|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Moderated by: Saida.M, safetyblitz, Raven, Miss Brighter Days, LadyDay, Kunjufu, Kibibi, Happiness, Dillinger, Breadfruit, Backatya |
Topic closed |
|
| Author | |
|---|
Rockette
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday April 7th, 2005 |
| Location: | New York USA |
| Posts: | 610 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: |    |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Tuesday June 5th, 2007 21:35 |
|
King Capo wrote: Most def African immigrants should be proud, but slandering Black americans is not a good look.
And the reason for slandering AAs is basically to curry favor with whites like all other immigrants do. What they don't know is that it's going to backfire in the long run. Tribalism isn't going to get very far in this country!
Last edited on Wednesday June 6th, 2007 10:38 by Rockette
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Rockette
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday April 7th, 2005 |
| Location: | New York USA |
| Posts: | 610 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Tuesday June 5th, 2007 21:53 |
|
digdug wrote: Maybe I should clarify myself here. I was born in America, I didnt immigrate here. My mother is African American and my father is Nigerian. According to girlfromtheNC I guess I would be "mixed" since of course African American is now an ethnicity *rolling eyes*. I consider myself Afr-Am and I have a right to speak on issues of slavery and what effects I believe it had in the community. But we see eye to eye here, I have no problem with immigrants but I think every African who immigrats to new country needs to decide where there loyalities lie, if your goal is to send money back to your home country and eventually return to build up the economy thats awesome. If you come to the US and plan on making a new life here and want to join in with what african americans started thats awesome too; but the key terms is join in not come to insult and offend. I just think its contridictory for a person to do both at the same time. While its great that Africans are supposably the smartest of all races it really dosent mean much if some dont eventually help the majority in Africa.
American Blacks have a long history of welcoming many immigrants into our hearts and neighborhood who turned around and kicked up in the arse once their numbers surged. There's no doubt that we are finally waking up and I guarantee there will be a major change in attitudes towards those who stood on our backs and now spit in our faces. It's about time!
Last edited on Wednesday June 6th, 2007 11:27 by Rockette
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Vubundada_Kandaba
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 01:07 |
|
Gmahogany. wrote: Yep. For years, that has been the stereotype that many AA's would pass on to each other,regarding Continental Africans(arrogant/pompous/tribalistic/superiority complex), and some Carribean Blacks to a lesser extent. I was always the type to challenge that whenever I would hear fellow AA's saying it, get into arguments with folks, the whole nine. I'm not going to say that I don't STILL try to squash that kind of talk when I hear it, but I will say that I do it with much less resolve and enthusiasm now, because now I know that there is much truth in it,unfortunately.
I am dis-appointed with the above statement, particularly the underlined. I think you know that this mis-understanding goes both ways. Africans are no more guilty of this type of behavior than African Americans. Many Africans can testify of the same treatment from African Americans. I could have turned out bitter and obnoxious against African- Americans becauseI was subjected to some of the mistreatment and stereotypes you mentioned. The key here is that sane people like me and you should not give up because we have some extremists within us. We must still squash those mis-understanding with Enthusiasm.
Last edited on Wednesday June 6th, 2007 21:55 by Vubundada_Kandaba
____________________
Runaway Mayhem; Sonja Wanda, the Next Naomi Campbell & the face on London Double Decker Buses, Spring 2004.
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Vubundada_Kandaba
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 01:11 |
|
| Oh Dear Rockette has arrived. Her favorite subject and hobbies of all times is magnifying conflicts between Africans and African Americans with enthusiasm and zeal. Carry on Rockette, carry on girl and knock yourself out while at it.
____________________
Runaway Mayhem; Sonja Wanda, the Next Naomi Campbell & the face on London Double Decker Buses, Spring 2004.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Burning Spear
Villager
| Joined: | Monday May 17th, 2004 |
| Location: | Washington DC, USA |
| Posts: | 3033 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 02:32 |
|
Happiness wrote: @ chi - LOL!
African immigrants know our achievements in this country - there is no doubt that we outperform native Americans. (black or white). And yes, it is a well kept secret by both black Americans and white Americans.
Truth is that Africans would rather see their children as doctors and engineers than as NBA players or Hip Hop artists - even if it they do make millions. And so for that reason we push education; it is not an option, it is a requirement.
....and by the way when my daughter applies to college, hell yeah she is going to check African-American and hell yeah she is going to get all the minority scholarships available. So whoever felt resentment at that, I say go suck on an egg. How stupid can you be!
