I really appreciated your segment on this, big man. In one of my videos, I talk about how a Black American said I couldn’t say the N-word because my Black is Caribbean and not American. Obviously this person isn’t indicative of the entire experience but it is worth noting how Black America has become an ambassador of Blackness for the entire Black Diaspora as well as understanding the implications that has on the culture
This is so important to think abt. Lately, ive done so a lot. Living in an American colony makes this especially hard, bc Americans probably wouldn't would want you to do race their way, but bc of your colonial relationship, you cant help but to do so. So then, what're u supposed to do? How do u navigate these feelings? When you have an external force telling u how to be, but also telling u you're not accepted? Just getting stuff put my chest before watching the video bc i saw ur comment. I really appreciate you guys having these type of "niche" conversations 🥺
@@Bizcachi Catch me doing the exact same thing cause I literally just paused the video like 10 seconds in to comment 😭growing up as a Black Carribbean American (born in the U.S. but a child of a Haitian dad/ Trini mom) could be so lonely and othering as heck! I still feel the effects of that today and have even continued to experience exclusionism and gatekeeping from my Black American peers. It's such a frustratingly awkward place to have in life, even while loving and appreciating my roots and my existence. Excited to watch this vid in full!
The ‘N-word’ isn’t applicable to the entire black diaspora, no? Why do you feel it appropriate to say the N-word when you can’t even respect the experience of the native black Americans who have been so deeply impacted by its usage?
I can relate to the gatekeeping of blackness by both Black Americans and non-black people. My parents are from Jamaica but I was born in America so I grew up with Jamaican food, culture and music. Yet, everyone keeps saying I’m not black because I didn’t watch certain Black films, or know about certain black celebrities or musicians. “You don’t listen to Jay-Z? You’re not black. You don’t like Soul food? you’re not black. You don’t talk a certain way? You’re not black.” Not caring I didn’t believe in wearing saggy pants, or liked how most black movies are about suffering and the struggle. Everybody seems to want black people to be a monolith, not understanding the different cultures and values each ethnicity holds.
I'm so glad when people bring this to the table cause we are not a monolith and Americas ideals about black people are so stiff. I think all blacks IE: Hait, Carib, Jama, African fit the mold that black Americans have kind of created here in America. Whether that be good or bad. Lol
I'll never forget that "Who's the Blackest" video from The Cut. Two ex black panthers ranked a Nigerian man as *least* black because he didn't eat grits for breakfast. The video got taken down (for worse reasons), but man was it bad. There's still 2 reactions of it left on UA-cam.
Growing up in the US as a Jamaican I got the same thing from both Black Americans & White Americans telling me "you're not black black you're Jamaican"
They mean that you are not black in that you have a different lineage. Black Americans in the United States were first classified as negro, then black on the US census. They did not have to immigrate to the US, nor do they have a country that is mainly populated and ran by them. Black is a politically outdated term, held deeply by African Americans, meaning someone who is the descendant of chattel slavery within the United States. You have an entirely different history and lineage stemming from the island nation of Jamaica, where you were formerly enslaved by England. And at some point a few decades ago immigrated to the United States. Hope that clears things up - it’s not a personal attack. You just aren’t black like the black people who were descendants of chattel slavery in the US. The same way a Black American could not got to Jamaica and call themselves a “real” Jamaican as it is not their history.
@Therealw1 in the Caribbean was also slavery. Secondly, the Caribbean was controlled by white people until the 60s but the still had control well into the 90s making Caribbean countries one of the most impoverished in history and one of the most debt ridding country in the world. Understandably your not away of what happens on the Caribbean however don't downplay what happened.
such a refreshing perspective! I'm a dutch afro-caribbean immigrant, here we learn more about black american history than our own. us-centrism and their imperialism can be very overwhelming and honestly kind of alienating. the diaspora is rarely given a voice. there is no one definitive way to be Black, we could embrace that diversity. solidarity and empathy are so important.
I agree.. to be honest I think black americans make the rest of us look bad. it’s rooted in struggle, celebration of degeneracy and defeatist victim mentality
I'm from South Africa, and 4th and 5th grade history is basically all about American slavery and we're never taught about slavery and indentured labourers in South Africa.
What “imperialism” are you talking about? Black Americans sharing their stories is not imperialism dude, especially since they never intend for it to be popular all over the world, it just happens. Be honest, you just hate America and its people
I'm honestly really looking forward (if it's ever in your plans) to hear you talk about African, Yoruba, and/or even Carribean Storytelling or non-American Black experience/stories in general. Quality content, as always. Thank you ☺☺☺
I'm interested in discussing black spirituality and the demonisation of traditional African ones. I don't identify with any of them, but I think there's value in exploring them. Maybe I'll make a video about tribes someday. Who knows.
It's not the same but a lot of Irish people are kind of exploring pre Christian Irish beliefs to help gain a sense of identity away from the Catholic Church on the one hand which obviously betrayed us, and what seems like global USAmericanisation on the other. It doesn't mean completely converting to a spiritual belief but exploring and understanding is always interesting and helpful. Love your vids 🖤💜🖤💜
@@ruaoneill9050 did you know that, in the Middle Ages, some argue that the goddess Brigid was syncretized with the Christian saint of the same name? According to medievalist Pamela Berger, Christian "monks took the ancient figure of the mother goddess and grafted her name and functions onto her Christian counterpart," St. Brigid of Kildare, which would have helped in the christianization of the Irish.
Somebody really said it sounds weird from your accent?! What?! And yeah bro “black is black” 🔥✊🏾 as a black American we’re not just in America, i asked a friend whose British, about what she enjoys because over there her world is different so it’s important we look at each other’s cultural zeitgeists
Black isn’t just black. You are the descendants of chattel slavery in the United States. That is unique to you. Just as Black Britons are not the same either. Caribbean migrants brought in during the 60s have a completely different lineage, history, and social position compared to others from countries in Africa. That is unique to them, they may share a history of slavery. But definitely do not share a history of chattel slavery in the continental United States. By calling for a “flat blackness” you marginalize your own ancestors. Your entire identity and culture has been used by the United States in its worldwide imperialism. This reductionist narrative ultimately undermines specific groups of people who look alike under the veil of blackness, their unique struggles, and what is OWED to them in order to seek true equity.
African-American here, I just want you guys to know, that American Black identity gets foisted on us as well. Anything you do that isn't associated with hip hop, sports or pop culture is interpreted as "trying to be White". Simply be articulate... White. You like science, math or philosophy... White. I've been told my entire life and still do till this day. I no nothing of rap or some stupid dance everyone expects me to know. Even non Black people come up and interrogate your blackness, then lose all interest once they find out that you can't scratch their Black itch. Your guys' experience sounds like what a non-ghetto American Black person's experience is. The media paints us as street smart, not book smart. Can run fast and jump high, however is intellectually inferior. So as you can surmise, being a science nerd like my self gets me into conflict with alot of people's worldviews. I've even face outright rage from people for "sounding smart"... go figure. I stand with you guys, and we do need to take our image back from the White media. We are so much more than entertainers. Anyway, much love to my brothers in the diaspora.✊🏿🇺🇸 TL;DR: They do it to us Black Americans as well. We are beholden to the images of the almighty Tell-Lie-Vision and expected to know random Black things... even when we don't.🤷🏿♂️
Well said man and here I thought I was the only one who feels this way… you just summarized the whole issue and wrote it down like it was nothing. Lol Once again I appreciate the inspiring words and started spreading the truth, for the sake of our future generations.
Ray Charles and Patti LaBelle didn't make rap music and we have made plenty of of contributions to science and technology. If people are questioning your blackness it's because they smell the assimilation on you.
@@raymonds7492 Man shut it down! I know EXACTLY what he's talking about and unless you're from the trenches U should know as well...BTW what Ray Charles and Patty Labelle did was considered "black music" and even "undecent" for the time so it's like saying 50 Cent wasn't criticised for doing Hip Hop DUH
I love this video! I'm a black brit (Caribbean Windrush heritage) living in Portugal and the expat community is overwhelmingly black American. It feels very alienating for everything to be centred around them. I feel most comfortable with other black Europeans and African immigrants as they don't assume our cultures are the same or use words they just assume I know.
