Panel highlights culture clash
Alesha Bailey/Staff Reporter
Issue date: 2/10/10 Section: News
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African Americans: Speak to Your Brothers and Sisters was in the Charleston/Mattoon Room at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The lecture was hosted by Wille Morris, president of the African Student Association.
The lecture started with video interviews, where students voiced their opinions about what Africa means to them and then moved into a panel discussion.
Panel members answered questions from the audience members, who also got involved with the discussion. There were six members on the panel who either were black, come from African countries or were raised by parents from Africa.
When discussing an unfamiliarity and disconnection with African culture, the audience mentioned the only reference to African heritage in their personal experiences were Black History Month or watching the movie "Roots." As children they said many of their teachers presented Africa as primitive.
Klevor Abo is a professor in African American studies who is originally from Ghana. While discussing the culture clash between African American's and blacks, Abo felt strongly about the subject.
"If you want to compare apples to oranges than you should be comparing yourself to middle class African Americans," Abo said.
The lack of history and knowledge of Africa is what some students said may have been a result of their attitude toward the continent and the heritage.
Students from Africa mentioned how the continent is so diverse in language and culture, and how Africans and African-Americans attempt to categorize African society. One African student remembers being offended after being asked if he spoke African.
African students at the lecture said some of the national languages taught in Africa include English, French and Portuguese, while other languages are taught at home.
Members of the audience mentioned that African Americans are sometimes disassociated with being apart of the African culture because of shame or denial.
Cindy Owusu, a junior and health studies major, is African American with Nigerian parents. She said her friends welcome their own African heritage and want to know more about it.
"They want to go to an African party because they want to see how we do it as opposed to others," Owusu said.
During the discussion the African students saw America as a land of opportunity and better chances, and mentioned that African Americans are spoiled when it comes to the education system.
African American students said that opportunities vary by the social environment, and not all students are able to obtain educational resources for their benefit.
Students used the Chicago public schools as an example.
Michelle Adeniyi, a senior and psychology major, is originally from Nigeria. She said that she joined the panel and was involved with the debate to educate and dispel myths associated with Africa.
Adeniyi said she knows other people have stereotypical viewpoints about blacks being on welfare or being involved in gangs. She also said the negative perspectives are changing because of President Obama's influence.
"Africans are going off of what they see in the media, just like African Americans are going off of what they see in the media about Africans," she said.
Abo's main concern about the panel was the limitation on addressing race.
"They didn't address any questions of social class, they didn't address any questions of gender," he said.
Abo said clarity requires analysis of race, gender and social class at once, which is difficult to do.
In order to fully understand the debate of Africans and African Americans, Abo said that students should study related issues to challenge themselves.
"Not for a grade, but for yourself," Abo said.
Alesha Bailey can be reached at 581-7942 or ambailey2@eiu.edu.
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