My friend thinks she doesn't have African heritage.

[gs56ca]

So me and a friend were chatting on msn the other day. I mention the book, Right to Rock, to her, and then she tells me that she doesn't think she is 'black'. Now I concede in what she says, because I don't use the term 'black' to describe my ethnicity, though many people think that it accurately does describe it. To me, black is sort of a political term that has been used to describe people that have African-derived features. And usually, its used in America as opposed to Canada, where its more of a Carribean, African category. Now, she continues to explain her case by stating that her ancestry is composed of spanish, panamian, brazilian, ect. Me , knowing this, I tell her, there is no way or at least it was a mistake telling me that she had brazilian , or panamian relatives. Right there , that tells me she has African-ancestry, even based on her looks. Then I explain to her that white and the black relationship , is not the same in America as it is in Brazil. That people who term themselves white in Brazil or The carribean, can very well have AFrican-derived ancestors. She went ape-shit on me. Tell me. Do you think its possible not to have African ancestors but still look like your a full-blown black girl, and even have a parent that was born in Jamaica?

[Mlle d. Sade]

No. It's not possible.

Some people just don't want to admit it because they've been taught that african=bad. So they choose some other term to identify themselves. Your friend is a brainwashed noob.

[Vicki FM aka "Slip-Knaughty"]

Hmmm...a girl in denial?

[no_way_out]

Sounds like she is blocking out the truth, many people do the same like when it comes down to history, which seems like its what you wanted it to be and not what it actually is. Well, at least you've proven your point, shows that you know what your talking about. That's all that matters.

[LesYpersound]

"Do you think its possible not to have African ancestors but still look like your a full-blown black girl, and even have a parent that was born in Jamaica?"
melanesians and/or the black people of southeast asia, australia, and oceania.

their ancestors came out of africa many, many, MANY years before what would become white ppl got to europe... they aren't a part of the diaspora as we know it.

[Mlle d. Sade]

Then there's a very great chance there's a drop (or more) of African (doesn't even have to be black) blood in her. Even the whitest Cuban has recent (relative to the bigger picture) african ancestry.
People are people are people but. ..some people can't/won't accept african heritage and will bring up any ancestors they feel aren't african (due to incorrect history teachings).

[gs56ca]

Right, I was thinking of this possibility as well. Thanks for the info.

[sublimityeternal]

Your friend is a tool, no offense.

[gs56ca]

I think its really sad. I mean, she looks like a black girl. Many people consider her to be a black girl. But, she doesn't consider herself black, or African. I can understand why she doesn't accept the term 'black', because I almost have the same feelings about the negative connotations of that word. But on the other hand, I've never denounced my African heritage.

[gs56ca]

I mean, African culture is a part of your heritage, I mean, its not directly your culture if you come from the Carribean. But there is many African cultural influences on the Carribean culture, combined with other influences. I've asked my other friend about this, and she herself doesn't consider to be African, but that's because she refers to it in a cultural sense. She acknowledges the fact that she has Nubian genes, lol. Can we consider Carribean people or Afro-Americans to be a completely different people from continental Africans?

[El Machetero]

"Do you think its possible not to have African ancestors but still look like your a full-blown black girl, and even have a parent that was born in Jamaica?"

No.

[Death is Drunk]

Issues, learned, and she's in denial. I agree she has negative connotations with the word black. She wants to disassociate from it.

[Mlle d. Sade]

I guess she's been raised in a different culture. ...you know like how in Brazil they have an active caste; the browner your skin and curlier your hair the closer you are to the bottom? I guess for many people it's a survival (self-preservation) tactic both mentally and the other way.

Just a tiny bit like how it's safer for Jews to pretend to be Italian or Greek.
Or how it's safer for Romani (gypsies) to pretend to be Italian.