@@elywananda Good time with bad vibes among some British Africans & British Caribbeans, I think you need to do a part 2 to this topic, I think you should include some of our comments in part 2
we don't hate one another we are just not the same. I am Ghanaian, I don't know a damn thing about Somalians who probably have more in common with arabs then they have with me
@@RoniForeva Yes I agree.... I also saw videos from South Africa where other Africans from others counries were beaten to death as immigrants by black South Africans...
@@RoniForeva Exactly, to think the shade of your skin not values is unifying is simple minded. Only people who still think of the world in crayons think life is this simple.
As a Black American descendant of slavery I just want to say that I have no comment but I am happy to have came across this conversation. My eyes have been opened and I am looking forward to seeing your other videos around black British issues.
I don't think that will ever be because new african immigrants are coming to the uk and starting a family every day there will never be a unified black community unfortunately here is too much cultural differences coming from different countries@@thewordsmith5440
@@thewordsmith5440to a small degree yes. However it’s very different from the African perspective to the black American one. British African children are always taught that home is back in Africa and most visit on a regular basis. The black American experience is that the USA is home or Black Caribbean and that’s it so assimilate and intermarry quicker.
@@elywanandathe thing is, you blame "racism".. But was the average working class British man ASKED if they wanted foreigners on their soil?.. For example.. Lets say we replaced Japanese with boatloads and boatloads and boatloads of Nigerians, would you say its OK?
I came across your channel a couple of days ago and clicked as you look very similar a close friend of mine so I was intrigued, and I've got to say, your content is very high quality and very well researched and presented. I've shared with my mother and brother and they both agree, and this video here was very good. What helps me/us connect is that we also spent many years in the same places like Hackney, Leyton, and Walthamstow in the 80's and 90's too 🤝🏾
I know Leyton, Leytonstone, Hackney, Wanstead, Chingford, Highams Park and Walthamstow...I had a friend live at 169 Hale End Road, in Walthamstow near the A406, many years ago. He doesn't live there now. It was a newly built council apartment (I guess you guys call them flats) - ground floor too, wide doors. It was small but comfortable. This was in the late 90s and very early 2000s.
The thing is, Africans look down on Caribbeans and I have heard from African Americans that they do the same over there, so there is always going to be a divide where one group thinks they are better than the other.
@@Chiraqfan. im franco Angolan .3 generation of immigration from my mother side . My grandmother arrived in the 80's,some black west indians loathsome toward her inferiorizes her ,talk about her unattractive hair or color skin .irony When she confronted them,they replied that it is she who is jealous of their hair and Light skin. She understood ,they had internalized a lot of infériority complex in front of her it just come out. My grandmother speaks more easily to europeans rater than any black .
Yeah I'm from Zimbabwe and I agree with you. I been here since 2006 and it's way different now. Places like Milton Keynes are a bit different with a larger Zimbabwean community... Great content
@@thequarter2 nor should blacks have a common interest in my peoples homeland, other than the national interest. If it is anything other than that, you should go back home.
@@Englishman4412 diversity does not equal unity.... Look at Africa.... diverse in religion and culture yet tribalism and civil war is our way of life.... Diversity in political ideology also adds to the problem....
Black unity is only found when the group is basically homogeneous. The only black ethnic group that welcomed others are foundational black Americans. I’m from the uk, I’m Ghanaian and carribean people (namely Jamaican) made sure to let us know that we weren’t the same. Not saying good or bad, just saying that’s how it was, not going to pretend it was different.
@@mladeau2105 Ghanaians are generally a warm people. They try to stay out of business that’s not theirs and they will generally try to help if they need to. We’re a nice bunch.
Facts my bro. I’m black British Jamaican and even our mainland Jamaican people don’t like to align with the 1s born in England. To be fair everyone prefers to stick to their own culturally, however mainland african societies generally have way more humanity and love than Carribean society’s, hence why you see it in the individual peoples.
Watching Supacel, A series by Africans, It's hard not to notice the impact, Jamaican/West Indian culture has in Britain. People forget how small the English speaking caribbean is, Less than 6 million people.
Caribbean people has had an ennormous impact in relation to their population size in Caribbean and their numbers in Britain. They were a unified community irrespective of which country they came from. From Liverpool to London, they saw themsleves as one community. The Notting Hill Carnival (which has become one of the biggest in the world) is great example of their unity. They also blaze the trail in politics, business, unionism, education, entertainment, fashion, trends and other industries. They established their own 'banking system' called pardna, susu, box money , depending which country they came from. They forge and fought together against racism and discrimination at all levels. I do not think a lot of black new comers understand or appreciate the sacrifice Caribbean people made to make it easier for them to walk the streets of Britian and progress in their various pursuits. In many instances, Caribbean people were typecast as ' troublemakers'. But it was 'good trouble' (to borrow the phrase) which perpelled the change we see today.
Ely, great video once again. There is a black community now, but it is still very young in terms of how we navigate our relationship with each other. However, Ely I disagree, back in the days Africans received a lot of hostility from our Caribbean people. I have to say our Caribbean brothers and sisters did not do what needed to be done to establish a solid black British community because they were busy chasing whiteness and white acceptance. Most successful Caribbean man I know married outside their race, which made building a solid black community difficult.
There is no black community, only Africans help Africans. From what I have seen I am Gen z and many Africans stick to themselves they marry within themselves its rare to see an African woman want to marry a Caribbean man.
@@tochukwunjoku Honestly, I never experienced any real hostility from Caribbeans at all growing up. Not from peers, not from their parents (I met loads of them, including some parents of girlfriends!). Now I've married into a large Jamaican family, and it's been nothing but love.
@@elywananda Well done Ely for marrying a black woman - I have special appreciation for black men like yourself, who honor your women. God bless you richly - so now when I support your channel I know my sister is also benefiting.
I agree there was some hostility towards Africans when I was growing up in the 80s, and vice versa, but the advent of social media has helped a lot. Many Carribbean Brits have started to explore the continent and have realised how similar some parts of Africa are to the Caribbean. It's all love these days.😂❤
Hi I'm in my late twenties and I'm a black man born and still living in England (grandparents are Jamaicans). Personally, it has never really made sense to consider myself as part of a 'black' community in this country, let alone think it actually exists. There's only communities based on certain cultural heritages that are distinct from one another, and yet I have little interest in being a part of that as well. I live by no sense of obligation or perhaps covert contract (I'm paraphrasing) to the 'black community'. For me due to my specific experiences growing up from childhood into adulthood, considering myself as apart of the BC would ignore and perhaps betray all the important non black people whom I've also been in community with! I only care about common interests, values, and mutual respect, not race. My interest in the concept of identifying with 'blackness' also happened to collapse, one of many reasons being that scientific research demonstrates the fact that race isnt biological/real (the idea of all black people being the same is a delusion); race is only real because of our social belief in it and the consequences as a result.
You can walk around talking abou denying race all you want and it's not changing the fact that you are a Black person and denying the biological existence of race doesn't mean you won't face real life consequences for the social category of race that you are put in. The fact younhols that much disdain for Black people shows racism has done a successful job in destroying your connection and perception with other Black folks. Also, friendships have zero to do with you being part of a community. You can be in several communities because of having several identities and there is nothing wrong with it when you can come together with those in your communities for support, camaraderie, and learning how to live and operate as a member of that community as well as having collective power to protect your individual civil and human rights and give opportunities you don't get from other communities. Also, Black people in London definitely suffer from racism, lack of representation, and have lower measures of success in various areas compared to their white counterparts. Just stop it. Your willful denial doesn't change reality.
I think the folk who arrived in the 60's and 70's had a harder time but I think even then, the majority of the population were decent enough. The race-baiting that goes on in the press currently is way over the top and though I still don't think the UK is a racist country, we are heading for serious trouble if we don't stop illegal immigration. There are those in genuine need of refuge, like Ukranians or Nigerians who are being persecuted in their own country for being Christian and those people need help. Why we are letting in tens of thousands of Albanians or other Eastern Europeans however, is beyond me. I do think that DEI is the exact opposite of what it claims to be, it creates division where there is none. I take people as I find them and up to now I only met one genuine racist.
This is a conversation that needs to be had. It needs to be discussed on a bigger platform. I was born in the early 70s and have seen the change. Respect, brother, for addressing this issue.
@@shaymene8112 He probably means a bigger conversation with different points of view. And no, he's not a traitor for wanting more Black people involved. My God, why is everyone except Gen X, so reactionary?
@@shaymene8112I vehemently disagree with you. I'm gen X, UK born late 60s to Caribbean parents and we definitely need to have these conversations openly in public. Too many of our children are suffering because of the "don't want my business out there " mentality. It's a fkin curse. Black Caribbean men have fked up the lives of so many in this country and we need to confront in order to move on, prosper and thrive
Been watching a couple months now, 1st time commenting. Great content- now more than ever (esp as we enter a 2nd decade of austerity) we need to put tribalism aside and focus on unified group economics & politics- bcos the government (yes even Labour) are not going to help us. This is a critical time
Thanks a lot bro. You've got some fantastic stuff on your channel. We've been talking about investing in property for ages. We'll be digging into your videos for some guidance!
Is there a Black British Community? You need to do a series of videos interviewing a broad spectrum of black people in the UK to truly answer that question.
Living in London during the 90s, I first experienced black on black hatred. The girls who lived next to me were of Caribbean descent, and they had a real problem with the black people of African descent, especially with the Somalia's that had only just come over in some number. I have to say, being a white Irish guy who wasn't long off the boat myself, this shocked me and also taught me a valuable lesson. The world is not always what we think it is or what we want it to be, and bigotry and prejudice are universal in this world. It's up to us to change it, but to do so, we have to stop this rush to label everyone and put us all in a certain box.
Im French-Angolan .3 generation from immigration . Your testimony call me,my grandmother commes to France beginning 80's.she would work housekeeper ,she told us ,the one she despised the most were the west indians .she was shock . And even now 40 years later she is reluctant to approach them for fear of being rejectd
In the US there was tension between Irish and Italian immigrants and the established white American population and it's only in the 50s and 60s they started being seen as "white".
A few years ago, I watched a mini series called Small Axe. Beautifully made. I knew a little about Black Britts but Small Axe opened me up to their history and essence. It helped me to see the community.
I'm glad you liked it, it was a big thing done by Steve McQueen, much better than what Idris Elba did when he should have made something about his own people. Small Axe is a good document of history to show the lives of us "West indian" (caribbean) people in England as some of the earliest mass migrants, or "black" people as the British/colonizers like to label us as.
@@jnyerere I liked most of that series too. The Education one was the best one imo, got me very emotional and reflective.The Mangrove one was also really good.
It was the struggle that kept us black brits together back in the day, and yes, most were Jamaican, Antiguan and other west indians. My dad came here from Sierra Leone in the late 40s, and my mum from Puerto Rico soon after. But the black community today are very different in culture and views. I grew up in Hackney in the 80s and 90s, so I fully agree.
I know Hackney. I remember there was a Nigerian Freightforwarding company called McKnod Exports (UK) Ltd. It was at 71 Digby Road, Hackney, London E9 6HX. I know there were a lot of Nigerians living in Hackney at that time (1990s and 2000s). This was in the late 1990s and very early 2000s. I went to Hackney a few years ago and it has really improved - become gentrified. It's an up and coming area - same with Balham, London Borough of Lambeth in South London.
I wish you continued mate ... It would be interesting to note the challenge in reestablishing a sense of community among Black people. Currently, there is a strong emphasis on highlighting the differences within the Black community, such as varied backgrounds and cultural experiences. This recognition of diversity among us might make it harder to foster a unified social community. Does this focus on our differences hinder the progress of becoming more communal as Black people?
Really interesting as usual. You need a podcast or phone in to flesh these things out! I think the transition from a black community to a black population is partly to be expected if we don't culturally look at how we maintain it. In your home ownership video you talked about how little property black britain owns. How can we expect a community if we can't control being together? It's about the bricks and mortar of having homes and businesses in a focused area. I think that follows through to looking at skills and resources that directly support that community. Again if they are not provided by the community itself (and I don't mean government) then there is not inherent drive to support itself.
Very interesting conversation. I'm a 70's baby & grew up in a community that was rich with culture from Jamaica, Nigeria, ghana, etc.. I agree with you in relation to the lack of togetherness. Your last statement when you mention that people used to hail each other up in hackney & leyton, I'm originally from tottenham so I know what your saying, however we live in a different time, so much has changed. A lot of these new immigrants have been through a lot back home & over here. What once has now become, what was & with the way how society is people are much more aggressive & not trusting, so I think people just keep to themselves unfortunately. I would love to see our people be together as 1, there is so much division.
Yes I am a female black British born in the 60s .I have been reflecting on life as a child and growing up in England. Having grown up in mainly white communities I can honestly say I suffered very little racism .The white English people that we met became genuine friends. There was more togetherness and many interracial relationships. All of my nieces and nephews are mixed race. However so many nationalities with different religion and cultures has brought new problems. I was asking myself the other day what happened to the integration .Our parents came from commonwealth nations so I think that makes a difference because we were ruled by the British at the time. We accepted British values and culture but maintained our own identity as black people. Even reggae music became mainstream. People like Bob Marley brought s much positivity but at the same time highlighting the struggles of the black man. There is too much hate and division in these times even amongst our own black people. I believe the older generation should encourage the younger ones to build communities in remembrance of their legacy and history which needs to be upheld for future generations to come. We need to bring back the love .
