<p>Ok wowzer let's school you, what perceptions do you have about the appearance of Africans?</p>
<p>And why do you think we are all international students?</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Anyone that would dislike another ethnic group that shares their color just because it reflects badly upon themselves in the eyes of whites does. And, in my experiences, Africans are more apt to do just that.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>Then it seems that you need to collect a few more experiences. The relationship between Black Africans and Black Americans are indeed strained, but not for the reasons you're suggesting. Why? Well, first, let me start off by saying that African immigrants tend to have an inherent distrust towards everyone, especially whites. The press for white people in African countries (well, West African, but that's where most of the immigrants are from, anyway) is pretty damning, and as a result many Africans view them as saboteurs of success. Africans wishing for success has nothing to do with this notion of "white acceptance." It's all about prestige and money. Always has been, always will. Everything and everyone else just gets in the way.</p>
<p>As for Black Americans, the same issue applies. The images of Black Americans presented in African media are largely negative. There aren't enough Oprahs and Bill Cosbys to combat the images of black promiscuity presented in rap videos (especially because music is probably the largest medium through which Africans get a glimpse of the supposed Black American "lifestyle"). Are these images representative of all Black Americans? Of course not. However, when it's the only representation available, it's hard not to buy into those stereotypes. African communities tend to be very strict, so after seeing these images, they classify Black Americans as being irresponsible (hence the development of a superiority complex), and these feelings travel with them during emigration---no white interference necessary. This superiority complex that Africans often have is a large part of the reason for the strained relationship between Black Africans and Black Americans.</p>
<p>However, let me not place all of the blame on Africans. Black Americans are guilty of the same superiority complex. We've seen the images of African countries presented by the American media---they are nothing more than desolate, impoverished wastelands. I've found that many Black Americans feel proud that they aren't directly associated with that. Ever heard the insult "African Bootyscratcher"? Well, I've heard it many times, and I can tell you that the only people who dished out that insult were Black Americans. It was almost as if they felt that being associated with Africa was a curse. Even wowzer herself demonstrated this, proclaiming that Black Americans have been "mixed with too many other races" to be associated with Black Africans. Say what you will wowzer, but this is a clearly supremacist statement. You've basically exalted yourself and other Black Americans as being "better" because Black Americans have been diluted, if you will, with other races. In addition to that, there's also the whole "foreign name" thing that affect basically all immigrants. All of these clashing attitudes between Black Africans and Black Americans are bound to create conflict.</p>
<p>Now, I'm not suggesting that I know how to solve these problems, because I don't, but I felt that this needed to be clarified.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't want us associated one major reason being college admissions, africans need to be considered internationals not black americans. Other reasons being cultural differences.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Good God, you are just making this too easy. All Africans in the United States should be considered internationals? Abuh? So you're telling me that I should be considered an international student, despite being born in Austin, Texas? Or how about my mother, who was born in Nigeria? If she were applying to a Grad program, should she be considered an international student, despite having lived here for over 25 years and being an American citizen? Please, if you want to make this argument, you're going to have to try much harder than that.</p>
<p>You are a clear example of the "Black American superiority complex" that I mentioned earlier. I'm not entirely sure that you actually realize the absurdity of your statements, so I suggest that you reevaluate them.</p>
<p>Thank you stopthemusic. And wowzer, i think she also clarified some perceptions of yours like you asked.</p>
<ol>
<li>im not a frehsman in high school.</li>
<li>i meant africans actually born in africa not ones born in america</li>
<li>i didn't say all the top schools i said majority and yes the majority do because unfortunately there are still quota's in today's society that many top schools must meet.</li>
<li>no im not supremacist. you don't know me so you don't know what i am. hmm i don't see you saying any of this to kenishan who started this whole supremacist thing. maybe the reason for that is because you yourself are a supremacist who happens to agree with him.
