Black, Though Not American

We tend to reject the fact that we are black. This is common amongst black internationals. I am guilty of it too. Today, I decide to expunge that notion from my memory bank, and hopefully yours.

Be ye from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean Islands, Europe, Oceania, South America, etc, and you have African heritage, you are black. Wherever you are, you are considered black. Most black internationals seem to deny this fact. True, some of us are “blacker” (permit my term) than the others, but that does not erase the fact that we are all black. Remember the “One Drop Rule”?

Yes, there is unity in diversity. But so-called diversity has to be defined for unity to be birthed from it. “I’m African; I am ‘Cablanasian’,” we proudly voice, not knowing that we are gradually eroding the definition of that which makes blacks so diverse. If we constantly erode this definition of diversity, when do we give a chance to this pregnant world to birth unity out of diversity? When?

No racism intended. I can stand and say, “I am proudly Nigerian. I am proudly Black.” Can you? You do not have to be American to be black. Until we globally unite as a people, black, we cannot create a unique diversity that will fuel the unity in diversity. Hand in hand, let us help us grow. There is strength in the unity of diversity. There is unity in diversity.