A continuation on the previous question and the last (as of writing) question I will be asking about African-Americans.
If Africa were to become the world’s “superpower” today, would African-Americans refer to themselves as “Africans”? It may sound like an absurd notion but Nationalism does thwart reality. African-American scholars tend to argue that Ancient Egypt was a black civilization. But why may this be so? Because Egypt has changed the world in such a way that its beyond comprehension. But seldom do I hear African-American scholars on history argue about civilizations in Africa whose fate didn’t turn out so good (for example, the Zulu’s in South Africa who were to later be conquered by the British). Many tend to shy away from the fact that Humans originated in Africa, and this may be in part because Africa is perceived as a poor, barren, war-torn continent. But were that all to change…would African-Americans suddenly drop the hypen and argue about the fact that they are direct descendants of Motherland?
Like in previous question:
> This question wasn’t designed to spark controversy
> This question is from an anecdotal experience as well as a few others’ observations.
> I want serious answers and not some Politically correct mumbo jumbo.
I’m purely asking this on curiosity…I’m a curious person. If you have trouble interpreting the question, I’ll specify it further for you.
Lurkain: I study Economics just to start off. 50 years ago, China was a nation on farms and a nation at war with itself. Look at where it is today. India was a nation ruled by the British. Look where it is today. Both nations in fact have more gifted and talented students than the whole of the North American population put together. What’s different about Africa? Have you simply lost hope?
Maureen S: I would have agreed with you, but that’s on a Utopian scale. You obviously haven’t heard the amount of arguments made by some African-Americans that Egypt belongs to them.
ferretguy5: How do you propose that Europe is not a superpower? There are 48 nations in Europe (49 if we include the Vatican City). Africa has 37. So if Europe could do it despite the amount of nations it contains, how does that make it different to Africa. It’s this undermining of Africa that I find very ignorant. I also find it that coming from a degree holder that you base the superpower term on agriculture. I’m probably half your age and have not delved into history as much as you claim to have done, yet I do know one thing…and that’s the fact that empires do not grow out of agriculture solely. You based your whole argument on Africa remaining impoverished because an African couldn’t catch a deer. If that were the case, would Mankind be here today seeing that Man came from African, but seeing that they “couldn’t” catch prey, they would be obsolete?
{cont….characters ran out}
ferretguy5: I will agree with you on one thing…that new powers emerge. And I hope to live to see the day that your esoteric knowledge on history is proven wrong. In fact, I will not hope; I know.
Originally posted 2010-05-01 18:49:45.
Of course they would but it’s simply not reality
I’ve lost some hope for Africa. I don’t think Africa will stay this way but can become decent place
African==>people who live in Africa
Black American dont live in Africa , they arent Africans , they are of “African origins”
African Americans Are Americans of Africans origins ,before beeing Africans , They are Americans
I’m sure many would. From inside Africa. I wonder if they’d be accepted, though.
I am African-American (born in america) always will be, no matter the circumstance.
I dont think i would be able to portray a direct descendant from the motherland. I have a Heavy Brooklyn accent.
They would call themselves Americans! I know many African/Americans and they wish they were not pegged with this name. They consider themselves Americans, as they should. Every American has a background, somewhere, of their family way back immigrating. Nobody would change the title American to Norwegian, Irish, English, African, Indian etc. because they are Americans. They do not even think of a “motherland” as you call it. If they are wise, and most of them are, they live in the present and do not put themselves in the past. They know themselves to be citizens of the United States, and never, ever think of Africa being a “motherland”.
Of the ones who sit on their high chair talking about how they are living in the richest country in the world that they are the best group of their race worldwide them same ones will be saying they are African American in an instant
But Africans wont accept them
African nations have not been independent for even a century yet they still have time to grow economically remember Africa has had the most devastating history than any other continent and the fact that its still here is great and they will one day dominate I know it
No, whites wouldnt all of sudden refer to themselves as European if Europe came to power..
Im American all the way..
I never denied my African heritage. I would refer to myself as “African American” even more as a result of Africa becoming a superpower.
I think I would use both “African” and “African American” interchangeably and confuse people
How do you propose Africa become a superpower? I believe it composed of 37 nations. Each very diverse in language culture, history, political identity.
Why did Africa not develop as fast as Europe, Asia and the Americas? Real simple. Draft animals. You need them to work fields and have agriculture. African elephants are too wild for it. What cattle they had too skittish due to predatory cats and others. They couldn’t plow the fields, grow enough grain to produce enough beer to build the cities and develop the technology. But that was just a few century gap. With farm tractors now, they are catching up and will soon become one of the larger food producers in the world.
Yep, Asia had both Asian Elephants and oxen to plow fields. Europe and America oxen and Horses. from about 1200 to the 20th century, the European-American advantage. From 1000 BCE or so to 2oth Century, the India-China Advantage. Everyone gets their moment in time. Then a new power emerges.
No.
They would be proud of Africa and continue on as Americans of predominately African descent.
I’ve never met an American of African descent who denied that Africa was the birthright of humanity. They brag about it if anything.
Many have always took up for Africa because of idiots they come across that try to insult their African heritage or admixture.
i like your question-believe only a handful would would take the word african title as a superpower meaning-me myself wish all this african american titles would be dropped-either your american or not -your heritage is the latter -be like calling myself Caucasian american
No. I don’t even call myself African American, because my family has been here for many gernations.