HOW I LEARNED THAT BEING WEST INDIAN DIDN’T MAKE ME BETTER THAN AFRICAN AMERICANS

I first wrote this piece two years ago when I was an editor, at the now-defunct, Black Girl Long Hair.  I’m resharing it today, on my own platform, due in part to the piece I wrote a few days ago in regards to the twitter drama surrounding Pop Culture writer, Luvvie Ajayi. You can read about that HERE. I’m also sharing my story again because it holds me accountable. It forces me to remember, that although I was born and raised in this country, there is still much to learn about the African American experience.

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When I was growing up in the 80’s and 90’s I learned very early on that being Haitian wasn’t exactly the thing to be.  When my family moved to a new town, my older brother and I simply hid it. Nobody asked, so we didn’t tell. Then it all began to unravel. My third-grade teacher assigned a family tree diagram which forced me to reveal our heritage.  I recall coming home from school that day feeling dread as I told my older brother (by two years) that the jig was up. The tears came quickly, from both us, as we understood all too well what it would mean to reveal that we were Haitian. The teasing would be brutal, but tolerable. Feeling ostracized was what we feared the most.

But then we grew up, and like most people, the very thing we were teased about as children became the thing we cherished with the utmost pride. We embraced our heritage, and slowly the larger West-Indian community began to accept us. Gaining this acceptance, however, came at a price. While I had always heard family members speak with disdain about Black Americans, it wasn’t until I was a teenager when I learned that this us vs. them mentality spanned across West-Indian cultures. When I’d hear West-Indians attributing certain stereotypes to African Americans,  I found myself nodding in agreement.  We were different, I insisted. We were educated. Our children were better behaved. We were hard-working. Our food tasted better. African Americans, we said,  gave us all a bad name. And while we would befriend them in public, in private, we’d deride them for being stereotypical.

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I carried this belief with me to college. I was even proud when white people would praise me for being different from what they’d imagined. My French last name was also a crowd-pleaser. I ate it all up with a spoon. My hubris, however,  came to an abrupt halt towards the end of my freshman year when, in a moment of drunken courage, one of my white dorm-mates screamed at me to, “Go back to Africa!” I was stunned. Surely, she couldn’t mean me? I had perfectly straight hair. I dressed well. I made the Dean’s list. I spoke the Queen’s English. How could she, in a moment of anger, reduce me to being a black face just like any other? I was different. Wasn’t I? It was a hard, but much-needed lesson. While I can never profess that African American culture and Haitian culture are one in the same, our differences are not so great that we should ever feel that one culture is superior to the other.

Huffington Post writer Nadege Seppou, who is of Cameroonian heritage, penned an open letter to African immigrants, urging them to not fall victim to the same belief system.  She writes:

White Americans will say you are better than American blacks, but please do not fall for this trap. You will be told you behave better, work harder, and are more educated than American blacks. You will be tempted to agree and will sometimes want to shout, “YES, I’M NOT LIKE THEM, WE AFRICANS ARE DIFFERENT!” Just don’t…don’t even think it.

The praise of your acquired characteristic and culture becomes a justification for white Americans to perpetuate discriminatory treatments towards American blacks. These statements of praise have an underlying message of, “If Africans can do so well then surely racism has nothing to do with anything, therefore, American Blacks are to be blamed for their condition in America”. This problematic line of reasoning sustains cultural racism. I beg of you, refrain from nodding in agreement when you receive such faulty praise.

Indeed, West Indians, like the African immigrants described in Seppou’s letter, are guilty of the same misdeeds. In wanting to carve out a place for ourselves in a society where being black places you on the bottom rung, we have perpetuated the belief that we are better than our African American counterparts.

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Still, culture is this interesting thing, right? Here I am, a black woman, born and raised in America, and yet I cannot call myself an African American or even say, I am of the culture. I am for the culture, of course.  I would, today, defend the culture against anyone who would seek to tarnish it in any way, but I wasn’t raised with any real understanding of African American culture. Not in school, certainly not in my home, and not even with the few friends with whom I was permitted to spend time (Haitian parents don’t really do the whole “friend” thing).

Consequently, I have spent the better part of the last 16 years learning, understanding, and appreciating the beauty and the richness of African American culture, but I have never forgotten where I am began. It is this understanding of self, I believe, that now allows me to navigate both worlds, African American and Haitian, with ease. I only know what I know, and what I don’t know, I’m open to being taught. This, friends, is how I believe we can, as a people, come together and stay together.

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26 Comments

  1. Eloquently put. I Was just talking to my American/Haitain decent daughter concerning the divide amongst us” and how this should not be. We all descended from the same Mother land more or less, and would be shocked to know that many of us are distant relatives. When traveling to Haiti wth my husband; I saw the same faces of people that I grew up with in South Carolina, as a child. Sad that we can’t love one another for who we are…We need to wake up!

