A time you, "felt" black in the WEST

[SOMACOON]

Being in the West stereotypical beings can be spotted in our daily lives.
Racism, although many times hidden is predominantly present in today's society.
As an African, and as a black man (racially classification here) i've experienced my fair share of racism.
I'm sure many people on this site who happen to be residing in the West have witnessed or perhaps encountered racism.
Feel free to share and address your confrontations on bigotry and racism.

MY STORY: ONE
* I was at work during an evening taking on the OT, I was approached by an elderly lady who needed assistance getting to the bus stop. Being the nice person I am, I asked her to follow me directing her to the station. On our there, some random white lady approaching us on the opposite side walk decided to step out her way, and approached us abnormally. Instead of asking for directions, this women immediately asked the old white women beside me whether she was okay or not, as if she weren't in good hands. Keep in mind, I was assisting this lady to the bus stop. I was shocked and quickly asked, "Whats the suppose to mean?"
The stranger than ignored my question and continued questioning the old lady as if shes lost or obtained.
The old lady told her i was helping her get to the bus stop, and this lady insisted that she do, "Do you mind if i walk you there" At this moment, I started feeling annoyed and exasperated. She ended up walking toward her side of road, and continued with her night as if absolutely nothing happened.
Feeling disgusted, i pointed to the old lady which direction to head to, and lit myself a cig promptly.


MY STORY: TWO
I remember coming out of a job interview. This means I'm dressed head to toe professionally.
I didn't feel like boarding the train back to my place, so i decided to hike me a taxi.
I'm standing there, waiting for a taxi when a cab being driven by a sikh pulls up at a red light beside me.
I waved him to get his attention, and niggah looked right at me and turned around
I really needed that cab, so i told myself niggah didnt see me, i decided to approach him, and knocked on his window. Magaca ilaahi, this niggah looked straight forward and stared at the light. Keep in mind a nigga dressed professionally
It aint as if, i'm goin ride and dash, i got money in pockets.
Long story short, as soon as the light turned green, nigga stepped on the GAS and had the audacity to look at me as he drove off
Thats when reality hit me hard, the saying, " a niggah cant even catch a cab" just applied to me

There are countless other times that I've experienced racism in America, but contribute whatever happened to you. Mahadsanid.

 

[Tramo]

racism doesnt apply to us special snowflake noble cushitic pharoahs. stop being an bantu bootyclapper sxb

 

[SOMACOON]

racism doesnt apply to us special snowflake noble cushitic pharoahs. stop being an arab bootyclapper sxb

I'm an Arabid bootyclapper?

http://www.somalispot.com/threads/arab-holocaust.3738/
http://www.somalispot.com/threads/palestine.3699/

 

[Tramo]

f*ck i meant to say bantu lol. it was sarcasm sxb chill

 

[SOMACOON]

f*ck i meant to say bantu lol. it was sarcasm sxb chill

I've got issues with Bantus claiming land indigenous to the noble Somali, but i feel as they coould contribute to the society in terms of labor and athletics

 

[Jubba_Man]

Never been mistaken for being black or even close to it. The two main ethnics people mistake me for are either Latino (mostly) or Arab (uncommon). Though, I have had more people mistake me for being an Arab these days. Just a few days ago I was doing work with a Pakistani colleague of mine at a coffee establishment, and a redneck who was walking out said something along the lines of "fucking sand , it's time we turned the middle east into a fucking parking lot" to his buddy. Personally, I don't want to be associated with Arabs these days given all of the backlash so this summer I'm going to super tan and adopt new cushitic identity. Sxb, I hope you will teach me the ways of being an afrocentrist. I will provisionally name myself "Zulu-Yarre" for the time being.

 

[SOMACOON]

Never been mistaken for being black or even close to it. The two main ethnics people mistake me for are either Latino (mostly) or Arab (uncommon). Though, I have had more people mistake me for being an Arab these days. Just a few days ago I was doing work with a Pakistani colleague of mine at a coffee establishment, and a redneck who was walking out said something along the lines of "fucking sand , it's time we turned the middle east into a fucking parking lot" to his buddy. Personally, I don't want to be associated with Arabs these days given all of the backlash so this summer I'm going to super tan and adopt new cushitic identity. Sxb, I hope you will teach me the ways of being an afrocentrist. I will provisionally name myself "Zulu-Yarre" for the time being.

 

[SOMACOON]

@Jubba_Man Sxb, I'm light skinned, dont carry no Bantu phenotype, yet get caught up in racism.