There was, I saw it slowly die in the noughties. I was born and raised in South London, Brixton. Clapham, Stockwell, Stretham were my home but white capital, poor environmental condtitions and social discord let it fall apart. Now I am not so certain.
There is still a large Jamaican presence in London....Clapham, Wandsworth, Brixton, Battersea, Notting Hill. We are mixed, but those Jamaican genes are strong, the majority of houses in JA are being built by Jamaicans living and working abroad, but longing for yard. That will always unite us, you cannot beat it or breed it out of us.
There is but it's mad toxic, lack of accountabiliy and support. Sorry mainly from the carribean side, africans have their moments at too but find the prior the most toxic of communities, but africans show more solidarity in my experiance. I used to love going into a black businessess and supporting, but most of the time they look fed up to see you and leave you with the worst service, I stopped that nonsense now.
@@tahliah6691 Its true though. Some of us ain't shit, don't get me started about the shit inauthentic restaurants with mad attitude, I will never spend my money on anyone just because their black, lesson has been taught so many times.
We practically disappeared into the white population and, to a lessee extent, West Africans as I've never felt particularly very welcome as a person of Jamaican origin.
@@suzettewilliams1758other way round, actually. Jamaicans made sure to show us we were different. I experienced it from all Jamaican age ranges, not just the kids in my school. Their parents and even grandparents parents. First to tell you that you’re an entire continent, first to tell you how dark somebody is (even when they were dark, as well), first to try to negatively imitate an accent (even when you grew up in the uk), first to point out that you eat dishes such as fufu and laugh at it. When I was 7, I went round my mates house, he was Jamaican and our other friend was white english. I went to the toilet first, our W-English friend went 2nd, my Jamaican friend never did. Anyway, the white friend sh-t ALL OVER the bathroom, the mother discovers this questions all 3 of us. It wasn’t my Jamaican friend who did it, because he never went to the toilet, it was either me or the w-friend. Jamaican mother kicks me out the house , w-English friend got to stay behind. She could’ve kicked us both out, that would’ve been fair and reasonable, instead she kicked me out. She chose who was more valuable (in her mind), she was working via her subconscious and instilled prejudices of me as an African.
There is no black community, neither is there any sense of unity amongst black people here in the UK and that's why Asians are ahead of us in terms of collective wealth, I just googled Jean Adebambo she was indeed a wonderful singer , it says in her bio that she took her own life, that is really really sad, may her soul rest in peace. I think you should do a video on depression in the black UK community as I believe that may have been a contributing factor to her leaving us so prematurely.
@@PM-gp3oy love them or hate them, the Pakistani community in the midlands/North England really do run tings.... This is done by marrying and reproducing within the race. Opening businesses and supporting each other. Hell they've even taken over the d**** trade
I'm going to have to disagree here. If you meant South Asian, they're not united at all, but instead split into ethnicities like Punjabi, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Nepali and into countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal etc., into Religions like Hindu, Islam, Buddhism, Jains etc. and further into different castes, who usually don't intermarry. So no, South Asians are far from being united, I'd say they are the least united race in the UK.
You think there's unity with Pakistanis and Indians because both are brown? You think there's until of Indians with their cast system? You think there's unity of Chinese? China is the worlds biggest slave market that we all use. The difference is in the parenting. They say you will be a doctor you will be PM. Black tell their children the world is against you.
@@VinaTaurus88Black Caribbeans are the second wealthiest? Based on which data or statistics? Any report on income, education and race shows that Black Caribbeans the poorest community in the UK with the lowest percentage of academic success.
@@VinaTaurus88 "funneled back into the white communities?" This ain't apartheid, even if you want it. You think white people say things like "the white community" oh my goodness can you imagine the headlines? You've a racist mindset, dividing & segregating everyone into racial demographics. Bet you love concepts like BAME ffs 🤣
Good points you discussed Ely. I don’t think there is a Black British Community. I think we all group ourselves by the colour of melanin in our skin, but apart from that we have no other lasting ties. I think there may be fragmented communities of Somalians, Caribbeans, Igbo, Yoruba, etc all over the UK, but very fragmented and small in numbers. The term black, in a community building sense can unify us, but seldomly keeps unification together. Our histories, religions and outlooks on life foster too many differences. I think we can only create a black British community if we are united with common goals and aspirations we wish to achieve together like financial or economic freedom. An outlook that we wish to collectively share and work towards over time, decades perhaps until the mission is complete. We need strong reasons for us to sit down together, on a county or national level and work together. We need our equivalent of the Berlin Conference or something along those line. That will never happen, but it’s good to have aspirations.
Great video…I relate to the community spirit of the 70s - 90s. The “West Indians” so called at that time stuck together as a shield against the blatant racism of the time. This included the smaller groups of West Africans. It was interesting to learn how the demographics changed over time & explains how the influx of many different & diverse cultures arriving in Britain meant black people no longer had much in common apart from the never ending struggle. The 3rd & 4th generations have now integrated to the extend it is hard to detect where their origins are. With so many interracial relationships being the norm in the UK it is no wonder it is impossible to have a coherent Black British community.
@@ladym8726 Great summary. At some point I'll try and discuss the interracial relationships dynamic, though it'll take very careful preparation as it's a contentious topic.
There was solidarity even with Asians because of what we had in common ,discrimination. Times have changed each group has self interest and upward mobility. Plus other black ethnicities are so different that English speaking African &Caribbeans can't relate to them. Caribbeans ,Nigerians and Ghanaians could connect. But now Somalians,Ethiopians and other North Africans are difficult to connect with.
Racism in Britain is very subtle, has several layers and can be complex. Unlike in America, swathes of Blacks in England can go through life (recently at least) without experiencing any or hardly any significant Racism. I remember my Army days, enjoyed it, but there were no Black officers, no black guards at Buckingham Palace etc, the list is endless. Look at the treatment meted out to Black footballers: you are one of us, but make a mistake, and you are immediately treated differently. Blacks in Britain do not seem to have the confidence, drive, and ambitiousnes of Black Americans. The Asian community in Britain has sailed past us in achievements. We are not doing badly, but not doing too well. I cannot put my finger on what our problem is, Racism is an obstacle, especially the type in Britain, but should it really be allowed in this day and age, to stop us from making a mark in Britain?
Yes of course racism is still an obstacle. The black community doesn't have the numbers to support businesses and industries within the community. The so called black community is too fragmented and sparsely spread to be of any significance. As a result, job creation is controlled by the dominant society and of course racism is a huge factor when it comes to employment. Also, try getting a business loan or raising funds from investors as a black person.
It's really unfair to compare us to the Asian community, they didn't have their names and heritage ripped away from them and sold into slavery. Even in the Caribbean, as indentured labourers they were given land and thus a base with which to build together. They are also extremely communal minded which serves them well. It just isn't a fair comparison. You can see how in the Caribbean, every other group Chinese, Indian, Syrian etc. have all had a head start compared with descendants of stolen Africans - it's not fair to make comparisons to people who systematically were given more privilege- good for them and their achievements- but to compare us isn't quite right.
@@user-dv3kq3rm4h I know in British Guiana, the first Indians came in May 1838 I believe. They worked in sugar plantations. Their descendants now make up about 44% of the population in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. I think the Chinese arrived in British Guiana sometime in 1853.
Interesting video, id definitley say that theres definitely a divide between the african and Caribbean communities. You can see this in churches especially.
Caribbeans are more community based than the other african groups and they are more accepting than others like you said. Since the Caribbean population is dying, black British culture is dying. Those new immigrants are very to themselves
As a Somali in the early '90s, I remember having a tough time in school, mainly because of issues with Caribbean students. I had thought school would be enjoyable with many fellow Africans there(I was ignorant of many things)-I couldn't have been more mistaken. Being the only Somali, I found the environment harsh and it initially left me with a negative view of Caribbean people. Thankfully, this resentment and trauma eventually faded after meeting some truly wonderful individuals from the Caribbean. Now, living in the UK, I certainly feel a stronger sense of unity.
I think Caribbean population is dying because they are mixing with White. It's changing the UK but I welcome the integration. I'd rather immigrants integrate, Jamaicans do integrate. I have mixed race nieces and nephews, they keep Jamaican culture alive.
It's a very complex subject and the answer can vary based on geography, context, generation and class. I would start by saying there isn't a cohesive black community in the UK because the concept of blackness wasn't conceived by so called black people in the first place. Said that, the black community does not exist in the UK but the concept of blackness does. And it is explored, accepted and shared in many different ways. Once so called black people will take ownership of their social structures, then this conversation can seriously start. For now I see individualism, contradictions and the so-called British dream; yet also longing for something more otherwise most of us wouldn't be here under your video.
I'm a mixed of black and Indian, via St Lucia and Guyana. When I meet a black person from any part of Africa they come across racist, looking down at me based on my heritage. I stay away from the Pan-African mindset. I'm born and raised in Hackney and that's where I'm from. People from Nigeria Ghana and Kenya come across like racist white people, who haven't met anyone different.
Omggg same. Im ugandan but im multigenerationally mixed like most east africans and i have never gotten on with other africans especially from Nigeria amd Ghana. Due to my ancestors mixing i obviously look different from most Africans and i am pretty and was always put down because of my beauty by unambiguous black ppl tryna make it seem lkke im just black
A Dougla - that's an exotic mix. I've heard Douglas can be mistaken for Eritrean or Ethiopian. And I can see what you're saying because I have "observed" it. I knew of Hackney. There were, probably still are a large Nigerian population. There's some Caribbeans too, but I've noticed a lot of Caribbeans in places like Balham, Streatham, Mitcham, Croydon, Norbury.
Can relate highly. A lot of hypocrisy, growing up in peckham and seeing the area become a nigerian zone in the late 90s, I got the worst racism of my life as a mixed carribbean man.
who cares what Africans think their poor. Just act as one country already, instead of like 50 irrelevant countries which have produced nothing, done nothing, have no significant industries like banking, tech, manufacturing and cars etc.
Very true, but here in the UK we don't hold the same difference for these terms. Most Caribbeans understand that they are also African, just have spawned differing cultures. There's not really denial of African heritage over here amongst Black people here.
@@darkbritkidathart Caribbean are mixed with European and native Caribbean too. Caribbeans understand they have African features genetically not all Caribbeans are similar to an African and our own group of people.
I think there are undeniable bonds and cultural similarities between black British communities but I don’t think lumping us all into one works because we’ve got vastly different experiences and perceptions on things, but I can recognise the basic similarities we share, and tbh things have changed, whereas in the old days people had to stick together and there was a lot of racism and whatnot, I think there was a lot more camaraderie back then, now everyone’s splitting up and identifying with different things.
Even Black people from a particular country do not always form a single community. My generation of Zimbabweans who came at the turn of the century appear to have little in common with the Zimbabweans who have come over the last few years. This may have to do with having different experiences. Fact as well, many Black people are marrying White British, and that too will have an impact on that sense of identity.
@@thec5875 Happens a lot, actually. Especially with the generations born here. Those born in Africa tend to have their partner already when they migrate, or, as you said, marry someone from their community.
You are wrong I have seen too many Africans stick to themselves. Africans date Africans even the ones born here trust me I know what I am talking about It's us caribbean lot who have successfully interracially dated white women. Africans tend to never marry us they look down on us even the ones born here they do not see us a marriage material I got a lot to say about this topic.
@@MasimbaMusodza That's really interesting. I would've thought that the newer arrivals would just blend in with the earlier ones. But it makes sense that those who have been here for decades would be different to those who have just come.
My parents were from the Caribbean a and The United States. I was born and bred in Oxford during the 60s. From the 1950s to the 1990s there was a strong Caribbean community but it is disappearing quickly. However, there is now a large number of African people living here.
Great conversation. Black America tourist (slow traveler) who is in England now and seeing a lot. Though I have felt welcomed by the various black groups (Caribbean’s, Africans - west and East) it’s because I’m here to learn so I stop, smile and will talk with people at every opportunity. What we share in the US is that we are often treated with the same Anti-blackness by YTs. So there’s that as a common interest in every community. Also here I see it. I’m in London and doing a bit of cafe culture every morning same neighborhood. Most people totally ignore me, until they hear my American accent or realize I’m on the 3rd day there…(reading and writing). When you don’t fit the mold, some have to ask 😅
I'm half Jamaican half Zambian born 1986 from East London. From my school days I remember there being a definate divide between black Caribbean and black African. I could play both sides :D From what I saw back then, being African was seen more of an insult, and if you was from the Carribean especially Jamaica, it was more celebrated. Once white people started tuning into Jamaican pop culture people from the Carribean where more socially accepted. The slang, style of dress, the food especially the MUSIC. You would see white people with dreads and start making music bands. I would agree with most of the comments here there is more sub cultures that stick within themselves. There was definitely a lot of banter between the two sides but it wasn't like an all out war or anything, think of it more friendly football banter from two opposing teams which really should be on the same side. I checked out mentally from England around 2004, and then left finally in 2016 so I would say I am detached from everything. Not sure how much has changed? Good video! Subscribed.
