The other day I heard one of the most ignorant comments. I mean truly ignorant because this man was clueless, I had to school him. We were at the Sprint store Monday trying to get my phone fixed. I was told there was a long wait for service so I sat down, and this man struck up a conversation. An older black man, I’m guessing in his 60s. He starts asking me all these question…interrogating me it seemed. Then he asked me about my daughter’s father. “So where is her father?” was the exact question. None of his business, but being polite I answered. I told him he lived in another country. “What country?” Dang, this man is nosy! But again, I answered the question. I wasn’t specific but I told him a country in Africa. So he stares long and hard at Nia and replies, “she don’t look African.” Huh?
“Do you know how many countries are in Africa?” I asked him. He looked genuinely dumbfounded. “No, tell me,” he said. Man there are nearly 60 countries on the continent, with thousands of different ethnic groups, who speak thousands of different languages. Then he proceeded to tell me that all of the Africans he’s known have been black, shiny black (his words). Yes Africa has the darkest of dark to the lightest of light people…more diverse than the U.S.
His ignorance made me think about an episode of College Hill on BET. I caught half of an episode with my niece. Apparently there’s a girl this season from Guinea. Well some of the other students called on her because they couldn’t understand someone who was African (I could have the details wrong, my niece was explaining it to me). They thought she would be able to understand because she’s from Africa. She had to tell them about the thousands of languages spoken on the continent, and that she only speaks 3. And these were college students! {sigh}
I’m stunned by the ignorance. Wow.
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wow!! i can’t really say that i’m too surprised at his comments, questions or ignorance though. i think that once some people reach a certain age they tend to say/ask whatever they feel. and you know, he probably just didn’t have a clue. sadly enough, i’m sure he’s not the only one who believes that africa is just one large continent filled with shiny black folks that all speak one language!!
but hey, on another note, i absolutely LOVE that picture of your daughter. she’s so adorable with her little puff balls!
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Unfortch, I’ve gotten this many times myself. The one that was most shocking came from a woman who was from Ghana and who didn’t “look African” herself. When someone finds out I’m African (Nigerian, by the way), I usually just mentally prepare for some ignorant comment (innocent or otherwise).
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Actually this question comes up a lot even here in South Africa. There are many debates about who is an African even here - since we are a rainbow nation - so many languages so many cultures - all have been around for centuries - all South African citizens - but still people often refer to each other as - African, European, non-African, Indian etc. …. this debate continues on the continent as well….
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Goodness! Sometimes people don’t reach for knowledge unless they think that it directly effects the life that they’re living right now. I think it’s great that you answered his questions despite their being nosy, good for you!
I know I’d feel very uncomfortable in that situation too.
It seems they just don’t teach geography in American schools.
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Steve,
they did when I was in school, the kids just didn’t pay attention
I am not surprised. I know people who did not know there were light skinned Africans and still call Africa a country! Embarrassing
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Dear. Lord.
*Shaking head*