"LEARN TO UPLIFT WITHOUT TEARING DOWN" Yass!!!! Can I get a hashtag, a t-shirt, a repost, a solemn prayer and a pay-it-forward of this please?!? Cause...whooo! Gurl..... whoooo!
I completely agree. The main thing that gets me is people of the home culture (where parents are from for first generation Americans) acting like you have no rights to even halfway share in their culture. Like am I supposed to forget that both my parents were born and raised in Jamaica because I was born here?
So true, our motto is "out of many one people" in Ja u can find every nationality under the sun with there own culture & there is harmonious sharing & no one is judged for doing so.
I want my son to identify as a Virgin Islander even though he's being raised in Missouri. He's both. If he grew up and shunned my culture it would break my heart.
I identify as black as well. Girl, and my famikynis the UN genetically, but that melanin though said woooop, BLACK. I'm American, my parents are american, my grand parents are American. My great grand parents, American. Before that, African, French. And I'm not ashamed, I just don't claim it b cause it's soooooooo far removed from what I am TODAY. Why can't folks just accept that you are who and what you are. This whole desire to be hyphenated escapes me. I'm a WHOLE person with ideas, thoughts and desires. I'm exhausted just writing this. Just thanks for the video, as always on point, educational and entertaining.
LOL! Thanks for sharing :) Right? like shooo ima claim whoever i want! If the US wins a world cup game i'm like AYYYYE DAS MY COUNTRY! if Lupita wins some award i'm like AYYYYE DAS MY COUNTRY! hahahah
Let me tell you, your dad touched on something there with the distinction between Irish-American, Cuban-American, Iranian-American, [insert whatever country you want]-American, but then there's African-American which is as descriptive as European-American (um, where in Europe?). I think it's part of that whole erroneous way of thinking of Africa as a single country instead of a continent full of independent countries.
A lot of African-Americans do not know which African countries their ancestors are from but their phenotype suggests that they are from the Continent ....so they just generalize it and say African-American .
@RainbowRamble21 That is incorrect. The African in African-American correctly refers to where AAs are from: There were NO countries in Africa until AFTER the Berlin Conference in 1884. So, they were never from a specific country but from a region. The African in African American rwfers ro the period when the slavetrade took place and there were NO countries. If refers to ckming from AFRICA before 1884. People who are BLACK and have ancestors that were sold into slavery and transported to the Americas in that time (before there were countries) are African American. Again, it rwgers to the period when there were NO countries in Africa. It does not refer to anything else but that the person descends from African that came here when there were no countries in Africa.
I feel you!! I am Nigerian, even though I have been in the US longer than I have been in Nigeria. I feel that your mom cleared up the confusion! What a wonderful explanation!! Even though my girls were born here, they will tell you they are Nigerian. I believe it is where you identify with. The important thing is to be the BEST YOU that you can be where ever you are.
I'm impressed by your wisdom Evelyn. For a lady in your 20s (or any age actually), you've got some of the most important stuff already figured out (and clearly your parents have done their fair share in making you the wonderful you that you are). I've been bingeing on your videos since yesterday. You make me laugh and smile and nod and say "yes!" and "right?!" out loud, and you inspire me. Much love!
Girl!!!! This video was on POINT! & as a Nigerian American my own parents don't even see me as a Nigerian they see me as American. All my cousins, friends, & everyone who meets me sees me as American. People need to stop putting others down. I've had family members say the same thing about "Black Americans" not having culture & I had to get on them about that. Great job!
I just re-watched your video so I can stop, well kinda stop, being lazy and copy some of your video formatting. Other than that I'm going to pass on the torch and bless you with the 800+ comments sitting in the Moderation tab, 15 page term papers for days and a handful of Black Hebrew Israelite (the bullhorn on 125th St variety) trying to re-write history. Whole convo was def an eye-opener. I'm just happy for those who respectfully engaged in the dialogue
@Jouelzy, if she is Kikuyu then she is Kikhulu or Kingulu, Ngulu (There is a Zulu tribe in Zimbabwe called Khumalo where one of the sons, Ngulumane/Kuruman/Ngolomane ruled a tribe deep in Khoisan territory in North Western South Africa on the border with Namibia. It is also why the kings of Kikongo were called Nzinga a Nkuwu or the Esani in Nigeria use Chukwu) = Zulu (Heaven, High Ground or Sky by definition, she and her parents might not know because the British that controlled the whole area from South Africa to Kenya on the East Coast - look it up - changed our Education system and taught us we are different. Basically all Kenyan tribes are Zulu tribes and the same tribes as in Southern Africa - when their origin story says their first ancestor came from the Heaven, it means they came from the Zulu). Khulu technically means Great or Big, and we call God Nkulunkulu just like Nigerians say Chukwuchukwu. Kikuyu can also be written as Kikuu = Kui which means Cow. This Kui is what South Africans call Khoi/KiNGO and what white South Africans insist is not Bantu and mixed race. Cow is the totem of the Ephraim or Split Kingdom of Israel in ancient Israel - look it up. I think because they used to worship the cow and were also cow herders - which is why they had a run-in with the Dutch when they got to Cape Town, because they would not sell the cows to the Dutch. So, the Dutch took their cows and them by force. I am a Christian, by the way, so my family does not practice that. If Zulu means Heaven, that means we are amongst a few people worldwide that call themselves the people of the Heaven. We also call ourselves Nguni (which when written Mbinguni means Heaven), this compares with Nigerian Ogun (China)/Shogun (Japan)/Jukun (Nigeria, Australia and West Africa) etc. Guni was a chief of the Tribe of Gad and also the son of Nephtali/Naphtali, son of Judah/Israel. We also have tribes that libate (verbal songs or poems called Izibongo that we call a person to show their history and respect them). If you knew more about African history and our verbal libations: the best way to greet an African is through their clan name or verbal libations. They will be more hospitable to you. And it can get you out of trouble!!! We are also called AmaZunda or AmaLunda or just Zunda or Lunda (Post-Portuguese KiKongo Kingdom in Central Africa) to make it simple. Africa was one and are the same tribes. So much so, if I met anyone who has the same surname and linked surnames to mine from another African country, I would not be able to get married to them. Lastly, Kikuyu = Kru (Senegal - we used to call ourselves Sengal in South Africa or Saei and we have a town called Senekal in South Africa) = Bereu Bakolong = Mande Bele (South Africa) Barolong = Balolo = Baholong = Batholong = Balulu = RwenzuRURU (Buganda/Uganda tribe). We are a Mande Tribe and we call ourselves Mande. Gikuyu origin stories as well as all African origin stories tell them that they came from Heaven, meaning they came from the Zulu. I dare you to find teh Gikuyu story and read it. ENOUGH is ENOUGH. Can we please stop saying West and East as if it is different!? The ordinary man on the street who does not travel is the same and calls themselves by the same names. It is the travelling kind that lose history and change the story. East Africans = West Africans.