I understand feeling more comfortable where there’s no dominant group. There isn’t pressure to fit in since everyone’s different. Although my community and school is very heavily Black, I could never imagine going somewhere like an HBCU because I myself would be a minority. For college, I think I’d rather be a minority among white Americans than black Americans bc I have no chance of ever fitting in with whites and they don’t expect me to. It’s like… I’d rather visit a country I have no connection to rather than visit my parents homeland and face the “she’s westernized” comments… you know?
@@nuhaomar9542 I don't understand your reasoning. People you fit in with have nothing to do with race and everything to do with interests, personalities, and ideologies. I'd fit in more with a bunch of non black gamers than a bunch of black yuppies.
Also explains a feeling of imposter syndrome I've had for black identity coming up in the UK. I haven't experienced life like my elders in 80s/90s London, but I'm not american either. Outside of music/joking with other Africans about food or football rivalries, I don't really UNDERSTAND HOW to identify with the rest of the diaspora in the country, let alone the rest of the world
Remember, don't fall into feeling like you have to fit into a stereotype of what being black is. For example, what does it mean to "understand how to related"...not everyone is going to have the same life experiences, interests etc etc but at the end of the day you're still black.
I remember someone in the comments played down my complaints about anti-black racism in Trinidad because of their view of blackness and racism is in a black-american lens.
Many if not most Black Americans focus mostly on our culture, communities and history. The people who start following Black American culture are doing that out of their own will not because Black Americans told them too or forced them. Black Americans should gatekeep our culture and communities more regardless if someone is Black Caribbean or Black African unless it's someone whose proven to be a true ally because there's way too many people who downtalk and leech off us like culture vultures but then talk that "we all black" bs when they get called out for their disrespect.
An interesting example are the Black Nova Scotians, who were mostly slaves who took the British offer to support the King against the American Revolution in return for freedom. After the war they were offered residence in NS (on some of the worst land) and have a unique history.
being from an all black country in the caribbean, well mostly black obviously, called barbados i feel most of my perception of life is this americanised lifestyle due too the shows i watch that i wanted to leave my own country for america ignoring the culture rhats been surrounding me my whole life. ion even know we had folklore creatures are the grand significances of our crop over, our festival. i do still want to leave the country in pursuit of greater oppurtunities but i do have a better understanding and appreciation for my country. also as a caribbean person i hate how jamaica is the mascot like we not the same countries, dialects, broughtupcy. like a girl i know went overseas to america n a guy confronted asking her where she from n she said barbados n this man finna ask where in jamaica that is🤦♂
i think a reason that people can bring up an oppression Olympics type argument is because they’re afraid of their associated plight being forgotten. valid or otherwise.
I hope you will make more videos on the non American black experience. Your videos are always informative and well done. There's huge negrophobia problem in the diaspora where people would rather be from Egypt, Arab, native American or anything else really than be associated with West Africa which is probably because of how Sub Sahara Africa is associated with poverty and how lacking the education is of Africa and Africans in general. I know only a few black European youtubers (Grace On your dash, Judith Mimi, Thumin, Town of Tawiah...). Wish I knew more. I remember this afro Italian youtuber (Grace on your dash) who said: "Sometimes it feels like black lives can matter only in the US". She was fed up with racists in her comment and that demotivated her on speaking out on race issues for a long time. It can be jarring for one's mental health. Especially in Italy where anti immigration sentiment was booming (thanks Salvini). And hate crimes against black people were being ignored. White people would call you "negro" even if you don't want to be called that and the Islamophobia was scary to see. And let's not get started on daily microaggressions. People would just touch my hair and call it "crespi" "frisé" "frizzy" without my consent. Racism is definitely a thing outside of America too. People are only now realizing it because of the Ukraine situation. Edit: if you need more convincing about racism and American execeptionalism I literally went off on a rant in the replies lol.
Sometimes I'm surprised by how much I know about black american history and then I remember that all my life I was thought "Black history is black american history and that counts for Africans and Carribeans too". It's rare to see a black person know about "African" history but black american history is more known. At school they only thought me black american history and the only reference to Africans was made to make white people feel better about the slave trade. "Africans sold each other". Always devoid of any nuance unless we're talking about the romans. People stopped bullying me my Africanness because of black panther lol. #Representation matters I think it's important to increase representation of Africans in the US. However, we might be taking away the small representation black americans have. Most mainstream representation is usually from the US. You don't regularly see native French, Italian, African movies be popular in the mainstream media. It's usually always black American. So it's kind of a debaccle. European countries have to literally make laws against American media taking over. This is especially true when it comes to music. The American experience is so exceptionalized that when people see African representation, for example, models. Some think that they're stealing representation from black Americans even when they're literally settled in the UK. Africans are one of the least represented groups in mainstream media along with South East Asians. This has lead to a lot of harmful stereotypes. Non American Black people have to literally rely on American media which is most likely to be mainstream and well funded for their representation. Yet people will still say that they should have worked harder for opportunities back home but most are! America has a monopoly on almost everything and this fact is true even outside America. It's just in recent years we've been able to see other cultures media, South Korean for example. Most of the time they use darker skinned models and often there's an element of dehumanisation and fetishization but people will ignore that and stick to the "Africans/immigrants are stealing our jobs. They should just stay in Africa and build Africa". This is the sort of victim blaming that I've always heard from racists white Italians, even in tv ads. People act like Europeans get a free pass on their ignorance as if there aren't any black people living in Europe. Oh but they aren't American so it doesn't matter. Another barrier is language. We have to thank a lot of black Americans for all the race theory we have today. I'm afro Italian so there really was no way I could educate white people on my existence and I couldn't even back it up with sources because they were all in English. That's a privilege that I didn't have. I had to listen to my teachers say "Africans sold other Africans" with no nuance and that was the last time I heard the word African in history class. I agree that being an immigrant is a privilege but it still doesn't justify xenophobic sentiments. Let's stop blaming immigrantion for every problem under the sun just to avoid the fact that imperialism, corporations... Are harming you and the working class. Just like we have to thank black Americans for civil rights in the US, the same goes for non American black people who have fought to be seen as equal in other countries. This was way too long but had to get it off my chest.
is it the Americanisation of blackness or the world who placed that default label on black Americans while simultaneously consuming our experience for entertainment? as the most hated ethnic group in the diaspora it pains me to see ppl who immigrate here(or elsewhere) talk about some sort of percieved favoritism black Americans get while they get to benefit from our struggles in this oh so "great" nation, adopt our identities & cultural customs & overall better their lives then still point the finger at us for whatever reasons. we've waved the flag of & take pride in our blackness because unlike our counterparts on the continent & in the Caribbean we come from territories that literally & legally didn't classify us as human until less than a hundred years ago. so yea we don't cling to nationalism like everyone else does. but we do know where we come from. im open for discussion
I don't see how it's mutually exclusive. Multiple things can be true at once. You're completely correct that Black Americans are constantly shat on and looked down on by Black folks from other cultures in the diaspora, and that modern immigration of non-American Black folks in the U.S is a result of working class/poor Black Americans' fighting and being killed for equity in basic services and needs during the civil rights movement, which opened spaces for non-American Black folks to occupy. I think the resentment is misguided and part of a larger issue of American exceptionalism, imperialism, and lack of education. The US is the biggest superpower in the world and so its media and cultural zeitgeists get seen the most on a global scale, and this includes how the US media portrays Black Americans (which has always been terrible overall). Most non-American Black folks come from the Global South, which do have their own local media landscapes but those are still dwarfed by US media, and on top of that, the US works as a global police force that invades, bombs, and steals resources from these other countries (though this is the west in general) and the everyday people in these places suffer the most. That doesn't excuse the fuck shit that Black Americans get from other Black ethnic groups, and I hope I didn't come across that way. I just wanted to give some contexts, but this is a nuanced and complicated conversation that I don't believe UA-cam comments are the best place to have it.
