Impromptu dancing in Cape Coast African American culture will be as foreign to them as snow and apple pie. Political correctness is annoying me right now because in their case, it isn't very correct. I think I'll just say Beatrice is Ghanaian whenever possible and wait for that perplexed look people will give me when they try to remember where Ghana is on a map.
Any suggestions? I'm curious, Luckyhill families, do you refer to your kids as African or African American?
7 comments:
I just told Lois last week that some lady and I got into a fight about this...in Target! She asked about BubblyGirl and I said she had just come home from Ghana. She said something about her staying "true" to Africa. I told her that we plan on sharing with her our love for both of her homelands. This lady was SO mad. I referred to BubblyGirl as African-American and that inflamed her. She said I was trying to erase her culture. Nope, just trying to make sure she doesn't feel "out of place" in our family. The conversation when I asked how man y times she has traveled to Africa to embrace her "motherland". None. I will have travelled four times in 12 mos by the time the other two come home. I think I've embraced A LOT of Ghanaian culture.
--Becky
There are so many different opinions about how to handle this one. My girls and I just say "We were born in Ghana, but now we live in America."
Sometimes they just say " We are from Utah" to freak people out . :) It's a touchy subject for many. I may have blogged about it a long time ago....can't remember!
You have raised good point, I have went through something of the same personal questions for a different reason and for a child born here in American. You will have to read my post and let me know what you think. I get what your saying completely.
People assume that Lilly is from Africa, assuming that all black children with white parents must be from Africa?
African American is how she likes to be known. she is African and she is American. Simple enough right? She's proud to be both, and she doesn't get it yet that African American means Black American not really African and American!
I am on the opposit end my little girl is Bi racial, but her skin is darker. People are always asking me where she is from? Assuming she must be from another country. There are no good answers to this question. But I do feel it is important that as a family you become transracial. :)
I used the term "African American" with the twins' birthmom when we met her at their birth. She said she hates that word and to just call them "black". Their birthmother's family comes from Jamaica and she said African American doesn't fit all Black Americans.
In Lilly's case, she was African before she was American, so I feel like African American is fine to use. The only time this really comes up for us though is when we are filling out forms that require a designation of race, and on most forms the race designation is listed as "black" rather than "African American."
It really doesn't come up in conversation because people can see that we have 3 daughters that are black and one that is white and they generally don't put a "term" to it. Sometimes they ask where our girls are from. The twins were born in Utah, Madi in Illinois and Lilly in Ghana. So that's how we answer.
I say, go with what you feel comfortable with. You may use different terms depending on who you are speaking with. I am usually more open to explain in detail with someone I am aquainted with rather than to a stranger who is just curious.
Hi Kara, I stumbled across your blog today. Missy and Joe Rogalsky are my cousins. She had a link to yours on her blog. Small World!
As to your question, I also find it interesting. Personally, I hate labels, though I realize that people will use them, regardless of what I think. I have 3 black friends who are not from the US. One is from France, another from Nigeria, and the other is from the Cayman Islands. They complain that people label them AA all the time. None of them are Americans and only is is actually from Africa. All of them prefer "Black" as they think AA is bad as it is too limiting.
What will I teach my son (who is black and born in Utah)? I have no idea, as he is only 16 months old. However, I will try to explain to him that there are many people in this world and he can be whatever he wants to be. He gets to choose. Personally, I currently choose black, though I don't feel it comes up much. Fortunately, I live in a pretty diverse neighborhood and people are more accepting of just you being you.
I don't know that there is a right answer. I think every family and every person gets to choose what is right for them. Best of luck!
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