"Atlanta, mecca for middle-class blacks, also harbors poverty" (MLK Day 1986 NY Times report)

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Spade

I absolutely understand what ADOS is about if it is celebratory about your lineage and heritage. Other Blacks from different nations celebrate it loud and clear flying their flags, marching in parades, hosting summits, etc. Black Americans are simply now acknowledging what they have always been which is American. I personally prefer Black. Not African as that has not defined who I am and where I'm from...

Amen.

Originally Posted by Spade

...
However, I wish there were better leaders than Tone and Yvette.

I agree.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by CleverOne

We need unity in teh African diaspora but you are also right,Blacks have been in the US since the beginning and it kills me when blacks deny their birthrights to this country just like whites who came on the Mayflower

Yes.

Both-and.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Spade

I would say Claude Anderson had a better way of actually approaching this. But again, it’s understandable acknowledging that we are indeed a product of America. Those in the Caribbean were slaves as well but they still rep their island and wave their flag at every chance and they are super proud of this. You will see it every goombay, Carnival, or Labor Day parade which btw, nothing is wrong with that.

...

Yes. The focus should be on actualizing a true/authentic ethnic identity.

Originally Posted by Spade

... It should have been about what were you asking for and accepting or acknowledging that you are American.

Indeed.




Good posts, Spade.

[CleverOne]

Originally Posted by Redlionjr

Difference is their ancestors came here looking for a new identity and created one with them and only them in mind. Our ancestors were brought here, forced to abandon their cultural identity, labeled property and somewhere down the line the descendants of those enslaved Africans who had their culture stripped from them eventually assimilated to a national identity that wasn't meant for them.

White people in this country benefit from being an American. Black people in general benefit nothing from being an American in our birthplace. I mean structural racism has torn our people since we were brought to this country and still does to this day but holding on to an identity does what exactly for Black people? Doesn't make you wealthy. Nationalism is a mindset created by our oppressors and later adopted by different ethnic groups who have no real power in the structure of this country. American Nationalism at it's core is xenophobic and racist. Again America is built off the back of slavery and genocide. ADOS has adopted that mindset and targets different African descendants outside of America. This is why ADOS is so anti-immigrant and specifically Anti- African/ Caribbean. They've adopted a White racist concept. They've adapted the "If you don't like America than leave this country" mindset. The major difference is ADOS fears their losing a seat next to the White man in fear of the so called "model" Black American which is the African and Caribbean, who is socially doing "better" at integrating into American mainstream society than us "Foundational Black Americans".

It's cool to celebrate the accomplishments of your ancestors who laid the foundation for America to be as powerful as it is today. It's okay to honor our ancestors who survived the Trans Atlantic slave trade and identify with the culture we created here in America in spite of slavery. But not at the expense of distancing ourselves from people we have more in common with genetically and grouping ourselves with a Nation who never consider us equal by and large to begin with anyway. But continue to wave your American flag at the fourth of July,hot dogs and apple pies blah blah blah.

This is the first time I ever heard of that group and im always skeptical to follow anyones ideology.MY own ideology is rooted in not allowing anyone to take what I have a right to.Yes my ancestors were problaly slaves but that is the very reason I feel connected to this land because cuturally I have no other connection anywhere else but here.
These white supremacist keep telling us to go back where we came from but why?Why should I listen to then and give them what they want?They have tried to stop us from voting taken our rights and land.

No.Im not giving up all that my ancestors have bled for.I just cant and we cant allow them to succeed in us giving in.
Im not saying blacks should separate ourselves. Even in Africa they are killing each other over scraps.African unity has always been a threat and its why Khaddifffi was shot in Libya(bad guy but great ideas about African unity.
There should be more cooperation within the African diaspora but every man no matter what race has a connection somewhere and no one race should tell another race where and how they should live .
I am an African American with equal emphasis on both of those words.Im not ashamed of that

[DreamerD]

Originally Posted by Redlionjr

Difference is their ancestors came here looking for a new identity and created one with them and only them in mind. Our ancestors were brought here, forced to abandon their cultural identity, labeled property and somewhere down the line the descendants of those enslaved Africans who had their culture stripped from them eventually assimilated to a national identity that wasn't meant for them.

White people in this country benefit from being an American. Black people in general benefit nothing from being an American in our birthplace. I mean structural racism has torn our people since we were brought to this country and still does to this day but holding on to an identity does what exactly for Black people? Doesn't make you wealthy. Nationalism is a mindset created by our oppressors and later adopted by different ethnic groups who have no real power in the structure of this country. American Nationalism at it's core is xenophobic and racist. Again America is built off the back of slavery and genocide. ADOS has adopted that mindset and targets different African descendants outside of America. This is why ADOS is so anti-immigrant and specifically Anti- African/ Caribbean. They've adopted a White racist concept. They've adapted the "If you don't like America than leave this country" mindset. The major difference is ADOS fears their losing a seat next to the White man in fear of the so called "model" Black American which is the African and Caribbean, who is socially doing "better" at integrating into American mainstream society than us "Foundational Black Americans".

It's cool to celebrate the accomplishments of your ancestors who laid the foundation for America to be as powerful as it is today. It's okay to honor our ancestors who survived the Trans Atlantic slave trade and identify with the culture we created here in America in spite of slavery. But not at the expense of distancing ourselves from people we have more in common with genetically and grouping ourselves with a Nation who never consider us equal by and large to begin with anyway. But continue to wave your American flag at the fourth of July,hot dogs and apple pies blah blah blah.

Very well written post! I'll keep my response to myself because it ventures outside of ATL, but really enjoyed the read.

[glovenyc]

Originally Posted by Spade

I absolutely understand what ADOS is about if it is celebratory about your lineage and heritage. Other Blacks from different nations celebrate it loud and clear flying their flags, marching in parades, hosting summits, etc. Black Americans are simply now acknowledging what they have always been which is American. I personally prefer Black. Not African as that has not defined who I am and where I'm from.

However, I wish there were better leaders than Tone and Yvette.

As a black man, my history and lineage didn't start with slavery here in America...it was interrupted by slavery. I am not a descendant of slaves. I am a descendant of farmers, mathematicians, warriors, kings, queens, princes, artists, medicine men, writers, poets, etc who were enslaved.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by glovenyc

As a black man, my history and lineage didn't start with slavery here in America...it was interrupted by slavery. I am not a descendant of slaves. I am a descendant of farmers, mathematicians, warriors, kings, queens, princes, artists, medicine men, writers, poets, etc who were enslaved.

Ok.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by glovenyc

As a black man, my history and lineage didn't start with slavery here in America...it was interrupted by slavery. I am not a descendant of slaves. I am a descendant of farmers, mathematicians, warriors, kings, queens, princes, artists, medicine men, writers, poets, etc who were enslaved.

Originally Posted by Spade

Ok.

Indigenous Black American. Foundational Black American.

[JC84]

I like that you explained what "mecca" means, OP. Beautifully illustrates the dismal state of Georgia education.