It's simple really. Whether you're African, Caribbean, African American - we're all black. Everything else (ethnicity, nationality, how you choose to identify) is specific to you.
your dad spoke life - it is only africa (a continent) that is group together versus other countries (as mama and papa both said) e.g. iranian -american etc
I screamed. I paused. I reflected... and suddenly it all made sense. For the LONGEST I have been neglecting to say "African-American" but I could never explain why... THIS, what he said, explains it
@@Xxladyem14xX It doesnt explain it. The name African American is not a refelction of "seeing Africa as one country". It refers to a period of timw when there were NO countries in Africa. It hence specifically refers to Americans who were sold into slavery in the period (before 1884) when there were no countries in Africa. It is a very specific ethnic group that was first labeled NEGRO, then COLOURED, then BLACk and then African America, and now Black with a call to be named ADOS (American Descendant of Slavery). The fact that one is black and born in USA does not give you the right to that identity. Heritage matters.
Completely agree with you. It's sad when the most hate one receives is from their own people. I call myself a Mexican American, but my Mexican friends say I'm only American....excuse me I don't remember my family/ancestors being American! My heritage is something I take pride in and I'm curious about. Not my fault I was conceived in the US....I actually take more time learning about my culture than most of my born and raised Mexican friends.
Exactly! Living in Texas, I know a bunch of people that struggle with that too. What do you think about the term Chicano/Chicana? Do you think that describes you?
This video kinda hits hard since I'm Kenyan and just got back from vacation in Kenya lol. I was born there but I've lived here for almost all my life. And of course over there is home but not really? My environment isn't there, my culture has been America. And when I went to Kenya, I felt like I was singled out because I'm American and don't know Luo or Swahili lol.
I'm Jamaican, born and bred but I also feel like I'm African though I've never been to the continent. Being black has no cultural significance for Jamaicans so there has never really been a need to say "I'm black" because that doesn't really set you apart from most other people here. If you say to a Jamaican "I'm black" they'll probably say "ok and your point is?..." because colour isn't synonymous with culture here.
Yes, Yes, and YAS. I can definitely say that having grown up in a predominately black/hispanic/latino neighborhood and being Eritrean (first generation, woo wooo) all my ideas about those who surrounded me were definitely on the negative (heavy on the negative). I did not want to identify as black. But BOY, when you walk through the doors of a university classroom at a PWI you are forced to reflect and begin to understand identity and begin to seriously appreciate Black people and culture!! I don't think people realize that we, everyone who is not "black" would not be here in the U.S. if it were not for their struggle for civil rights, and struggle in many things that we think of as normal. Okay end, rant. I'm going to get back to binge watching your vids lol. I already have a video idea in mind! Thanks
PRE-CISE-LY! lol I'm of Ugandan parents but I was born in Philly and raised in Pennsylvania though I spent 5 years in Ug. Never learned the language but i tear up the food especially with some muchuzi mix on that. I also hold a lot of the values without really realizing it just from my upbringing.
I cannot comprehend why some of our minds cannot see or accept an individual without placing him/her into a category. I enjoyed your video and hope like hell everyone who views it understands and learns from it.
by far one of my favorite videos as a new internet cousin. both my parents are Guyanese and I was born on a military base in Japan. I've always struggled until just recently with what I identify as. Then it dawned on me, just like you said, my environment is American but my heritage is Guyanese. I tell my friends all the time I was raised a guyanese child and I claim to be guyanese American proudly because I do see myself as guyanese first. so thank you for this vid. I know I'm years late but this video was everything for me. #staypressedandbeblessed
African-Americans don't have a culture? WTF? Oh, I guess blues, jazz, rock, R&B, and rap/hip-hop never happened, because African-Americans have no culture.
I just want to say that i loved this. Like girl. she said this TWO YEARS AGO, T W O. Like i more people need to see this asap. and i aint even black. I'm mexican and its crazy how everything you and your beautiful immigrant/citizen parents said, made so much sense to people like us everywhere. Thank you, i guess. thats all i wanted to say.
It's strange that people haven't heard of dual citizenship? Identity is such a personal thing and there are so many factors... For example my husband is a first generation Canadian - although he only lived there until he was 5 years old...he was raised in Spain but he doesn't identify as Spanish. His mother is half Norwegian and Swedish and his father is half English and Austrian (also Ashkenazi Jew)...so my husband has a British and a Canadian passport but isn't allowed to have a Norwegian passport (I don't think he's checked into having a Swedish passport). My husband speaks English and Spanish but doesn't speak Norwegian and speaks a little German. My husband identifies as Canadian. My husband also feels very close to his Norwegian family and heritage but he generally doesn't call himself Norwegian. I'm Bermudian - born and raised. My mother is Dutch. I identify as both Bermudian and Dutch. I used to identify as more Bermudian than Dutch but having lived overseas for such a long time in Spain and then moving back to Bermuda I feel less Bermudian than before but not more Dutch lol. My son will have four passports: Canadian, Bermudian, Dutch, and British...right now we live in Bermuda but we're thinking of moving back to Spain. I don't know how my son will choose to identify when he grows up. And we're not even getting into the Chinese/Spanish/British/Austrian half sister or the Kiwi/Persian/British/Canadian nieces. My husband's family is like the UN.
I identify with this SO MUCH! Having spent 13 of my 18 years in England- the majority of my formative years, it would be impossible for me to not see myself as English. However, I was born in, and was raised in a Kenyan household, visiting Kenya regularly, and we spoke Kikuyu in my house when I was younger. I've never seen any complication but the difficulty comes from people who are confused about my identity; my Extended family plus my friends don't understand this, and only classify me as one OR the other- like, why can't I be both? You're definitely right in terms of the attitude we should approach identity, not as divided but as multicultural within ourselves! :)
I'm happy you addressed the comments on your video. Thanks for stressing the fact that uplifting others without tearing another person down is necessary among us minorities.
LOVE this video! I struggled with this so much for being judged by my fellow Nigerian-American peers for not being "Nigerian" enough like I wasn't born and raised here and don't identify with black culture.
SO MUCH YES TO THIS!!! I got all kinds of whack comments on one of my vids acting like people are abandoning their second identity if they rank a primary one that affects them most in their daily life. This is the response I was looking for, identity is intersectional and based on experience AND genetics. SO WELL PUT, THANK YOU *adds to favorites*
I agree 150% with this! This is a constant struggle I have too, since I was born in Boston (by Ghanaian parents) , lived in CT till I was 10, moved to Accra when I was 10 and came back to the US for college, and now I'm back in Ghana for sometime. Identity is fluid and people need to chill out and understand that! We are all multi-faceted human beings, we should all embrace that. Love your videos, girl!
This is amazing because this is me, almost literally me. I am Kenyan( Kikuyu) but I was raised a majority of my life here and I am very much influenced by America. I don't have a Kenyan accent, I cannot fluently speak my home languages, I attend a college in the U.S. and but I'm not American by citizenship. For a long time I have felt that I didn't belong anywhere. You've given me great encouragement to be confident in identifying with both. Thank you
Bangs on table* Love your approach at addressing this. I discovered my Ancestry on my mother's side is from Nigeria however, no one in my immediate family was born there. I don't talk about it much because I've had someone ask about it basically said we were a watered down or diluted version of Nigerian *side eye*. And giving backhanded compliments....girl I almost shouted over here!