I should also add that the imperialism part is the fault of the wealthy elite in the government and in western multinational corporations, not Black Americans. The former just uses propaganda in schools and media to get ALL Americans in general to buy into American exceptionalism, and thus this includes Black Americans, and they succeed to an extent, but of course Black folks in the US understand that hypocrisy in many ways and do reject that dogma
@@imperatorsage5510 I understand all of that and have known why but it still hurts. Tbh this conversation even with its nuances explained is still tricky to talk about. I have seen many of times ppl get together to talk about this subject and it never seems to go well. Because honestly we do it to each other, I know media about non american blacks were not the best representation for those countries(representation created and viewed through an American lense). I have seen the bs carried out on both sides. Still it sucks walking into a room, seeing other black ppl of another dispora in a academic or work setting, and wondering if they view me the same way non black folks do? Sometimes the answer is yes.
@@brianao.316 You're completely correct, it happens on all sides. There's plenty of stories of African immigrants being made fun of for being African by some Black American kids and then Black Americans being stereotyped with the same anti Black rhetoric of being lazy and dangerous by some Africans who buy into the white supremacist propaganda exported by US media. It sucks that explaining these factors can come across as making excuses for shitty behavior and anti Blackness that goes on within the diaspora, but these are the realities behind the huge miseducation on different Black ethnic groups. It does hurt so much regardless when you're experiencing anti Blackness from other Black folks. I really wish Black folks were more willing to learn from each other's cultures and histories instead of focusing ONLY on the differences. It's good to acknowledge both the differences and similarities and shared histories
These people sound crazy, blaming us because our culture is the most celebrated. We don't care, we didn't choose to be the Kool kids, at school. We have WAY BIGGER PROBLEMS to worry about!! The things they are complaining about us so pointless. Black Americans we are such a SMALL black group. But have every Black nation around the WORLD jealous? Or blaming us for shit we didn't start or can't control!! HYON!!!
I'm not sure why y'all think Black Americans are gatekeeping blackness as whole when they're not. They're literally gatekeeping their blackness, their culture. I think because their culture is so globalized every other black person feels entitled to it, it's weird. I'm Nigerian American and there's certain aspects of their culture that I don't understand and probably never will, and that's okay. Everything thing ain't for me. I respect them enough to back off when they tell me to. Who cares if the Americans won't accept you. They're not checking for you anyway. Just focus on you. Up until social media the average Black American didn't even know you existed. They were too busy trying to survive. They are literally doing them. I feel like Black Brits are still trying to figure out their identity as black people in majority white country. Which is why they cling on to African American culture because it's similar to what they're going through currently. But y'all need to figure out what works for you in The UK. You can't keep using American tactics on European problems. It won't work. Just try and figure out yourselves.
They weren't saying they wanted to be included in black american culture, that's the direct opposite of what they said, what they want is for Black Americans and Non-black people to accept blackness on a spectrum. From Afro-Caribbean culture to Black-Brits, they experience a form of racism that either is disappointed that they aren't displaying the same Black American attitude, but are also attacked if they express what is claimed by Black American culture, and all they want is for other aspects of Black culture to be known and accepted
@@melontrend6722 I agree with you. All aspects of blackness should be respected. The thing I don't like is when people only focus on one group and not the others. I've seen Africans and Afro-Caribbeans try to invalidate Black Americans experiences and culture too. Nigerians do it to me too for not being born and raised in Nigeria. I just don't like the narrative that Americans are the only ones doing it. I've seen several deep table discussion videos about this topic. Like, stop it. We all do it to each other and it needs to stop.
I think it's idiotic for a Black American to hold a non-American Black person to a standard of blackness that is unrealistic even if they grow up in America. But unless you grow up in New York City, Miami or maybe the DMV area, you're not growing up around different kinds of Black people, so there's no socialization to how people can grow up differently in the same country. As a Black American, I don't think Caribbean and African Black people don't realize the privilege they have to actually be proud of the country you come from and have most of the people you grow up around (if you grow up in the country) to look like you. Particularly, with how much non-American Black people will judge Black Americans and our status in America without knowing the history that goes into why some of us are where we are. Calling Black Americans lazy and talking down about us when the work of the Civil Rights Movement is the reason that Caribbean and African Black people CAN immigrate to America. Additionally, Caribbean and African Black people have the privilege of not having to rely on blackness. Blackness is literally all Black Americans have when it comes to "culture." And yes, Black Americans are not a monolith. African and Caribbean Black people have a country, flag and culture they can claim. Not until I moved to South Korea did I tout myself as an "American." And that's because Koreans and other foreigners don't know where Detroit or Michigan is, so I HAD to say I was American. But at 23 years old, that's most I ever FELT American, saying it over and over again to other people. We literally have white people's names, but people complain about how if we say "Black" we're only talking about America. Yes! Because that's the context. That's been the context for hundreds of years. Unless we're talking about the diaspora, assume that when we say Black the "American" is silent. As globalization and the access to more of people's content continues, we have to understand that people tend to be talking about where they're from and live. If I had the audacity to watch a Black British person's video and complain about how they're only talking about Black stuff in , my arrogant Americanness would be called out, but the reverse doesn't happen. People who expect Black Americans to add "American" when we're talking are acting just like the Americans they call out all the time. Blackness is ALL some of us have. We've put in the work. We've fought for our rights. And these days we have to deal with not only white people judging us, but Asian, Hispanic and black people from the diaspora too. Do you all know how TAXING that is? There's no place for a Black American. There's no acceptance for a Black American. Only scrutiny and love of our culture, but not us as people. And not only from white folk.
It's actually not that simple...colonialism still had a major effect on the African psyche. Idk how to explain it but there is obviously the skin bleaching so they see themselves in someways inferior to whites and accept it. Howwever, not so much in other ways. There is this underlying strive for success like whites by working hard. What sets them apart from Americans is that their spirit hasnt been completely broken basically. They understand who they are and arent necessarily trying to escape that compeltely but at the same time they beleive they can be successful similar to white people. What helps them is probably aso that they arent stuck living next to white people everyday, who easily exploit them. They have their countries to themselves for the most part... their currupt countries but their's nonetheless.
@@deb1920 Rest of the paragraphs was just common sense. But it makes no sense for you to put that word in quotes unless you’re insinuating the opposite. I figured I’d rather ask than jump to conclusions but apparently you wanna get in your feelings over a simple question
Putting this comment here to say: Thank you for this. Both you and Foreign. (Also, it reminds me a lot of the conversations that I've had with my students who struggle to recognise the way that racial dynamics function in Europe, are often living in systems that keep trying to utilise the US frameworks of race instead of recognising how it works here, and know something feels 'off'... but can't really articulate the way that those frameworks aren't helping to explain things because of how the dynamics of race work on the continent and in each national context... and how different they are from the US contexts.)
How does black become associated only with the American because the socio economic term originated in the u.s and the decedent's of American slavery made it a ethnicity rather everyone in the diaspora identified with the country so if you still confused why because black americans recognize it as two terms we know the diaspora is fighting against white supremacy and have spoken out on it nunerous times but I'm not sure why you wanna place the blame on black americans for being the mascot of something we never asked for. This conversation to me feels like misplaced frustration and honestly its nothing black americans can do about it. you guys need atleast 3 black americans from atleast the south east and NY to give a perspective in these convos
Your black ain't my Black. It's really that simple. A lot of this is cultural misunderstandings that further prove that people who are not Black American genuinely think they have a full grasp on Black American culture based on the media they consume.
This kinda reminds me of how I feel Queer culture is becomig homgenised via US standards: there's even a programme on Irish tv about queer history and most of its US based, no Roger Casement or Dr. Kathleen Lynn and her partner Madeline French Mullen. Sorry, it's late and you got ne thinking things!
Many black brits are well informed on the basics at the very least imof black American history. We are taught more of the black experience, from young, in the states, than the history of where we live in Europe unfortunately
In my experience people in the US project an image of the world as they imagine it. It's usually a depiction of life with them at the center of existence.
Y’all confuse Being Black (ethnicity) with Flatblackness (black Africans) . That’s the problem. Everybody and thier mama has access to culture but when we ask y’all to respect certain aspect we get called Divisive. But Blk ppl (Americans) has no say over y’all Africans shit. That’s the problem.