That is interesting. I vividly recall a documentary that touched upon some of what you are talking about. It showed how white working class British at one time embraced full on the style, dress, mannerisms and music (Ska/ Reggae) of Jamaican immigrants. I guess it gave Jamaicans a kind of social clout, as they were seen as cool and emulated by a lot of white youth. Now, what you are describing about the relations between Caribbeans and Africans in the U.K., sounds remarkably similar to what we see here in Canada. There is tension and you see quite a bit of beef and xenophobic rhetoric and sentiments on both sides. In schools most of the Caribbeans are admixed European or Asian, and quite often lighter skinned than a lot of Africans. So, sometimes African cans be the recipients of relentless bullying if they are really dark skinned in Canadian schools. Ugandans and South Sudanese catch it, for real. On the flip side you also see Africans with some sort of superiority mindset towards Caribbeans. Who they sometimes see as "lazy" or "criminal". From what I have seen these unfortunate things & stereotyping happens wherever black people from different ethnic groups and cultures, are thrust into the same areas & environments. The good news is that it gets better with the second generations. Not saying it's all out war, but it;s a rocky road sometimes.
A good take on the situation. I grew up in the 80s and thought there was a general affinity between UK born West Indians and Africans, but for younger generations, that's gone now. There was a sense that the fight against racism and colonialism was still ongoing - apartheid was still going strong. Distance from the older generations, change in the demographic balance, more interracial relationships, and non-commonwealth immigration means the old comradery is irrelevant for the new generations.
A great topic, I have so much to say about this. However, I will highlight the most impactful… We no longer have a common understanding of who our enemy is. Hear me out… We have always been a diverse people who united in times past by enduring shared struggles and understanding who our enemy is and the need to unify. Now… a few masters degrees and job promotions later, we are integrated so deeply into western society, or with the ‘enemy’ that our community has affectively dissolved into nothing. We have fallen foul to trusting in the so called ‘western democracy’ and ‘law and order’, and lulled into a false sense of security, to a point where we don’t think we need each other. First step to unifying, is actually recognising that we have ‘enemies’ who continue to systematically plot against us… …we need to recognise that are all we got… …lastly, and I know many with struggle with this… but we need to hear this. The moment they have the chance to slap yokes of iron around our neck again, they will jump at the chance. Unfortunately, many of us won’t even conceive that because of positive performance review at work. We have settled for crumbs and the bliss of ignorance, which is propelled by White Jesus and the Christian Church. It’s a shame, but true.
Facts! I'm telling you, people think it's a game. The Black man is still being systematically destroyed through feminism, a tainted image portrayed through the media and just straight up discrimination. We don't even look happy when we go out just uptight and tryna out dress each other while white people can act like hooligans (which you'll probably see on Sunday with the football) yet it does nothing to their image. The only escape we can see is assimilation like you mentioned (get a degree and pursue a stable career) but we need to have our own industries that we can feed into. That's the problem. A few black businesses here and there isn't enough.
I'm from an FBA lineage that goes back before 1790 census, I don't have any criticism for your video just came to say i enjoyed watching and learning from our cousins across the atlantic.
@@IeremiasMoore-El wdym. We have completely different cultures. You're an fba so you side with tariq nasheed. Plus you guys claim to be native indians. Fba is a hate group. You can't call us cousins when you're part of the hate group fba. And also we ain't family whatsoever
There were too many Black Communities, the Nigerians, other Africans, the Smallies (non-Jamaican Caribbeans), the Somalis, etc. Note, the "West Indian" Communities saw themselves as the indegenous Brits that tolerated "them Africans,them boo-boo"
Great video man. As a British Ugandan myself, who has been recently thinking about the wider black British community as a whole, I feel very fortunate to have stumbled across your channel ssebo 👊🏾 gonna go binge watch the rest of your videos right now
In the beginning there was a black community. We had a lot in common to nourish that community but now there is to much division so little that connects us as a strong whole. We have been divided in such away that the divisors look like us with gang culture up to toxic levels we have never experienced before among ourselves. Now we don't trust each other. So we have seemingly been conquered by the hidden instigators but if we actively breakdown some of these divisions we can put the community back together again.
Racism is no longer the glue that binds different black ethnic groups together. As the saying goes , "There's safety in numbers". As you rightly pointed out the exponential growth of the West African community means that they no longer feel the need to identify with and assimilate with Afro-caribbeans and the Somali community is also quite sizeable now. Further, you now have the 'new black' of Afro Latino's who stay within Spanish speaking communities. The economic effects of late stage capitalism also has an impact on social stratification as does tribalism. Now everyone only cares about themselves and their social group. These divisions will only get worse until the Brown shirts start marching again (e.g., the rise of fascism).
Brilliant comment.. Unfortunately, political education is largely nonexistent on the continent of Africa (resulting in the shippment of historical ignoramus ppl), and in the UK at large, including amongst Caribbean ppl. This is recipe for disaster.. The gov and large corps know what they're doing opening the flood gate of immigration from all around to world, to a nation with increasingly limited resources for working people. This will eventually backfire against people of colour as we're already seeing across the rest of Europe.
I think Black British Community as a term is a bit of a misnomer. Reflecting you early experience of being here, then the Black community was the Caribbean community. Caribbeans are dying out and their aspiration to integrate, along with state oppression, has impacted terribly on this community and it's British-born descendants, whom are fractured.
I think we are still forming a community. I think it will come from the young people. African Americans are more established and have institutions and a middle class Black people who can support these NAACP type bodies that can support the Black community in the US. This and future generations will create these bodies and they will do it for all Black people not just those of their same heritage. Ie Stormzy isn't sending only Ghanaians to Cambridge uni. Also as we learn more about our shared experience and connections we will become more unified.
I think this is a great discussion, the idea that there is a single black community is part of the issue although I have friends who live in different parts of the U.K. some of the things that unites them with black people in their locality I know nothing about. Culture and community is more than being black. I have had numerous discussions with my parents generation on this topic and yes there was much more of a sense of community than there is now but society had changed beyond all recognition this is across the board. My white neighbour was talking about this only a few months ago. This is the case in the Caribbean and US and across Africa. I visited Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and those communities have changed too. My Mom will tell you she doesn’t recognise where she grew up in Jamaica in terms of community and Mom loves Jamaica to her heart. In the north of the U.K. where I live I will always recognise, say hi to any black person but especially elders. I saw a woman standing outside Tesco recently. I don’t know her but I felt to ask if she was OK she told me she was waiting for her family and thanked me. I would do that to anyone but I am more inclined when I see the person is black. Ultimately we are the ones who can do something to change things. We have the power to highlight the positives, to build on what our parents/ grandparents generation established.
The answer is maybe. I believe it's generational. For example, in the 90s, being African was often seen as a diss. Today, it's much more normalized and accepted. There is a noticeable shift between generations. There is a kind of Black British community, which becomes especially apparent when the community needs to rise up and defend its young. Is this community strong? Probably not. Is it weak? Yes. Can it be strengthened? Maybe. I see a community because there's a shared language, identity, and common struggle. Those outside this community can clearly see it and often want to be part of it. In many ways, a community is like any household-it has its own issues and skeletons.
nah there is no community, only time there is community is on the shade borough camping in the comments, retweeting and tweeting on black uk twitter, attending dlt events and that's it other than that its mini groups of black people from different culture
There is a black activist group (I think in London) that was created after too many blk kids being unalived etc and they usually go to places where something racial or unjust happens to demand accountability and support to the individuals. A blk child/ young person being unalived used to be a normal occurrence (wrong place wrong time) back in the day.
@@hintquery-cp4tz Black on the square will be happening again in September, in Trafalgar Square. There’s also been a black culture market that’s been developing. Depends where you go, it’s slowly changing. But the Caribbean ppl do tend to include us when they start something or when advocating for their own rights.
The answer is no. Mainly because black Caribbean and black African are very different in terms of culture. The way we view and do things is very different. Also, the black population across the United Kingdom outside of London is very small. I finished school back in 2012 in a small town called Stowmarket outside Ipswich. I was one of 4 black people in my year. Now living in Plymouth, Devon, The black population here is also less than 1%.
I have to disagree, the black population outside London is not small anymore. It’s been growing fast, particularly in certain cities/towns, new immigrants are not favouring London so much these days, partly because it’s an expensive city and also there are established communities in other places around the UK
This! And even with Africans we are different. As a pretty African myself i have found that i don't ever hv good experiences with other Africans esepcially from west like Nigerians and Ghanaians but get on better with Caribbeans Blk ppl don't like helping each other and there's too much jealousy, gatekeeping and destruction that stops us from moving forward. We're just too different better to stick by yourself
That’s true there’s a massive disconnect culturally, but we are drifting further apart because we decide to focus on that instead of looking at our similarities and I can assure you they are plenty.
@@Tony25287the same ones they have always been before we were interfered with. Regardless of how much we want to deny it, our religious beliefs, our cultures our foods, the way we move, talk, dance, it even goes down to the way we act at times is what make us similar.
In recent decades there’s been a tendency in the UK to refer to all black people as ‘Afro-Caribbeans’ I’ve always said there’s no such thing as ‘Afro-Caribbean’ when referring to all black people in the UK, whether they’re African or Caribbean! As a result, many Africans like to call themselves ‘Afro-Caribbean’ though they have no connection to the Caribbean. They should instead be simply ‘African’. I’ve heard Africans refer to their food as being ‘Afro-Caribbean’ food, instead of stating that it’s ’African’ food or the food of the individual African country concerned. Caribbean food isn’t the same as African food, though they might share a few similar ingredients, but the food is nothing alike. It’s time to stop lumping all black people together because they are not the same.
Growing up with an African name in the 90s early 00s the only people in a multi ethnic school who ever took the p of our names or culture were kids of Caribbean culture. They also took the micky out of our work ethic and called us nerds. Sadly but predictably nearly all of them got left behind whilst the rest of us moved forward and succeeded in life. There’s an intrinsic self loathing in black Caribbean culture that rewards low standards and foolishness and is offended by basically anything to do with black power and positivity. Not by accident - it’s imperial conditioning
I am from the Caribbean one of the so called small islands, and I am pleased to say our family never took part in that foolishness of making fun of Africans! I also agree that some Caribbeans reward low standards which is crazy!! If you achieve it’s the usual “you think you are better than us” and then they distance themselves from you and then you find you and yours being a community within a community and that creates the segregation when it should really be “well done”, “good on you for having a business, etc”. Until that happens, things will stay as they are unfortunately.
It looks as though the West Indian community may be observing something familiar to white Britons - succeeding arrivals of immigrants are not necessarily assimilating with communities already here, regardless of race, because there are other cultural and religious factors at play as well.
The reason why there is no community is because we aren’t one homogenised group of people with a shared history like African Americans. Their culture, unity are products of their unique experiences with slavery in one country and migration in droves across one country . We need to stop looking at their blueprint and what they are doing as a benchmark for our own sense of community as our experiences with slavery, colonialism are completely different and should be viewed as such. we don’t need to force a homogenised sense of blackness on ourselves when it’s not necessary and maybe try to unpack the division within our countries/ communities. Rather than doing some umbrella ting
Interesting. I have a Nigerian friend who went to a Black community group at uni (in the UK) but afterwards he said he didn't really feel it was for him. Africa alone is so diverse, I once heard Nigeria has as many languages as all of Europe.
Exactly. Im african and never seemed to get on with other blks especially Africans specifcally from Nigeria and Ghana. We are too diverse and get treated differently based on our beauty and skin tones and looks
It's called divided and conquered for a reason you know. Just remember that when your non Black 'friends' that you put before your own unconditional family start calling you names the next time England loses a football match. While the US concept, 'one drop rule' is an inaccurate way to view human genetics. It was beneficial in bunching us people of African descent together in the same boat regardless of admixture and phenotype, because we truly have no friends but our own. This unfortunately never happened in places like South Africa, and today mixed and blacks hate each other despite both being native of the same lineage. Also the xenophobia the indigenous South Africans have against other Africans is wild. We will unite once ALL the tribes of our people, in and beyond the mother land just accept that we have been on the back foot in a cold war with Eurasians for 2400 years (since the last native Pharaoh ran away from Asian invaders into East Africa, and General Hannibal Barca was betrayed by pro Roman Judas's camp). "If one day you hear the Europeans praise me, know that I have betrayed you" Samora Machel, former president of Mozambique.
@@Changamira rubbish. I am half black and sephardic jewish. fully jewish under jewish law. I am married jewish and live within the jewish community and speak my own language. all of my friends are my own people Jewish so I don't care about what white Gentiles say about people in England matches or whatever. I live a non-western life and separate from this society and my household is one culture. so all of what you said is irrelevant.
@@Changamira the one drop rule saved the minds of the b-people of America. Foundational Black Americans, in my opinion, have the best understanding of what blackness is. The w-supremacists forced them to look at themselves and unite together, even when their skin deep differences were apparent. Skin shade and hair type differences have absolutely destroyed the minds of the diaspora.
