freshly sharpened pencils...

what is with the so-called african americans? i've been in this country for more three months and i have not had a single "black" experience. i'm really embarassed to say that i've had a great deal of respect (which is reciprocated) from most white folk here. by that i mean, learning about them, their culture and how they perceive themselves in the future of this country. but almost every black american that i have encountered has treated me as a second rate black person. so much for a people who think they have a proud african heritage. as an african i beg to differ.

i had the displeasure of having one so-called black american give me a lecture on africa. hang on - i'm from africa and you haven't the foggiest of what being an african means. it is the very identity that i am and of which i am proud. this person tried to give me a lecture on kwanzaa as i had been discussing christmas with a friend. right, me asks, what really is kwanzaa? apparently, i'm supposed to know what it is simply because it is a "pan-african" celebration round about the end of this month. with my matabele roots since my life, i've never heard of it. my parents have never mentioned it to me. my grandparents sure didn't talk about it out by the crackling fire outside the kitchen rondavel at our rural home. my great-grandmother (yes, she's alive and kicking) probably can't pronouce the word. but i will not apologise for being african and not knowing about this very "african" holiday.

i ask myself many a time: why the african tag on "african american"? being african is more than being just skin deep. a person's skin colour does not automatically make them african. being african is an embodiment of a person's cultural roots, values, traditions and experiences that we go through. for example, i look forward to day when i will have to pay lobola for my new wife (if i do ever find one). it is part of my culture and i embrace it to its fullest meaning and value to our society. our traditions and culture are so important in defining the true essense of being an african and do take to offence anyone who tries to tell what i should think my culture should be.

i had high expectations of black people in this country. for goodness sake we have the same skin colour. but as i go about my daily business, i cant help but notice a big social divide between african people and black american people. why is that so? is it the way we dress? or the way we speak? a part of me believes that us africans however in this country do have an upper hand because we are well travelled and have had very varied experiences in places we've been! so for goodness sake drop the african label. african american? no, you're black!