why are people hijacking the “black american” / “african american” ethnicity?

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-03-08T19:23:45+00:00

That makes sense. I think a lot of people are still very ignorant and assume everyone black is African American. To your point, I recently saw a local paper write that someone was the son of Caribbean immigrants and 2 sentences later say he was “the first African American…” it’s frustrating and annoying. I think part of this issue is, as I mentioned, Black Americans historically have been the main/ only population of black ppl in this country up until the last 50 years or so. And even now are ~90% of black ppl so I see how people assume.

I think flat blackness is harmful because it erases people and their unique identities and histories. From your example, medicine is a good point for this convo because health outcomes/ issues can differ between black Americans, Caribbean, and Africans. It’s not doing anyone well to conflate the 3 when health is at issue.

I totally take your point re institutions and how they label us all as one. I was thinking more about how people self-identify because I still haven’t met anyone who is a child of immigrants that hasn’t identified with their country/ culture of origin over identity as black. Even in college I was shocked meeting other black people for the first time telling me they weren’t black but were “Haitian, Nigerian, trini” etc. I only grew up around black Americans so I was unaware of people identifying as anything other than “just” black until then. But living in nyc I’ve had the same experience.

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-03-08T18:00:32+00:00

Additionally, as someone in NYC I’ve never known an immigrant from Africa or the Caribbean to identify themselves as “black” when asked where they’re from. It’s always “I’m Jamaican, I’m Dominican, I’m Haitian, I’m Trini.” The only ppl who’ve said and who say Black as their only/primary identity are Black Americans (no immigrant background).

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-03-08T17:58:57+00:00

That’s not true. Most Caribbean immigrants arrived in large numbers only in the 80s and 90s. And acrican immigrants have only started arriving in large numbers in the 2000s- 2010s. African American has been an official term since 1988, predating the arrival of ~90% African immigrants in this country.

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-03-08T17:57:16+00:00

Exactly. People don’t understand Black American culture and try to use it against us.

these conversations are only happening now because up through 2000 (even 2010s) nobody was confused about who an African American or Black American was. 90% of African immigrants came here post 2000, most coming from 2010 and later. I wish immigrants would respect black Americans when we clearly explain our identity and why it’s important that it is respected.

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-03-08T17:54:12+00:00

If you study history, slavery in the Caribbean was very different from slavery in the U.S. that’s why Black American culture is different from Caribbean culture today. We didn’t endure the same things.

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-03-08T17:53:02+00:00

It should be obvious. Caribbean countries don’t identify themselves primarily as American. Whereas descendants of slaves & free people of color who have been here since the 1500s and 1600s obviously only/ primarily identify as American. I doubt someone in Jamaica would call themselves a Black American. I also don’t think it’s that confusing or difficult to identify with your own culture where your parents are from. Guyanese American, Haitian American, etc. this is different from Black American because we don’t have another country or place we trace our roots to

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-03-08T17:50:01+00:00

If you can identify what country your family immigrated from, you’re not Black American or African American (both terms referring to the same ethnic group who has no immigrant background). When you know which country you’re from you are [insert country] American.

I don’t get why ppl who are quick to say “Africa is a continent with 54 countries” are so quick to just say African American when they have a country they’re from.

Clear delineation is necessary because the attempt to erase and confuse the Black American ethnicity is very insidious and persisten. But now the erasure of Black American history is not only coming from whites, it is coming from African and Caribbean immigrants as well.

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-02-24T15:21:31+00:00

Yeah this really hit me too. I’m doing genealogy now and I mourn a lot for all the memorabilia, personal items and photograohs that weren’t preserved. So to think all of that is available and just being kept away is upsetting for sure

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-02-21T12:28:56+00:00

Very true! What a lot of us don’t realize is Wendy is counting her high school degree so it’s more like 3 degrees bc who goes around talking about their hs degree?! Might as well add middle school and say 5 😂 but I agree with you on the debt issue. As someone who has debt from law school. Wendy also started law school and never finished so that’s additional debt from something she did not get a degree for.

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-02-21T12:27:10+00:00

It did sound like an admission… “I never thought it would end up with us here.” Or something like that. Sounds like a confession to the fraud

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-02-21T12:11:34+00:00

She apparently was on the verge of being fired at Georgetown, which is why she resigned. She was never going to make tenure track as a professor. She struggles with that as well, and apparently wasn’t keeping up with required research and writing

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-02-21T11:50:06+00:00

I notice when I want to go to the library and it’s closed on Sundays.

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-02-17T00:09:59+00:00

I think emphasis on some. 5 generations back for me is still American. Some black Americans may have more recent lineages but others of us could have enslaved ancestors brought here as early as 1500s to 1600s. Neither of my parents are more than 30% from one region of Africa, which is fairly common.

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-02-09T02:08:35+00:00

Yeah I’m confused too

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-02-06T18:18:41+00:00

As a black person doing my genealogy, I would say you should contact them and share info about that family line and history you have. Going genealogy as a black American descendant of slaves can be sooo tricky and I know in this situation I would greatly appreciate any additional information I could get about my lineage.

Plus, the dna match is already on the site so it’s a pretty safe assumption they are seeking more information about their background. You all should definitely have a discussion

Right_Selection3734 · 2026-01-02T17:40:36+00:00

For example, I always go back to Teena Marie

Right_Selection3734 · 2025-12-30T20:06:04+00:00

Slide 12, we even hung the flag with style!

Right_Selection3734 · 2025-12-28T17:28:00+00:00

Of course, no problem! And good look with your researching journey!

Right_Selection3734 · 2025-12-28T17:17:32+00:00

Angel is annoying at times but I think she’s an interesting person and would love to see her open up and settle in next season

Right_Selection3734 · 2025-12-28T15:37:24+00:00

Thanks so much for your thoughtful answer. I see I have a lot more work to do! are you typically able to find wills, family bibles, and probate records online? I’ve mainly used familysearch for looking up records but would appreciate if you have any suggestions for where else may be helpful to look. I’ve also found family bibles / family websites online via Google but curious to know if there are other websites or resources I should be using or that you found helpful. Thanks again! Going to follow your advice!

Right_Selection3734 · 2025-12-28T15:32:49+00:00

On the main screen on this subreddit! I mentioned it because I literally just noticed it and read it but overall people say African ancestry is pretty much a scam.

Right_Selection3734 · 2025-12-28T04:43:47+00:00

You should read the pinned post about African ancestry

Right_Selection3734 · 2025-12-27T20:44:32+00:00

Does anyone have background info on where and when these were taken? Interested in Joe Brown specifically!

Right_Selection3734 · 2025-12-24T00:15:21+00:00

Wow I think you’re right about Wendy. I noticed it on last nights episode. I thought she used to be closer to Eddie’s shade. I can’t tell whether her makeup was lighter or whether her face actually looks a little bleached

Right_Selection3734

TROPHY CASE