 

[Duchess]

To be honest with you, I've never "felt" black. I've been differentiating myself from blacks since I was 5 years old when my mother was called to school because I was being racist towards a Jamaican student.

Over the years I've had the same argument with new world Blacks regarding Somali ancestry. They always expect me to 'prove' my Africanness to them and get upset when I remind them they're the ones who don't know their ancestry. Like @Jubba_Man said, I've never been mistaken for black. 90% of the time I get confused for 'some sort of Indian'. I don't care for the black cause (whatever that is) but you betcha I will use the black card when it benefits me.

 

[Duchess]

Personally, I don't want to be associated with Arabs these days given all of the backlash so this summer I'm going to super tan and adopt new cushitic identity. Sxb, I hope you will teach me the ways of being an afrocentrist. I will provisionally name myself "Zulu-Yarre" for the time being.

I had to do read that twice. I almost thought I wrote it.

 

[SOMACOON]

To be honest with you, I've never "felt" black. I've been differentiating myself from blacks since I was 5 years old when my mother was called to school because I was being racist towards a Jamaican student.

Over the years I've had the same argument with new world Blacks regarding Somali ancestry. They always expect me to 'prove' my Africanness to them and get upset when I remind them they're the ones who don't know their ancestry. Like @Jubba_Man said, I've never been mistaken for black. 90% of the time I get confused for 'some sort of Indian'. I don't care for the black cause (whatever that is) but you betcha I will use the black card when it benefits me.

By feeling, "black" i meant encountering racism face to face due to your skin color.
I suppose its a lot harder for men simply because the dresscode is modern. Jeans and a white T cant really give away your roots.
In America, even mixed people receive racism, so being of African decent and possessing, "colored" skin, I'm automatically a target of racism.
Although I've never been misread and no one ever assumed Arabia when meeting me, and for that I'm blessed and thankful.
It's probably how i address that causes emotion when whites see me. I make sure my swag is on point, they dont like snapbacks lol
Gotta have swag if a nigga low key rap obamadatazz

I don't care for the black cause (whatever that is) but you betcha I will use the black card when it benefits me.

The black card

 

[Atiya]

Never been confused for black although I've been told I look Jamaican once by some stupid paki, she probably thought it was funny to hurt my feelings. But I've also been told I look Bengali, Yemeni, Ethiopian, Mauritian etc. Which I find offensive. I mean who tf wants to look Bengali?

 

[Sophisticate]

@Duchess raised an interesting point. When we enter school we are not blank slates but arrive with 4-5 year of conditioning.

Many of us are taught Soomali baan ahay not (black). In fact, for those who went to school with Somalis they might have witnessed they differentiated themselves and were in turn considered just that - Somali. In Toronto being black almost always became synonymous with Jamacianess, so I understand why people would want to not be associated with it. Plus, we have a unique cultural identity, what's the point of adopting someone else's, or one created by cadaans and passively accepted by maddows. In fact, I only hear the term black being used as a self-identification for people when they are feeling some kind of "social injustice" or "discrimination" from others. Otherwise, it's back to business as usual and that term really should be reserved for people who don't know where in Africa they are from.

I have not been considered anything but Somali. I won't mention the occasional one-offs but I will tell you nothing beyond Horn of African.

 

[SOMACOON]

@Duchess raised an interesting point. When we enter school we are not blank slates but arrive with 4-5 year of conditioning.

Many of us are taught Soomali baan ahay not (black). In fact, for those who went to school with Somalis they might have witnessed they differentiated themselves and were in turn considered just that - Somali. In Toronto being black almost always became synonymous with Jamacianess, so I understand why people would want to not be associated with it. Plus, we have a unique cultural identity, what's the point of adopting someone else's, or one created by cadaans and passively accepted by maddows. In fact, I only hear the term black being used as a self-identification for people when they are feeling some kind of "social injustice" or "discrimination" from others. Otherwise, it's back to business as usual and that term really should be reserved for people who don't know where in Africa they are from.

I have not been considered anything but Somali. I won't mention the occasional one-offs but I will tell you nothing beyond Horn of African.