As black man in USA/United States I can't speak upon UK experience. I know here in the USA we use term black community as roots in some form of blackness (defined differently) and shared experience slavery, Jim Crow, basic foods, southern American roots, yet being a hybrid culture (for good or bad) and it sub grroups based on city state and regions or combinations. Like black people New York are different from New Orleans all they way black California, etc. Then there is a the question do black actually every hand a community. Maybe a needed discussion the internal colonialism theory. Peace
I think there’s another layer to this discussion that could have been touched on - I feel there’s more of a black British community among black people that are British born and grew up here. While people are still connected to their African or Caribbean routes through grandparents or parents there’s still a more cohesive culture and community among this group in my opinion, particularly the younger generation.
@@user-bs5qr5ie4s she’s not aware of how narcissistic she comes across. She routinely calls herself attractive and claims she was bullied for it, as if we can see her. Not saying what she says she experienced is a lie, however, her portrayal comes across as narcissistic and distasteful.
This was a good video. I agree with others it needs a part two. What does need to happen amongst black people is the colourism I experienced it from the age of 12 until I left school and my eldest daughter who is now 30 experienced it too, all because we are dark skinned and it was done by other black children which inturn made me very unhappy and hate school. The only good thing about it was when it started to happen to my daughter I didn't have to try and put myself in her shoes to as I had already been there so knew exactly how she felt. The funny thing is now we get random black people mostly women say oh my god you have such lovely skin its so smooth and clear. I wish I was as dark as you. You're so lucky.
@@cheeks6738 Yeah darker skinned Black women have it really hard and it's a disgrace. It's people projecting their self hate, pure and simple. Did you and your daughter mostly experience from males or females, or was it just general?
@elywananda when I was at school, there was this one mixed race boy in my class that made it his sole purpose in life to make my life a misery every day, and other black kids joined in but girls were just as bad then one day on Facebook we have a page for my old school he asked if anyone remembered him I said yes I do you made my school life hell and I listed all the things he said to me he said I hope you can forgive me I was a horrible child and I'm not like that anymore he said he was sorry but what can you do. My daughter had it from kids but also from a woman that lived near us constantly telling her that she was black and ugly and that her kids were pretty because they were mixed when she saw me she said I can see where you get it from she's just as black as you then she proceeded to tell me I was jealous of her because she had a white husband it got to the point where we had to get the police involved because she would follow her or stand outside our house for ages just staring up at the window then her son started to follow her but my husband gave the boy a warning which the mum didnt like she called the police but they did nothing as they knew what she had been doing. What made it worse is that she is just as dark as we are. I have to keep telling my daughter that she is blessed and highly favoured she is slowly beginning to see how beautiful she is.
@@cheeks6738 Damn, people can be disgusting. Sorry that you've experienced this stuff. It's all projection, people who internally hate themselves often feel the need to put others down. It's sad but this is the world we live in. Sending peace and strength to you and your daughter 🙏🏿
As someone of Nigerian heritage, I have always appreciated the struggles of the children of the windrush generation as it made life easier for me as a black person. Unlike you, i never there was a black community, just a Caribbean one. I watched cricket and listened to listened to lovers rock just to hang out with other black people. As the population of Nigerians and Ghanaian around me grew, I didn't have to anymore. I still love Aki and Salt fish though.
@Jennyxx-ie5jw I should clarify that I got on well with everybody and I love my Caribbean friends. I had a thing for St Lucian women and always thought I will end up marrying one. My move away from my Caribbean friends happened slowly and was not planned. I am into Oil and Gas and a bit of Data Science and most of the other black people I knew in that sector were mainly Nigerian and Angolan. Inevitably, i was always reaching out to them for advice and spending more time there.
@@lariyo9122 also im just curious why do Nigerian men in the uk always prefer women of other ethnicities and races other than Nigerian. Obviously not all most do go for other nigerians but i have seen many go for east african girls, whites and caribbeans
@Jennyxx-ie5jw I think your statement on preference is an incorrect over-generalisation, becos whenever I go to Nigerian parties with 200 to 300 people, I'm the only one with a non-Nigerian wife. Things might have been different if my younger self could pull the Nigerian girls that I liked. I dont go to church so i don't get to meet many girls and the many of the girls at my uni were rich middle class kids that couldn't put up with me moaning about the price of Starbucks coffee. My situation is diff now but back then I was desperately poor.
Ppl should be close in real life as we are on social media, that would be a great testimony. Love each other no matter what period of life we’re living in ❤
This is a very interesting topic. Sadly, I don’t think there is a strong “Black” community in the UK, and the weak community that there may be is vanishing. I’m Jamaican, but born in the UK. I have noticed that the Caribbean population in the UK is slowly vanishing. In my own family, I am the only one out of all of my siblings and cousins who has a Black partner. There are zero Black kids in the next generation of my family. The trend is similar for many other Jamaicans here. We are watching, in real time, Black families (over two generations) turn white. The result is that there is no real community from the Caribbean side anymore. My wife is first generation African, and things are slightly better with those communities, but due to colonialism I think first generation Africans lack the cultural confidence (and are socially engineered via the media) to have a desire to stay Black and build a Black community in the way how Asians do. I hope things improve and I am working to see things improve. We Black/African people are one people. We can either collectively succeed or collectively fail.
I think you've opened the door to a bigger conversation that us Americans should be having ourselves. African immigrants are becoming a larger share of our population and some people have seen a decline in our coheason. This declining unity has resulted in a push to distinguish between Foundational Black Americans and African immigrants. It's both frustrating and sad, because other ethnic groups like Asians have done the opposite. Yes, we have different cultures and come from different starting points, but how do we maintain economic and political unity? That's my biggest concern.
Not black myself so probably won't understand the community feel. I'm really close mates with a Cameroonian-Brit in the 90s, grew up together and I consider him a friend for life. Maybe it was just because Shrewsbury is pretty small but I never saw him nor his family seek out the wider black community that exists(ed?) in Wolverhampton. They mostly bonded with people at Church and in the neighbourhood. He married a Nigerian-Brit in 2017 he met at Uni. Only places I've seen what I'd describe as a Black Community is London and Wolverhampton. Might be elsewhere as well but i don't think its really sought after anymore.
Not definitely yes although I think it’s becoming more established.Progressing throughout our time there will be more black people with a hybrid of cultures adopting to British ways of life, meaning that there will be more of a sense of belonging and unification. I’m starting to see some elements of this among the younger generations with the creative spaces.
@PatriciaTA-8824True British culture is dying but I think there are still some elements of it that will still remain fundamentally core and responsible for how we think and act. Yes creative spaces as in events like dlt and recessland a long with music too, since there a lot of fusion of afrobeats and dancehall with in the scene now.Even our language is becoming an immersion of West Indian/African words.I guess maybe on a superficial level right now there seems to be growing unity, but not that much when you go past it.
Nah i disagree, these creative spaces is just to stand at the back, stare at people, gossip, eat jollof & jerk chicken on one plate, listen to dj rewind the same tune from the beginning and that's about it. No community, don't let these events fool you because we all go our separate ways after.
A big part of the reason why there will never be a cohesive Black British community is that "outsiders" are allowed into what should be primarily black spaces. Reading through these comments I see plenty of white people inserting themselves into the conversation suggesting that race is unimportant and that it's better to be British first, never mind the old "divide and conquer" move of pointing out that black people from different places have very little in common. That's not for them to declare.
Finally found your channel Ely. I remember AfricansArise channel. Good to see you still on UA-cam. To answer the question, there is no community. The cohesiveness died out ages ago with various ideologies infiltrating.
This is such an important question. I grew up in the 60's and my experience is that the unity that we are forced to gravitate towards "Black unity" is a double edge sword. In the first instance my parents arrived as Vincentians only becoming simply Black in the UK. The negative experience of being given a descriptor that has a value and meaning that was used to apply negative value could not be ignored. This has a consequence that we are then aligned by the experience of being subjected to discrimination on the optic grounds that melanin is foreign and equals less than. Oppression on these grounds does not a people make however the experience is nearly universal for all us ethnic Africans. I choose to relate to our common experience to overcome the crass oppression we continue to endure whilst marvelling at the Africa diaspora's diverse peoples, cultures and our dominance within Western cultures who need, take and use everything we bring yet continue to diminish who and what we are. Black unity is born out of protest and I hope in the future becomes less necessary than it has been required in the past just like the fantasy of race this needs to relegated to an unenlighted past✨🙏🏿
There are two kinds of African diasporan communities in the world. Historical Diasporans and Recent Diasporans. The historical diaspornas are African descended people who have lived in non-African lands for centuries and formed unique ethnic communitty over time: FBA's, Gullah Geeches and Luisianna Creoles of USA, Garifunas of Central America, Sri Lankan Kaffirs, Siddis of India/Pakistan, Afro Brazilians, Afro Persians etc. Recent Diasporans are people who either migrated from or descended from immigrants that came from modern African nations post WW2 into Europe or US. Their identity shaped by the culture of their parents/grandparents. In context of black British unity. It's based on a template of black American unity but doesn't work in practice Due to the diversity and differences between the Recent diasporans communities in UK
I know of the Garifuna - especially in Belize (formerly British Honduras) in Central America. Belize is decidedly a Caribbean nation as it associates more closely to the English speaking West Indies. I do like Punta Music! There are some Garifuna in the Republic of Honduras as well!
Big up yourself, good topic we need more because there is no community, just weed, magnum, supermalt, jollof and vibes.
@@thec5875 🤣🤣 Though to be fair, that sounds like a recipe for a good time!
@@elywananda Good time with bad vibes among some British Africans & British Caribbeans, I think you need to do a part 2 to this topic, I think you should include some of our comments in part 2
@@elywananda There are a lot of serious comments sir. I think this video deserves a part 2.
No. Self hatred and hatred of each other is strong though!
we don't hate one another we are just not the same. I am Ghanaian, I don't know a damn thing about Somalians who probably have more in common with arabs then they have with me
@@RoniForeva Yes I agree.... I also saw videos from South Africa where other Africans from others counries were beaten to death as immigrants by black South Africans...
@@RoniForeva Exactly, to think the shade of your skin not values is unifying is simple minded. Only people who still think of the world in crayons think life is this simple.
@@RoniForeva
You both love white girls.
THE 3 Ks ARE LAUGHING AT US
As a Black American descendant of slavery I just want to say that I have no comment but I am happy to have came across this conversation. My eyes have been opened and I am looking forward to seeing your other videos around black British issues.
I'm a Black American descendant of slavery too watching. 😅😅😅Some deep stuff here.
Me too. They would have to wait like another century to get a unified black community so there aren't these distinct groups.
I don't think that will ever be because new african immigrants are coming to the uk and starting a family every day there will never be a unified black community unfortunately here is too much cultural differences coming from different countries@@thewordsmith5440
@@thewordsmith5440to a small degree yes. However it’s very different from the African perspective to the black American one. British African children are always taught that home is back in Africa and most visit on a regular basis. The black American experience is that the USA is home or Black Caribbean and that’s it so assimilate and intermarry quicker.
@@Adwoa_Agyei yes you got that right we actually have new immigrants coming, people are forgetting. glad you said this.
No community just an online present and party’s.
i know right
SPOT ON !
Trust me I know what you are talking about
See how everyone moves on the shade borough
typical blacks scrolling on their phones man
There is not one black community but several black communities in this tiny likely island
All facts
Another excellent content, subscribed and following.
Thank you, and welcome!
@@elywanandathe thing is, you blame "racism".. But was the average working class British man ASKED if they wanted foreigners on their soil?..
For example.. Lets say we replaced Japanese with boatloads and boatloads and boatloads of Nigerians, would you say its OK?
same here
I came across your channel a couple of days ago and clicked as you look very similar a close friend of mine so I was intrigued, and I've got to say, your content is very high quality and very well researched and presented. I've shared with my mother and brother and they both agree, and this video here was very good. What helps me/us connect is that we also spent many years in the same places like Hackney, Leyton, and Walthamstow in the 80's and 90's too 🤝🏾
@@casmartin790 Thank you family 🙏🏿
I know Leyton, Leytonstone, Hackney, Wanstead, Chingford, Highams Park and Walthamstow...I had a friend live at 169 Hale End Road, in Walthamstow near the A406, many years ago. He doesn't live there now. It was a newly built council apartment (I guess you guys call them flats) - ground floor too, wide doors. It was small but comfortable. This was in the late 90s and very early 2000s.
The thing is, Africans look down on Caribbeans and I have heard from African Americans that they do the same over there, so there is always going to be a divide where one group thinks they are better than the other.
Why are you saying it like it’s one sided ?
It goes both ways black west indians and black american also despices black african ,some prefer north african
@@baisabel5193 facts
@@baisabel5193 facts
@@Chiraqfan. im franco Angolan .3 generation of immigration from my mother side .
My grandmother arrived in the 80's,some black west indians loathsome toward her inferiorizes her ,talk about her unattractive hair or color skin .irony
When she confronted them,they replied that it is she who is jealous of their hair and Light skin.
She understood ,they had internalized a lot of infériority complex in front of her it just come out.
My grandmother speaks more easily to europeans rater than any black .
Love your content!!
Thank you!