Ivies are begging minorities to come to their schools and giving them a free ride - if native Americans dont want to take advantage of it because they are busy crying about the legacy of slavery, then we certainly will! This is why African immigrants will always outperform native Americans because they do not take advantage of the opportunities of this country.
Outperform where?
Seems like your drinking the kool-aid also? African Americans are still graduating from college in more sheer numbers than African immigrants. Remember some African immigrants arrive with an undergrad degree in some instance and are here for further study,thus the numbers are skewed.
Have African iimgrants been at the forefront on Darfour or other systematic changes on the conitnent? Have they pressured the GOP or Democrats to change tactics in regards to the African immgrant situation can be improved? I'm sure there are some grassroots groups but its still under the radar.
Until African immigrants as a whole can effect policy from inside and outside the system,I'll just treat this a rant.
____________________
 
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
101stAirborne
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday February 17th, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1126 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 02:35 |
|
Burning Spear wrote: Happiness wrote: @ chi - LOL!
African immigrants know our achievements in this country - there is no doubt that we outperform native Americans. (black or white). And yes, it is a well kept secret by both black Americans and white Americans.
Truth is that Africans would rather see their children as doctors and engineers than as NBA players or Hip Hop artists - even if it they do make millions. And so for that reason we push education; it is not an option, it is a requirement.
....and by the way when my daughter applies to college, hell yeah she is going to check African-American and hell yeah she is going to get all the minority scholarships available. So whoever felt resentment at that, I say go suck on an egg. How stupid can you be!
Ivies are begging minorities to come to their schools and giving them a free ride - if native Americans dont want to take advantage of it because they are busy crying about the legacy of slavery, then we certainly will! This is why African immigrants will always outperform native Americans because they do not take advantage of the opportunities of this country.
Outperform where?
Seems like your drinking the kool-aid also? African Americans are still graduating from college in more sheer numbers than African immigrants. Remember some African immigrants arrive with an undergrad degree in some instance and are here for further study,thus the numbers are skewed.
Have African iimgrants been at the forefront on Darfour or other systematic changes on the conitnent? Have they pressured the GOP or Democrats to change tactics in regards to the African immgrant situation can be improved? I'm sure there are some grassroots groups but its still under the radar.
Until African immigrants as a whole can effect policy from inside and outside the system,I'll just treat this a rant.
Yes, I have to agree BS. The whole tread topic is laughable.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
DSP
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday January 6th, 2005 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3849 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 04:32 |
|
It's a complex situation. From my own personal perspective, when I first came here to America I, my family and other black immigrants I knew were not treated well by the African Americans we came in contact with at all. We tried to fit in with them but all they did was verbally and physically attack us because we were different. This is how resentment builds over the years. How much respect can you give someone before you have to fight back out of respect for yourself. I made a post about this before in another thread. Not all of them were like this, but most were when I first got here, and all my cousins experienced the same thi ng. In alot of cases ...socially immigrant blacks were/are treated better by whites.
This is the same issue witht he Hatian vs. AA violence that's going on in Florida. It's like tribal war or something. Anyway as I grew older I realized I couldn't completely fault the African Americans I experienced ignorance from. Many have been trained to take on the charactersitics of their former masters. Aggressive and attacking anything that is different.
To be honest it is because of African Americans that many immigrants and non whites enjoy the rights they do here in this country. . There are also a large quiet multitude of African Americans that are high achieving and successful and open minded. The lines are blurred ssometimes because African Americans do not want to be like white people and distance themsleves from their ghetto brothers and sisters the way whites distance themselves from the trailor park lower class whites, although a few black people do. I do business with alot of well established African Americans. When it comes to business and economics, from my experience, there are alot of African Americans that do well and work well with Africans. It may sound cliche, but you really can't paint all people with the same brush.
____________________
http://www.dspmarket.com
http://www.quantumcritics.com
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
impactplayer
Villager
| Joined: | Saturday March 5th, 2005 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 775 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 04:53 |
|
Taysense wrote: The main difference is FOCUS, African American are not focused and usually confused, they are stuck in a society that constantly devalues their achievements and are on the defense 24/7. But the African Immigrant isn't interested in White peoples perception of them, because our goal is to use the West for our gain and our people gain at home.
African American have no home, they are still guests in their own country and white America will continue to treat them that way, unless AA's as a collective start doing something about it and act like a cohesive unity, they get outraged only when their are big media incidents and everything else is forgotten.