Foundational Black Americans have a unique culture and lineage that is to be recognized and respected as a separate ethnic group from other black ethnic groups in the world. We are our own thing and have made the culture of America from the ground up.
Really enjoyed this video and learned a lot as a white American They barely teach black history in the United States in public school here, let alone black history anywhere else. The only other black history I got in school was reading Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart,” that’s it.
I always find the best stuff at a thrift store! my newest three piece suit got it from the thrift store in my size!! Perfect fit in facts it the one I'm wearing in my profile picture 😅
To be a black person behind enemy lines in USA is an experience worthy of great pity. We black Americans have fought and died for better terms of confinement and representation but were no more free than black people living in majority black nations or those who fled to majority white nations in Europe. White people are making big money from the dysfunction they’ve sown in Black America by having our musicians say a 400 year old Spanglish slur for a majority white listening audience and yourselves abroad. Why this lamentation of our exploitation being made mainstream? We chose to be called black. To you, what does it mean to be black?
There should be no surprise surrounding the gatekeeping when afro americans gatekeep other afro americans lol, so anyone not from america has no chance period..so sad and petty.
Sick video. Also, saying "black africans" is so broad too. Like afrobeats is really a nigerian thing but because its got "afro" in the name, people think its the whole continent but the continent is flipping huge. West african lingo and behaviour is different from east and southern etc. To the extent that caribbean is different from africa
Growing up (in the U.S.) I had classmates tell me "but you not BLAACK. You African." And I'm not gonna lie. My frustration led me to ask (in retrospect) insensitive questions like "How can I not be the most blackity of blacks when 0% of my DNA belongs to Massah?" and of course as I grew into an adult and reflected on that I felt really bad about how I responded. But there's definitely this unspoken thing that "blackness" is inherently American. And everybody else is automatically othered.
Commenting for the god Al Go Rhytmia!!! Loves this vid and anyone who hasn't watched the full vid on Foreign's channel, it's well worth a watch, some great convos. It's very long so I watched it over a few days.
Next episode: The Chinesiation of Chineseness. Black American is an ethnicity. Not a costume for foreigners to throw on when they want clout. Why is it wrong for an ethnicity to represent themselves? It's weirder that you think you should be included.
@@nuhaomar9542 1. I'm not African, I'm Black American. 2. My culture doesn't come from Africa. We don't enslave and sell one a other. That is African culture. We don't engage in that. 3. Nobody is gatekeeping anything from Africa. Those people celebrate when people jack them. Especially white people and the Chinese.
The vid isnt saying black none Americans should be invited to your culture its saying we have our own and our own unique and different experiences that wont relate and be the same in some ways to to black ppl in the US and it should be treated as such
guns, gun culture, and gun violence are just so pervasive and everyday here that I can see someone immediately jumping to how bad gun violence is here. I agree that death and suffering shouldn’t be hierarchically judged, but I also get how one would bring up guns without thinking as an American. The nation is absolutely obsessed with firearms no matter how you feel about them :/
Blackness centers around AAs because until recently, you all didn’t identify as black. You distanced yourselves from the title black because you all didn’t want to be associated with the negative stereotypes. Now you all are mad because we got hip and exclude you from blackness the same way you used to exclude yourselves. Keep that energy. “I’m not black, I’m Nigerian”
Heh, I don't recall if Foreign man had moved into the Caribbean by the time of this video, but his thirst for the Adidas zipup that was found in the thrift store in the London reminds me of groups like Planet Aid, and that there was a good chance he could have found one down there too.
Came to hear a man of the Spiral talk with an islander about the complexities of identity... Stayed to hear a man rant about the sheer disrespect to tracksuits and Adidas on display.
Tis the root of the discussion, the reason it resonates with the evil markets that creep everywhere. Like so, other S E C T I O N S lay separated by the american version of the issue being the discussed one.
Mr. TheStoryTeller, why did you take down your 'The Godot Video' video? A couple years back I used to watch it at least once every week or so, and today I wanted to revisit it but it's not up anymore. If you don't wish to offer an explanation it's alright, I was just a little sad about it because I considered it legit one of the Top 10 best UA-cam video essays out there.
See there’s some nuances that you won’t understand because you truly have to live it when people say you can’t say the N-word it’s not because you’re not black. It’s way deeper than that.
Lmao Foreign said J. Cole made lullabies and a white noise album and as a Fayetteville native but not a superfan of J. Cole I... do not know how to feel about that...
No! They're speaking about THEIR black experience. They always have. They never signed up to be the global ambassadors of all black people. Other people gave them that label. If you're facing discrimination in your respective countries then speak and be loud about it. You can't be mad because they're the loudest.
Can u pin this comment
convince me
lol
@@TheStorytellerAJ He asked nicely
@@TheStorytellerAJ i have no reason in particular just thought it would be cool tbh😂🙏🏿
@@TheStorytellerAJ thank you soooo much man ☺️🙏🏿
I really appreciated your segment on this, big man. In one of my videos, I talk about how a Black American said I couldn’t say the N-word because my Black is Caribbean and not American. Obviously this person isn’t indicative of the entire experience but it is worth noting how Black America has become an ambassador of Blackness for the entire Black Diaspora as well as understanding the implications that has on the culture
I always think about this as a Kenyan american
This is so important to think abt. Lately, ive done so a lot. Living in an American colony makes this especially hard, bc Americans probably wouldn't would want you to do race their way, but bc of your colonial relationship, you cant help but to do so. So then, what're u supposed to do? How do u navigate these feelings? When you have an external force telling u how to be, but also telling u you're not accepted? Just getting stuff put my chest before watching the video bc i saw ur comment. I really appreciate you guys having these type of "niche" conversations 🥺
@@Bizcachi Catch me doing the exact same thing cause I literally just paused the video like 10 seconds in to comment 😭growing up as a Black Carribbean American (born in the U.S. but a child of a Haitian dad/ Trini mom) could be so lonely and othering as heck! I still feel the effects of that today and have even continued to experience exclusionism and gatekeeping from my Black American peers. It's such a frustratingly awkward place to have in life, even while loving and appreciating my roots and my existence. Excited to watch this vid in full!
you was really pressed about that tracksuit😅
The ‘N-word’ isn’t applicable to the entire black diaspora, no? Why do you feel it appropriate to say the N-word when you can’t even respect the experience of the native black Americans who have been so deeply impacted by its usage?
I can relate to the gatekeeping of blackness by both Black Americans and non-black people. My parents are from Jamaica but I was born in America so I grew up with Jamaican food, culture and music. Yet, everyone keeps saying I’m not black because I didn’t watch certain Black films, or know about certain black celebrities or musicians. “You don’t listen to Jay-Z? You’re not black. You don’t like Soul food? you’re not black. You don’t talk a certain way? You’re not black.” Not caring I didn’t believe in wearing saggy pants, or liked how most black movies are about suffering and the struggle.
Everybody seems to want black people to be a monolith, not understanding the different cultures and values each ethnicity holds.
I'm so glad when people bring this to the table cause we are not a monolith and Americas ideals about black people are so stiff. I think all blacks IE: Hait, Carib, Jama, African fit the mold that black Americans have kind of created here in America. Whether that be good or bad. Lol
Not voting for Biden means you're not black either.
I'll never forget that "Who's the Blackest" video from The Cut. Two ex black panthers ranked a Nigerian man as *least* black because he didn't eat grits for breakfast. The video got taken down (for worse reasons), but man was it bad. There's still 2 reactions of it left on UA-cam.
😦 no words
It's dope meeting black fokes from outside the states and other cultures
we still share so many similarities
We definitely do. A lot of us stem from the same region.
As much as French people and a Spanish persone will ahve in comone with an american.
@@darthrevan3342 ^u defo white on here💀
The Adidas bit and the thirsty chatters were an experience. Watching again for support!
Its a wonderful tracky. Can’t lie.
Growing up in the US as a Jamaican I got the same thing from both Black Americans & White Americans telling me "you're not black black you're Jamaican"
They mean that you are not black in that you have a different lineage. Black Americans in the United States were first classified as negro, then black on the US census. They did not have to immigrate to the US, nor do they have a country that is mainly populated and ran by them.