I’m writing this without having watched any of the video.. the answer is no
Yeah I'm from Zimbabwe and I agree with you. I been here since 2006 and it's way different now. Places like Milton Keynes are a bit different with a larger Zimbabwean community... Great content
@@Ruiego11 Yeah I've only recently learned that there are loads of people from Zim in Luton, Milton Keynes, etc.
Zim or no zim UK has failed us
I wasn't expecting much from this place.
Listen mate, do the Polish mix with the Irish, or even do the English mix deeply with the Irish. Nobody seems to mix with others. It's about tribes.
@@Panache707there’s plenty of opportunities here you can’t always blame the situation
It's turned into a proper shit hole.
Black Unity is hard when we are diverse....
Diversity makes it hard to build on a common interest
The unity sounds good on paper in reality it won't work your gonna have to get rid of a lot of people that stand in the way of unity.
@@thequarter2 nor should blacks have a common interest in my peoples homeland, other than the national interest. If it is anything other than that, you should go back home.
so much excuses and cap
But, but, diversity is our strength….. 🙂
@@Englishman4412 diversity does not equal unity....
Look at Africa.... diverse in religion and culture yet tribalism and civil war is our way of life....
Diversity in political ideology also adds to the problem....
Black unity is only found when the group is basically homogeneous. The only black ethnic group that welcomed others are foundational black Americans.
I’m from the uk, I’m Ghanaian and carribean people (namely Jamaican) made sure to let us know that we weren’t the same. Not saying good or bad, just saying that’s how it was, not going to pretend it was different.
This has been my experience as well, however I have always found Ghanaian's to be kinder to me being black british.
@@mladeau2105 Ghanaians are generally a warm people. They try to stay out of business that’s not theirs and they will generally try to help if they need to. We’re a nice bunch.
@@gloverdragon6854I agree, I'm Black British of Jamaican descent and have reached out to our melanted brothers and sisters were ever their from.
Facts my bro. I’m black British Jamaican and even our mainland Jamaican people don’t like to align with the 1s born in England. To be fair everyone prefers to stick to their own culturally, however mainland african societies generally have way more humanity and love than Carribean society’s, hence why you see it in the individual peoples.
@@gloverdragon6854FBA IS A LITERAL ANTI FOREIGN BLACK HATE GROUP.
Watching Supacel, A series by Africans, It's hard not to notice the impact, Jamaican/West Indian culture has in Britain. People forget how small the English speaking caribbean is, Less than 6 million people.
Caribbean people has had an ennormous impact in relation to their population size in Caribbean and their numbers in Britain. They were a unified community irrespective of which country they came from. From Liverpool to London, they saw themsleves as one community. The Notting Hill Carnival (which has become one of the biggest in the world) is great example of their unity. They also blaze the trail in politics, business, unionism, education, entertainment, fashion, trends and other industries. They established their own 'banking system' called pardna, susu, box money , depending which country they came from.
They forge and fought together against racism and discrimination at all levels.
I do not think a lot of black new comers understand or appreciate the sacrifice Caribbean people made to make it easier for them to walk the streets of Britian and progress in their various pursuits.
In many instances, Caribbean people were typecast as
' troublemakers'. But it was 'good trouble' (to borrow the phrase) which perpelled the change we see today.
Ely, great video once again. There is a black community now, but it is still very young in terms of how we navigate our relationship with each other. However, Ely I disagree, back in the days Africans received a lot of hostility from our Caribbean people. I have to say our Caribbean brothers and sisters did not do what needed to be done to establish a solid black British community because they were busy chasing whiteness and white acceptance. Most successful Caribbean man I know married outside their race, which made building a solid black community difficult.
There is no black community, only Africans help Africans.
From what I have seen I am Gen z and many Africans stick to themselves they marry within themselves its rare to see an African woman want to marry a Caribbean man.
@@tochukwunjoku Honestly, I never experienced any real hostility from Caribbeans at all growing up. Not from peers, not from their parents (I met loads of them, including some parents of girlfriends!). Now I've married into a large Jamaican family, and it's been nothing but love.
@@elywananda Well done Ely for marrying a black woman - I have special appreciation for black men like yourself, who honor your women. God bless you richly - so now when I support your channel I know my sister is also benefiting.
I agree there was some hostility towards Africans when I was growing up in the 80s, and vice versa, but the advent of social media has helped a lot. Many Carribbean Brits have started to explore the continent and have realised how similar some parts of Africa are to the Caribbean. It's all love these days.😂❤
There is no black community and there never will be bc BP are genetically predisposed to NOT cooperate with each other
Hi I'm in my late twenties and I'm a black man born and still living in England (grandparents are Jamaicans). Personally, it has never really made sense to consider myself as part of a 'black' community in this country, let alone think it actually exists. There's only communities based on certain cultural heritages that are distinct from one another, and yet I have little interest in being a part of that as well. I live by no sense of obligation or perhaps covert contract (I'm paraphrasing) to the 'black community'. For me due to my specific experiences growing up from childhood into adulthood, considering myself as apart of the BC would ignore and perhaps betray all the important non black people whom I've also been in community with! I only care about common interests, values, and mutual respect, not race. My interest in the concept of identifying with 'blackness' also happened to collapse, one of many reasons being that scientific research demonstrates the fact that race isnt biological/real (the idea of all black people being the same is a delusion); race is only real because of our social belief in it and the consequences as a result.
You can walk around talking abou denying race all you want and it's not changing the fact that you are a Black person and denying the biological existence of race doesn't mean you won't face real life consequences for the social category of race that you are put in. The fact younhols that much disdain for Black people shows racism has done a successful job in destroying your connection and perception with other Black folks. Also, friendships have zero to do with you being part of a community. You can be in several communities because of having several identities and there is nothing wrong with it when you can come together with those in your communities for support, camaraderie, and learning how to live and operate as a member of that community as well as having collective power to protect your individual civil and human rights and give opportunities you don't get from other communities. Also, Black people in London definitely suffer from racism, lack of representation, and have lower measures of success in various areas compared to their white counterparts. Just stop it. Your willful denial doesn't change reality.
Nice to see somebody here thinking rationally and realistically
Sell out
I think the folk who arrived in the 60's and 70's had a harder time but I think even then, the majority of the population were decent enough. The race-baiting that goes on in the press currently is way over the top and though I still don't think the UK is a racist country, we are heading for serious trouble if we don't stop illegal immigration. There are those in genuine need of refuge, like Ukranians or Nigerians who are being persecuted in their own country for being Christian and those people need help. Why we are letting in tens of thousands of Albanians or other Eastern Europeans however, is beyond me. I do think that DEI is the exact opposite of what it claims to be, it creates division where there is none. I take people as I find them and up to now I only met one genuine racist.
@@sk8ermGslet him come to America, his prospective will change quickly lol
This is a conversation that needs to be had. It needs to be discussed on a bigger platform. I was born in the early 70s and have seen the change. Respect, brother, for addressing this issue.
what do you mean a bigger platform? Black people like you are traitors. Always want to put our business on a stage for everyone to hear!
@@shaymene8112 He probably means a bigger conversation with different points of view. And no, he's not a traitor for wanting more Black people involved. My God, why is everyone except Gen X, so reactionary?
@@shaymene8112I vehemently disagree with you. I'm gen X, UK born late 60s to Caribbean parents and we definitely need to have these conversations openly in public. Too many of our children are suffering because of the "don't want my business out there " mentality. It's a fkin curse. Black Caribbean men have fked up the lives of so many in this country and we need to confront in order to move on, prosper and thrive
Been watching a couple months now, 1st time commenting. Great content- now more than ever (esp as we enter a 2nd decade of austerity) we need to put tribalism aside and focus on unified group economics & politics- bcos the government (yes even Labour) are not going to help us. This is a critical time
Thanks a lot bro. You've got some fantastic stuff on your channel. We've been talking about investing in property for ages. We'll be digging into your videos for some guidance!
@@elywananda 👌🏾👏🏾👏🏾😇
Is there a Black British Community? You need to do a series of videos interviewing a broad spectrum of black people in the UK to truly answer that question.
Or a roundtable discussion. I hope he pursues this subject.
No need. It's easy to see there is no Black community
Thanks so much for leading me to Jean Adebambo and to 'Paradise'. What a beautiful song by an equally beautiful lady.
Living in London during the 90s, I first experienced black on black hatred. The girls who lived next to me were of Caribbean descent, and they had a real problem with the black people of African descent, especially with the Somalia's that had only just come over in some number.
I have to say, being a white Irish guy who wasn't long off the boat myself, this shocked me and also taught me a valuable lesson. The world is not always what we think it is or what we want it to be, and bigotry and prejudice are universal in this world. It's up to us to change it, but to do so, we have to stop this rush to label everyone and put us all in a certain box.
Im French-Angolan .3 generation from immigration .
Your testimony call me,my grandmother commes to France beginning 80's.she would work housekeeper ,she told us ,the one she despised the most were the west indians .she was shock .
And even now 40 years later she is reluctant to approach them for fear of being rejectd
In the US there was tension between Irish and Italian immigrants and the established white American population and it's only in the 50s and 60s they started being seen as "white".
A few years ago, I watched a mini series called Small Axe. Beautifully made. I knew a little about Black Britts but Small Axe opened me up to their history and essence. It helped me to see the community.
I'm glad you liked it, it was a big thing done by Steve McQueen, much better than what Idris Elba did when he should have made something about his own people. Small Axe is a good document of history to show the lives of us "West indian" (caribbean) people in England as some of the earliest mass migrants, or "black" people as the British/colonizers like to label us as.
@@jnyerere I liked most of that series too. The Education one was the best one imo, got me very emotional and reflective.The Mangrove one was also really good.
It was the struggle that kept us black brits together back in the day, and yes, most were Jamaican, Antiguan and other west indians. My dad came here from Sierra Leone in the late 40s, and my mum from Puerto Rico soon after. But the black community today are very different in culture and views. I grew up in Hackney in the 80s and 90s, so I fully agree.
I think us lot have individualism views we do not think for others but for ourselves end off
No they didn’t.
I know Hackney. I remember there was a Nigerian Freightforwarding company called McKnod Exports (UK) Ltd. It was at 71 Digby Road, Hackney, London E9 6HX. I know there were a lot of Nigerians living in Hackney at that time (1990s and 2000s). This was in the late 1990s and very early 2000s. I went to Hackney a few years ago and it has really improved - become gentrified. It's an up and coming area - same with Balham, London Borough of Lambeth in South London.
I wish you continued mate ... It would be interesting to note the challenge in reestablishing a sense of community among Black people. Currently, there is a strong emphasis on highlighting the differences within the Black community, such as varied backgrounds and cultural experiences. This recognition of diversity among us might make it harder to foster a unified social community. Does this focus on our differences hinder the progress of becoming more communal as Black people?
Really interesting as usual. You need a podcast or phone in to flesh these things out! I think the transition from a black community to a black population is partly to be expected if we don't culturally look at how we maintain it. In your home ownership video you talked about how little property black britain owns. How can we expect a community if we can't control being together? It's about the bricks and mortar of having homes and businesses in a focused area. I think that follows through to looking at skills and resources that directly support that community. Again if they are not provided by the community itself (and I don't mean government) then there is not inherent drive to support itself.
Very interesting conversation. I'm a 70's baby & grew up in a community that was rich with culture from Jamaica, Nigeria, ghana, etc.. I agree with you in relation to the lack of togetherness. Your last statement when you mention that people used to hail each other up in hackney & leyton, I'm originally from tottenham so I know what your saying, however we live in a different time, so much has changed. A lot of these new immigrants have been through a lot back home & over here. What once has now become, what was & with the way how society is people are much more aggressive & not trusting, so I think people just keep to themselves unfortunately. I would love to see our people be together as 1, there is so much division.
Yes I am a female black British born in the 60s .I have been reflecting on life as a child and growing up in England. Having grown up in mainly white communities I can honestly say I suffered very little racism .The white English people that we met became genuine friends. There was more togetherness and many interracial relationships. All of my nieces and nephews are mixed race. However so many nationalities with different religion and cultures has brought new problems. I was asking myself the other day what happened to the integration .Our parents came from commonwealth nations so I think that makes a difference because we were ruled by the British at the time. We accepted British values and culture but maintained our own identity as black people. Even reggae music became mainstream. People like Bob Marley brought s much positivity but at the same time highlighting the struggles of the black man. There is too much hate and division in these times even amongst our own black people. I believe the older generation should encourage the younger ones to build communities in remembrance of their legacy and history which needs to be upheld for future generations to come. We need to bring back the love .
The expectation now is "community" is "ready made" for you to walk into. It's never been the case anywhere.
The answer is no , it’s better to fly out
The answer is yes, It depends on where you live and what you define as a community.
@@coyoluoit’s not but I guess if your talk about the little community you may have going on but not as a collective.
There are Black communities. The term black is also reductionist
@@user-qn6pq3lt6j Would you say there is a white community in the UK?
@@coyoluoYes its a white cou try
Fantastic video you were eloquent, and senstive wirh your approach which is what i really appreciated
There was, I saw it slowly die in the noughties.
I was born and raised in South London, Brixton. Clapham, Stockwell, Stretham were my home but white capital, poor environmental condtitions and social discord let it fall apart. Now I am not so certain.
