This is good, we need to get these types of feelings out and the open, so we can possibly move past them. I'm glad Miss Nellia brought up the concept of Blacks in the US thinking they are the authorities on slavery and white folks. This is not the first time that I've heard a Black Brit voice that perception.

I once got into a very heated exchange with a Black woman acquaintance who was from the UK, but moved to the U.S about 3 years prior. She talked about how during her travels in the U.S,(she's in the music business), she was always bumping heads with African Americans about race issues and was hurt and offended because she was told by a another Black woman, that she didn't "get it" because she was from Britain.

As she and I started to discuss certain topics, I understood why she was told that. She felt like it was her duty to tell Black Americans to stop being so consumed with race and she felt like we were not in connection with our humanity,plus we think we're the only AUTHENTIC Blacks. Her family was originally from Jamaica and they had been slaves, as well, but they don't obsess over race. Now it was MY turn to be offended. I told her that Blacks in America have done an excellent job of staying connected to our humanity, and more than that, most of us still perceived,(and will defendin many instances),the humanity of white folks, while being treated most brutally and INhumanely by them. I also told her that once she lives in America for a good while, she will understand why Black folks here seem to "obsess" over race, and that while slavery very much abounded in the Carribean, the set up was different than in the U.S. The white/Black contact was not as intimate, intense, orprolonged as in the American set up. White control was more indirect, and generally channeled through a mulatto elite. Race in America has always been the be all and end all, Blacks here don't focus on it because we have nothing better to do....as a Black Brit on this Board who visited the U.S. noted, "its in the water". I told her that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat precisely BECAUSE, she realized her own humanity, but that didn't mean she wasn't breaking the law and risking getting her head busted in, by doing so. She could perceive herself as human all day long, but in this society she was seen as a ******, and treated accordingly. THAT was the reality and all that abstract talk about humanity, wouldn't stop u from getting fire hoses put on your Black ass or from being hung from the nearest tree.

Contrary to the phenomenon that Miss Nellia noted, I was shocked at this woman's view. One, because she was very intelligent and seemingly conscious, and two because I know without ever setting foot in England, that THESE white folks, came from THOSE white folks, so I know damned well that the racial dynamics can't be that different. So, the fact that this sister was trying to act like she didn't know what we were talking about, was particularly annoying and frustrating. I told her that, we as Blacks in America EXPECT, Blacks from other places to know what we're talking about when it comes to race, when theyACT like they don't or REALLY don't, we're suprised and disappointed.

As we talked more, and she came out of that "new" stance that a lot of people take on when they come to another country, that I mentioned earlier, she started to talk "real talk", as the slang term goes, and I saw that we weren't as far apart in views, as her initial stance indicated.

Another thing, I joined this Board, a little while after I met this person and had these conversations. Thankfully, I had the contrast of consciousness that most of the Black Brits on this Board display to counter the impressions I've received from some of the Black Brits who come to America. I think that when people leave their home country and come somewhere else, they sometimes start looking at their own country through rose colored glasses and having selective memory about the negatives, or they get all protective of where they come from.

Thisthread has made me reminisce about back in the day,when Black soul singers from the UK would come to BET's Video Soul, and be asked about race issues in Britain, how most would paint a rosy picture, not mentioning any names. One who didn't, and who broke it down in a real way was Caron Wheeler of Soul to Soul...Respect.

Salaam (Peace) to all.

Let's look at it closely, family. Superiority complexes and Inferiority complexes are not exclusive to any one group. If we look closely enough we can find it everywhere...even among our own people.

I understand the concern, but I think we just need to be a little more observant and a lot more honest with ourselves.

RM

all of you, who responded in such an ill manner, fell for the oldest trick in the book. i could have chose tohave writtenthe question in the manner that i did to see how you all would come off to me and now i know how to deal with you. hate me if you want, I AM GOING NO WHERE! if you didn't have such a snotty attitude, you would not have come off like that as well. many of you said some pretty offensive things about black americans and i have not taken it personally because many of you may have formed opinions about black americans based on heresay and what you may see on t.v. if you truly understand our history, you would not be so angry at me. i know who i am,so what you say(negatively and offensively) rolls off my back. go on, move the thread. i have alot to sayblkscholar



again, thanks to those of you who "RECOGNIZE"

Why do Black Brazilians automatically think they're better than me at football?

Good point Gmahogany

MzTeacher wrote: @ Mz Teacher

I for one don't hate you, I couldn't possibly hate a sistah for no good reason, just because she has raised a debate, and I think that you will find that those of whom you accuse of being "ill mannered", myself included no doubt, bare you no ill will... it was just a debate.... I know that the struggles of AAspast and present are no different to my own present & history.
To hate AAs is to hate myself and many like me who come from a similar legacy as your own.
All of those who belittle AAs have their own issues, don't let their issues become your own.
The superiority word I found abit harsh, to hate a fellow black/African person JUST because of the country is which they live is not only a white thing to do, but says alot about the insecurities and self hate that person has for themselves.
We all are one people, the sooner we start thinking like that the better. There are qualities I admire in African Americans, In Continental Africans and In West Indians, it is what makes is unique, but underneath it all we are have the same struggles..
AAs are not the victums here, your enemy is mine also, isn't it????
Also when I said the thread would soon die out I meant that like ALL threads here on BNV, no matter how riveting the topic, eventually die down.. Thats all.

Well Im black american and I don't really know any black europeans other then the ones I speak to up here so I can't really call it. But at times, I do get that same feeling from west indians and africans in america. It does go both ways though because we insult them with all kinds of terrible names and they insult us with all kinds of stereotypes right back. Alot of non american blacks don't know whats going on here just like most black americans are clueless about whats happening outside of america as well.

Aiyyo word-up bro **** the QUEEN ELIZABETH! She aint shit! :P:P:P:P

gmmahogany, i thank you for your comment. i know all black britons don't have the snotty attitude, but the ones who do seem to only see things from one point of view.

its true that alot of black americans feel that we know more about the atlantic slave trade more than anyone. i think this is partly due to the fact that when talking to blacks outside of the country(most, not all), seem to not be able to exchange vital information about experiences or past stories that have any relation to slavery.

its very sad, though for the few that feel that they are above blacks, here in the states. when one of us suffers, we all suffer in some way, shape or form. so, to have this superior attitude is not necessary. and to hold in high regard the very people that have you mentally damaged(yes, even in this day) is proposturous.



i thank you once again, gmahogany and the others who had something positive to say.

as i have stated i am not here to humiliate, degrade, or ridicule anyone, i am here to learn and teach others something, if i can. if you want a debate, i am up for that, too. but i am not gonna sit on my computer to test wits, its not me. we all have some type of knowledge and we should use it accordingly.

we, as black folk, have enough on our plates, therefore, we should not be at each other's throats. i mean really......