  2. The writer makes some great points and certainly is coming from her own experience. But for those Africans and Caribbeans who have such notions, stop it. I love all my Black people globally but they can spare me this nonsense. They flock to America to live off the privileges and benefits that we’ve accumulated, not the other way around. Their top 3% make it to America and suddenly think they are better but those of us who have spent significant time in those countries know better. There’s a reason why they come to America and there’s a reason why they almost never go back home. Said with love but honesty.

    1. LOL @ “the writer” Jamal, I’m the writer. My blog. Named for me. Thanks for stopping by. Hopefully, you’ve learned something about the immigrant experience in this country!

    2. Stop listening to the propaganda. The only Black people who think they are better than each other are the ignorant ones! Not only that, the elite are trying to further divide us. Black people are just too lost.

      1. I wish you wouldn’t comment on articles you don’t read

        1. Honey you only spoke a little on the problem. West Indian and Adricsns forget the African Americans fought for a better life. You are able to come get educated because of our ancestors. Non African American blacks break laws run drugs and other elicit behaviors for years. No one is betterms than the other. All shades of black aspire to be great. Both have bad apples.

    3. Well said Jamal. It always surprises me that so many Caribbean people, my friends included, are not aware of their history. Black African slaves were brought to all of the Caribbean islands to work. Prior to slaves being brought to the island, the island’s native people were AmerIndians. Not Africans. The Black/African- Caribbean people derived their cultures from those Africans. When Caribbean people come to America and eliminate their African heritage it is done out of ignorance, denial or just a selected loss of memory. I have traveled to 5 Caribbean islands and understand very well why Caribbean people, like so many others, come to America to seek progress and success. Which I do not have a problem with. I am all about upward mobility. I do think that it is laughable, when some Caribbean people, when approached by whites to identify themselves, stutter and leave out their African heritage. As if they are ashamed of identifying with anything out of African. In reality, I see them as “African-Jamaican Americans”, African-Trinidadian Americans” etc. I always try to educate my white counterparts so that they are clear on the history. We, African, Black, Bi-Racial, Hispanic etc. Americans know that the only reason a White person is inquiring about ones Race is because they need to decide what box to put you in so they can decide how to deal with you. The reality is, that to white people, as long as you are a person of color, regardless to how you identify yourself to them; you are not like them. Which, of course, is what they tell themselves to feel better about themselves. My Caribbean friends, who are educated, mature and experienced “Americans” have no issue identifying their heritage to whites or anyone else. At least in my presence. I cannot speak on what they do in private. However, if one is born in America, you are American. We should be honest and proud of our heritage/lineage, as it is part of us. We should not allow people who feel uncomfortable with us for having an accent, different dialect or language, to deny our ancestry.

      1. Janet I love how you have entertained us with your educational knowledge on our African-decent as an African American I never leave that African out you just made my evening I was a little unhappy and disappointed with some of these comments I Thank you for true educated and common sensed logics ❤️❤️

  3. I really love this piece. As a Trini American born and raised in the states, I can relate all too well with the bit about appreciating the AFrican American culture though I am not of the culture. It’s something that only now I’ve been able to understand and dissect. Well I would call myself an AFrican American it actually never felt right and this piece really helped me understand it.

  4. If you are born in American and raised by American parents your American with American values. If your born and raised in American by parents from another culture then you will have that culture. So I’m not sure why one has to compare themselves to others. I was always taught that you can’t lift yourself up by tearing others down. So be who you are and live your best life. PERIOD. It’s only a thing if you believe it is a thing. Who has time for this kind of thinking? Not me.

  5. I think you’re defensive of African Americans and rightfully so, but this comment feels as though you haven’t yet had a chance read this article, or perhaps I failed at providing you with some insight into why this division exists. I really and truly hope you have an opportunity to read the article and reflct upon the perspective I’ve shared. I was born here, with brown skin, and english as my native tongue and was treated like trash by people who looked just like me. The idea that “we’re all brown” so nothing else matters is false. Nah, we’re more than our color and CLEARLY the divide shows that culture trumps skin color.

  6. Saundra Danmola says:

    What I have always hated but tolerated was your blatant criticism of us and superior attitudes as guest in my home and open forums of discussion! For a while, I was awed by your centuries of culture, music, food and tradition. Then I saw something that happened in Africa and something in Haiti after a huge storm that left people desperate! Great man’s inhumanity to man! I visited Jamaica and was astonished by the poverty. I worked with a woman from Belize that I spoke with every day that at the end of our employment told me that I was not the type of person she could be friends with though she loved strategic planing together with me which rewarded us both with a great income for that job. I thank you for your article because I had never understood it until now. I have concluded after much observation that every culture has its own special kind of crazy and that nobody out here is better than anybody else and if it were not for the goodness of God, all of us are doomed!

  7. I read the article. I’m still dumbfounded as to how any person of African descent don’t understand that all these people who inflate your egos to make you believe that somehow African Americans are responsible for our own stations in life.

    This is the American way. This happened to pit freedmen against slave, light against dark, house against field, and middle class against poor. It still happens.

