Foundational Black Americans and the Diaspora

In the United States of America, the home of the worst chattel slavery known to man, there are millions of Black people who have lost, stolen, and unidentified identities. We have found ourselves on an endless search to define who we are as a people and as individuals. Some of us despise being called Black, while others hate being called African Americans. I understand how these labels can be offensive to some groups of people. Black has a way of lumping us all into the same box, regardless of origins. Black can sometimes be used to describe anyone who is of African descent from around the world. While African American insinuates that you are an African living in America. For me personally, the labels are interchangeable, for others it is not.

I refer to myself as both Black and African American. I am comfortable with this. And at the same time, I try to respect the feelings of my fellow Black people and refer to them in the way they wish to be referred. There is a group of Black people who refer to themselves as Foundational Black Americans and loath being called African America. Now before I discuss this further I want to explain why I am comfortable being called African America. I am one of the few Black people in the United States who have the privilege of knowing their African roots. Who my ancestors are, where they came from and who enslaved them. With this wisdom, I acknowledge my African Heritage as well as my American foundation. I was born in the United States and so were my father, my mother, and their parents and grandparents. So I am as much American as I am African. I take pride in both parts of me. America is my home. My ancestors, despite being forced here in chains, helped build all that America is today.

Many in this group of Foundational Black Americans see no connection to Africa at all. They deny or refuse to see the connection between us and the continent. I cannot and will not speak for them. I do not know their stories and I do not know the origins of where their families come from. But I will say that I know Africa is the mother and we should all be looking toward her for guidance and protection. I know that there are a number of Countries in Africa that are battling their own conflicts and wars and do not have the ability to support or fight for Black people in America, while there are countries who recognize us as their children and wish to welcome us with open arms if we chose to go home.

There is another issue we face as Black Americans, that we must address. There is a lot of discussion about African Immigrants who talk negatively about Black Americans in the media and on political platforms. This disrespect and disregard for us and our particular struggle has caused a great divide between Black Americans and Africans who immigrated from African countries. Both groups of Black people are at odds with each other and have extremely toxic energy towards one another. This does not help us at all. Both African Immigrants and Black Americans are victims of white supremacy, colonization, indoctrination, and systematic oppression. I have seen that the government has provided more opportunities to get grants and loans to have African Immigrants while continuing to deny Black Americans access to wealth and equity.

This is a tactic used by them to keep us divided. African Immigrants are under the impression that Black Americans refuse to work, are lazy, uneducated, and are statistics in our society. Believing inaccurate stereotypes and images of us. This conflict between us only weakens Black people as a whole, foundationally and across the Diaspora.

What we need to realize is that as long as we are divided white supremacy wins. It does not matter if we have successful Black people or successful African Immigrants. As long as Black people as a whole are still victims of subjugation across the world, we are all in danger and the generations that come after us will continue to be cursed within this system. We must work together in order for our children's great-grandchildren to see a more prosperous future. We have to focus on the bigger picture.

Black Americans, descendants of slavery have to focus on being an independent Nation, but the only way to truly achieve that is by having allies on the continent of Africa. We cannot neglect one another or disregard each other's fights. We have to care about the plight of both groups.

Now within the group of Foundational Black Americans, there are people who do not acknowledge their African origins because they feel their roots will lead them back to America, Native Tribes that were here before Columbus. I will not speak on this because I am not familiar enough to have any say. But I do question this thought process. I can always admit when I am wrong and I encourage people to correct me or give me insight on topics I know little about. But to my knowledge, the Native Tribes that predate America have been recognized by the United States of America and have already been given their land and reparations. Correct me if I am wrong. Please.

If that is the case and you are able to trace your roots back to one of these recognized tribes, I question why these individuals have not gone to these tribes to gain citizenship?

I do not say that to say you are not entitled to fight for Black Americans, but it forces me to question the other aspect of this conversation which is reparations. Are you still owed reparations if you are the descendant of people who already received them? I would say no, but there is a lot more for us to understand.

I know without a doubt that there are trillions of dollars owed to the descendants of slavery and I know if the United States Government ever did get off of its high horse and give the money that is owed, it will likely only go the families who have receipts. They will not cut checks to people just because they say they are “Black” or even descendants of slavery. They will want proof. Proof that you and your family can provide. The US will not do the work for us. It is imperative for us to know our history and where we come from. While we are battling to receive what we deserve, we must still focus on ourselves and utilize cooperative economics to help lift us out of poverty and injustice. The best and fastest way to do that is by working together. Not just as Foundational Black Americans or African Descendants of Slavery, but with all of the other Black people around the world. The diaspora belongs to all of us. We must have strong relationships with Black people in Europe, Asia, South America, and other parts of North America. That is the only way we will be taken seriously and have the resources we need to build a better life for our children.