when in fact all he did was state he wanted to get away from being categorized with black americans because they make him look bad which in fact is supremacy. I said it is a place i visited in middle school. I named the place if you'd like more information go there yourself. Never tell me what I am again. I am in fact very intelligent. I'm not lacking in knowledge. How am i lacking in knowledge. I have facts. Sorry they aren't internet sites but sometimes things aren't that way. I again state as my above post I don't want us to be one race but now that I am no longer mad i think we should all talk too work this out. Considering that i am one of what i think 2 black americans on this post you can't really have this conversation without the other black american and I because then really you are biased and only getting your side of the information.</li>
</ol>
<p>P.S. I believe you think I'm a freshman from my info because I looked at it to see what would give you that assumption, i just can't figure out how to change it so its been the same since i was a freshman.</p>
<p>oh nevermind now i just realized how to update the information</p>
<p>Considering that i am one of what i think 2 black americans on this post ......</p>
<p>chchchchcheck yo-sef be-fo you wreck yo sef.. (hehehe). </p>
<p>I just don't think it makes sense to do this here.</p>
<p>oh so your a sophomore now, still young. If you want to combat someone or a group of people like you did, be prepared for them to fight back.</p>
<p>"chchchchcheck yo-sef be-fo you wreck yo sef.. (hehehe).</p>
<p>I just don't think it makes sense to do this here." </p>
<p>in the words of Mo'nique's Charm School. lol</p>
<p>whatisinaname: im going to call a truce(sp?) with you because honestly it doesn't matter what either of us feel about any of this. college admissions officers are the ones that matter. what grade are you in? maybe we will be applying at the same time.</p>
<p>no im a junior 2010 represents the year im suppose to get my black belt if i continue tae kwon do at the rate im going. most people make that assumption though. so no im not young i'll be 17 in 2 months. legal in 14 months.</p>
<p>by the way i wasn't combating i was defending MY race which is something everyone will do when they are offended. and you should know that because it is obvious from this thread alone.</p>
<p>im in college already, Cornell going into my second year</p>
<p>
[quote]
1. im not a frehsman in high school.
[/quote]
This is irrelevant and distracts from the topic at hand. Nobody cares.
[quote]
2. i meant africans actually born in africa not ones born in america
[/quote]
And your argument still fails. I gave the example of my mother, what is your response to that? What about one of my best friends, who moved to the U.S. from Kenya when he was four? He barely even knows Kenya, but you're saying he should still be classified as an international student? By defintion, an international student is a student who resides outside of the United States and will be residing in the United States for the sole purpose of education. Simply being an immigrant does not make you an international student. Not African immigrants, not European immigrants, not Asian immigrants, not any immigrants.
[quote]
4. no im not supremacist. you don't know me so you don't know what i am. hmm i don't see you saying any of this to kenishan who started this whole supremacist thing. maybe the reason for that is because you yourself are a supremacist who happens to agree with him.
[/quote]
Wow, you've just totally lost it here. When did I say I agreed with him? In fact, I hadn't even read any of his posts before you mentioned it. After reading his posts, yes, I agree, he is definitely a supremacist. It's not right to generalize all Black Americans in that manner. But that doesn't make you any less of a supremacist. You keep exalting all of the non-African attributes that Black Americans possess as being better. In my book, that makes you a supremacist, whether you believe it or not. Don't use the wrongs of someone else to justify your own false perceptions.
[quote]
Considering that i am one of what i think 2 black americans on this post you can't really have this conversation without the other black american and I because then really you are biased and only getting your side of the information.
[/quote]
Considering that I have lived in this country for all 18 years of my life, I think I have enough knowledge regarding both sides of the story. My parents are African, but that does not mean I have lived in a secluded African bubble. Just because I am the daughter of African immigrants does not make me oblivious to the viewpoints of other cultures and races.</p>
<p>Find another Black American if you will. Your arguments are still weak and having another Black American behind you will not improve anything.</p>
<p>ok so we won't be applying at the same time but you have to admit im not young 17 isn't young for a discussion like this. I actually should be about to be a senior. My mom made me do two kindergarten programs because she wanted me to start college at 19 instead of 18. I'm not ignorant i could say the same about all of you but i won't say that because i don't know you. Just like you assumed i was a freshman i could assume alot about you but i realize i only know you by what you type not by who you are. By the way cornell is one of my first college choices. did you apply early because i was debating about that. considering if i get in i can't apply to my other top two choices but it seems as if i have a better chance at cornell since they have a higher exceptance rate. what do you think?</p>
<p>stopthemusic: you missed my point. and that post wasn't even to you it was to someone else who already responded. so um yeah i already called my truce i've realize i don't care if africans think im ignorant or supremacist it doesn't matter what you think. your not a admissions officer so really in my eyes you don't really matter. Not to mean that in an offensive way but really its true.</p>
<p>i agree with you to an extent stopthemusic on that statement. i still stand by that we are not one race. but yes the media does potray africa as one huge ugly wasteland. i know this isn't all true because from africans i have heard otherwise but you can't blaim black americans for not wanting to be associated with that. that is what we see on tv associated with africans just like you see girls grinding all over guys when we all know thats just tv. now that we've all gottend out our anger and yelled at each other. we need to start thinking about ways we can help solve the cultural gap. NOT to become one because we aren't. the black race is diluted. that doesn't mean we can't get along.</p>
<p>
[quote]
stopthemusic: you missed my point. and that post wasn't even to you it was to someone else who already responded.