Eyy! Love it! My Dad is half Kikuyu and Half Dutch-South African and my mother is Tanzanian. I was born and raised in London. The issue I face is that I classify myself as black plainly because I am surrounded by my black side and well, the majority of me is black genetically. But my boyfriend and I constantly have this debate on whether I can call myself black or whether I have to state I am both black and white (we even have a video on my channel about it lol). Anyway, when someone asks what I am, I say I am African first, then break down the countries that I am from, I very rarely state that I am British. I guess it is all down to what you personally identify with.
I identify as Haitian-American. I am a first generation American, but I am very proud of my Haitian heritage, so I find that I identify as both. Clearly Haitians are African by heritage as well, so I don't find it necessary to add African into it because the color of my skin makes that obvious! I absolutely LOVE YOU Evelyn!!! Keep all of this coming, no matter what it is you want to talk about, I want to hear your take on it!!! Inspirations & Blessings Nat
I think it's awesome that you know your heritage and identify with it. I've been trying to find out where my family came from. And I 100% agree with what your parents were saying about the other groups of people identifying with their heritage through hyphenation. People seem to have a problem with Black folks saying they're African American but will turn around and call themselves Italian American, Irish American, German American or whatever and their ancestors have been in this country just as long as mine have. Also, your dad made a good point that I never thought about when he said that Black people are really the only ones lumped into one group "African Americans". Although as a whole other people are grouped into one big group (Hispanic American, Asian Americans, etc), they usually know enough of their ancestry to be able to drill down and they identify with their specific heritage (Mexican American, Korean American, etc). But we're just African Americans.
I always feel as an African immigrant its not fair and right to consider oneself as an African American just because you were born there yet your parents are from Africa. In Kenya (where I come from) or generally Africa we consider African Americans or black Americans as the ancestors of slaves whilst African immigrants as Kenyan American, Nigerian America, Cameroonian American etc or some choose to stick to Kenyan, Cameroonian, etc despite having American citizenship. I also find it unfair to call African Americans that yet Asians, hispanics or white people are just American. Why cant they just be American too. As an African we also need to respect the fact that AAs paved the way for us to even get a chance to be in the US. I STAND TO BE CORRECTED THOUGH. Much love
Yaaaaas, Evelyn! Bring this word! You could've just dropped the mic after the first point tbh. It's all as simple as that. Identity's complex and intersectional. Definitely loved your reaction to Black-Americans being called "dilute" though. That's mine too every time someone comes for us like that.
I was just "browsing utube, looking for something uplifting and "deep". I found you. You have an amazing spirit and I love the way you look at the world. I am a 61 year old grandmother and minister's wife. I have listened to a few of your videos and admire your views on "Race". To you I say "stay pressed and be blessed! and thank you!
EVENLYN, YOU ARE MY FAVOURITE UA-camR. SERIOUSLY. YOU ARE JUST.. i love you. LOL. You have such a comedic but still highly intelligent and philosophical way to address (what some people consider) sensitive topics. I aspire to be as eloquent and intellectual as you one day!
GIRL!!!!!!!! props. seriously everything that was discussed in private or only thought of and not spoken out... has been made publicly known!! AND i freaked love it!!! love
People dont understand that there is a difference between ethnicity, heritage, and race. I have no issue with folks identifying how they see fit, however i do have an issue with those who choose to deny their inherant race because they dont like the culture that society would put them in
Yeah you need to come to Australia. I have light skinned and white skinned family and friends who identify as 'black' Indigenous Australians and it is VERY rarely an issue of debate coz we accept that identity is as you say genetics and history! Identity is fluid and layered. I myself am of 2 heritages which are black (Melansian + Aust Aboriginal). I identify as both but my Aboriginal identity is stronger because of how and where I was raised and my connection to my Aboriginal culture, beliefs and values. Anyway, great video and def a topic that needs to be talked about on YT to initiate constructive discussion.
Whenever someone asks me where am i from I always say to Jamaican- American. But when I speak to a Jamaican, their responses that is, " your A yankee". A yankEE is someone who was born in the States, an American. . If I answer American, A person will say no what is your background. and that the second question is stirred because of the slight accent. So now my responses anybody who as is.. American born -Jamaican raised. Cut out all that kakalaka. SIDENOTE: as a Brooklynite.I live in Flatbush and Crown Heights I am exposed to many different carribean and spanish accents so I'm afraid I don't know what's going to come out of my mouth sometimes. I might even get a little Becky on you. Lol
Amennnnn my sista cuz, preach it!!!! I especially luv ur point about uplifting & not tearing down, sometimes u'll b reading thro comments & think my goodness why r some people so mean & disrespectful, u don't like what u see or hear then tastefully disagree. G8 vid keep them coming educate & eliminate the confusion!!!!!
I came here from your 2016 "Oh sooo NOW you want to be from Wakanda?" video, and hearing your dad and your mum gave me all the feels and such life! Subscribed!
You're the best for being so constructive with your comments. You could have been angry-- but you were smart about this. Thanks for sharing your cultural experience with the internets.
The struggle of this topic is real. For myself, sometimes I identify as a Black American and not African b/c I don't know my African roots and I grew up in American Black culture. Sometimes I identify as African American (which I feel like could be argue as an ethnicity just like being Kenyan) because at the end of the day, my ancestors are African even if I don't know specific ethnicity. On other days, it's both where my race is Black but my ethnicity is African American. It's confusing but humans and cultures are confusing what can I say.
This video right herreee! This chick right here!!! It took me soooo long to understand that I could be Congolese(Luba) and American(both by circumstance and DNA). Bcuz no one told me I could be. I am both and very proud. Loved your video. But what else is new...
👏👏👏👏👏. Preach. I adore u and ur channel. This is extremely interesting. Although I was not a part of thr twitter convo I am of mixed cultures/races as well. I FIRST identify as black and then claim my mothers races which is Dominican and my fathers as West Indian. I was BORN HERE!! How can I say I am West Indian or Dominican and not African American or BLACK if I was not born in either one of those places?!? I don't understand how people can classify themselves based ONLY on where their parents are from. Very interesting topic. Thanks for sharing
Yes I am staking your videos, lol! I co sign everything you and your parents said. Now I need to go find out which country my ancestors are from, lol! Which is why in my case, Black American is more appropriate, cause Africa was a whole lotta generations back! I love you, your videos are hilarious!! You have me rollin' ova here!
"Stay pressed and be blessed." Yaas! #magicalblackgirls But seriously, I totally agree with you. I will always be black and always be Cameroonian, no matter where I go. I don't know why there were so many "confused" comments, but props to you for putting some knowledge in the air. Also shoutout to your parental units for being so in sync.
i find these discussions so interesting, in the UK with all the ticky box things it is black first like you don't say African-British (for example), you are Black British and then beneath that state where you are from. When my mum moved to the US she had no idea how to fill out certain forms lol Of course if someone asks you outright like in a convo you get some differing answers as to how people identify themselves, but i totally agree its about experience, circumstance etc also i find influential people can enforce where they think you should identify with i've been told to not say im from Britain even though i grew up here you know? great video!
***** YAAAAAAAAASSSSS!!!! I am so happy for this response!!!! Great video! Awesome points! The confused individuals can now get their lives! I have always identified as black first, then Bahamian-American and too disagreed with the lumping of us all into the entire continent of Africa as in the identifier African-American. It was especially magical how your parents made the same point lol.
