Although I tried avoiding the discussion all together, this chocolate Jamaican sister (born in Spanish Town)who I deem misguided and rather coonish tells me that she comes from a "raceless culture" of people and that the only racism in America is Diasporic Africans hating on each other. Granted, all African people have experienced hate fromother African people at some point, butwe must recognize that this is out ofignorance. It isonly addressing the effects, and leaves the causes ofthe problems to cause further damage without being affronted.

She went on a huge nonsensical rant about how she never gets hated on by her White friends and says that if "African-Americans" are discriminated against it is because they are always playing the "race card".She also tells how hervery own best friend, who is Haitian, wouldn't let her come to her family's house because shehas an Afro that wasn't chemically or thermally texturized in some way. She is basically mad at all African people blaming them for their own problems.She is such a waste; the girl is gorgeous but her ignorance is so deeply seated that I am certainly not dealing withher anymore.

At the same time, I am aware of many Jamaicans who are rather progessive in areas contrary to her claims about her "raceless culture". In fact, perhaps the greatestPan-Africanists and Black Nationalists of all time was the late great Marcus Mosiah Garvey who started his campaigns in Jamaica. This is why I am rather dumbfounded at the retrogressive mentality of this Jamaican sister.

Is this the state of consciousness with Jamaicans today? Is this the ramblings of an isolated person who is just far gone? Or perhaps is this a growing line of thought within the Jamaican Island and Diasporic communities?

Of course they're not going to have the same experiences of racism as we do in the U.S. at least b/c black Jamaicans are the MAJORITY. My boyfriend is Jamaican and he's always told me that the more pressing issue in Jamaica than race is classism and the seperation of the poor from the extremely rich.

And I think your friend is a little right about one thing...white Americans tend to be more enamored (if you will) with non AA blacks. I don't really have time to think and type out my thoughts on this just yet but i'll be back...

Themottois;

''Out of many, One nation''

Wouldn't you guys in the US fall into the same category?

Afriki wrote:
Yes, but is not about where you are from, but where you are at. I have hung out with this sister a few times but she has only become an increasing irritation. I know that Euro-Americans tend to favor non-American Africans, but she takes it to the extent of blaming Africans for their own problems if any racism exists. I mean, just because you are treated well by Whites, does that mean you can now tell other Africans about their experiences in the West?

Anyhow, look forward to hearing back from you with the rest of your thoughts.

To this day, there has never been a collective concept of "one people".

What do you mean?

Not talking about being one with any crackers here. You guys are African Americans even though you're from various African nations as weare in the Carib, you're not exactly a raceless peoples with no identity and neither are we... We've never been. If anything theres resentment due to certain African nations involvement in the Maafa in which some people turn their backs on the continent as well as the usual ignorance involved but even then we've always been well rooted for the most part being on the front line and all.

We suffer from class issues as Afriki mentioned and are prehaps seperated by cultural values, the English invited over the more Christian of usover to the UK to work and help them get over WWII.Now people from JA feel abandoned by the ones who left, as though we got rich and don't want to return or just live fat in the hills whereas in reality most don't want to go back because they don't like having to deal withtheclass issue and would ratherreturn when the Carib is sorted.

Apedemak wrote:
I was speaking in America in terms of America never being united and acceptingall its people as Jamaica. Western governments, or Capitalism, can only thrive by exploitation. There must be at least one group exploited for the material gain of others or the systems collapses upon itself.

Its a Pan-African motto, we're not out to mingle with crackers and foriegers. Have a capitalist system with a middle and upper class as well, its just the poor who get exploited and kept in poverty as many are still in a lull after the Maafaso theyjust out right refuse to be part of the system and live on fringe side.Our divisions are in class and culture. Kinda get a bit clan like going by last names prehaps. .lol.

Had a Metu Neter paper on Linguistics, the author describes an account of one woman who had gone mad under the conditions of her enslavement when asked a question all she could say was;

[align=center]''Congo a high nation pickney, Congo a high nation.''[/align]
[align=left]Was going to post the paper on her but its gone missing, was one of those ebook things.[/align]

*$HaNnY_Bu* wrote:
Not sure if I am following you correctly. So you are saying that the phrase was meant for the many African people, and not necessarily all others? Therefore, would the Jah sister I was of subject be taking the quote out of context? Just want some clarification here. Thanks for your input so far...

Shemsi en Tehuti wrote:

@Shemsi en Tehuti,

Brother that Island hashad an African majority for centuries. Just like everywhere else in our English speaking Diaspora, you will find Africanpeople with various levels of historical consciousness.

One of Jamaica's national heroes (Nanny) was born in Africa, and two more were probably born from Africans born on the continent - and then we have the great Marcus Garvey.

Thislegacy hasgreat meaning to Jamaicans aware of their people'sjourney and struggle, thus far.