Black is a politically outdated term, held deeply by African Americans, meaning someone who is the descendant of chattel slavery within the United States.
You have an entirely different history and lineage stemming from the island nation of Jamaica, where you were formerly enslaved by England. And at some point a few decades ago immigrated to the United States.
Hope that clears things up - it’s not a personal attack. You just aren’t black like the black people who were descendants of chattel slavery in the US.
The same way a Black American could not got to Jamaica and call themselves a “real” Jamaican as it is not their history.
@Therealw1 in the Caribbean was also slavery. Secondly, the Caribbean was controlled by white people until the 60s but the still had control well into the 90s making Caribbean countries one of the most impoverished in history and one of the most debt ridding country in the world. Understandably your not away of what happens on the Caribbean however don't downplay what happened.
such a refreshing perspective! I'm a dutch afro-caribbean immigrant, here we learn more about black american history than our own. us-centrism and their imperialism can be very overwhelming and honestly kind of alienating. the diaspora is rarely given a voice. there is no one definitive way to be Black, we could embrace that diversity. solidarity and empathy are so important.
I agree.. to be honest I think black
americans make the rest of us look bad. it’s rooted in struggle, celebration of degeneracy and defeatist victim mentality
In France blackist movement have an americna perspective on "race issue" in France. They try to apply teh americna narrative here.
I'm from South Africa, and 4th and 5th grade history is basically all about American slavery and we're never taught about slavery and indentured labourers in South Africa.
What “imperialism” are you talking about? Black Americans sharing their stories is not imperialism dude, especially since they never intend for it to be popular all over the world, it just happens. Be honest, you just hate America and its people
I'm honestly really looking forward (if it's ever in your plans) to hear you talk about African, Yoruba, and/or even Carribean Storytelling or non-American Black experience/stories in general. Quality content, as always. Thank you ☺☺☺
I'm interested in discussing black spirituality and the demonisation of traditional African ones. I don't identify with any of them, but I think there's value in exploring them.
Maybe I'll make a video about tribes someday. Who knows.
@@TheStorytellerAJ nice. Thank you for all you've done ^^
It's not the same but a lot of Irish people are kind of exploring pre Christian Irish beliefs to help gain a sense of identity away from the Catholic Church on the one hand which obviously betrayed us, and what seems like global USAmericanisation on the other. It doesn't mean completely converting to a spiritual belief but exploring and understanding is always interesting and helpful.
Love your vids 🖤💜🖤💜
@@ruaoneill9050 did you know that, in the Middle Ages, some argue that the goddess Brigid was syncretized with the Christian saint of the same name? According to medievalist Pamela Berger, Christian "monks took the ancient figure of the mother goddess and grafted her name and functions onto her Christian counterpart," St. Brigid of Kildare, which would have helped in the christianization of the Irish.
Somebody really said it sounds weird from your accent?! What?! And yeah bro “black is black” 🔥✊🏾 as a black American we’re not just in America, i asked a friend whose British, about what she enjoys because over there her world is different so it’s important we look at each other’s cultural zeitgeists
Black isn’t just black. You are the descendants of chattel slavery in the United States. That is unique to you.
Just as Black Britons are not the same either. Caribbean migrants brought in during the 60s have a completely different lineage, history, and social position compared to others from countries in Africa. That is unique to them, they may share a history of slavery. But definitely do not share a history of chattel slavery in the continental United States.
By calling for a “flat blackness” you marginalize your own ancestors. Your entire identity and culture has been used by the United States in its worldwide imperialism.
This reductionist narrative ultimately undermines specific groups of people who look alike under the veil of blackness, their unique struggles, and what is OWED to them in order to seek true equity.
what do you mean cultural zeitgeist lol
African-American here, I just want you guys to know, that American Black identity gets foisted on us as well. Anything you do that isn't associated with hip hop, sports or pop culture is interpreted as "trying to be White". Simply be articulate... White. You like science, math or philosophy... White. I've been told my entire life and still do till this day. I no nothing of rap or some stupid dance everyone expects me to know. Even non Black people come up and interrogate your blackness, then lose all interest once they find out that you can't scratch their Black itch. Your guys' experience sounds like what a non-ghetto American Black person's experience is. The media paints us as street smart, not book smart. Can run fast and jump high, however is intellectually inferior. So as you can surmise, being a science nerd like my self gets me into conflict with alot of people's worldviews. I've even face outright rage from people for "sounding smart"... go figure. I stand with you guys, and we do need to take our image back from the White media. We are so much more than entertainers. Anyway, much love to my brothers in the diaspora.✊🏿🇺🇸
TL;DR: They do it to us Black Americans as well. We are beholden to the images of the almighty Tell-Lie-Vision and expected to know random Black things... even when we don't.🤷🏿♂️
Man you get it all, you don't even need to read Stanlisla Spero Adotevi.
God forbid you fall in love with Plato or learn Latin.
Well said man and here I thought I was the only one who feels this way… you just summarized the whole issue and wrote it down like it was nothing. Lol Once again I appreciate the inspiring words and started spreading the truth, for the sake of our future generations.
Ray Charles and Patti LaBelle didn't make rap music and we have made plenty of of contributions to science and technology. If people are questioning your blackness it's because they smell the assimilation on you.
@@raymonds7492 Man shut it down! I know EXACTLY what he's talking about and unless you're from the trenches U should know as well...BTW what Ray Charles and Patty Labelle did was considered "black music" and even "undecent" for the time so it's like saying 50 Cent wasn't criticised for doing Hip Hop DUH
I love this video! I'm a black brit (Caribbean Windrush heritage) living in Portugal and the expat community is overwhelmingly black American. It feels very alienating for everything to be centred around them. I feel most comfortable with other black Europeans and African immigrants as they don't assume our cultures are the same or use words they just assume I know.
I relate to this so much. I've always wanted a safe space away from American execeptionalism.
I understand feeling more comfortable where there’s no dominant group. There isn’t pressure to fit in since everyone’s different. Although my community and school is very heavily Black, I could never imagine going somewhere like an HBCU because I myself would be a minority. For college, I think I’d rather be a minority among white Americans than black Americans bc I have no chance of ever fitting in with whites and they don’t expect me to. It’s like… I’d rather visit a country I have no connection to rather than visit my parents homeland and face the “she’s westernized” comments… you know?
@@nuhaomar9542 I don't understand your reasoning. People you fit in with have nothing to do with race and everything to do with interests, personalities, and ideologies. I'd fit in more with a bunch of non black gamers than a bunch of black yuppies.
@@treacherousjslither6920 it’s not about skin color it’s about culture
@@nuhaomar9542 Ok. What's your culture?
Also explains a feeling of imposter syndrome I've had for black identity coming up in the UK. I haven't experienced life like my elders in 80s/90s London, but I'm not american either. Outside of music/joking with other Africans about food or football rivalries, I don't really UNDERSTAND HOW to identify with the rest of the diaspora in the country, let alone the rest of the world
It could be because u are technically third cultured
@@tuffmbassador522 third cultured?
Remember, don't fall into feeling like you have to fit into a stereotype of what being black is. For example, what does it mean to "understand how to related"...not everyone is going to have the same life experiences, interests etc etc but at the end of the day you're still black.
@@htsunmiku thanks, appreciated
How to identify? You're you. Simple as that.
I remember someone in the comments played down my complaints about anti-black racism in Trinidad because of their view of blackness and racism is in a black-american lens.
Many if not most Black Americans focus mostly on our culture, communities and history. The people who start following Black American culture are doing that out of their own will not because Black Americans told them too or forced them. Black Americans should gatekeep our culture and communities more regardless if someone is Black Caribbean or Black African unless it's someone whose proven to be a true ally because there's way too many people who downtalk and leech off us like culture vultures but then talk that "we all black" bs when they get called out for their disrespect.
Foreign really brought out his whole addidas arsenal 😂
YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME?!?!
🤣🤣🤣
I could not help falling out.