Each of my grandparents was born on a different continent. Technically, my brother can claim to be 3rd generation Canadian while i can claim to be at least 6th generation Trinidadian. If people ask what i am, i ask, how far back do you want me to go.
Hello Evelyn! I had a discussion with a cousin (who is bi-racial) and soon to be married to a Latino from South America. Once again , she is struggling with identity and the identity of her future children. Many of the same points you brought up in this video regarding race, DNA, culture, nationality, ethnicity and THANK YOU (and your parents), the concept that African-Americans are not "one" person and do have a culture! I have shared this video with her. I'm sure she will appreciate it as much as I did.
SPEAK. ON. IT. GIRL!!!!!! And your dad just expressed so well my feelings on the term 'African-American'!! Lumping it all together like its one country. *SCHUUUPPPS* I identify with your 'rankings' and explanations of such as well..being first generation Guyanese-American. Also, on a less serious note; I'm not sure if that was your dad but I Love that he used the term cassava as Guyanese do! LOVE your vids! I've been binge watching all day. :)
Girl yaaaassss!!! U just spoke some life into my identity issues and for that I am eternally grateful;))) U have such a lively personality, which brings a much needed fresh air into my youtube experience:)
LOL I totally get you Eve, I'm Tanzanian but have lived in so many different countries. When people ask me where I'm from it gets pretty hard for me to explain myself because I identify with so many places :)
I call myself African American since I do not know where my family comes from in Africa. So I cannot break it down by country like that! But that would be so tight to know though!!!
Ashley Renea If this makes sense I’m Kenyan born and bred but feel more African than Kenyan. The truth is we are all Africans. The borders are arbitrary and drawn by some white people in Europe and we are brainwashed and hold onto these borders like they mean something. No they do not. So African first! So African American is cool!
OMG, how much I needed this video to confirm something I know on my daily basis, about lifting up without tearing down other ones! Thank you internet cousin 😘
I have watched a lot of your videos, and I totally agree with you. As a Jamaican(soon to be American) I totally understand the idea of "being black" in America. Most people see the skin first, THEN ask you your cultural heritage. Kudos to you. Love your videos!!
Making a BEAUTIFUL point AND being HILARIOUS about it. Good feelings all around, this made me smile :). wonderful wonderful wonderful wonderful wonderful the UK wishes it had you as a citizen.
First time commenter, long time viewer. Can’t explain the joy of hearing my favourite youtuber’s parents use the example “Iranian-American. Keep being awesome Evelyn ❤️
I'm Nigerian, just found out through my DNa test, and also Ivory Coast and Ghanian , I had a very small percentage from EAst AFrican, but I'm happy for this dialogue. So happy to finally see my people learning more about what amazing places we really come from!!!..
Thank you for making this video because if I have to hear "Caribbean culture is so awesome, I wish I had culture" from oneee more black person I'm gona start handing out backhand slaps
I found your channel and I love and appreciate the space you take up in this world. I pray you stay encouraged to complete your vision. Blessings and respect
This whole talk reminds me of the whole issue of black people in America distinguishing themselves by where they're from. The whole "Im not black, Im Haitian" thing. A lot of people have a problem with that, which is something that I have struggled with. I was born in Haiti but moved here when I was 9 with both of my Haitian parents, I am now a citizen of the US. When i had to learn the culture and life in the US i guess i learned the " White-American" culture but not the "African-American" culture which mainly was the way of speaking, the food, etc. So i was teased by my peers for "not being black enough". And like you said in the video "Identity is intersectional and not mutually exclusive". I feel that among us there is a stigma that you can't be two things. And like your mom said, in America they try to group all black people together as "African-American" which has turned into a way of basically saying that you are an American whose skin is black. Yes, I am black - skin color wise, but I was not born here nor was i raised in black american culture. So unless you're talking to me about identifying myself for what is now the purpose of the label "African-American". I don't identify as African-American, I am Haitian-American.
Your parents gave amazing answers that everyone should be satisfied with. I think there are a lot of levels to this that don't need to be. We don't need to fit into boxes and categories, that society has made. We should all be able to decide what we are without people deciding for you. But I can't say I'm not a little disappointed when people deny their black side. My cousin is an American born to a Jamaican mother and Ecuadorian father. As far as he knows, he's an American, with Jamaican heritage. He doesn't really identify with the Ecuadorian side because he never grew up with or had experiences with that side of himself. Yes, we can identify with more than one thing. And yes, we can build someone up without tearing someone else down.
OmG that is my motto "beauty builds up, it doesn't tear down! Consider yourself a builder. God is love and love is perfect!" And God sure don't like ugly behavior or attitude toward yourself or others! Preach!
Girl, yes, yes and yes! I think I'm going to casually play this, especially point #3, over and over at my desk for my shady coworkers...have several seats and listen to Evelyn!
"once i win that emmy though" 😂😂😂 you know how we africans do loool
"LEARN TO UPLIFT WITHOUT TEARING DOWN" Yass!!!! Can I get a hashtag, a t-shirt, a repost, a solemn prayer and a pay-it-forward of this please?!? Cause...whooo! Gurl..... whoooo!
This video right cheeeeeer is why I love and appreciate your channel, bluntness, and ability to educate through sarcasm lol
i agree, I love this video
I completely agree. The main thing that gets me is people of the home culture (where parents are from for first generation Americans) acting like you have no rights to even halfway share in their culture. Like am I supposed to forget that both my parents were born and raised in Jamaica because I was born here?
yes!!!!!
So true, our motto is "out of many one people" in Ja u can find every nationality under the sun with there own culture & there is harmonious sharing & no one is judged for doing so.
I want my son to identify as a Virgin Islander even though he's being raised in Missouri. He's both. If he grew up and shunned my culture it would break my heart.
Agreed. My daughters will be exposed to their Gambian and Jamaican cultures and will hopefully identify with both.
I identify as black as well. Girl, and my famikynis the UN genetically, but that melanin though said woooop, BLACK. I'm American, my parents are american, my grand parents are American. My great grand parents, American. Before that, African, French. And I'm not ashamed, I just don't claim it b cause it's soooooooo far removed from what I am TODAY. Why can't folks just accept that you are who and what you are. This whole desire to be hyphenated escapes me. I'm a WHOLE person with ideas, thoughts and desires. I'm exhausted just writing this. Just thanks for the video, as always on point, educational and entertaining.
LOL! Thanks for sharing :) Right? like shooo ima claim whoever i want! If the US wins a world cup game i'm like AYYYYE DAS MY COUNTRY! if Lupita wins some award i'm like AYYYYE DAS MY COUNTRY! hahahah
***** And when Tim Duncan helps win the NBA championship I'm all BUP! BUP! BUP! VI MASSIVE ain't watched nary one game all season LOL!
Let me tell you, your dad touched on something there with the distinction between Irish-American, Cuban-American, Iranian-American, [insert whatever country you want]-American, but then there's African-American which is as descriptive as European-American (um, where in Europe?). I think it's part of that whole erroneous way of thinking of Africa as a single country instead of a continent full of independent countries.
or more of explaining the descendants of displace people
A lot of African-Americans do not know which African countries their ancestors are from but their phenotype suggests that they are from the Continent ....so they just generalize it and say African-American .
