Black or American and not African-American because I’m not from Africa and using that term is mis-identifying. Black people from the islands and Africa are outwardly similar to us but culturally may be worlds apart. So I guess i can understand why they consider themselves different from us here in the US. Despite that, people of color still face the same challenges even if we are continents apart.
Ursa says:
Mar 29, 2011
I would have to say I am black. I never say African American because I am not African. Yes I do recognize the Slavery link, but if you look at the MIddle Passage, the African was wiped out of the people. Coming to America and forging a new Identity. When people ask, I say black, but since I am so light they press and I tell them I have German in me, but since I identify with black, I am fully black. Abroad I have gotten that a lot. Generally they know I am American when I talk, but I get latina at times and African. I even got Black Brit until I opened my mouth!
NaturallyHairObsessed says:
Mar 31, 2011
I am not done with this topic – obviously. BUT maybe what the cab driver meant by, “Are you African-American or American?” was are you a recent immigrant from Africa – African-American – or American – black American, descendents of African slaves.
And it’s true white folks dont refer to themselves as European-American, because they know from what nation their ancestors hail. They certainly do proudly claim their ethnic heritage – Scottish, French, German… And they do sometimes add the hyphenated “American.”. I’d say we call ourselves “African-American” because we don’t know the exact nation/ethnic group/tribe we descend. Furthermore recent African immigrants do KNOW their nationality/ ethnicity and would then be Nigerian//Kenyan-American etc…
Lynn says:
Apr 16, 2011
I am Black. Since I was in high school, I have preferred to be called Black. I feel that the term “African-American” best refers to people who were born in an African country and later became naturalized US citizens. I feel that grouping Blacks who have lived in the US for generations (those of us here due to the slave trade) with naturalized African homogenizes us and dishonors the history of both groups. We are 2 very different groups.
Many, many years later I had the opportunity of living in Ethiopia. Ethiopian people assumed that I was Ethiopian. While living there, I learned to speak Amharic (basic conversation anyway). Some people I met were very chatty and when I could no longer continue in Amharic, I would ask them if they spoke English. On many occasions, older people would begin to lecture me, “Why didn’t you learn Amharic? It’s your responsibility! You’re parents must be so ashamed!” My reply, “No, my parents are actually pretty happy. They’re Black people from America, I’m not Ethiopian.” Then I would get some response about being born in America does not mean that I am not Ethiopian. Then I would have to explain that I was African-American- that my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents were all born in the US. I had many of these conversations.
While living in Ethiopia, I met and fell in love with my husband. When we met, he thought that I was Ethiopian. When he first met my family, he could not get over the fact that they looked, “So Ethiopian!” We now live in Seattle, which of course has Black Americans and a large Ethiopian (and Somali) immigrant population. Ethiopian people here usually assume that I am Ethiopian, while my husband is usually assumed to be a Black American or Jamaican, most likely because he has dreadlocks. Occasionally, Ethiopians will ask him how he learned to speak Amharic so well!
In general, people try to group us according to the traits they deem most defining and how they fit in with their preconceived framework. The global images of Black American are those in movies and music videos. We’re not thought of as global citizens who value travel and regularly travel internationally.