BWAHAHAHAHAHA
Sure African immigrants are smart, focused, and motivated but lets get real here, they arguably have the most pointless existance of anyone. They ususally turn republican and live the rest of thier lives bitter at AA's because whites wont accept them and thier too proud to connect with the AA community. Alot of them get Ivy league degrees and end up in moderatly good paying middle management jobs for the rest of thier lives. A high percentage joins the military too. Africans in the motherland are poor but at least they stay to contribute to the growth of Africa. AA's are trying to build Black America..African immigrants just..well....exist.
Luckly these types are in the minority, alot african immigrants integrate in the community and go far (and by integrate I dont mean cutting off your cultral heritage but rather not shove it in an AA's face) most dont take to kindly to it. I have said many times on here my best friend is African. I think the U.S. is a great place for black people especially at this point in time but if anyone (particularily black people) decides to live in the U.S. with a pompous attitude it will be a lonely and pointless place to live.
Last edited on Wednesday June 6th, 2007 04:56 by impactplayer
____________________
One of the best ways to win in any game is to write the rules.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Gmahogany.
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday June 23rd, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 456 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 05:13 |
|
DSP wrote:
It's a complex situation. From my own personal perspective, when I first came here to America I, my family and other black immigrants I knew were not treated well by the African Americans we came in contact with at all. We tried to fit in with them but all they did was verbally and physically attack us because we were different. This is how resentment builds over the years. How much respect can you give someone before you have to fight back out of respect for yourself. I made a post about this before in another thread. Not all of them were like this, but most were when I first got here, and all my cousins experienced the same thi ng. In alot of cases ...socially immigrant blacks were/are treated better by whites.
No disagreement with this. I witnessed it myself, growing up with friends from Ghana. Even as a child, I could perceive the irony of it. Here white folks were, coming out smelling like a rose(acting NEW when dealing with Continental Africans), when it was THEM who spent CENTURIES telling AA's that Africans were living in trees(THEREFORE WE SHOULD THANK THEM FOR ENSLAVING US), practicing cannibalism and other assorted "heathenism", and otherwise real live Tarzan movie,examples etc, and CENTURIES telling Africans that AA's were lazy, stupid,violent, welfare grasping,f**kups. The main reason that each group of BLack folks had innaccurate,negative views of the other was largely because of white folks propaganda, yet when the 2 groups meet up face to face, Mr. Charlie has enough sense to make sure none of the dirt he's done, gets traced back to him,but rather both groups who have been his victim end up being at each other's throat.. Tricknology at it's finest. THAT'S why Elijah Muhhamad and the Black Muslims, accurately imo, referred to white folks(generally speaking) as the devil, not because of some red creature with a pitchfork, bullsh*t, but because of their ability to sow seeds of discord/chaos/conflict/divisiveness, yet still come out looking the picture of goodness and light, when the sh*t hits the fan,lol.
BTW, it's not uncommon for whites to do this. It's the same phenomenon i mentioned earlier, regarding white South AFricans switching up their style when finding out they are dealing with foreign born or American Blacks, rather than native South AFrican Blacks, treating foreign born Blacks different and better. It's all game I tell ya. They are smart enough to exploit the:gullibility/excess pride/tribalistic impulses, that they PEEPED to be hallmarks of the Black psyche, CENTURIES ago. They KNOW that instead of peeping game, being analytical, and TRUSTING each other/GIVING EACH OTHER THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT/GETTING TOGETHER AND COMPARING NOTES, on his ass, what we are more likely to do is swallow HIS bullsh*t,hook, line and sinker/take HIS word as Gospel/Beliveve the worst about each other(and the best about HIM), and be content to ONE UP each other, on WHICH group of us, is HIS favorite, /viewed more favorably/liked more/treated more "nicely" by him,lol. Boy I tell ya.....
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
impactplayer
Villager
| Joined: | Saturday March 5th, 2005 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 775 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 05:22 |
|
DSP wrote:
It's a complex situation. From my own personal perspective, when I first came here to America I, my family and other black immigrants I knew were not treated well by the African Americans we came in contact with at all. We tried to fit in with them but all they did was verbally and physically attack us because we were different. This is how resentment builds over the years. How much respect can you give someone before you have to fight back out of respect for yourself. I made a post about this before in another thread. Not all of them were like this, but most were when I first got here, and all my cousins experienced the same thi ng. In alot of cases ...socially immigrant blacks were/are treated better by whites.