@RainbowRamble21 That is incorrect. The African in African-American correctly refers to where AAs are from: There were NO countries in Africa until AFTER the Berlin Conference in 1884. So, they were never from a specific country but from a region. The African in African American rwfers ro the period when the slavetrade took place and there were NO countries. If refers to ckming from AFRICA before 1884. People who are BLACK and have ancestors that were sold into slavery and transported to the Americas in that time (before there were countries) are African American. Again, it rwgers to the period when there were NO countries in Africa. It does not refer to anything else but that the person descends from African that came here when there were no countries in Africa.
I feel you!! I am Nigerian, even though I have been in the US longer than I have been in Nigeria. I feel that your mom cleared up the confusion! What a wonderful explanation!! Even though my girls were born here, they will tell you they are Nigerian. I believe it is where you identify with. The important thing is to be the BEST YOU that you can be where ever you are.
I'm impressed by your wisdom Evelyn. For a lady in your 20s (or any age actually), you've got some of the most important stuff already figured out (and clearly your parents have done their fair share in making you the wonderful you that you are). I've been bingeing on your videos since yesterday. You make me laugh and smile and nod and say "yes!" and "right?!" out loud, and you inspire me. Much love!
Thank you so much!!!
Girl!!!! This video was on POINT! & as a Nigerian American my own parents don't even see me as a Nigerian they see me as American. All my cousins, friends, & everyone who meets me sees me as American. People need to stop putting others down. I've had family members say the same thing about "Black Americans" not having culture & I had to get on them about that. Great job!
I just re-watched your video so I can stop, well kinda stop, being lazy and copy some of your video formatting. Other than that I'm going to pass on the torch and bless you with the 800+ comments sitting in the Moderation tab, 15 page term papers for days and a handful of Black Hebrew Israelite (the bullhorn on 125th St variety) trying to re-write history. Whole convo was def an eye-opener. I'm just happy for those who respectfully engaged in the dialogue
@Jouelzy, if she is Kikuyu then she is Kikhulu or Kingulu, Ngulu (There is a Zulu tribe in Zimbabwe called Khumalo where one of the sons, Ngulumane/Kuruman/Ngolomane ruled a tribe deep in Khoisan territory in North Western South Africa on the border with Namibia. It is also why the kings of Kikongo were called Nzinga a Nkuwu or the Esani in Nigeria use Chukwu) = Zulu (Heaven, High Ground or Sky by definition, she and her parents might not know because the British that controlled the whole area from South Africa to Kenya on the East Coast - look it up - changed our Education system and taught us we are different. Basically all Kenyan tribes are Zulu tribes and the same tribes as in Southern Africa - when their origin story says their first ancestor came from the Heaven, it means they came from the Zulu). Khulu technically means Great or Big, and we call God Nkulunkulu just like Nigerians say Chukwuchukwu. Kikuyu can also be written as Kikuu = Kui which means Cow. This Kui is what South Africans call Khoi/KiNGO and what white South Africans insist is not Bantu and mixed race. Cow is the totem of the Ephraim or Split Kingdom of Israel in ancient Israel - look it up. I think because they used to worship the cow and were also cow herders - which is why they had a run-in with the Dutch when they got to Cape Town, because they would not sell the cows to the Dutch. So, the Dutch took their cows and them by force. I am a Christian, by the way, so my family does not practice that.
If Zulu means Heaven, that means we are amongst a few people worldwide that call themselves the people of the Heaven. We also call ourselves Nguni (which when written Mbinguni means Heaven), this compares with Nigerian Ogun (China)/Shogun (Japan)/Jukun (Nigeria, Australia and West Africa) etc. Guni was a chief of the Tribe of Gad and also the son of Nephtali/Naphtali, son of Judah/Israel. We also have tribes that libate (verbal songs or poems called Izibongo that we call a person to show their history and respect them).
If you knew more about African history and our verbal libations: the best way to greet an African is through their clan name or verbal libations. They will be more hospitable to you. And it can get you out of trouble!!!
We are also called AmaZunda or AmaLunda or just Zunda or Lunda (Post-Portuguese KiKongo Kingdom in Central Africa) to make it simple. Africa was one and are the same tribes. So much so, if I met anyone who has the same surname and linked surnames to mine from another African country, I would not be able to get married to them.
Lastly, Kikuyu = Kru (Senegal - we used to call ourselves Sengal in South Africa or Saei and we have a town called Senekal in South Africa) = Bereu Bakolong = Mande Bele (South Africa) Barolong = Balolo = Baholong = Batholong = Balulu = RwenzuRURU (Buganda/Uganda tribe). We are a Mande Tribe and we call ourselves Mande. Gikuyu origin stories as well as all African origin stories tell them that they came from Heaven, meaning they came from the Zulu. I dare you to find teh Gikuyu story and read it.
ENOUGH is ENOUGH. Can we please stop saying West and East as if it is different!? The ordinary man on the street who does not travel is the same and calls themselves by the same names. It is the travelling kind that lose history and change the story. East Africans = West Africans.
It's simple really. Whether you're African, Caribbean, African American - we're all black. Everything else (ethnicity, nationality, how you choose to identify) is specific to you.
your dad spoke life - it is only africa (a continent) that is group together versus other countries (as mama and papa both said) e.g. iranian -american etc
I screamed. I paused. I reflected... and suddenly it all made sense. For the LONGEST I have been neglecting to say "African-American" but I could never explain why... THIS, what he said, explains it
@@Xxladyem14xX It doesnt explain it. The name African American is not a refelction of "seeing Africa as one country". It refers to a period of timw when there were NO countries in Africa. It hence specifically refers to Americans who were sold into slavery in the period (before 1884) when there were no countries in Africa. It is a very specific ethnic group that was first labeled NEGRO, then COLOURED, then BLACk and then African America, and now Black with a call to be named ADOS (American Descendant of Slavery). The fact that one is black and born in USA does not give you the right to that identity. Heritage matters.
Your mom said "what's up". And that was the coolest part lol!
Completely agree with you. It's sad when the most hate one receives is from their own people. I call myself a Mexican American, but my Mexican friends say I'm only American....excuse me I don't remember my family/ancestors being American! My heritage is something I take pride in and I'm curious about. Not my fault I was conceived in the US....I actually take more time learning about my culture than most of my born and raised Mexican friends.
Exactly! Living in Texas, I know a bunch of people that struggle with that too. What do you think about the term Chicano/Chicana? Do you think that describes you?
This is a great video, made me think quite a bit.
This video kinda hits hard since I'm Kenyan and just got back from vacation in Kenya lol. I was born there but I've lived here for almost all my life. And of course over there is home but not really? My environment isn't there, my culture has been America. And when I went to Kenya, I felt like I was singled out because I'm American and don't know Luo or Swahili lol.
