It is well established that Africa is the birthplace of mankind some millions of years ago, and everyone else came from the Black continent before evolution and migration to other parts of the world.
It is also a well-established fact that every person with Black skin is of African descent. But this hasn’t stopped Black Americans from discriminating against Africans in the United States who are often subjected to name-calling and belittling.
“Back in the day, black African booty scratcher was a normal put down amongst us. And, you could have the blackest magazines and be aintblack af. colorist af. I am over 40 and really just embracing myself. Think about that.”
This was the sentiment of a Twitter user who commented under a thread discussing the “brutal and deeply anti-Black” America where Black people call Africans “ugly”, “round faced”, “big lips”, “wide noses”, “nappy haired” because they were dark-skinned.
Back in the day, black African booty scratcher was a normal put down amongst us. And, you could have the blackest magazines and be aintblack af. colorist af. I am over 40 and really just embracing myself. Think about that.
— Lavinia Jackson aka Momma Love (@HOPn2light) June 11, 2018
The Twitter user who goes by the handle @obaa_boni, started the thread and said the level of discrimination is “why dark skinned girls often go through that phase where it is only later in life that they can access desirability.”
The Ghanaian believes anti-Blackness is the reason many Black people made fun of rapper Jay Z’s lips and nose.
And y’all can actually fix your mouths and pretend Jay z appearance and anti Blackness aren’t connected
After spending two decades making all types of comments abt that man’s lips and nose pic.twitter.com/fa9NtyGl0O
— ❤Ghanaian LGBTQ (@obaa_boni) June 10, 2018
The thread got some reactions from other black people of direct African descent who experienced anti-Blackness in the United States.
I never really experienced it directly. People made fun of other people tho. Theyd get called gorilla or monkey but I was depressed so i just kept to myself
Although someone said an Asian girl had the same nose as me & she got sooooooo offended that i found it offensive lol— ONLY TIME IM A LADY IS WHEN I LAYDEES HOES TO REST (@X_Lolitaa) June 10, 2018
Maybe it’s because I’m southern, but most of the people I know are dark with super black features. I wasn’t even around white people my age as a kid.
— ? (@gayleishere) June 10, 2018
My coworker told me his family was tight and that home was were blackness was the norm. Ebony magazine, Black Santa, etc.He said it radicalized him and it taught him to love himself even when the world wasn’t.
I wish that culture of love was everywhere.
— hungrydyke ? ?️? (@hungrydyke) June 10, 2018
+ my school was predominantly white so there was less colourism & more general anti blackness. So I experienced stuff like less compassion & getting into trouble more than being called ugly
— ONLY TIME IM A LADY IS WHEN I LAYDEES HOES TO REST (@X_Lolitaa) June 10, 2018
There were other discussions on social media on the phenomenon with Black Americans neutralizing the cruel acts.
If not for Diasporans there’d be no Pan Africanism. Continetal Africans, whether they realize it or not, need to acknowledge that and be open to their cousins in the States or the Islands. You more mad at African booty scratcher than you are at US imperialism/neocolonialism
— One God, One Aim, One Destiny (@Drapetomaniac4) June 11, 2018
I think some Africans believe that we wasn’t calling every kid that. (I wasn’t because I wasn’t allowed to say booty). I think some believe this was reserved just for them. I’ve been said booty scratcher on many occasions.
— Yakima Ellison (@yakima_ellison) June 12, 2018
They came here and got mad at african booty scratcher, not understanding that that’s how we behave in Black American Culture. By what they used to called “playing the dozens”. It’s nothing personal.
— UNCONQUERABLE PRESENCE (@NoBeginningNoND) June 12, 2018
Calling Black Americans ‘Akatas’ is African culture nothing personal dude cause we’re not lost or looking for something
— Derrick Rhombus (@derrickrhombus) June 12, 2018
Aren’t both sides “mad”? Seems to me that there is lots of ignorance on all sides. This is by design (divide and conquer). Many members of our “tribe” (African Americans) have “internalized” many negative ideas about Africa.
— ghetto intellectual™ (@kzshabazz) June 12, 2018
“African booty scratcher” points directly to how African American children learn that African = bad. As for the pan African piece, I wonder if there might be a diasporan bias in how we narrate its origins?
— ghetto intellectual™ (@kzshabazz) June 12, 2018
Excellent point. Fact is most of us have never been to, let alone lived in Africa. I call it the Tarzan syndrome. I’m lucky, worked and lived in dental 1 year, Nigeria 2, south Africa 3 & 3 months in Libya, Ethiopia and Somalia. Visited countless others
— thoughtcrime (@RawDawgBuffalo) June 12, 2018
Most of us have never stepped foot on the continent to make any comment about the ppl or make blanket assertions about what they think either.
— AfrikanSpaceship (@MsAfrikanRoots) June 12, 2018
I’m talking about Africans who come here and have nativist attitudes. I know not every Afrikan feels that way
— One God, One Aim, One Destiny (@Drapetomaniac4) June 12, 2018
i agree with most of what you’re saying, i think it’s not openness to the people themselves, it’s that continental africans are rejecting the (western) black american culture. you’re right there shouldn’t be no rejection but these are two culturally different groups.
— fay (@damnfay) June 11, 2018
i understand. but they should understand the root of our culture is a Pan African formation anyway. what can be bad is a result of colonization , but the same is true for y’all. y’all all are also influenced by Europeans and Arabs. We all got work to do
— One God, One Aim, One Destiny (@Drapetomaniac4) June 11, 2018
Anyone complaining about that in their adult years needs to seek therapy
— Segs (@chosenmillenial) June 11, 2018
Please be objective. Both sides are to be blamed for this. When you attack continental Africans we are less likely to want form solidarity with the African diaspora. People are more likely to empathize with stance if you should more neutrality
— Aja Rabab (@Aja_rabab) June 12, 2018
Okay, point taken. The idea that we continental Africans are more made about African booty scatcher than neocolonialism and imperialism is not true. I think AAs should be angry at those in their community who are mocking and ridiculing as of African culture.
— Aja Rabab (@Aja_rabab) June 12, 2018
I’m talking about people I’ve encountered. A lot claim to not be supportive of Pan Africanism or AAs because of teasing
— One God, One Aim, One Destiny (@Drapetomaniac4) June 12, 2018
If you understand how Africans live their lives in Africa and how we identify you will understand why Pan Africanism is difficult to embrace by Continental Africans. I am continental African from Egypt and I am a pan Africanist.
— Aja Rabab (@Aja_rabab) June 12, 2018
Yo mama jokes could make you want to crawl under a rock ? why our kids so mean??
— Yakima Ellison (@yakima_ellison) June 12, 2018
This is stupid & insensitive, y’all must call it Black American Diaspora & leave Africa out of it downplaying childhood trauma that original Africans suffered won’t get u anywhere y’all just look’n for a easy way out now that African culture is cool again, Africans ain’t stupid.
— Derrick Rhombus (@derrickrhombus) June 12, 2018
I sooner y’all get Africa out y’all mouths the better maybe, but hey! just like childhood racism & prejudice we should just get over it
— Derrick Rhombus (@derrickrhombus) June 12, 2018