There is still a large Jamaican presence in London....Clapham, Wandsworth, Brixton, Battersea, Notting Hill. We are mixed, but those Jamaican genes are strong, the majority of houses in JA are being built by Jamaicans living and working abroad, but longing for yard. That will always unite us, you cannot beat it or breed it out of us.
👍🏿👍🏿 Thank you for the introduction to Jean Adebambo.
There is but it's mad toxic, lack of accountabiliy and support. Sorry mainly from the carribean side, africans have their moments at too but find the prior the most toxic of communities, but africans show more solidarity in my experiance. I used to love going into a black businessess and supporting, but most of the time they look fed up to see you and leave you with the worst service, I stopped that nonsense now.
You are right, I hate working for anyone black they put you down but uplift others, this is why I always pray my manager ain't black
I also stopped going to black businesses they have shit service but once they see Ahmed or Sarah they become too beggy beggy
So true…..
@@hintquery-cp4tz😂😂😂😂👌🏾
@@tahliah6691 Its true though. Some of us ain't shit, don't get me started about the shit inauthentic restaurants with mad attitude, I will never spend my money on anyone just because their black, lesson has been taught so many times.
The numbers changed as black carribeans mixed out in large numbers.
You mean married non-black people?
We practically disappeared into the white population and, to a lessee extent, West Africans as I've never felt particularly very welcome as a person of Jamaican origin.
@@suzettewilliams1758other way round, actually. Jamaicans made sure to show us we were different. I experienced it from all Jamaican age ranges, not just the kids in my school. Their parents and even grandparents parents. First to tell you that you’re an entire continent, first to tell you how dark somebody is (even when they were dark, as well), first to try to negatively imitate an accent (even when you grew up in the uk), first to point out that you eat dishes such as fufu and laugh at it.
When I was 7, I went round my mates house, he was Jamaican and our other friend was white english. I went to the toilet first, our W-English friend went 2nd, my Jamaican friend never did. Anyway, the white friend sh-t ALL OVER the bathroom, the mother discovers this questions all 3 of us. It wasn’t my Jamaican friend who did it, because he never went to the toilet, it was either me or the w-friend. Jamaican mother kicks me out the house , w-English friend got to stay behind. She could’ve kicked us both out, that would’ve been fair and reasonable, instead she kicked me out. She chose who was more valuable (in her mind), she was working via her subconscious and instilled prejudices of me as an African.
Many of their grandchildren/great grandchildren are basically white..
African-European are not black remember that.
There is no black community, neither is there any sense of unity amongst black people here in the UK and that's why Asians are ahead of us in terms of collective wealth, I just googled Jean Adebambo she was indeed a wonderful singer , it says in her bio that she took her own life, that is really really sad, may her soul rest in peace. I think you should do a video on depression in the black UK community as I believe that may have been a contributing factor to her leaving us so prematurely.
@@PM-gp3oy love them or hate them, the Pakistani community in the midlands/North England really do run tings.... This is done by marrying and reproducing within the race. Opening businesses and supporting each other. Hell they've even taken over the d**** trade
I'm going to have to disagree here. If you meant South Asian, they're not united at all, but instead split into ethnicities like Punjabi, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Nepali and into countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal etc., into Religions like Hindu, Islam, Buddhism, Jains etc. and further into different castes, who usually don't intermarry. So no, South Asians are far from being united, I'd say they are the least united race in the UK.
You think there's unity with Pakistanis and Indians because both are brown? You think there's until of Indians with their cast system? You think there's unity of Chinese? China is the worlds biggest slave market that we all use.
The difference is in the parenting. They say you will be a doctor you will be PM. Black tell their children the world is against you.
@@VinaTaurus88Black Caribbeans are the second wealthiest? Based on which data or statistics? Any report on income, education and race shows that Black Caribbeans the poorest community in the UK with the lowest percentage of academic success.
@@VinaTaurus88 "funneled back into the white communities?" This ain't apartheid, even if you want it. You think white people say things like "the white community" oh my goodness can you imagine the headlines? You've a racist mindset, dividing & segregating everyone into racial demographics. Bet you love concepts like BAME ffs 🤣
Good points you discussed Ely. I don’t think there is a Black British Community. I think we all group ourselves by the colour of melanin in our skin, but apart from that we have no other lasting ties. I think there may be fragmented communities of Somalians, Caribbeans, Igbo, Yoruba, etc all over the UK, but very fragmented and small in numbers. The term black, in a community building sense can unify us, but seldomly keeps unification together. Our histories, religions and outlooks on life foster too many differences. I think we can only create a black British community if we are united with common goals and aspirations we wish to achieve together like financial or economic freedom. An outlook that we wish to collectively share and work towards over time, decades perhaps until the mission is complete. We need strong reasons for us to sit down together, on a county or national level and work together. We need our equivalent of the Berlin Conference or something along those line. That will never happen, but it’s good to have aspirations.
@@jamesdeen3079 Very good points James.
Great video…I relate to the community spirit of the 70s - 90s. The “West Indians” so called at that time stuck together as a shield against the blatant racism of the time. This included the smaller groups of West Africans.
It was interesting to learn how the demographics changed over time & explains how the influx of many different & diverse cultures arriving in Britain meant black people no longer had much in common apart from the never ending struggle.
The 3rd & 4th generations have now integrated to the extend it is hard to detect where their origins are.
With so many interracial relationships being the norm in the UK it is no wonder it is impossible to have a coherent Black British community.
@@ladym8726 Great summary. At some point I'll try and discuss the interracial relationships dynamic, though it'll take very careful preparation as it's a contentious topic.
There was solidarity even with Asians because of what we had in common ,discrimination.
Times have changed each group has self interest and upward mobility.
Plus other black ethnicities are so different that English speaking African &Caribbeans can't relate to them.
Caribbeans ,Nigerians and Ghanaians could connect.
But now Somalians,Ethiopians and other North Africans are difficult to connect with.
Racism in Britain is very subtle, has several layers and can be complex. Unlike in America, swathes of Blacks in England can go through life (recently at least) without experiencing any or hardly any significant Racism. I remember my Army days, enjoyed it, but there were no Black officers, no black guards at Buckingham Palace etc, the list is endless. Look at the treatment meted out to Black footballers: you are one of us, but make a mistake, and you are immediately treated differently. Blacks in Britain do not seem to have the confidence, drive, and ambitiousnes of Black Americans. The Asian community in Britain has sailed past us in achievements. We are not doing badly, but not doing too well. I cannot put my finger on what our problem is, Racism is an obstacle, especially the type in Britain, but should it really be allowed in this day and age, to stop us from making a mark in Britain?
Yes of course racism is still an obstacle. The black community doesn't have the numbers to support businesses and industries within the community. The so called black community is too fragmented and sparsely spread to be of any significance. As a result, job creation is controlled by the dominant society and of course racism is a huge factor when it comes to employment. Also, try getting a business loan or raising funds from investors as a black person.
It's really unfair to compare us to the Asian community, they didn't have their names and heritage ripped away from them and sold into slavery. Even in the Caribbean, as indentured labourers they were given land and thus a base with which to build together. They are also extremely communal minded which serves them well. It just isn't a fair comparison. You can see how in the Caribbean, every other group Chinese, Indian, Syrian etc. have all had a head start compared with descendants of stolen Africans - it's not fair to make comparisons to people who systematically were given more privilege- good for them and their achievements- but to compare us isn't quite right.
@@user-dv3kq3rm4h I know in British Guiana, the first Indians came in May 1838 I believe. They worked in sugar plantations. Their descendants now make up about 44% of the population in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. I think the Chinese arrived in British Guiana sometime in 1853.
@@user-dv3kq3rm4h
💯
@@user-dv3kq3rm4hFully Agreed!
Interesting video, id definitley say that theres definitely a divide between the african and Caribbean communities. You can see this in churches especially.
Caribbeans are more community based than the other african groups and they are more accepting than others like you said. Since the Caribbean population is dying, black British culture is dying. Those new immigrants are very to themselves
As a Somali in the early '90s, I remember having a tough time in school, mainly because of issues with Caribbean students. I had thought school would be enjoyable with many fellow Africans there(I was ignorant of many things)-I couldn't have been more mistaken. Being the only Somali, I found the environment harsh and it initially left me with a negative view of Caribbean people. Thankfully, this resentment and trauma eventually faded after meeting some truly wonderful individuals from the Caribbean. Now, living in the UK, I certainly feel a stronger sense of unity.
I think Caribbean population is dying because they are mixing with White. It's changing the UK but I welcome the integration. I'd rather immigrants integrate, Jamaicans do integrate. I have mixed race nieces and nephews, they keep Jamaican culture alive.
It's a very complex subject and the answer can vary based on geography, context, generation and class. I would start by saying there isn't a cohesive black community in the UK because the concept of blackness wasn't conceived by so called black people in the first place. Said that, the black community does not exist in the UK but the concept of blackness does. And it is explored, accepted and shared in many different ways. Once so called black people will take ownership of their social structures, then this conversation can seriously start. For now I see individualism, contradictions and the so-called British dream; yet also longing for something more otherwise most of us wouldn't be here under your video.
I'm a mixed of black and Indian, via St Lucia and Guyana. When I meet a black person from any part of Africa they come across racist, looking down at me based on my heritage. I stay away from the Pan-African mindset. I'm born and raised in Hackney and that's where I'm from. People from Nigeria Ghana and Kenya come across like racist white people, who haven't met anyone different.
Omggg same.
Im ugandan but im multigenerationally mixed like most east africans and i have never gotten on with other africans especially from Nigeria amd Ghana.
Due to my ancestors mixing i obviously look different from most Africans and i am pretty and was always put down because of my beauty by unambiguous black ppl tryna make it seem lkke im just black
A Dougla - that's an exotic mix. I've heard Douglas can be mistaken for Eritrean or Ethiopian. And I can see what you're saying because I have "observed" it. I knew of Hackney. There were, probably still are a large Nigerian population. There's some Caribbeans too, but I've noticed a lot of Caribbeans in places like Balham, Streatham, Mitcham, Croydon, Norbury.
I find Ghanaian people very prejudiced too.
Can relate highly. A lot of hypocrisy, growing up in peckham and seeing the area become a nigerian zone in the late 90s, I got the worst racism of my life as a mixed carribbean man.
Black or African?
Nobody in Africa calls themselves black. They identify by their ethnicity and clan or tribe.
At Last 👏👏👏 some sense
who cares what Africans think their poor. Just act as one country already, instead of like 50 irrelevant countries which have produced nothing, done nothing, have no significant industries like banking, tech, manufacturing and cars etc.
Should follow Africa. Not united states
Very true, but here in the UK we don't hold the same difference for these terms. Most Caribbeans understand that they are also African, just have spawned differing cultures. There's not really denial of African heritage over here amongst Black people here.
@@darkbritkidathart Caribbean are mixed with European and native Caribbean too. Caribbeans understand they have African features genetically not all Caribbeans are similar to an African and our own group of people.
Keep it up bro!!! People like you will help the community to wake up!!
I think there are undeniable bonds and cultural similarities between black British communities but I don’t think lumping us all into one works because we’ve got vastly different experiences and perceptions on things, but I can recognise the basic similarities we share, and tbh things have changed, whereas in the old days people had to stick together and there was a lot of racism and whatnot, I think there was a lot more camaraderie back then, now everyone’s splitting up and identifying with different things.
Even Black people from a particular country do not always form a single community. My generation of Zimbabweans who came at the turn of the century appear to have little in common with the Zimbabweans who have come over the last few years. This may have to do with having different experiences. Fact as well, many Black people are marrying White British, and that too will have an impact on that sense of identity.
I don't see many black people marrying white british unless you are caribbean
african people tend to marry within themselves that's just my generation
@@thec5875 Happens a lot, actually. Especially with the generations born here. Those born in Africa tend to have their partner already when they migrate, or, as you said, marry someone from their community.
You are wrong I have seen too many Africans stick to themselves.
Africans date Africans even the ones born here trust me I know what I am talking about
It's us caribbean lot who have successfully interracially dated white women. Africans tend to never marry us they look down on us even the ones born here they do not see us a marriage material
I got a lot to say about this topic.
@@MasimbaMusodza That's really interesting. I would've thought that the newer arrivals would just blend in with the earlier ones. But it makes sense that those who have been here for decades would be different to those who have just come.
My parents were from the Caribbean a and The United States. I was born and bred in Oxford during the 60s. From the 1950s to the 1990s there was a strong Caribbean community but it is disappearing quickly. However, there is now a large number of African people living here.
Bro this is topic is easy I did not even have to finish the video
No community bro
Great conversation. Black America tourist (slow traveler) who is in England now and seeing a lot. Though I have felt welcomed by the various black groups (Caribbean’s, Africans - west and East) it’s because I’m here to learn so I stop, smile and will talk with people at every opportunity.
What we share in the US is that we are often treated with the same Anti-blackness by YTs. So there’s that as a common interest in every community. Also here I see it. I’m in London and doing a bit of cafe culture every morning same neighborhood. Most people totally ignore me, until they hear my American accent or realize I’m on the 3rd day there…(reading and writing). When you don’t fit the mold, some have to ask 😅
I'm half Jamaican half Zambian born 1986 from East London.