I'm Jamaican, born and bred but I also feel like I'm African though I've never been to the continent. Being black has no cultural significance for Jamaicans so there has never really been a need to say "I'm black" because that doesn't really set you apart from most other people here. If you say to a Jamaican "I'm black" they'll probably say "ok and your point is?..." because colour isn't synonymous with culture here.
soffy2002 so true
Yes, Yes, and YAS. I can definitely say that having grown up in a predominately black/hispanic/latino neighborhood and being Eritrean (first generation, woo wooo) all my ideas about those who surrounded me were definitely on the negative (heavy on the negative). I did not want to identify as black. But BOY, when you walk through the doors of a university classroom at a PWI you are forced to reflect and begin to understand identity and begin to seriously appreciate Black people and culture!! I don't think people realize that we, everyone who is not "black" would not be here in the U.S. if it were not for their struggle for civil rights, and struggle in many things that we think of as normal. Okay end, rant. I'm going to get back to binge watching your vids lol. I already have a video idea in mind! Thanks
PRE-CISE-LY! lol I'm of Ugandan parents but I was born in Philly and raised in Pennsylvania though I spent 5 years in Ug. Never learned the language but i tear up the food especially with some muchuzi mix on that. I also hold a lot of the values without really realizing it just from my upbringing.
Amen! Sounds like some people need to check out Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah!
Absolutely true! That book was a fantastic read!!
Awesome! She preached in that book. I wonder how many people heard her?
I cannot comprehend why some of our minds cannot see or accept an individual without placing him/her into a category. I enjoyed your video and hope like hell everyone who views it understands and learns from it.
by far one of my favorite videos as a new internet cousin. both my parents are Guyanese and I was born on a military base in Japan. I've always struggled until just recently with what I identify as. Then it dawned on me, just like you said, my environment is American but my heritage is Guyanese. I tell my friends all the time I was raised a guyanese child and I claim to be guyanese American proudly because I do see myself as guyanese first. so thank you for this vid. I know I'm years late but this video was everything for me. #staypressedandbeblessed
Internalized anti-blackness is a hell of a drug.
African-Americans don't have a culture? WTF? Oh, I guess blues, jazz, rock, R&B, and rap/hip-hop never happened, because African-Americans have no culture.
kat a I think most ppl fail to realize that rock came about from black ppl...
Most popular music worldwide for the past 80-100 years wouldn't exist if it weren't for the African-American community.
kat a right???!! that's what i be tryna tell these clowns **smh** lol
As you were talking to your parents I could see the love and pride you have for them flow. This video is truth. Thank you for posting.
I just want to say that i loved this. Like girl. she said this TWO YEARS AGO, T W O. Like i more people need to see this asap. and i aint even black. I'm mexican and its crazy how everything you and your beautiful immigrant/citizen parents said, made so much sense to people like us everywhere. Thank you, i guess. thats all i wanted to say.
It's strange that people haven't heard of dual citizenship? Identity is such a personal thing and there are so many factors...
For example my husband is a first generation Canadian - although he only lived there until he was 5 years old...he was raised in Spain but he doesn't identify as Spanish. His mother is half Norwegian and Swedish and his father is half English and Austrian (also Ashkenazi Jew)...so my husband has a British and a Canadian passport but isn't allowed to have a Norwegian passport (I don't think he's checked into having a Swedish passport). My husband speaks English and Spanish but doesn't speak Norwegian and speaks a little German. My husband identifies as Canadian. My husband also feels very close to his Norwegian family and heritage but he generally doesn't call himself Norwegian.
I'm Bermudian - born and raised. My mother is Dutch. I identify as both Bermudian and Dutch. I used to identify as more Bermudian than Dutch but having lived overseas for such a long time in Spain and then moving back to Bermuda I feel less Bermudian than before but not more Dutch lol.
My son will have four passports: Canadian, Bermudian, Dutch, and British...right now we live in Bermuda but we're thinking of moving back to Spain. I don't know how my son will choose to identify when he grows up.
And we're not even getting into the Chinese/Spanish/British/Austrian half sister or the Kiwi/Persian/British/Canadian nieces. My husband's family is like the UN.
I identify with this SO MUCH! Having spent 13 of my 18 years in England- the majority of my formative years, it would be impossible for me to not see myself as English. However, I was born in, and was raised in a Kenyan household, visiting Kenya regularly, and we spoke Kikuyu in my house when I was younger. I've never seen any complication but the difficulty comes from people who are confused about my identity; my Extended family plus my friends don't understand this, and only classify me as one OR the other- like, why can't I be both? You're definitely right in terms of the attitude we should approach identity, not as divided but as multicultural within ourselves! :)
I'm happy you addressed the comments on your video. Thanks for stressing the fact that uplifting others without tearing another person down is necessary among us minorities.
Jessyka Dennis
I'm shocked. I was thinking you we're W. African. Either Nigerian or Ghanaian. You remind me so much of my friend from Ghana
I can seriously watch all of your videos over again.
LOVE this video! I struggled with this so much for being judged by my fellow Nigerian-American peers for not being "Nigerian" enough like I wasn't born and raised here and don't identify with black culture.
SO MUCH YES TO THIS!!! I got all kinds of whack comments on one of my vids acting like people are abandoning their second identity if they rank a primary one that affects them most in their daily life. This is the response I was looking for, identity is intersectional and based on experience AND genetics. SO WELL PUT, THANK YOU *adds to favorites*
I agree 150% with this! This is a constant struggle I have too, since I was born in Boston (by Ghanaian parents) , lived in CT till I was 10, moved to Accra when I was 10 and came back to the US for college, and now I'm back in Ghana for sometime. Identity is fluid and people need to chill out and understand that! We are all multi-faceted human beings, we should all embrace that.
Love your videos, girl!
This is amazing because this is me, almost literally me. I am Kenyan( Kikuyu) but I was raised a majority of my life here and I am very much influenced by America. I don't have a Kenyan accent, I cannot fluently speak my home languages, I attend a college in the U.S. and but I'm not American by citizenship. For a long time I have felt that I didn't belong anywhere. You've given me great encouragement to be confident in identifying with both. Thank you
Bangs on table* Love your approach at addressing this. I discovered my Ancestry on my mother's side is from Nigeria however, no one in my immediate family was born there. I don't talk about it much because I've had someone ask about it basically said we were a watered down or diluted version of Nigerian *side eye*. And giving backhanded compliments....girl I almost shouted over here!
Good message and I love how ur parents were on the same page with each other.
Eyy! Love it! My Dad is half Kikuyu and Half Dutch-South African and my mother is Tanzanian. I was born and raised in London. The issue I face is that I classify myself as black plainly because I am surrounded by my black side and well, the majority of me is black genetically. But my boyfriend and I constantly have this debate on whether I can call myself black or whether I have to state I am both black and white (we even have a video on my channel about it lol).
Anyway, when someone asks what I am, I say I am African first, then break down the countries that I am from, I very rarely state that I am British. I guess it is all down to what you personally identify with.
lordt!! you have become my favorite UA-camr.
+Hanayanaa rlly??have u seen superwoman....lilly singh....OMG shez such a youtuber very funny
Lizza is even better.
EVELYNNNNN WE OUTCHEA FO YOUUUUU LIKE LILLY WHOOOOO. lol jp...kinda
I identify as Haitian-American. I am a first generation American, but I am very proud of my Haitian heritage, so I find that I identify as both. Clearly Haitians are African by heritage as well, so I don't find it necessary to add African into it because the color of my skin makes that obvious!