[/quote]
Doesn't matter. It doesn't make what I said any less relevant. I'm not even sure what "missed point" it is that you're alluding to, anyway.
[quote]
so um yeah i already called my truce i've realize i don't care if africans think im ignorant or supremacist it doesn't matter what you think.
[/quote]
So, in other words, you've exhausted your arsenal of weak arguments and after realizing that you can't win you wish to feign disinterest. A classic, but generally ineffective tactic that I've seen used too many times.
[quote]
your not a admissions officer so really in my eyes you don't really matter. Not to mean that in an offensive way but really its true.
[/quote]
What? What does being an admissions officer have to do with anything? Is this because of what I said about international students? Because if it is, you don't need to be an admissions officer to know that much. It is listed on basically every school website. And hey, most people don't even need to go that far, because the implications of the name "international student" are obvious enough (you know, a student that resides internationally). If you can't figure that much out, then maybe Cornell isn't the right school for you.</p>
<p>But you know what, I'm done, because I know that no matter how much I write, this argument won't go anywhere.</p>
<p>"it doesn't matter what you think. your not a admissions officer so really in my eyes you don't really matter. "</p>
<p>Terrible reasoning. I don't think it's really fair that you're being ganged up on like this, but that statement is just so superficial. Admissions officers do not make up the world's population. Human interaction is based on being accepting of others' beliefs whether they're admission officers or not. By just throwing someone's opinion out the window because of their status (or lack thereof), it shows unwarranted elitism on your part.</p>
<p>the reason i said it doesn't matter is because this isn't even a sensible debate. there are i think 3 black americans on here. i'm the only active one who continues to post. therefore this debate isn't a debate. so yes since your not an admissions officer i don't see the point in this debate anymore. All this has done is reassured my prior beliefs towards africans instead of making me feel like maybe my bad experiences with them in the past were just flops.</p>
<p>stopthemusic: i said that it doesn't matter because your not an admission's officer because this thing started as do we think that its fair for their accepting africans as their black american quota. I don't see the point in debating this anymore because you don't matter. You won't decide if im admitted or not to my first choice university so we would you matter.all you've done is reassure me about what i've experienced in the past with africans. Yes i know what international means and like i already stated im talking about africans born in africa. I called a truce because i don't feel like this is a fair debate. I'm the only black american on this board who actually posts. There are i believe two others who basically posted once. So yes i have a life, don't care what you think and i need to get back to living a real life instead of constant net posts.</p>
<p>This thread is truly appaling.......not the subject but the posts.....why is it African vs black- that is truly ignorant. This divided mentality is what brought native africans to america as slaves in the first place but I digress. </p>
<p>To my African brother and sisters: I am proud of your accomplishments. But I am truly disgusted with some of your holier than thou attitudes. How dare you insult the intelligence of blacks and distance yourselves from them? You fools! Do you not know that behind closed doors although you may be an African, you can still be grouped by the WASP majority as a Ni%%er. Yea, I said it because that is how some of us are acting. INstead of distancing yourselve from your black brothern you need to embrace and educate. </p>
<p>I don't care if the person is from Africa the Caribbean or the Americas: AS long as there is someone on historically exclusively white colleges that looks remotely like me I am satisfied because that shows progress. Yes, progress may be slow but I'd rather see evidence of miminal progress than evidence of none.</p>
<p>As a black American I welcome you with welcome arms, just do not forget your distant cousins and don't forget to try to help us when you get your Ivy Degrees. Share your culture with us, the culture we lost and then we Black Americans can overcome too.</p>
<p>Divide and conquer. Talk about a winning strategy.</p>
<p>We should be arguing about something more important, like how to make BET fade from existence.</p>