This is the same issue witht he Hatian vs. AA violence that's going on in Florida. It's like tribal war or something. Anyway as I grew older I realized I couldn't completely fault the African Americans I experienced ignorance from. Many have been trained to take on the charactersitics of their former masters. Aggressive and attacking anything that is different.
To be honest it is because of African Americans that many immigrants and non whites enjoy the rights they do here in this country. . There are also a large quiet multitude of African Americans that are high achieving and successful and open minded. The lines are blurred ssometimes because African Americans do not want to be like white people and distance themsleves from their ghetto brothers and sisters the way whites distance themselves from the trailor park lower class whites, although a few black people do. I do business with alot of well established African Americans. When it comes to business and economics, from my experience, there are alot of African Americans that do well and work well with Africans. It may sound cliche, but you really can't paint all people with the same brush.
While I dont deny you were treated badly some teasing is to be expected at least if you were around 24 or younger at the time you arrived in the U.S. This is normal of all people including AA's. If you were older then obviously thats a problem. I think some african americans attiudes change by the region too. I could never live in NY because from experience alot of black people treat everyone whose not a NY'er (let alone an immigrant)
like sh*t.
____________________
One of the best ways to win in any game is to write the rules.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
chi
Villager
| Joined: | Wednesday June 30th, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1809 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 09:16 |
|
BWAHAHAHAHAHA
Sure African immigrants are smart, focused, and motivated but lets get real here, they arguably have the most pointless existance of anyone. They ususally turn republican and live the rest of thier lives bitter at AA's because whites wont accept them and thier too proud to connect with the AA community.
Honey, we dont give that much space in our minds to Whites or African Americans, we dont come to America to be sanctioned by Whites or Black Americans.........
Alot of them get Ivy league degrees and end up in moderatly good paying middle management jobs for the rest of thier lives. A high percentage joins the military too. Africans in the motherland are poor but at least they stay to contribute to the growth of Africa. AA's are trying to build Black America..African immigrants just..well....exist.
Is this what you have uncovered in your research of what African immigrants contribute back home, or is that just an assumption?
Luckly these types are in the minority, alot african immigrants integrate in the community and go far (and by integrate I dont mean cutting off your cultral heritage but rather not shove it in an AA's face) most dont take to kindly to it. I have said many times on here my best friend is African. I think the U.S. is a great place for black people especially at this point in time but if anyone (particularily black people) decides to live in the U.S. with a pompous attitude it will be a lonely and pointless place to live.
Rightly or wrongly.......immigrants dont always wish to intergrate/assimilate in the manner you are advocating, they dont always come to the US with a desire to be Americans in a cultural sense in fact many integrate into their own community which is ready and waiting for them (Asians, Hispanics, Latin Americans, Haitians, Africans).........thats what many Americans need to understand, both Black and White.
Last edited on Wednesday June 6th, 2007 10:09 by chi
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Burning Spear
Villager
| Joined: | Monday May 17th, 2004 |
| Location: | Washington DC, USA |
| Posts: | 3033 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 10:48 |
|
I still say the term "African immigrant" is too large.That includes Nigerian academics,Ethiopian computer programers,Ghanian World Bank officals, Sudeanese refugee and so forth.So, the applican pool is thus larger for advancement from the start.
As a whole immigrants period put a premium on education as do AA's.I think HBCU's are testimony to that.At Howard's recent grauation many of those receiving PhD's were indeed African,but they weren't the majority.That belonged to African American woman.
Though the business acuman of African immigrants should be lauded the reality is not what being discussed on this board.
Here is a list of America's top Black businesses by industry.The top African immgrant business is CAMAC International Corp. , started by Kase L. Lawal who married an AA woman and was educated at an HBCU on the grad and undergrad level BTW.Thus the dynamic on those factors are never mentioned in African upward mobility in America.
http://www.blackenterprise.com/lists/BE100is.asp?is100=106
Last edited on Wednesday June 6th, 2007 10:50 by Burning Spear
____________________
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Rockette
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday April 7th, 2005 |
| Location: | New York USA |
| Posts: | 610 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 11:26 |
|
Since Africans welcome and host people from India, Lebanon, Russia, China etc. and give them free rein to abuse and subjugate their own people, I guess many feel it's normal to duplicate the same when they leave the Continent. They can't understand the resistance from AAs since they readily allow anyone (as long as they aren't of African descent) to roll up and lord over their populations. There's an over emphasis on titles and elitism back home so they don't understand why AAs do not live in awe of them once they land. There are certain subgroups of various tribes that are deemed outcasts because of some ancient curse and everybody "accepts" their place and buy into this hierarchy which we will never recognize. All this is at the root of many conflicts currently plaguing the Continent...the mere need to feel superior strictly to other Blacks.