I absolutely LOVE YOU Evelyn!!! Keep all of this coming, no matter what it is you want to talk about, I want to hear your take on it!!!
Inspirations & Blessings
Nat
I think it's awesome that you know your heritage and identify with it. I've been trying to find out where my family came from. And I 100% agree with what your parents were saying about the other groups of people identifying with their heritage through hyphenation. People seem to have a problem with Black folks saying they're African American but will turn around and call themselves Italian American, Irish American, German American or whatever and their ancestors have been in this country just as long as mine have. Also, your dad made a good point that I never thought about when he said that Black people are really the only ones lumped into one group "African Americans". Although as a whole other people are grouped into one big group (Hispanic American, Asian Americans, etc), they usually know enough of their ancestry to be able to drill down and they identify with their specific heritage (Mexican American, Korean American, etc). But we're just African Americans.
I always feel as an African immigrant its not fair and right to consider oneself as an African American just because you were born there yet your parents are from Africa. In Kenya (where I come from) or generally Africa we consider African Americans or black Americans as the ancestors of slaves whilst African immigrants as Kenyan American, Nigerian America, Cameroonian American etc or some choose to stick to Kenyan, Cameroonian, etc despite having American citizenship. I also find it unfair to call African Americans that yet Asians, hispanics or white people are just American. Why cant they just be American too. As an African we also need to respect the fact that AAs paved the way for us to even get a chance to be in the US. I STAND TO BE CORRECTED THOUGH. Much love
Yaaaaas, Evelyn! Bring this word! You could've just dropped the mic after the first point tbh. It's all as simple as that. Identity's complex and intersectional. Definitely loved your reaction to Black-Americans being called "dilute" though. That's mine too every time someone comes for us like that.
I was just "browsing utube, looking for something uplifting and "deep". I found you. You have an amazing spirit and I love the way you look at the world. I am a 61 year old grandmother and minister's wife. I have listened to a few of your videos and admire your views on "Race". To you I say "stay pressed and be blessed! and thank you!
EVENLYN, YOU ARE MY FAVOURITE UA-camR. SERIOUSLY. YOU ARE JUST.. i love you. LOL. You have such a comedic but still highly intelligent and philosophical way to address (what some people consider) sensitive topics. I aspire to be as eloquent and intellectual as you one day!
GIRL!!!!!!!! props. seriously everything that was discussed in private or only thought of and not spoken out... has been made publicly known!! AND i freaked love it!!! love
People dont understand that there is a difference between ethnicity, heritage, and race. I have no issue with folks identifying how they see fit, however i do have an issue with those who choose to deny their inherant race because they dont like the culture that society would put them in
So freaking smart and funny. It's official.... #girlcrush 😍😍
Yeah you need to come to Australia. I have light skinned and white skinned family and friends who identify as 'black' Indigenous Australians and it is VERY rarely an issue of debate coz we accept that identity is as you say genetics and history! Identity is fluid and layered. I myself am of 2 heritages which are black (Melansian + Aust Aboriginal). I identify as both but my Aboriginal identity is stronger because of how and where I was raised and my connection to my Aboriginal culture, beliefs and values. Anyway, great video and def a topic that needs to be talked about on YT to initiate constructive discussion.
my cousin randomly lived in Australia for a while. I'd love to visit! Thanks for sharing your story :)
Fluid and layered, y'all!
This video is WAAAAY valuable. Thank you for making it. Much love from a Trinidadian-American.
Whenever someone asks me where am i from I always say to Jamaican- American. But when I speak to a Jamaican, their responses that is, " your A yankee". A yankEE is someone who was born in the States, an American. . If I answer American, A person will say no what is your background. and that the second question is stirred because of the slight accent. So now my responses anybody who as is.. American born -Jamaican raised. Cut out all that kakalaka.
SIDENOTE: as a Brooklynite.I live in Flatbush and Crown Heights I am exposed to many different carribean and spanish accents so I'm afraid I don't know what's going to come out of my mouth sometimes. I might even get a little Becky on you. Lol
i have a lotta love for Caribbean Flatbush! lol
THIS!!!!
You give me so much LIFE. Thank you for this. Watching your videos have been a cold, rainy Sunday blessing.
great discussion... side note: why is it suggested that I watch Hakuna Matata in the related vids? lol YT knows me so well
Amennnnn my sista cuz, preach it!!!! I especially luv ur point about uplifting & not tearing down, sometimes u'll b reading thro comments & think my goodness why r some people so mean & disrespectful, u don't like what u see or hear then tastefully disagree. G8 vid keep them coming educate & eliminate the confusion!!!!!
Your parents are so dope. They're on the same wavelength with this topic. LOVE IT!
found ur channel through joulezy luv it
thanks for stopping by! hope you stay *_____* lolololol
I came here from your 2016 "Oh sooo NOW you want to be from Wakanda?" video, and hearing your dad and your mum gave me all the feels and such life! Subscribed!
You're the best for being so constructive with your comments. You could have been angry-- but you were smart about this. Thanks for sharing your cultural experience with the internets.
The struggle of this topic is real. For myself, sometimes I identify as a Black American and not African b/c I don't know my African roots and I grew up in American Black culture. Sometimes I identify as African American (which I feel like could be argue as an ethnicity just like being Kenyan) because at the end of the day, my ancestors are African even if I don't know specific ethnicity. On other days, it's both where my race is Black but my ethnicity is African American. It's confusing but humans and cultures are confusing what can I say.
This video right herreee! This chick right here!!! It took me soooo long to understand that I could be Congolese(Luba) and American(both by circumstance and DNA). Bcuz no one told me I could be. I am both and very proud. Loved your video. But what else is new...
You have earned yourself a new subscriber from Kenya! Bumped into your channel today and I am already hooked! Awesome stuff!
👏👏👏👏👏. Preach. I adore u and ur channel. This is extremely interesting. Although I was not a part of thr twitter convo I am of mixed cultures/races as well. I FIRST identify as black and then claim my mothers races which is Dominican and my fathers as West Indian. I was BORN HERE!! How can I say I am West Indian or Dominican and not African American or BLACK if I was not born in either one of those places?!? I don't understand how people can classify themselves based ONLY on where their parents are from. Very interesting topic. Thanks for sharing
Yes I am staking your videos, lol! I co sign everything you and your parents said. Now I need to go find out which country my ancestors are from, lol! Which is why in my case, Black American is more appropriate, cause Africa was a whole lotta generations back! I love you, your videos are hilarious!! You have me rollin' ova here!
"Stay pressed and be blessed." Yaas! #magicalblackgirls But seriously, I totally agree with you. I will always be black and always be Cameroonian, no matter where I go. I don't know why there were so many "confused" comments, but props to you for putting some knowledge in the air. Also shoutout to your parental units for being so in sync.
i find these discussions so interesting, in the UK with all the ticky box things it is black first like you don't say African-British (for example), you are Black British and then beneath that state where you are from. When my mum moved to the US she had no idea how to fill out certain forms lol Of course if someone asks you outright like in a convo you get some differing answers as to how people identify themselves, but i totally agree its about experience, circumstance etc also i find influential people can enforce where they think you should identify with i've been told to not say im from Britain even though i grew up here you know? great video!