An interesting example are the Black Nova Scotians, who were mostly slaves who took the British offer to support the King against the American Revolution in return for freedom. After the war they were offered residence in NS (on some of the worst land) and have a unique history.
being from an all black country in the caribbean, well mostly black obviously, called barbados i feel most of my perception of life is this americanised lifestyle due too the shows i watch that i wanted to leave my own country for america ignoring the culture rhats been surrounding me my whole life. ion even know we had folklore creatures are the grand significances of our crop over, our festival. i do still want to leave the country in pursuit of greater oppurtunities but i do have a better understanding and appreciation for my country. also as a caribbean person i hate how jamaica is the mascot like we not the same countries, dialects, broughtupcy. like a girl i know went overseas to america n a guy confronted asking her where she from n she said barbados n this man finna ask where in jamaica that is🤦♂
I feel that 😂 some people really think Jamaica is the whole Caribbean
@@luccienv which really is stupid like a quick google search a look on the map ull see a wide variety of places in the caribbean 😤
i think a reason that people can bring up an oppression Olympics type argument is because they’re afraid of their associated plight being forgotten. valid or otherwise.
"your not getting my trakie man"
Foreign was hounding you for it the whole time lol
edit: i missed the headphones hitting the keyboard im dyin
Y’all really think i wouldn’t cop a flight
This topic hits heavy. Especially living above the border of the US.
I hope you will make more videos on the non American black experience. Your videos are always informative and well done.
There's huge negrophobia problem in the diaspora where people would rather be from Egypt, Arab, native American or anything else really than be associated with West Africa which is probably because of how Sub Sahara Africa is associated with poverty and how lacking the education is of Africa and Africans in general.
I know only a few black European youtubers (Grace On your dash, Judith Mimi, Thumin, Town of Tawiah...). Wish I knew more.
I remember this afro Italian youtuber (Grace on your dash) who said: "Sometimes it feels like black lives can matter only in the US". She was fed up with racists in her comment and that demotivated her on speaking out on race issues for a long time. It can be jarring for one's mental health. Especially in Italy where anti immigration sentiment was booming (thanks Salvini). And hate crimes against black people were being ignored. White people would call you "negro" even if you don't want to be called that and the Islamophobia was scary to see. And let's not get started on daily microaggressions. People would just touch my hair and call it "crespi" "frisé" "frizzy" without my consent. Racism is definitely a thing outside of America too. People are only now realizing it because of the Ukraine situation.
Edit: if you need more convincing about racism and American execeptionalism I literally went off on a rant in the replies lol.
Sometimes I'm surprised by how much I know about black american history and then I remember that all my life I was thought "Black history is black american history and that counts for Africans and Carribeans too".
It's rare to see a black person know about "African" history but black american history is more known.
At school they only thought me black american history and the only reference to Africans was made to make white people feel better about the slave trade.
"Africans sold each other". Always devoid of any nuance unless we're talking about the romans.
People stopped bullying me my Africanness because of black panther lol. #Representation matters
I think it's important to increase representation of Africans in the US. However, we might be taking away the small representation black americans have. Most mainstream representation is usually from the US. You don't regularly see native French, Italian, African movies be popular in the mainstream media. It's usually always black American. So it's kind of a debaccle.
European countries have to literally make laws against American media taking over. This is especially true when it comes to music.
The American experience is so exceptionalized that when people see African representation, for example, models. Some think that they're stealing representation from black Americans even when they're literally settled in the UK.
Africans are one of the least represented groups in mainstream media along with South East Asians. This has lead to a lot of harmful stereotypes.
Non American Black people have to literally rely on American media which is most likely to be mainstream and well funded for their representation.
Yet people will still say that they should have worked harder for opportunities back home but most are! America has a monopoly on almost everything and this fact is true even outside America.
It's just in recent years we've been able to see other cultures media, South Korean for example.
Most of the time they use darker skinned models and often there's an element of dehumanisation and fetishization but people will ignore that and stick to the "Africans/immigrants are stealing our jobs. They should just stay in Africa and build Africa". This is the sort of victim blaming that I've always heard from racists white Italians, even in tv ads.
People act like Europeans get a free pass on their ignorance as if there aren't any black people living in Europe. Oh but they aren't American so it doesn't matter.
Another barrier is language. We have to thank a lot of black Americans for all the race theory we have today. I'm afro Italian so there really was no way I could educate white people on my existence and I couldn't even back it up with sources because they were all in English. That's a privilege that I didn't have. I had to listen to my teachers say "Africans sold other Africans" with no nuance and that was the last time I heard the word African in history class.
I agree that being an immigrant is a privilege but it still doesn't justify xenophobic sentiments. Let's stop blaming immigrantion for every problem under the sun just to avoid the fact that imperialism, corporations... Are harming you and the working class.
Just like we have to thank black Americans for civil rights in the US, the same goes for non American black people who have fought to be seen as equal in other countries.
This was way too long but had to get it off my chest.
Are you talking about the Hoteps? They aren’t the majority of the population.
Letting you know you have a Black American who watches and supports your content. Keep doing what you do and know your making a difference. One Love
is it the Americanisation of blackness or the world who placed that default label on black Americans while simultaneously consuming our experience for entertainment? as the most hated ethnic group in the diaspora it pains me to see ppl who immigrate here(or elsewhere) talk about some sort of percieved favoritism black Americans get while they get to benefit from our struggles in this oh so "great" nation, adopt our identities & cultural customs & overall better their lives then still point the finger at us for whatever reasons. we've waved the flag of & take pride in our blackness because unlike our counterparts on the continent & in the Caribbean we come from territories that literally & legally didn't classify us as human until less than a hundred years ago. so yea we don't cling to nationalism like everyone else does. but we do know where we come from. im open for discussion
I don't see how it's mutually exclusive. Multiple things can be true at once. You're completely correct that Black Americans are constantly shat on and looked down on by Black folks from other cultures in the diaspora, and that modern immigration of non-American Black folks in the U.S is a result of working class/poor Black Americans' fighting and being killed for equity in basic services and needs during the civil rights movement, which opened spaces for non-American Black folks to occupy.
I think the resentment is misguided and part of a larger issue of American exceptionalism, imperialism, and lack of education. The US is the biggest superpower in the world and so its media and cultural zeitgeists get seen the most on a global scale, and this includes how the US media portrays Black Americans (which has always been terrible overall). Most non-American Black folks come from the Global South, which do have their own local media landscapes but those are still dwarfed by US media, and on top of that, the US works as a global police force that invades, bombs, and steals resources from these other countries (though this is the west in general) and the everyday people in these places suffer the most.
That doesn't excuse the fuck shit that Black Americans get from other Black ethnic groups, and I hope I didn't come across that way. I just wanted to give some contexts, but this is a nuanced and complicated conversation that I don't believe UA-cam comments are the best place to have it.
I should also add that the imperialism part is the fault of the wealthy elite in the government and in western multinational corporations, not Black Americans. The former just uses propaganda in schools and media to get ALL Americans in general to buy into American exceptionalism, and thus this includes Black Americans, and they succeed to an extent, but of course Black folks in the US understand that hypocrisy in many ways and do reject that dogma
@@imperatorsage5510 I understand all of that and have known why but it still hurts. Tbh this conversation even with its nuances explained is still tricky to talk about. I have seen many of times ppl get together to talk about this subject and it never seems to go well. Because honestly we do it to each other, I know media about non american blacks were not the best representation for those countries(representation created and viewed through an American lense). I have seen the bs carried out on both sides. Still it sucks walking into a room, seeing other black ppl of another dispora in a academic or work setting, and wondering if they view me the same way non black folks do? Sometimes the answer is yes.
@@brianao.316 You're completely correct, it happens on all sides. There's plenty of stories of African immigrants being made fun of for being African by some Black American kids and then Black Americans being stereotyped with the same anti Black rhetoric of being lazy and dangerous by some Africans who buy into the white supremacist propaganda exported by US media.
It sucks that explaining these factors can come across as making excuses for shitty behavior and anti Blackness that goes on within the diaspora, but these are the realities behind the huge miseducation on different Black ethnic groups. It does hurt so much regardless when you're experiencing anti Blackness from other Black folks.