http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Nigeria.html
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
Classes and Castes. The highest tier of Nigerian society is made up of wealthy politicians, businessmen, and the educated elite. These people, however, make up only a tiny portion of the Nigerian population. Many Nigerians today suffer under great poverty. The lower classes tend have little chance of breaking from the vicious cycle of poverty. Poor education, lack of opportunities, ill health, corrupt politicians, and lack of even small amounts of wealth for investment all work to keep the lower classes in their place.
In some Nigerian ethnic groups there is also a form of caste system that treats certain members of society as pariahs. The criteria for determining who belongs to this lowest caste vary from area to area but can include being a member of a minority group, an inhabitant of a specific village, or a member of a specific family or clan. The Igbo call this lower-caste group Osu. Members of the community will often discourage personal, romantic, and business contact with any member of the Osu group, regardless of an individual's personal merits or characteristics. Because the Osu are designated as untouchable, they often lack political representation, access to basic educational or business opportunities, and general social interaction. This kind of caste system is also found among the Yoruba and the Ibibios.
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Rockette
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday April 7th, 2005 |
| Location: | New York USA |
| Posts: | 610 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 11:38 |
|
Burning Spear wrote: I still say the term "African immigrant" is too large.That includes Nigerian academics,Ethiopian computer programers,Ghanian World Bank officals, Sudeanese refugee and so forth.So, the applican pool is thus larger for advancement from the start.
As a whole immigrants period put a premium on education as do AA's.I think HBCU's are testimony to that.At Howard's recent grauation many of those receiving PhD's were indeed African,but they weren't the majority.That belonged to African American woman.
Though the business acuman of African immigrants should be lauded the reality is not what being discussed on this board.
Here is a list of America's top Black businesses by industry.The top African immgrant business is CAMAC International Corp. , started by Kase L. Lawal who married an AA woman and was educated at an HBCU on the grad and undergrad level BTW.Thus the dynamic on those factors are never mentioned in African upward mobility in America.
http://www.blackenterprise.com/lists/BE100is.asp?is100=106
It's crucial for them to downplay all our accomplishments to divert attention from their own lack of progress and reasons why they find life impossible on the Continent.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
stick-upKid
Villager
| Joined: | Wednesday August 10th, 2005 |
| Location: | United Kingdom |
| Posts: | 1328 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 12:56 |
|
Rockette wrote:
It's crucial for them to downplay all our accomplishments to divert attention from their own lack of progress and reasons why they find life impossible on the Continent.
___
Rockette, you're falling hook line and sinker into the f-cking trap.
Control yourself. Or are you stupid to see how you've fell for it?
____________________
They want you to Forget History.
They want you to Forgive Injustice.
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Vubundada_Kandaba
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 13:07 |
|
The question was asked by several African Americans on this board and it goes something like "outperform who". The answer is Africans are outperforming Whites, Asians, Blacks, and Latinos etc etc. This is what the article suggests and I find it hard why people can't accept that. This is not a secret folks; even whites would not want to admit this open secret. It remains to be seen if the Africans who are outperforming Americans Academically are also paid the salaries they deserved.
It is no secret that Africans are outperforming Americans academically as the article by Clarence Page (An African American) suggests, but are they outperforming economically? Another question is are these Africans here in America doing something for Africa and their home Countries? If so then what are they doing to help their people back home? This is what we need to focus and ask questions about rather than throwing dirt, mud slinging and other accusations. Based on the replies here, I will say the majority of people here missed the focus of this article. A good problem solver will look at a question or problem before tackling it.
I read somewhere that Nigeria alone has over 21,000 doctors here in the United States. I am talking of Doctors here folks. This is testament to hard work and drive to succeed.
Africans whether at home or abroad in America are Educational focused and driven. Talking from experience; at home in Sudan, Education is the driving force and we treat it as the reason why we are born. You will find an illiterate father sending his kids to school and he wants nothing from his kids short of a PhD (doctorate from his kids). An example is the story of Daniel Akech Thiong from Sudan, who started grade 2/primary 2/form 2 at age 15 and by age 24 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Theology with a 4.0 G.P.A and will be starting his PhD program in Mathematicis this coming August 2007.