***** YAAAAAAAAASSSSS!!!! I am so happy for this response!!!! Great video! Awesome points! The confused individuals can now get their lives! I have always identified as black first, then Bahamian-American and too disagreed with the lumping of us all into the entire continent of Africa as in the identifier African-American. It was especially magical how your parents made the same point lol.
Each of my grandparents was born on a different continent. Technically, my brother can claim to be 3rd generation Canadian while i can claim to be at least 6th generation Trinidadian. If people ask what i am, i ask, how far back do you want me to go.
Hello Evelyn! I had a discussion with a cousin (who is bi-racial) and soon to be married to a Latino from South America. Once again , she is struggling with identity and the identity of her future children. Many of the same points you brought up in this video regarding race, DNA, culture, nationality, ethnicity and THANK YOU (and your parents), the concept that African-Americans are not "one" person and do have a culture! I have shared this video with her. I'm sure she will appreciate it as much as I did.
SPEAK. ON. IT. GIRL!!!!!! And your dad just expressed so well my feelings on the term 'African-American'!! Lumping it all together like its one country. *SCHUUUPPPS* I identify with your 'rankings' and explanations of such as well..being first generation Guyanese-American. Also, on a less serious note; I'm not sure if that was your dad but I Love that he used the term cassava as Guyanese do! LOVE your vids! I've been binge watching all day. :)
Nothing but love for you and your channel. Always teaching and a mix of humor.
Girl yaaaassss!!! U just spoke some life into my identity issues and for that I am eternally grateful;))) U have such a lively personality, which brings a much needed fresh air into my youtube experience:)
My parents are from Kenya and this video I swear spoke to my life. Thank you so much. Also you are super hilarious!
#3 needs to be printed on billboards all across America
“not negative ... imma gonna call y’all confused” oh my lord Evelyn you bring me life 😂😂😂😂😂
LOL I totally get you Eve, I'm Tanzanian but have lived in so many different countries. When people ask me where I'm from it gets pretty hard for me to explain myself because I identify with so many places :)
I call myself African American since I do not know where my family comes from in Africa. So I cannot break it down by country like that! But that would be so tight to know though!!!
Ashley Renea If this makes sense I’m Kenyan born and bred but feel more African than Kenyan. The truth is we are all Africans. The borders are arbitrary and drawn by some white people in Europe and we are brainwashed and hold onto these borders like they mean something. No they do not. So African first! So African American is cool!
As usual a very thought provoking video from you Evelyn. Thank you so much for sharing this.
ehh!!! Girl be on that mic, preaching!
Such wisdom...i learned a thing or two
OMG, how much I needed this video to confirm something I know on my daily basis, about lifting up without tearing down other ones! Thank you internet cousin 😘
I have watched a lot of your videos, and I totally agree with you. As a Jamaican(soon to be American) I totally understand the idea of "being black" in America. Most people see the skin first, THEN ask you your cultural heritage. Kudos to you. Love your videos!!
" stay pressed and be blessed"... yass! Love this video!
Making a BEAUTIFUL point AND being HILARIOUS about it. Good feelings all around, this made me smile :). wonderful wonderful wonderful wonderful wonderful the UK wishes it had you as a citizen.
Evelyn, you be ON IT with these topics girl, keep them coming!! xxx
HEY SUNSHINE! THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS WITH US. YOU SEEM SO SWEET. KEEP BEING YOU ON CAMERA. HAPPY TO HAVE YOU IN MY NETWORK. HUGS! XOXO ★★★
First time commenter, long time viewer. Can’t explain the joy of hearing my favourite youtuber’s parents use the example “Iranian-American. Keep being awesome Evelyn ❤️
Yayyy for jazz hands!
I'm Nigerian, just found out through my DNa test, and also Ivory Coast and Ghanian , I had a very small percentage from EAst AFrican, but I'm happy for this dialogue. So happy to finally see my people learning more about what amazing places we really come from!!!..
Thank you for making this video because if I have to hear "Caribbean culture is so awesome, I wish I had culture" from oneee more black person I'm gona start handing out backhand slaps
I love this classy read lol. Call them parents guh!!!!
I found your channel and I love and appreciate the space you take up in this world. I pray you stay encouraged to complete your vision. Blessings and respect
This whole talk reminds me of the whole issue of black people in America distinguishing themselves by where they're from. The whole "Im not black, Im Haitian" thing. A lot of people have a problem with that, which is something that I have struggled with. I was born in Haiti but moved here when I was 9 with both of my Haitian parents, I am now a citizen of the US. When i had to learn the culture and life in the US i guess i learned the " White-American" culture but not the "African-American" culture which mainly was the way of speaking, the food, etc. So i was teased by my peers for "not being black enough". And like you said in the video "Identity is intersectional and not mutually exclusive". I feel that among us there is a stigma that you can't be two things. And like your mom said, in America they try to group all black people together as "African-American" which has turned into a way of basically saying that you are an American whose skin is black. Yes, I am black - skin color wise, but I was not born here nor was i raised in black american culture. So unless you're talking to me about identifying myself for what is now the purpose of the label "African-American". I don't identify as African-American, I am Haitian-American.
I found your videos refreshing and thought provoking. You are a breath of fresh air.
Yess Evelyn! But my real question is, what does "stay pressed, be blessed" mean? Lol
Your parents gave amazing answers that everyone should be satisfied with.
I think there are a lot of levels to this that don't need to be. We don't need to fit into boxes and categories, that society has made. We should all be able to decide what we are without people deciding for you. But I can't say I'm not a little disappointed when people deny their black side.
My cousin is an American born to a Jamaican mother and Ecuadorian father. As far as he knows, he's an American, with Jamaican heritage. He doesn't really identify with the Ecuadorian side because he never grew up with or had experiences with that side of himself.
Yes, we can identify with more than one thing.
And yes, we can build someone up without tearing someone else down.
I am an immigrant from Jamaica...so I am Jamaican-American, my children would be first generation American
What was in that cup b4 the water though?? Aaaaaaahh.. *Tisk tisk tisk*
IT WAS ALWAYS WATER!!! lol granted i ate whataburger but i asked for my drink to be water. #babysteps
Lol you know I ain't really pressed concerning your beverage decisions.. I just had to mess with ya! Drink and eat as you please!! ;-P *****
Hey, I'm Kenyan Too! :D
- Joe
+TheMakerTV ayyyye!!! love meeting other kenyans on UA-cam
Evelyn From The Internets nice of u.
OmG that is my motto "beauty builds up, it doesn't tear down! Consider yourself a builder. God is love and love is perfect!" And God sure don't like ugly behavior or attitude toward yourself or others! Preach!
The way your parents said almost the exact same thing! That's awesome!
Man, your parents are very smart!!! I'm a new subbie!! I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL!!!!! You're already my best friend in my head!!
Girl, yes, yes and yes! I think I'm going to casually play this, especially point #3, over and over at my desk for my shady coworkers...have several seats and listen to Evelyn!
Hey I'm Black, Then American, Then Haitian, Then Female... THEN Gay... I get you cheri. Much Love!