From my school days I remember there being a definate divide between black Caribbean and black African. I could play both sides :D
From what I saw back then, being African was seen more of an insult, and if you was from the Carribean especially Jamaica, it was more celebrated.
Once white people started tuning into Jamaican pop culture people from the Carribean where more socially accepted.
The slang, style of dress, the food especially the MUSIC. You would see white people with dreads and start making music bands.
I would agree with most of the comments here there is more sub cultures that stick within themselves.
There was definitely a lot of banter between the two sides but it wasn't like an all out war or anything, think of it more friendly football banter from two opposing teams which really should be on the same side.
I checked out mentally from England around 2004, and then left finally in 2016 so I would say I am detached from everything.
Not sure how much has changed?
Good video! Subscribed.
That is interesting. I vividly recall a documentary that touched upon some of what you are talking about. It showed how white working class British at one time embraced full on the style, dress, mannerisms and music (Ska/ Reggae) of Jamaican immigrants. I guess it gave Jamaicans a kind of social clout, as they were seen as cool and emulated by a lot of white youth.
Now, what you are describing about the relations between Caribbeans and Africans in the U.K., sounds remarkably similar to what we see here in Canada. There is tension and you see quite a bit of beef and xenophobic rhetoric and sentiments on both sides. In schools most of the Caribbeans are admixed European or Asian, and quite often lighter skinned than a lot of Africans. So, sometimes African cans be the recipients of relentless bullying if they are really dark skinned in Canadian schools. Ugandans and South Sudanese catch it, for real.
On the flip side you also see Africans with some sort of superiority mindset towards Caribbeans. Who they sometimes see as "lazy" or "criminal". From what I have seen these unfortunate things & stereotyping happens wherever black people from different ethnic groups and cultures, are thrust into the same areas & environments. The good news is that it gets better with the second generations. Not saying it's all out war, but it;s a rocky road sometimes.
Thanks for the video
Keep them coming Ely
A good take on the situation. I grew up in the 80s and thought there was a general affinity between UK born West Indians and Africans, but for younger generations, that's gone now. There was a sense that the fight against racism and colonialism was still ongoing - apartheid was still going strong. Distance from the older generations, change in the demographic balance, more interracial relationships, and non-commonwealth immigration means the old comradery is irrelevant for the new generations.
A great topic, I have so much to say about this. However, I will highlight the most impactful…
We no longer have a common understanding of who our enemy is.
Hear me out…
We have always been a diverse people who united in times past by enduring shared struggles and understanding who our enemy is and the need to unify.
Now… a few masters degrees and job promotions later, we are integrated so deeply into western society,
or with the ‘enemy’ that our community has affectively dissolved into nothing.
We have fallen foul to trusting in the so called ‘western democracy’ and ‘law and order’, and lulled into a false sense of security, to a point where we don’t think we need each other.
First step to unifying, is actually recognising that we have ‘enemies’ who continue to systematically plot against us…
…we need to recognise that are all we got…
…lastly, and I know many with struggle with this… but we need to hear this.
The moment they have the chance to slap yokes of iron around our neck again, they will jump at the chance.
Unfortunately, many of us won’t even conceive that because of positive performance review at work.
We have settled for crumbs and the bliss of ignorance, which is propelled by White Jesus and the Christian Church.
It’s a shame, but true.
Facts! I'm telling you, people think it's a game. The Black man is still being systematically destroyed through feminism, a tainted image portrayed through the media and just straight up discrimination. We don't even look happy when we go out just uptight and tryna out dress each other while white people can act like hooligans (which you'll probably see on Sunday with the football) yet it does nothing to their image.
The only escape we can see is assimilation like you mentioned (get a degree and pursue a stable career) but we need to have our own industries that we can feed into. That's the problem. A few black businesses here and there isn't enough.
Thoughtful piece brotha
Good video. Maybe another video about the lack of black students in UK universities?
Got some content around universities in the pipeline!
My belief is white universities make black people worse especially in the UK. The UK needs all black universities like they have in the USA.
I'm from an FBA lineage that goes back before 1790 census, I don't have any criticism for your video just came to say i enjoyed watching and learning from our cousins across the atlantic.
@@IeremiasMoore-El Thanks fam. Big respect to you guys over there 🙏🏿✊🏿🖤
We are not cousins at all. What makes you think we're the same
@@Adwoa_Agyei do you have dna?
@@IeremiasMoore-El wdym. We have completely different cultures. You're an fba so you side with tariq nasheed. Plus you guys claim to be native indians. Fba is a hate group. You can't call us cousins when you're part of the hate group fba. And also we ain't family whatsoever
@@Adwoa_Agyei One month and he got no response. FBA but is calling us cousins, gtfoh 😂
There were too many Black Communities, the Nigerians, other Africans, the Smallies (non-Jamaican Caribbeans), the Somalis, etc. Note, the "West Indian" Communities saw themselves as the indegenous Brits that tolerated "them Africans,them boo-boo"
What does boo boo mean
Poo poo. @@adedamolamartins3810
Very interesting. Just found this channel, and I agree with everything you've said. Subbed.
Great video and content as always 👊🏿
Hello Eli this is former Detroitreggae it's nice to see that you are still here posting after all this time
Hey fam! Nice to hear from you :-)
I’d definitely say yes when i was younger but unfortunately it fizzles out as I’m getting older and I think that’s the same for most people
Great video man. As a British Ugandan myself, who has been recently thinking about the wider black British community as a whole, I feel very fortunate to have stumbled across your channel ssebo 👊🏾 gonna go binge watch the rest of your videos right now
In the beginning there was a black community. We had a lot in common to nourish that community but now there is to much division so little that connects us as a strong whole. We have been divided in such away that the divisors look like us with gang culture up to toxic levels we have never experienced before among ourselves. Now we don't trust each other. So we have seemingly been conquered by the hidden instigators but if we actively breakdown some of these divisions we can put the community back together again.
So glad I found your channel. These are all the questions I ask my black European friends.
Racism is no longer the glue that binds different black ethnic groups together. As the saying goes , "There's safety in numbers". As you rightly pointed out the exponential growth of the West African community means that they no longer feel the need to identify with and assimilate with Afro-caribbeans and the Somali community is also quite sizeable now. Further, you now have the 'new black' of Afro Latino's who stay within Spanish speaking communities. The economic effects of late stage capitalism also has an impact on social stratification as does tribalism. Now everyone only cares about themselves and their social group. These divisions will only get worse until the Brown shirts start marching again (e.g., the rise of fascism).
Yes this is it.
I think the reform party will initiate the "coming together" but on a temporary reason
Brilliant comment.. Unfortunately, political education is largely nonexistent on the continent of Africa (resulting in the shippment of historical ignoramus ppl), and in the UK at large, including amongst Caribbean ppl. This is recipe for disaster.. The gov and large corps know what they're doing opening the flood gate of immigration from all around to world, to a nation with increasingly limited resources for working people. This will eventually backfire against people of colour as we're already seeing across the rest of Europe.
I think Black British Community as a term is a bit of a misnomer. Reflecting you early experience of being here, then the Black community was the Caribbean community. Caribbeans are dying out and their aspiration to integrate, along with state oppression, has impacted terribly on this community and it's British-born descendants, whom are fractured.
Great video sir, you’re educating the masses such as myself 🫡🫡
I think we are still forming a community. I think it will come from the young people. African Americans are more established and have institutions and a middle class Black people who can support these NAACP type bodies that can support the Black community in the US. This and future generations will create these bodies and they will do it for all Black people not just those of their same heritage. Ie Stormzy isn't sending only Ghanaians to Cambridge uni. Also as we learn more about our shared experience and connections we will become more unified.
I think this is a great discussion, the idea that there is a single black community is part of the issue although I have friends who live in different parts of the U.K. some of the things that unites them with black people in their locality I know nothing about. Culture and community is more than being black. I have had numerous discussions with my parents generation on this topic and yes there was much more of a sense of community than there is now but society had changed beyond all recognition this is across the board. My white neighbour was talking about this only a few months ago. This is the case in the Caribbean and US and across Africa. I visited Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and those communities have changed too. My Mom will tell you she doesn’t recognise where she grew up in Jamaica in terms of community and Mom loves Jamaica to her heart. In the north of the U.K. where I live I will always recognise, say hi to any black person but especially elders. I saw a woman standing outside Tesco recently. I don’t know her but I felt to ask if she was OK she told me she was waiting for her family and thanked me. I would do that to anyone but I am more inclined when I see the person is black. Ultimately we are the ones who can do something to change things. We have the power to highlight the positives, to build on what our parents/ grandparents generation established.
The answer is maybe. I believe it's generational. For example, in the 90s, being African was often seen as a diss. Today, it's much more normalized and accepted. There is a noticeable shift between generations.
There is a kind of Black British community, which becomes especially apparent when the community needs to rise up and defend its young. Is this community strong? Probably not. Is it weak? Yes. Can it be strengthened? Maybe.
I see a community because there's a shared language, identity, and common struggle. Those outside this community can clearly see it and often want to be part of it. In many ways, a community is like any household-it has its own issues and skeletons.
nah there is no community, only time there is community is on the shade borough camping in the comments, retweeting and tweeting on black uk twitter, attending dlt events and that's it other than that its mini groups of black people from different culture
It ain't it, no community just nothing.
There is a black activist group (I think in London) that was created after too many blk kids being unalived etc and they usually go to places where something racial or unjust happens to demand accountability and support to the individuals. A blk child/ young person being unalived used to be a normal occurrence (wrong place wrong time) back in the day.
@@inongezulu5859 who told you that such a lie
no black community in london all lies
@@hintquery-cp4tz Black on the square will be happening again in September, in Trafalgar Square. There’s also been a black culture market that’s been developing. Depends where you go, it’s slowly changing. But the Caribbean ppl do tend to include us when they start something or when advocating for their own rights.
I loved yesterday brother much respect
The answer is no. Mainly because black Caribbean and black African are very different in terms of culture. The way we view and do things is very different.
Also, the black population across the United Kingdom outside of London is very small. I finished school back in 2012 in a small town called Stowmarket outside Ipswich. I was one of 4 black people in my year. Now living in Plymouth, Devon, The black population here is also less than 1%.
I have to disagree, the black population outside London is not small anymore. It’s been growing fast, particularly in certain cities/towns, new immigrants are not favouring London so much these days, partly because it’s an expensive city and also there are established communities in other places around the UK
This! And even with Africans we are different. As a pretty African myself i have found that i don't ever hv good experiences with other Africans esepcially from west like Nigerians and Ghanaians but get on better with Caribbeans
Blk ppl don't like helping each other and there's too much jealousy, gatekeeping and destruction that stops us from moving forward.
We're just too different better to stick by yourself
That’s true there’s a massive disconnect culturally, but we are drifting further apart because we decide to focus on that instead of looking at our similarities and I can assure you they are plenty.
@@yvesbee9836 what are the similarities in 2024?
@@Tony25287the same ones they have always been before we were interfered with. Regardless of how much we want to deny it, our religious beliefs, our cultures our foods, the way we move, talk, dance, it even goes down to the way we act at times is what make us similar.
In recent decades there’s been a tendency in the UK to refer to all black people as ‘Afro-Caribbeans’ I’ve always said there’s no such thing as ‘Afro-Caribbean’ when referring to all black people in the UK, whether they’re African or Caribbean! As a result, many Africans like to call themselves ‘Afro-Caribbean’ though they have no connection to the Caribbean. They should instead be simply ‘African’. I’ve heard Africans refer to their food as being ‘Afro-Caribbean’ food, instead of stating that it’s ’African’ food or the food of the individual African country concerned. Caribbean food isn’t the same as African food, though they might share a few similar ingredients, but the food is nothing alike. It’s time to stop lumping all black people together because they are not the same.
Growing up with an African name in the 90s early 00s the only people in a multi ethnic school who ever took the p of our names or culture were kids of Caribbean culture. They also took the micky out of our work ethic and called us nerds. Sadly but predictably nearly all of them got left behind whilst the rest of us moved forward and succeeded in life. There’s an intrinsic self loathing in black Caribbean culture that rewards low standards and foolishness and is offended by basically anything to do with black power and positivity. Not by accident - it’s imperial conditioning
So it’s white peoples fault they have no drive and initiative.
I am from the Caribbean one of the so called small islands, and I am pleased to say our family never took part in that foolishness of making fun of Africans! I also agree that some Caribbeans reward low standards which is crazy!! If you achieve it’s the usual “you think you are better than us” and then they distance themselves from you and then you find you and yours being a community within a community and that creates the segregation when it should really be “well done”, “good on you for having a business, etc”. Until that happens, things will stay as they are unfortunately.
It looks as though the West Indian community may be observing something familiar to white Britons - succeeding arrivals of immigrants are not necessarily assimilating with communities already here, regardless of race, because there are other cultural and religious factors at play as well.
The reason why there is no community is because we aren’t one homogenised group of people with a shared history like African Americans. Their culture, unity are products of their unique experiences with slavery in one country and migration in droves across one country . We need to stop looking at their blueprint and what they are doing as a benchmark for our own sense of community as our experiences with slavery, colonialism are completely different and should be viewed as such. we don’t need to force a homogenised sense of blackness on ourselves when it’s not necessary and maybe try to unpack the division within our countries/ communities. Rather than doing some umbrella ting
Yes I agree
Much respect!!!!