Bachelor’s degrees are not good anymore for us; rather the push for us is to go for PhDs. Many African families or Sudanese families here in America or back home stress that. The parents may not have much Education but they take pride when their kids are called Doctor, PhD so and so.
Another reason Africans abroad work hard is because people back home are counting on us. I can decide to leave America and go back home with no money at all, but as long as I have my degrees people will respect me. The first thing people back home ask is what degree did you bring with you, are you a PhD, and not how much money did you bring?
I am kinda of busy trying to complete Project deadlines and other papers, but I may try to find the source if I have the time.Last edited on Wednesday June 6th, 2007 14:08 by Vubundada_Kandaba
____________________
Runaway Mayhem; Sonja Wanda, the Next Naomi Campbell & the face on London Double Decker Buses, Spring 2004.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
chi
Villager
| Joined: | Wednesday June 30th, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1809 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 13:09 |
|
What a load of absolute nonsense ......of all the Black populations and groups worldwide, it is the Black American who recieves the most attention regarding their achievements and contributions...........
@Vanda......yes many Africans abroad are doing something for their people back home, that goes without saying. When they are sending the money back home and paying for education and medical needs, is it not helping people?
Are they stand in presidents, no......but which private citizen is?
I know growing up, there were (and still are) numurous community groups who are abroad but hail from the same place, they managed to build schools, hospitals, clean water projects.........some even give up their time and provide free medical care back home. Others have scholarship programs,these were ordinary individuals who were not rich and had not even achieved what they set out for YET, but they contributed and in a very commendable way too........
I hope that answers your question.
Last edited on Wednesday June 6th, 2007 13:38 by chi
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Vubundada_Kandaba
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 13:51 |
|
chi wrote:
@Vanda......yes many Africans abroad are doing something for their people back home, that goes without saying. When they are sending the money back home and paying for education and medical needs, is it not helping people?
Are they stand in presidents, no......but which private citizen is?
I know growing up, there were (and still are) numurous community groups who are abroad but hail from the same place, they managed to build schools, hospitals, clean water projects.........some even give up their time and provide free medical care back home. Others have scholarship programs,these were ordinary individuals who were not rich and had not even achieved what they set out for YET, but they contributed and in a very commendable way too........
I hope that answers your question.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whats up Chi.
I actually know the answer as I am testament to the contributions we send back home and other Africans Countries including ours. I brought that up for debate so people can focus on it and see if we can expand our contributuins even more. By focusing on this angle, our American cousins can see that we are helping our people back home.
____________________
Runaway Mayhem; Sonja Wanda, the Next Naomi Campbell & the face on London Double Decker Buses, Spring 2004.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
chi
Villager
| Joined: | Wednesday June 30th, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1809 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 14:09 |
|
Vubundada_Kandaba wrote: chi wrote:
@Vanda......yes many Africans abroad are doing something for their people back home, that goes without saying. When they are sending the money back home and paying for education and medical needs, is it not helping people?
Are they stand in presidents, no......but which private citizen is?
I know growing up, there were (and still are) numurous community groups who are abroad but hail from the same place, they managed to build schools, hospitals, clean water projects.........some even give up their time and provide free medical care back home. Others have scholarship programs,these were ordinary individuals who were not rich and had not even achieved what they set out for YET, but they contributed and in a very commendable way too........
I hope that answers your question.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whats up Chi.
I actually know the answer as I am testament to the contributions we send back home and other Africans Countries including ours. I brought that up for debate so people can focus on it and see if we can expand our contributuins even more. By focusing on this angle, our American cousins can see that we are helping our people back home.
Thats good......I dont know why I called you "vanda" though, looks nothing like your actual screen name.....lol
I think its ok for us to give ourselves a pat on the back, the report was one which reflected well on us as Africans and black people. We can do much more, but let us also agnkowledge how far some of us have come too. Besides a seperate thread can be created to discuss where we are falling short I think.
There are some individuals who have come back from abroad to serve their nations greatly..........but outside of their own country they really are not celebrated.
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
comfortandjoy
Villager
| Joined: | Saturday February 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 139 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 14:49 |
|
Brain Drain and Capacity Building in Africa
http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-71249-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
Ainalem Tebeje
"In 25 years, Africa will be empty of brains." That dire warning, from Dr Lalla Ben Barka of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), reflects the growing alarm over Africa’s increasing exodus of human capital. Data on brain drain in Africa is scarce and inconsistent; however, statistics show a continent losing the very people it needs most for economic, social, scientific, and technological progress.
