Lift Every Voice

Alright folks, I did it. I went to my Societies and Cultures of Africa class today and made an announcement. I took the microphone before my professor got to the room and asked the Ghanaian students about their perceptions of Black Americans. I told them my name and I said that there are many things that we believe about each other that aren't true:

• Africans don't like African-Americans
• African-Am. think they are better than Africans (and Vice Versa)
• Af-Am. are mad at Africans for selling them into slavery

These are just a few things. I asked the class to please let me know what they think. A few students asked for a questionaire and I told them I would make one only if they promise to fill it out. After being a nervous wreck for the rest of class I was relieved because I got a few
responses afterwards.

One student, named Gideon, told me that he thought I was a Ghanaian who just stayed to myself. He said many students probably feel that way. I asked him about the students who speak to my white peers rather than me and he said that they might think of me as a Ghanaian who wants to be white and they take offense. I couldn't understand that because they would have to hear me talk to know if I was Ghanaian or not.

I talked to another student, Eunice, and she told me that she would marry a Black American. She personally feels that many Af-Am. have suffered enough due to their history in America. She understand's that it's a very complex situation and she hopes everything gets better.

I talked to my friend Edwin about it as well. He asked me what Af-Am. are doing about the struggle of Africans and I told him that there are people who support through missionary groups and study abroad programs but I feel that it's hard to get that kind of information to people because we harbor so many misconceptions about Africa. He said he hadn't even heard of Af-Am. who aided in Africa until he saw a special on about Oprah. I had to explain to him that there are Af-Am. who aid in the effort, but at the same time, there is a stuggle going on at home as well. I told him there are many people who "move up and move out". They have no desire to look back; let alone help someone else get ahead. We ran out of time, but I told him we would finish the discussion. I'll be sure to keep you all posted.