I really wish Black folks were more willing to learn from each other's cultures and histories instead of focusing ONLY on the differences. It's good to acknowledge both the differences and similarities and shared histories
These people sound crazy, blaming us because our culture is the most celebrated. We don't care, we didn't choose to be the Kool kids, at school. We have WAY BIGGER PROBLEMS to worry about!! The things they are complaining about us so pointless. Black Americans we are such a SMALL black group. But have every Black nation around the WORLD jealous? Or blaming us for shit we didn't start or can't control!! HYON!!!
I'm not sure why y'all think Black Americans are gatekeeping blackness as whole when they're not. They're literally gatekeeping their blackness, their culture. I think because their culture is so globalized every other black person feels entitled to it, it's weird. I'm Nigerian American and there's certain aspects of their culture that I don't understand and probably never will, and that's okay. Everything thing ain't for me. I respect them enough to back off when they tell me to. Who cares if the Americans won't accept you. They're not checking for you anyway. Just focus on you. Up until social media the average Black American didn't even know you existed. They were too busy trying to survive. They are literally doing them. I feel like Black Brits are still trying to figure out their identity as black people in majority white country. Which is why they cling on to African American culture because it's similar to what they're going through currently. But y'all need to figure out what works for you in The UK. You can't keep using American tactics on European problems. It won't work. Just try and figure out yourselves.
Thank you
They weren't saying they wanted to be included in black american culture, that's the direct opposite of what they said, what they want is for Black Americans and Non-black people to accept blackness on a spectrum. From Afro-Caribbean culture to Black-Brits, they experience a form of racism that either is disappointed that they aren't displaying the same Black American attitude, but are also attacked if they express what is claimed by Black American culture, and all they want is for other aspects of Black culture to be known and accepted
@@melontrend6722 I agree with you. All aspects of blackness should be respected. The thing I don't like is when people only focus on one group and not the others. I've seen Africans and Afro-Caribbeans try to invalidate Black Americans experiences and culture too. Nigerians do it to me too for not being born and raised in Nigeria. I just don't like the narrative that Americans are the only ones doing it. I've seen several deep table discussion videos about this topic. Like, stop it. We all do it to each other and it needs to stop.
This!!!
i love how you started the video. love seeing and hearing black people laugh.
I think it's idiotic for a Black American to hold a non-American Black person to a standard of blackness that is unrealistic even if they grow up in America. But unless you grow up in New York City, Miami or maybe the DMV area, you're not growing up around different kinds of Black people, so there's no socialization to how people can grow up differently in the same country.
As a Black American, I don't think Caribbean and African Black people don't realize the privilege they have to actually be proud of the country you come from and have most of the people you grow up around (if you grow up in the country) to look like you. Particularly, with how much non-American Black people will judge Black Americans and our status in America without knowing the history that goes into why some of us are where we are. Calling Black Americans lazy and talking down about us when the work of the Civil Rights Movement is the reason that Caribbean and African Black people CAN immigrate to America.
Additionally, Caribbean and African Black people have the privilege of not having to rely on blackness. Blackness is literally all Black Americans have when it comes to "culture." And yes, Black Americans are not a monolith. African and Caribbean Black people have a country, flag and culture they can claim. Not until I moved to South Korea did I tout myself as an "American." And that's because Koreans and other foreigners don't know where Detroit or Michigan is, so I HAD to say I was American. But at 23 years old, that's most I ever FELT American, saying it over and over again to other people. We literally have white people's names, but people complain about how if we say "Black" we're only talking about America. Yes! Because that's the context. That's been the context for hundreds of years. Unless we're talking about the diaspora, assume that when we say Black the "American" is silent.
As globalization and the access to more of people's content continues, we have to understand that people tend to be talking about where they're from and live. If I had the audacity to watch a Black British person's video and complain about how they're only talking about Black stuff in , my arrogant Americanness would be called out, but the reverse doesn't happen. People who expect Black Americans to add "American" when we're talking are acting just like the Americans they call out all the time.
Blackness is ALL some of us have. We've put in the work. We've fought for our rights. And these days we have to deal with not only white people judging us, but Asian, Hispanic and black people from the diaspora too. Do you all know how TAXING that is? There's no place for a Black American. There's no acceptance for a Black American. Only scrutiny and love of our culture, but not us as people. And not only from white folk.
It's actually not that simple...colonialism still had a major effect on the African psyche. Idk how to explain it but there is obviously the skin bleaching so they see themselves in someways inferior to whites and accept it. Howwever, not so much in other ways. There is this underlying strive for success like whites by working hard. What sets them apart from Americans is that their spirit hasnt been completely broken basically. They understand who they are and arent necessarily trying to escape that compeltely but at the same time they beleive they can be successful similar to white people. What helps them is probably aso that they arent stuck living next to white people everyday, who easily exploit them. They have their countries to themselves for the most part... their currupt countries but their's nonetheless.
@@iateyursandwiches You're pretty much saying what I mentioned in my 2nd paragraph.
Y you put culture in quotes? 🤔
@@FirstNameLastName-mn9sz All those paragraphs and that's the only question or comment? Feel free to look up the literary use if quotation marks.
@@deb1920 Rest of the paragraphs was just common sense. But it makes no sense for you to put that word in quotes unless you’re insinuating the opposite. I figured I’d rather ask than jump to conclusions but apparently you wanna get in your feelings over a simple question
This was pretty eye opening as a black american I rarely know where to start learning about other black experiences. I appreciate it
Putting this comment here to say: Thank you for this. Both you and Foreign. (Also, it reminds me a lot of the conversations that I've had with my students who struggle to recognise the way that racial dynamics function in Europe, are often living in systems that keep trying to utilise the US frameworks of race instead of recognising how it works here, and know something feels 'off'... but can't really articulate the way that those frameworks aren't helping to explain things because of how the dynamics of race work on the continent and in each national context... and how different they are from the US contexts.)
Romannie here but something American for once. I’ll probably be able to relate but I still will enjoy your videos anyway.
This was amazing! Please continue to delve into other black experiences. All my mind could think about was unity within the diaspora. 😌
How does black become associated only with the American because the socio economic term originated in the u.s and the decedent's of American slavery made it a ethnicity rather everyone in the diaspora identified with the country so if you still confused why because black americans recognize it as two terms we know the diaspora is fighting against white supremacy and have spoken out on it nunerous times but I'm not sure why you wanna place the blame on black americans for being the mascot of something we never asked for. This conversation to me feels like misplaced frustration and honestly its nothing black americans can do about it. you guys need atleast 3 black americans from atleast the south east and NY to give a perspective in these convos
Your black ain't my Black. It's really that simple. A lot of this is cultural misunderstandings that further prove that people who are not Black American genuinely think they have a full grasp on Black American culture based on the media they consume.
This kinda reminds me of how I feel Queer culture is becomig homgenised via US standards: there's even a programme on Irish tv about queer history and most of its US based, no Roger Casement or Dr. Kathleen Lynn and her partner Madeline French Mullen.
Sorry, it's late and you got ne thinking things!
New Drinking game: take a shot when Storyteller says "what have you"😅
With how informed the storyteller is on NA blackness I hadn't realized he was a bri'ish person after like 10 videos in.
Many black brits are well informed on the basics at the very least imof black American history. We are taught more of the black experience, from young, in the states, than the history of where we live in Europe unfortunately
Really? How could you not tell? You can hear their accents…
In my experience people in the US project an image of the world as they imagine it. It's usually a depiction of life with them at the center of existence.
Y’all confuse Being Black (ethnicity) with Flatblackness (black Africans) . That’s the problem. Everybody and thier mama has access to culture but when we ask y’all to respect certain aspect we get called Divisive. But Blk ppl (Americans) has no say over y’all Africans shit. That’s the problem.
So happy to see these two in a video together 😁😁😁
100% agree. More please :)
Foundational Black Americans have a unique culture and lineage that is to be recognized and respected as a separate ethnic group from other black ethnic groups in the world. We are our own thing and have made the culture of America from the ground up.