The ECA estimates that between 1960 and 1989, some 127,000 highly qualified African professionals left the continent. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Africa has been losing 20,000 professionals each year since 1990. This trend has sparked claims that the continent is dying a slow death from brain drain, and belated recognition by the United Nations that "emigration of African professionals to the West is one of the greatest obstacles to Africa’s development." [See box: Some Statistics on Africa’s Brain Drain]
The costs of brain drain
Brain drain in Africa has financial, institutional, and societal costs. African countries get little return from their investment in higher education, since too many graduates leave or fail to return home at the end of their studies.
In light of a dwindling professional sector, African institutions are increasingly dependent on foreign expertise. To fill the human resource gap created by brain drain, Africa employs up to 150,000 expatriate professionals at a cost of US$4 billion a year.
The departure of health professionals has eroded the ability of medical and social services in several sub-Saharan countries to deliver even basic health and social needs. Thirty-eight of the 47 sub-Saharan African countries fall short of the minimum World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 20 physicians per 100,000 people.
This continuous outflow of skilled labour contributes to a widening gap in science and technology between Africa and other continents. Africa’s share of global scientific output has fallen from 0.5 in the mid-1980s to 0.3% in the mid-1990s. There are more African scientists and engineers in the USA than in the entire continent.
The flight of professionals from Africa endangers the economic and political systems in several African countries. As its middle class crumbles and its contributions to the tax system, employment, and civil society disappear, Africa risks becoming home to even greater mass poverty.
In search of solutions
Throughout four decades of Africa losing its best and brightest, the world debated the semantics of the issue and focused almost solely on remittances, overlooking the implications of brain drain on human resources, institutional capacity, and health/social services.
Efforts to stem Africa’s brain drain focusing on repatriation strategies were discouraging. Studies have shown that repatriation will not work so long as African governments fail to address the pull and push factors that influence emigration. Moreover, the relationship between African governments and the African Diaspora remained a major barrier to finding solutions.
Virtual participation
One potential solution to Africa’s brain drain is virtual participation. Virtual participation is participation in nation-building without physical relocation. It also shows promise as a means to engage the African Diaspora in development efforts. Mercy Brown of the University of Cape Town notes that virtual participation "… sees the brain drain not as a loss but a potential gain… Highly skilled expatriates are seen as a pool of potentially useful human resources for the country of origin… the challenge is to mobilize these brains."
Questions remain, however. Will virtual participation work in a continent where government–Diaspora relations are adversarial, and information technology almost nonexistent, and where development needs are complex and require a sustained commitment?
The Diaspora as stakeholder
Recent developments in government–Diaspora relations show positive signs of change. A recent study, Semantics Aside: the Role of the African Diaspora in Africa’s Capacity Building Efforts, revealed emerging Diaspora efforts to assume a more active role in Africa’s development. The study, conducted by the Association for Higher Education and Development (AHEAD), a Diaspora group based in Canada, was funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
Semantics Aside examined the potential of virtual participation to facilitate an effective and sustained Diaspora commitment to Africa’s development efforts. The study concluded that virtual participation has tremendous potential to channel the untapped intellectual and material input from the African Diaspora. Moreover, it recorded a growing awareness among the African Diaspora of its moral, intellectual, and social responsibility to contribute to Africa’s development efforts.
Africa has shown a growing will to reconcile with the African Diaspora. Both the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Union (AU) have formally recognized the African Diaspora as a key player in the development agenda of the continent. In 2003, the AU amended its Charter so as to "… encourage the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of the continent."
Virtual linkages
Another potential area where the talents of the Diaspora could be channelled is virtual linkages. Virtual linkages are independent, non-political, and non-profit networks facilitating skill transfer and capacity-building. These networks mobilize skilled Diaspora members’ expertise for the development process in their countries of origin. To date, 41 virtual networks in 30 different countries have been identified. Six of these are African, including the South African Network of Skills Abroad (SANSA) with members in 68 countries.
Individuals of the Diaspora also contribute through virtual networks, as visiting scholars, by investing in companies, and assisting in joint ventures between host and sending countries. According to author Damtew Teferra, Africa lags behind: "… This pattern of contributing to scientific and technological development is repeated for many Third World countries, though not… for most of Africa."