    Walking in ones $500K house with an E350 or RX350 in the driveway and Lil Johnny able to go to a school with $15K tuition could separate us from reality. So can not being profiled. But, for those who immigrate here to the US and look down on us, it’s beyond offensive. Realize that you’re just another n-word to them and we shake our heads when you find out.

    Interestingly enough, it’s first generation Black Americans that get profiled at white schools. We know better and we don’t even try to act any differently.

    I commend you for expressing your truth.

    1. Yeah, I’m not sure how this fits into the narrative I shared. I can’t speak for anyone else, but this was my experience as a child, but even still, I think folks will continue to be dumbfounded if they refuse to listen to the immigrant’s experience in America.

  8. Good article, I am glad that you have awaken. I was born and raised in America. I served 20 years in the U.S. marine corps and was educated by my travels. I studied abroad and truly understand my complete heritage. Please excuse the sarcasm of African Americans, they have been emotionally scared subconsciously. 500 years plus can RIP a hole in a soul and we will never heal the same, we just live with the pain from generation to generation.

  9. I appreciate these points.

    A Black American rite of passage often includes experiencing racism at a very young age, unfortunately. It’s sad that you had that experience at uni, but very surprising that this was your first encounter. The images that we see in the media of Black youth and even some Black elite being mistreated by whites and law enforcement aren’t new to anyone other than those who aren’t apart of our respective communities.

    I hope more immigrants and their descendants take the time and genuine interest to learn about the DOS here in America, and all that we endured and continue to endure as minorities under an ongoing system of oppression; ideally, before they encounter racism themselves. Perhaps then, we can bridge the gap.

  10. It doesn’t make me better. However, I wish there was also an article titled, “How being West Indian makes some African Americans THINK we are better than they are. (and treat us like we didn’t go through similar struggles, alienate us, tell us to go back on the coconut we arrived in, etc)

  11. Some of the responses here really tell the untold stories. The poverty of material things in the Caribbean does not equate to a poverty of self. There is great material wealth in America…….
    For this discussion to be meaningful, the poverty of material things cannot be the basis on which you make an argument. Let us talk about knowing ourselves, and leap from there.

  12. Ok so first, I want to say I just commented on your “Entrepreneur Immigrant Parents” article not realizing that you are of Haitian decent. My husband is Haitian! I love the Haitian culture and am grateful to be a part.
    I will say that as an African American woman, it was somewhat taboo when my husband brought me onto the scene to meet his family over 15 years ago. It was almost like, they assumed that he would only choose a Haitian woman to be with. They automatically started speaking Kreyol to me and tried to quickly hide their disappointment. But quickly I discovered that it was because Haiti wants to keep the strong and resilient culture alive for as long possible. Which I personally think is super important to the diaspora. I work to learn the language and take the iniative to teach my son.
    It’s unfortunate that people are always trying to find a way to separate us under the radar (and out in the open). It kinda reminds me of the “paper bag” idea from many years back.
    I appreciate this article and agree with your position on 99% of but I have to admit that I disagree with one thing… Haitian food does taste better. It’s just the way it is! I feel sorry for anyone in the world who hasn’t tasted it.

    Your African American Sister,
    Angel

  13. Hilarious! I find it funny that the author was seeking to tell her Caribbean people not to look down on African Americans yet all of the comments are African Americans using the article as justification to throw back some hurtful and problematic stereotypes about black immigrants. Missed the point much!? As a Caribbean man who migrated to North America I can say that I don’t often identify with AA culture, And I am unapologetic about it. I don’t seek white approval but also I have a hard time relating to the vast majority of African Americans, and I don’t feel obligated to. We have more work to do in the community, clearly.

  14. I don’t see this as a major cultural problem. Caribbean people assimilate into African American culture quite easily after a generation or so. Many prominent African Americans have Caribbean roots that few know – Marcus Garvey, Jada Pinket, Nicki Minaj, and Rihanna is FOB (lol). Caribbeans have contributed to African American culture undeniably so. This is more of an immigrants superiority which solves itawlf in a generation than any real separation in cultures. Immigrant Asians face similar issues.

    1. Lyra LeGall says:

      Kyle, I agree! Now let’s live our lives! ??

  15. Lyra LeGall says:

    We are all one people coming from African heritage! Different accents, hues, and food likes. Let’s celebrate our differences and our likes. At this point we’ve melted into so many cultures and countries. At the end of the day will our differences even matter? Let’s love each other and enjoy our lives and appreciate our individual struggles. The human experience is a beautiful thing when we live as equals. ♥️?. Let’s respect one another and learn from each other how to live a better life! ?

  16. Well written article, thank you. I will start by saying I attended Howard University at a time in the 70’s when many students from so many countries came, I had never heard of Tobago. It was an educational experience! It was the first time honestly I had been snubbed by people that were Brown/Black like me. I honestly felt saddened by that. It was like every one in the world is comfortable putting down the AA. Time has passed and I have a deeper understanding. That being said, my two boys have married, a Trini-American and Jamican American. I love both of my daughter in laws.. I would only say as in the article stop continuing a myth about your AA sisters and brothers. Educate yourself to understand why.

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