Really enjoyed this video and learned a lot as a white American
They barely teach black history in the United States in public school here, let alone black history anywhere else. The only other black history I got in school was reading Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart,” that’s it.
Haven't watched yet but I appreciate this so much. I hope you don't get too much heat for this lol.
I love seeing the same people in the comments section. Hi Black Brit
I always find the best stuff at a thrift store! my newest three piece suit got it from the thrift store in my size!! Perfect fit in facts it the one I'm wearing in my profile picture 😅
Bro, I’m from Brasil, and the title alone is great(except the part you refer to the US as America).
I watched your presentation live on the stream but I didn't realise there was all this banter! lol
To be a black person behind enemy lines in USA is an experience worthy of great pity. We black Americans have fought and died for better terms of confinement and representation but were no more free than black people living in majority black nations or those who fled to majority white nations in Europe. White people are making big money from the dysfunction they’ve sown in Black America by having our musicians say a 400 year old Spanglish slur for a majority white listening audience and yourselves abroad. Why this lamentation of our exploitation being made mainstream? We chose to be called black. To you, what does it mean to be black?
There should be no surprise surrounding the gatekeeping when afro americans gatekeep other afro americans lol, so anyone not from america has no chance period..so sad and petty.
Must this blessing shield you from the wrath of the Holy Ones & Zeros.
Sick video. Also, saying "black africans" is so broad too. Like afrobeats is really a nigerian thing but because its got "afro" in the name, people think its the whole continent but the continent is flipping huge. West african lingo and behaviour is different from east and southern etc. To the extent that caribbean is different from africa
This new found African love is also happening in the U.S. where as Africans would in the past been looked down upon as fobs "poor" and what not.
Yo, glad I could find one of the pieces of the kickback that I missed when it was live. Thanks for putting this up
Wish i could have caught this live! Love hearing your perspective!
NGL, until this video I never knew that Everybody Hates Chris theme was a full song. 🙆🏾♂️🙆🏾♂️
Thanks
Awesome love the history lessons from this show it's always something new🤠
Growing up (in the U.S.) I had classmates tell me "but you not BLAACK. You African." And I'm not gonna lie. My frustration led me to ask (in retrospect) insensitive questions like "How can I not be the most blackity of blacks when 0% of my DNA belongs to Massah?" and of course as I grew into an adult and reflected on that I felt really bad about how I responded. But there's definitely this unspoken thing that "blackness" is inherently American. And everybody else is automatically othered.
I think the antidote to that mindset is panafricanism
Smashed it, you deserve waaaaay more subs
Commenting for the god Al Go Rhytmia!!!
Loves this vid and anyone who hasn't watched the full vid on Foreign's channel, it's well worth a watch, some great convos. It's very long so I watched it over a few days.
Next episode: The Chinesiation of Chineseness.
Black American is an ethnicity. Not a costume for foreigners to throw on when they want clout. Why is it wrong for an ethnicity to represent themselves? It's weirder that you think you should be included.
Your culture didn’t come from thin air, it comes from Africa. Why should you gatekeep it from other Africans? How does that help you at all?
@@nuhaomar9542 1. I'm not African, I'm Black American.
2. My culture doesn't come from Africa. We don't enslave and sell one a other. That is African culture. We don't engage in that.
3. Nobody is gatekeeping anything from Africa. Those people celebrate when people jack them. Especially white people and the Chinese.
@@TheDarkAdventure these culture wars are meaningless
@@nuhaomar9542 Uhh what? You literally just tried to erase my ethnicity and claim us as property of Africa. Take your own advice.
The vid isnt saying black none Americans should be invited to your culture its saying we have our own and our own unique and different experiences that wont relate and be the same in some ways to to black ppl in the US and it should be treated as such
I saw this on the Kickback and then subbed - looking forward to watching your stuff!!
guns, gun culture, and gun violence are just so pervasive and everyday here that I can see someone immediately jumping to how bad gun violence is here. I agree that death and suffering shouldn’t be hierarchically judged, but I also get how one would bring up guns without thinking as an American. The nation is absolutely obsessed with firearms no matter how you feel about them :/
My boy flexing the thrift store find. I'm with Foreign, I need that! 😂
Ayy ive just subscribed. Love your content. You were really PODDING on this pod!!!
Layers of complexity of blackness in this video
Your one of me and my brothers favorite UA-camrs LOVE FROM TEXAS 🤠🐮❤️
Blackness centers around AAs because until recently, you all didn’t identify as black. You distanced yourselves from the title black because you all didn’t want to be associated with the negative stereotypes.
Now you all are mad because we got hip and exclude you from blackness the same way you used to exclude yourselves. Keep that energy. “I’m not black, I’m Nigerian”
???????????????
Black ppl across the globe have been calling themselves black since like forever ppl r just know acknowledging our existence
wtf are you talking about???
You're a straight up weirdo. Just making shit up for no reason 😂
Certified hood classic!
The J Cole slander has to stop
I'm saying 😭 "He keeps talking about he went platinum with no features, yea, cuz you made a nursery rhyme" 💀💀💀
Right, white noise machine!?!
BRO GOT THE FULL VERSION OF THE EVERYDAY HATES CHRIS INTRO😭😭😭
Your videos are great keep up the good work
Heh, I don't recall if Foreign man had moved into the Caribbean by the time of this video, but his thirst for the Adidas zipup that was found in the thrift store in the London reminds me of groups like Planet Aid, and that there was a good chance he could have found one down there too.
Thanks for sharing 💛🌻
Saw the thumbnail....
Saw the title....
And said "... yup"
Goated video from a fellow goat, we in this together my brother
great video man, and what have you (fr tho this was really well done & you touched on a topic not enough people cover on youtube)
That "Everybody Hates Chris" Intro aged well!!!🤣😂
"What have you, what have you". All jokes aside, good talking points
Give me ur truckie
Also: Finally you touch on this topic, thank you
7 minutes before I finally realized he was saying Adidas.. lul
Name a single UA-cam video essay that wouldn't be improved by Foreign Man busting in randomly to thirst over the essayists wardrobe. You cannot.
Came to hear a man of the Spiral talk with an islander about the complexities of identity... Stayed to hear a man rant about the sheer disrespect to tracksuits and Adidas on display.
That’s cool but when’s your Great Ace Attorney review coming out?
free style, off the top of your dome, rock rock rock rock, rock the microphone.
Lol mans is so stuck on that track suit
Tis the root of the discussion, the reason it resonates with the evil markets that creep everywhere. Like so, other S E C T I O N S lay separated by the american version of the issue being the discussed one.
I'm laughing so hard about the adidas tracksuits. Foreign coming out with his collection
Great talk guys.
FBA, we all we got!! HYON!!
Mr. TheStoryTeller, why did you take down your 'The Godot Video' video? A couple years back I used to watch it at least once every week or so, and today I wanted to revisit it but it's not up anymore.
If you don't wish to offer an explanation it's alright, I was just a little sad about it because I considered it legit one of the Top 10 best UA-cam video essays out there.
14 mins in. this video is great
The Adidas bit is great, love that
Let’s go
See there’s some nuances that you won’t understand because you truly have to live it when people say you can’t say the N-word it’s not because you’re not black. It’s way deeper than that.
yeah, it's cause they're stupid
I was surprised you found someone with similar feelings about J. Cole 😮
Hello sir. How are you Storyteller. I love your work and I have a gift for you. How do I contact you
Lmao Foreign said J. Cole made lullabies and a white noise album and as a Fayetteville native but not a superfan of J. Cole I... do not know how to feel about that...
The black American experience is the only black experience in accordance to them. They’re the centre of the world.
We are!! So how is crying helping?
@@paranormalgangsta boooo tomato tomato
No! They're speaking about THEIR black experience. They always have. They never signed up to be the global ambassadors of all black people. Other people gave them that label. If you're facing discrimination in your respective countries then speak and be loud about it. You can't be mad because they're the loudest.
@@AfriAmericanPrincess exactly
I guess it’s just something about being socialized as American that makes you self-centered
“What have you”
Same way y’all feel about J. Cole is the same way I feel about Kendrick lmao.
3:32 is when the vid starts