In 2001, IOM launched the Migration for the Development of Africa (MIDA) "to develop the potential synergy between… African migrants and the demand from countries by facilitating the transfer of virtual skills and resources of the African Diaspora to their countries of origin." Based on the notion of human capital mobility through temporary, long-term, and virtual participation, IOM works with African and host countries and Diaspora members. MIDA has launched pilot projects in a number of African countries.
Next steps
In November 2004, AHEAD, in collaboration with IDRC, organized an international Stakeholder Roundtable on Mobilizing the African Diaspora toward Development Efforts in Africa. The roundtable, held in Ottawa, Canada, brought together key stakeholders, including the IOM, Canadian government agencies, African missions, non-governmental organizations, and Diaspora groups to discuss brain drain in Africa and potential strategies for mobilizing the African Diaspora.
Some of the issues identified included the need to recognize the African Diaspora as a key stakeholder in the current dialogue and efforts to address the issues of brain drain and capacity-building in Africa. Effective and sustained Diaspora engagement will require policy and resource commitments by key stakeholders, including international organizations, African governments, and host countries.
The emerging Diaspora movement to become more active in Africa’s development efforts, the growing political will in Africa to recognize the Diaspora’s potential contribution, and the possibilities created by information technology show that the African Diaspora is not, after all, a total loss to the continent.
A former journalist, Ainalem Tebeje is Vice-President of AHEAD.
Last edited on Wednesday June 6th, 2007 14:56 by comfortandjoy
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
comfortandjoy
Villager
| Joined: | Saturday February 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 139 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 14:51 |
|
Africa: Tackling Brain Drain in Africa
A recent United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report has revealed that Africa is suffering from massive brain drain. The manpower needed for the economic growth of the continent is being lost to outsiders. According to the report, Africa, since 1990, has been losing 200, 000 professionals every year. Consequently, the continent spends a whopping $4 billion every year in the employment of 150 expatriates to fill the human resource gap created by this mass exodus of qualified Africans out of their continent .
This indeed is a very worrisome report corroborated by the mass exodus of qualified Nigerians to America, Europe and other more developed continents . Every day, our airports are crowded with our best brains fleeing Nigeria in search of the so-called greener pasture abroad. Foreign embassies in Nigeria are daily swamped with young Nigerian talents scampering for visa to flee the country. The most regrettable aspect of the phenomenon is that while Nigeria is in this sorry state, the economy and technology of advanced countries are being driven by some Nigerian geniuses living abroad.
The tragedy of brain drain in Africa is that it is self-inflicted. Africa cannot be complaining of the loss of its human capital when it lacks the enabling environment for the flourishing of this essential capital. The continent is plagued from top to bottom by pervasive poverty, war, environmental hazards and diseases. Social infrastrutural and institutional decay is another problem. In Nigeria, for example, the supply of electricity is epileptic. But a worse problem besetting Africa which is the principal cause of capital decumulation is unemployment. There are many young professionals roaming the African streets without jobs. Faced with unemployment frustration, many of these jobless youth are lured into crimes.
Obviously, without employment and job security, Africans in the disapora will not find the African soil attractive. That is why we agree with the UNDP Administrator, Kemal Deris, that one of the greatest developmental challenges facing Africa at the moment is to convert the pattern of growth in Africa into a pro-poor and economic-centered growth. The elimination of poverty and satisfying of basic human needs in Africa will definitely act as incentives to Africans in the diaspora to return home and get involved with the development of their respective countries.
The economic policies in Africa should focus on retaining the human capital needed for economic growth. A continent which is undergoing the process of decumulation of its human capital largely due to socio-economic deprivations, is far from being an ideal continent for sustainable democracy and human development.
Human beings are our hope of a better Africa . Every society grows at its own pace according to the aspiration of its own people. Impelled by the philosophy of Pan-Africanism, qualified Africans in the diaspora should head back home to develop their continent. Home is home. If the mass exodus continues unabated, Africa will become a deserted continent and foreigners will inherit our lands.
The challenge before African leaders therefore is to create the enabling environment for its skilled man-power. That way, the incidence of braindrain will be greatly curtailed.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200705140069.html
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
comfortandjoy
Villager
| Joined: | Saturday February 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 139 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 14:54 |
|
| Not sure how true those reports are, one of them states clearly that data on this problem is scarce and inconsistent, so how they compile the statistics I do not know - but if it is even close to the true picture of what is happening, it's very troubling indeed.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
DSP
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday January 6th, 2005 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3849 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Wednesday June 6th, 2007 15:17 | | | |