Interesting. I have a Nigerian friend who went to a Black community group at uni (in the UK) but afterwards he said he didn't really feel it was for him. Africa alone is so diverse, I once heard Nigeria has as many languages as all of Europe.
Exactly. Im african and never seemed to get on with other blks especially Africans specifcally from Nigeria and Ghana.
We are too diverse and get treated differently based on our beauty and skin tones and looks
Good stuff Sir
The answer is NO. I am half "black" via my father and I can say NO. There are "black" sub cultures Somali, Nigerian, etc.
True
It's called divided and conquered for a reason you know. Just remember that when your non Black 'friends' that you put before your own unconditional family start calling you names the next time England loses a football match. While the US concept, 'one drop rule' is an inaccurate way to view human genetics. It was beneficial in bunching us people of African descent together in the same boat regardless of admixture and phenotype, because we truly have no friends but our own. This unfortunately never happened in places like South Africa, and today mixed and blacks hate each other despite both being native of the same lineage. Also the xenophobia the indigenous South Africans have against other Africans is wild. We will unite once ALL the tribes of our people, in and beyond the mother land just accept that we have been on the back foot in a cold war with Eurasians for 2400 years (since the last native Pharaoh ran away from Asian invaders into East Africa, and General Hannibal Barca was betrayed by pro Roman Judas's camp).
"If one day you hear the Europeans praise me,
know that I have betrayed
you"
Samora Machel, former
president of Mozambique.
@@Changamira rubbish. I am half black and sephardic jewish. fully jewish under jewish law. I am married jewish and live within the jewish community and speak my own language. all of my friends are my own people Jewish so I don't care about what white Gentiles say about people in England matches or whatever. I live a non-western life and separate from this society and my household is one culture. so all of what you said is irrelevant.
@@Changamira the one drop rule saved the minds of the b-people of America. Foundational Black Americans, in my opinion, have the best understanding of what blackness is. The w-supremacists forced them to look at themselves and unite together, even when their skin deep differences were apparent. Skin shade and hair type differences have absolutely destroyed the minds of the diaspora.
And there is nothing wrong with that
As black man in USA/United States I can't speak upon UK experience. I know here in the USA we use term black community as roots in some form of blackness (defined differently) and shared experience slavery, Jim Crow, basic foods, southern American roots, yet being a hybrid culture (for good or bad) and it sub grroups based on city state and regions or combinations. Like black people New York are different from New Orleans all they way black California, etc. Then there is a the question do black actually every hand a community. Maybe a needed discussion the internal colonialism theory. Peace
That was an amazing perspective! I was I was curious since I wanted to move there in the early 2000s from USA.
The Internet is free to find this information you Americans are too lazy to read
I think there’s another layer to this discussion that could have been touched on - I feel there’s more of a black British community among black people that are British born and grew up here. While people are still connected to their African or Caribbean routes through grandparents or parents there’s still a more cohesive culture and community among this group in my opinion, particularly the younger generation.
Good article. You're saying it, as it is
They are united in hating eachother
Yep especially black girls wjo are pretty we get hated on soo much by other black girls its scary
@Jennyxx-ie5jw why do other black girls hate on you
@@user-bs5qr5ie4s because im pretty. And its not all black girls. Seems to always be one type that have am issue with me
@@user-bs5qr5ie4s she’s not aware of how narcissistic she comes across. She routinely calls herself attractive and claims she was bullied for it, as if we can see her. Not saying what she says she experienced is a lie, however, her portrayal comes across as narcissistic and distasteful.
@@Jennyxx-ie5jwwhat “type” are you referring to?
This was a good video. I agree with others it needs a part two. What does need to happen amongst black people is the colourism I experienced it from the age of 12 until I left school and my eldest daughter who is now 30 experienced it too, all because we are dark skinned and it was done by other black children which inturn made me very unhappy and hate school. The only good thing about it was when it started to happen to my daughter I didn't have to try and put myself in her shoes to as I had already been there so knew exactly how she felt.
The funny thing is now we get random black people mostly women say oh my god you have such lovely skin its so smooth and clear. I wish I was as dark as you. You're so lucky.
@@cheeks6738 Yeah darker skinned Black women have it really hard and it's a disgrace. It's people projecting their self hate, pure and simple. Did you and your daughter mostly experience from males or females, or was it just general?
@elywananda when I was at school, there was this one mixed race boy in my class that made it his sole purpose in life to make my life a misery every day, and other black kids joined in but girls were just as bad then one day on Facebook we have a page for my old school he asked if anyone remembered him I said yes I do you made my school life hell and I listed all the things he said to me he said I hope you can forgive me I was a horrible child and I'm not like that anymore he said he was sorry but what can you do. My daughter had it from kids but also from a woman that lived near us constantly telling her that she was black and ugly and that her kids were pretty because they were mixed when she saw me she said I can see where you get it from she's just as black as you then she proceeded to tell me I was jealous of her because she had a white husband it got to the point where we had to get the police involved because she would follow her or stand outside our house for ages just staring up at the window then her son started to follow her but my husband gave the boy a warning which the mum didnt like she called the police but they did nothing as they knew what she had been doing. What made it worse is that she is just as dark as we are. I have to keep telling my daughter that she is blessed and highly favoured she is slowly beginning to see how beautiful she is.
@@cheeks6738 Damn, people can be disgusting. Sorry that you've experienced this stuff. It's all projection, people who internally hate themselves often feel the need to put others down. It's sad but this is the world we live in. Sending peace and strength to you and your daughter 🙏🏿
@elywananda Yes, so true. Thankyou it is most appreciated.
As someone of Nigerian heritage, I have always appreciated the struggles of the children of the windrush generation as it made life easier for me as a black person. Unlike you, i never there was a black community, just a Caribbean one. I watched cricket and listened to listened to lovers rock just to hang out with other black people. As the population of Nigerians and Ghanaian around me grew, I didn't have to anymore. I still love Aki and Salt fish though.
It's crazy cuz im African and never seemed to get on with Nigerians and Ghanaians. Got on better with Caribbeans. Our experiences are so different
@Jennyxx-ie5jw I should clarify that I got on well with everybody and I love my Caribbean friends. I had a thing for St Lucian women and always thought I will end up marrying one. My move away from my Caribbean friends happened slowly and was not planned. I am into Oil and Gas and a bit of Data Science and most of the other black people I knew in that sector were mainly Nigerian and Angolan. Inevitably, i was always reaching out to them for advice and spending more time there.
@@lariyo9122 also im just curious why do Nigerian men in the uk always prefer women of other ethnicities and races other than Nigerian.
Obviously not all most do go for other nigerians but i have seen many go for east african girls, whites and caribbeans
@@lariyo9122 Haha! I wonder if you were based in East London at some point? Huge St Lucian community over there!
@Jennyxx-ie5jw I think your statement on preference is an incorrect over-generalisation, becos whenever I go to Nigerian parties with 200 to 300 people, I'm the only one with a non-Nigerian wife. Things might have been different if my younger self could pull the Nigerian girls that I liked. I dont go to church so i don't get to meet many girls and the many of the girls at my uni were rich middle class kids that couldn't put up with me moaning about the price of Starbucks coffee. My situation is diff now but back then I was desperately poor.
Ppl should be close in real life as we are on social media, that would be a great testimony. Love each other no matter what period of life we’re living in ❤
Compared to what I saw amd what some of us saw in 60s,70s,80s and early 90s the answer is NO.
@@ZuliailuZ183All facts it's disgusting
This is a very interesting topic.
Sadly, I don’t think there is a strong “Black” community in the UK, and the weak community that there may be is vanishing.
I’m Jamaican, but born in the UK. I have noticed that the Caribbean population in the UK is slowly vanishing. In my own family, I am the only one out of all of my siblings and cousins who has a Black partner. There are zero Black kids in the next generation of my family. The trend is similar for many other Jamaicans here. We are watching, in real time, Black families (over two generations) turn white.
The result is that there is no real community from the Caribbean side anymore. My wife is first generation African, and things are slightly better with those communities, but due to colonialism I think first generation Africans lack the cultural confidence (and are socially engineered via the media) to have a desire to stay Black and build a Black community in the way how Asians do.
I hope things improve and I am working to see things improve.
We Black/African people are one people. We can either collectively succeed or collectively fail.
I think you've opened the door to a bigger conversation that us Americans should be having ourselves. African immigrants are becoming a larger share of our population and some people have seen a decline in our coheason. This declining unity has resulted in a push to distinguish between Foundational Black Americans and African immigrants. It's both frustrating and sad, because other ethnic groups like Asians have done the opposite. Yes, we have different cultures and come from different starting points, but how do we maintain economic and political unity? That's my biggest concern.
Not black myself so probably won't understand the community feel. I'm really close mates with a Cameroonian-Brit in the 90s, grew up together and I consider him a friend for life. Maybe it was just because Shrewsbury is pretty small but I never saw him nor his family seek out the wider black community that exists(ed?) in Wolverhampton.
They mostly bonded with people at Church and in the neighbourhood. He married a Nigerian-Brit in 2017 he met at Uni.
Only places I've seen what I'd describe as a Black Community is London and Wolverhampton.
Might be elsewhere as well but i don't think its really sought after anymore.
I love your content
Good video bro. And i agree. Nice one
Not definitely yes although I think it’s becoming more established.Progressing throughout our time there will be more black people with a hybrid of cultures adopting to British ways of life, meaning that there will be more of a sense of belonging and unification. I’m starting to see some elements of this among the younger generations with the creative spaces.
@PatriciaTA-8824True British culture is dying but I think there are still some elements of it that will still remain fundamentally core and responsible for how we think and act. Yes creative spaces as in events like dlt and recessland a long with music too, since there a lot of fusion of afrobeats and dancehall with in the scene now.Even our language is becoming an immersion of West Indian/African words.I guess maybe on a superficial level right now there seems to be growing unity, but not that much when you go past it.
Nah i disagree, these creative spaces is just to stand at the back, stare at people, gossip, eat jollof & jerk chicken on one plate, listen to dj rewind the same tune from the beginning and that's about it. No community, don't let these events fool you because we all go our separate ways after.
@thec5875 all facts they think podcasts is da way out for da BLK community in uk 😮😮
Yes! I see community the same as culture, so yeah. Why ain't you a part of it 😎❤️💛💚🖤✊🏿🇯🇲🏴
A big part of the reason why there will never be a cohesive Black British community is that "outsiders" are allowed into what should be primarily black spaces. Reading through these comments I see plenty of white people inserting themselves into the conversation suggesting that race is unimportant and that it's better to be British first, never mind the old "divide and conquer" move of pointing out that black people from different places have very little in common. That's not for them to declare.
Exactly. They're so damn nosy .
Finally found your channel Ely. I remember AfricansArise channel. Good to see you still on UA-cam. To answer the question, there is no community. The cohesiveness died out ages ago with various ideologies infiltrating.
The black race to me is very broken or damaged by race issues over the centuries
yOU SEE bLACK AS A RACE???????
More like 'FBR'
@@mahalallel2012 Sorry, whats FBR?
@@asmarshadeed Sorry can you educate me. Is black not a race?
@@bluepeter128 FBR: military term for 'effed' beyond recognition
This is such an important question.
I grew up in the 60's and my experience is that the unity that we are forced to gravitate towards "Black unity" is a double edge sword.
In the first instance my parents arrived as Vincentians only becoming simply Black in the UK.
The negative experience of being given a descriptor that has a value and meaning that was used to apply negative value could not be ignored.
This has a consequence that we are then aligned by the experience of being subjected to discrimination on the optic grounds that melanin is foreign and equals less than.
Oppression on these grounds does not a people make however the experience is nearly universal for all us ethnic Africans.
I choose to relate to our common experience to overcome the crass oppression we continue to endure whilst marvelling at the Africa diaspora's diverse peoples, cultures and our dominance within Western cultures who need, take and use everything we bring yet continue to diminish who and what we are.
Black unity is born out of protest and I hope in the future becomes less necessary than it has been required in the past just like the fantasy of race this needs to relegated to an unenlighted past✨🙏🏿
There are two kinds of African diasporan communities in the world. Historical Diasporans and Recent Diasporans. The historical diaspornas are African descended people who have lived in non-African lands for centuries and formed unique ethnic communitty over time: FBA's, Gullah Geeches and Luisianna Creoles of USA, Garifunas of Central America, Sri Lankan Kaffirs, Siddis of India/Pakistan, Afro Brazilians, Afro Persians etc.
Recent Diasporans are people who either migrated from or descended from immigrants that came from modern African nations post WW2 into Europe or US. Their identity shaped by the culture of their parents/grandparents.
In context of black British unity. It's based on a template of black American unity but doesn't work in practice Due to the diversity and differences between the Recent diasporans communities in UK
I know of the Garifuna - especially in Belize (formerly British Honduras) in Central America. Belize is decidedly a Caribbean nation as it associates more closely to the English speaking West Indies. I do like Punta Music! There are some Garifuna in the Republic of Honduras as well!