Perspective: Questions about whether black immigrants are authentically 'African American' point to the limited way we view black people in the United States
By Alvin Buyinza Alvin Buyinza Bio freelance writer March 15 at 12:15 AM About US is an initiative by The Washington Post to explore issues of identity in the United States. Sign up for the newsletter.
The debate over whether I, as well as Harris, whose mother was from India, and former president Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan, are considered to be “African American” is part of a much more complex conversation on what blackness means to second-generation black immigrants. This constant back-and-forth feelings about my identity caused me a lot of frustration. Why couldn’t I embrace both of my black identities?
Harris even spoke on this during her interview on “The Breakfast Club,” a popular syndicated hip-hop radio show, last month when she addressed claims that she’s not “really black.” This narrow view of blackness is in part due to an attempt to preserve a group identity. Sarah E. Gaither, a social psychologist at Duke University, said people generally like to make sure there is a level of commonality among one another.
And at the same time, I know I come from a black immigrant household where xenophobia looms over our family. After President Trump’s inauguration, use of the word “immigrant” seemed to have made us less secure about being American. I remember riding in the car with my mother as she told me she was afraid of what would happen to her if people found out she was an immigrant.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
‘To Black Women With Love’ creates a space for black men to show their supportCreated by Frederick Joseph, who also launched the Black Panther Challenge, 'To Black Women With Love' showcases a series of short videos by black men who are uplifting and affirming black women. - NBCBLK
Leer más »
Brazilian police arrest two former cops for death of black Rio councilwomanBrazilian police arrest two ex-cops for murder of outspoken black Rio councilwoman
Leer más »
Kamala Harris calls Manafort's relatively light sentence unfairSen. Kamala Harris on Friday held up Paul Manafort's relatively lenient prison sentence as evidence that the criminal justice system is “broken in America'
Leer más »
Kamala Harris slams Donald Trump over $8.6B budget request for border wall 'vanity project''Billions of dollars for a border wall is a waste of money,' Senator Kamala Harris, a California Democrat and presidential candidate, said.
Leer más »
Kamala Harris says slavery led to untreated 'physiological outcomes,' supports reparations as mental health issueSenator Kamala Harris, a contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, said that reparations should be made to the African-American community, explaining that more needed to be done to address mental health.
Leer más »
Kamala Harris welcomes Beto O'Rourke to 2020 race: 'The more the merrier'After the former Texas congressman made his presidential bid official, the California senator's campaign blasted out a fundraising email with his name in the subject line.
Leer más »
Kamala Harris on 2020 rival Beto O'Rourke: Voters want candidates with 'proven record of producing'O'Rourke has so far emphasized a hopeful message and his personal story rather than hard policy proposals. He has tended to seek more middle ground on issues, while the Democratic 2020 field has been leaning increasingly toward the left.
Leer más »