The point of this topic was not to address someone feeling black, or someone wanting to be black. I was making the point that White people in America sometimes categorize people based on their skin color, and automatically assume that a person is black simply because of their skin complexion.(Indians not included)
In fact not many white people know of Somalia. But those familiar with the Horn understand the difference. The majority of Americans haven't met Somalis, so they can't differentiate. Just like you, I'm proud to be Somali, and when asked where are you from, I point at the seven. America is a lot more racist than Canada, the black and white BS down here is real. Now Somali niggahs saggin, wearing chains, rims on they whips, ballin, these white boy's can't tell the difference. All they see is niggahs. Up close is a different story. They need A day in life with a Somali. I appreciate you commenting, igu soo wad lol

 

[Tramo]

The point of this topic was not to address someone feeling black, or someone wanting to be black. I was making the point that White people in America sometimes categorize people based on their skin color, and automatically assume that a person is black based on their skin complexion.(Indians not included)
In fact not many white people know of Somalia. But those familiar with the Horn understand the difference. The majority of Americans haven't met Somalis, so they can't differentiate. Just like you, I'm proud to be Somali, and when asked where are you from, I point at the seven. America is a lot more racist than Canada, the black and white BS down here is real. Now Somali niggahs saggin, wearing chains, rims on they whips, ballin, these white boy's can't tell the difference. All they see is niggahs. Up close is a different story. They need A day in life with a Somali. I appreciate you commenting, igu soo wad lol

good point sxb. a lot of people seem to conflate being seen as black by others with actually adopting that identity for yourself. i can be a proud somali but still recognize the unfortunate reality that white people are dumb and racist af and can't (or don't really care to) differentiate me from people i have nothing to do with

 

[Sophisticate]

We live in a different cultural context. Canada and America are not the same. Canada = Multiculturalism/Cultural Mosaic and the US = Melting Pot. America has the remnants of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade permeating in their collective consciousness. That and the majority of people that are of African decent there are AAs, not continental Africans that have different historic legacies (depending on their country of orgin).

I don't mean to offend @Somali_Tycoon but those are mickey mouse occurrences or microaggressions as the SJWs call it. It's not a top priority. I personally believe these small slights if internalized can do some damage to your health, so don't care. It's not like you're back home and can blend in. I would understand if these occurrences were based on job discrimination, educational streaming (miseducation), disproportionate levels of incarceration. I think institutional racism is higher up on your list of priorities as opposed to what an ajnabi thinks of you.

You learned your lesson:

(1) Don't help old cadaan ladies, particularly at night (2) Call a cab instead of flagging one down.

 

[SOMACOON]

Ma niggah

You know the conflict out here sxb, racial classifications, superiority complexes, and endless discrimination.

good point sxb. a lot of people seem to conflate being seen as black by others with actually adopting that identity for yourself. i can be a proud somali but still recognize the unfortunate reality that white people are dumb and racist af and can't (or don't really care to) differentiate me from people i have nothing to do with

 

[SOMACOON]

We live in a different cultural context. Canada and America are not the same. Canada = Multiculturalism/Cultural Mosaic and the US = Melting Pot. America has the remnants of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade permeating in their collective consciousness. That and the majority of people that are of African decent there are AAs, not continental Africans that have different historic legacies (depending on their country of orgin).

I don't mean to offend @Somali_Tycoon but those are mickey mouse occurrences or microaggressions as the SJWs call it. It's not a top priority. I personally believe these small slights if internalized can do some damage to your health, so don't care. It's not like you're back home and can blend in. I would understand if these occurrences were based on job discrimination, educational streaming (miseducation), disproportionate levels of incarceration. I think institutional racism is higher up on your list of priorities as opposed to what an ajnabi thinks of you.

You learned your lesson:

(1) Don't help old cadaan ladies, particularly at night (2) Call a cab instead of flagging one down.

I Agree with many of the things you said, Americas past life still haunts it, which causes division within the community.
And you're absolutely right, I no longer help cadaans, and I make sure my car gets me A to be.
Ain't got time for these Sikhs

 

[Hafez]

I've never been called black, ever. Fuckers call me ISIS, Sand , Hamas everyday sxb (literally). Wallah even Somalis don't know I'm Benaadiri (a lot of them don't know what Banaadir is anyway). But yh, they (gaalos) beat me up a few times LOL. Usually they are afraid of me though.

 

[Gambit]

I've never been called black, ever. Fuckers call me ISIS, Sand , Hamas everyday sxb (literally). Wallah even Somalis don't know I'm Benaadiri (a lot of them don't know what Banaadir is anyway). But yh, they (gaalos) beat me up a few times LOL. Usually they are afraid of me though.

You've been called sand nigga in the street? Loool. Do you wear khamis when you're getting about?