Why do certain Somali's accept the black/madow Identity fully without question?

[EyiPunter]

I've seen a lot of Somali people on social media saying it proudly that they are black. When they are pressed about what is black they are referring to ? they state the whole AA identity. The crazy aspect of all of this is these Somali's with this lost identity are in the largest Somali community in the States. Why have these Somali's in the largest Somali community lost there identity?

 

[Nin123]

I've seen a lot of Somali people on social media saying it proudly that they are black. When they are pressed about what is black they are referring to ? they state the whole AA identity. The crazy aspect of all of this is these Somali's with this lost identity are in the largest Somali community in the States. Why have these Somali's in the largest Somali community lost there identity?

It’s forced on us walhy couple of weeks I was discussing on Reddit that Somalis are not Madow and the Madows told me I have identity crisis and forced me to accept the Madow identity

 

[EyiPunter]

It’s forced on us walhy couple of weeks I was discussing on Reddit that Somalis are not Madow and the Madows told me I have identity crisis and forced me to accept the Madow identity

I've seen that but how do you personally identify for instance this not any application? But yourself if I asked you how do you identify? What's your answer and are you from these large Somali community?

 

[Nin123]

I've seen that but how do you personally identify for instance this not any application? But yourself if I asked you how do you identify? What's your answer and are you from these large Somali community?

I first identify myself as Somali this black, white label is an American thing and it doesn’t work outside.

 

[ditto]

Who cares what random Somalis identify as If they’re not forcing the label onto you then live and let live

 

[Yami]

Because we are black.

 

[EyiPunter]

Because we are black.

What is black?

 

[Nin123]

I have never understood why AA and West Africans are forcing Madow identity onto Horn of Africans. At first, I thought they meant that because we have the same skin color and are from the same continent, we just identify as black. But no, in their Pan-Africanist minds, they think we are all genetically similar . However, Africa is the most diverse continent in the world. There are Khoisan, Bantu, Habasha, and Somalis, although Somalis are somewhat related to Habasha more. These Pan-Africanists are pushing for this Madow identity, especially the men in the Horn of Africa, so they can go and get themselves some Xalimo or Habasha girl .

 

[kamek]

Cus it’s forced upon us, every time I say I’m not black I get clowned by madows and they get angry at me so I just accept the label.

 

[EyiPunter]

Who cares what random Somalis identify as If they’re not forcing the label onto you then live and let live

There has to be a sense on cohesion on Somali Identity if there isn't we will be scattered to the winds. This is gone be a bad example but these people have a strong identity. Yes they are shitty people but I've never seen a strong identity than them. We have to one stance in the Somali Identity just like the yuuds. With there identity. For instance if someone asked me how do you identify I would state im from Somalia and I'm Somali and full stop no other identity comes after that.

 

[ImAi]

Because Black American culture is the mainstream culture and it is broadcasting worldwide and pushed down on everyone’s throat. And it is not just Somalis that fall for the Black identity/culture but other people as well, although Somalis tend to take it up more easily given the skin colour.

 

[Nin123]

Because we are black.

Futo Madow ba tahay

Because Black American culture is the mainstream culture and it is broadcasting worldwide and pushed down on everyone’s throat. And it is not just Somalis that fall for the Black identity/culture but other people as well, although Somalis tend to take it up more easily given the skin colour.

it only mainstream in USA walhy just go to Somalia or even Kenya and they going to tell you they didn’t know madow lived in USA but thouyof them as immigrants to USA.

 

[ImAi]

but how do you personally identify

You identify as Somali. Do you see white people identifying as white? No. Do you see brown people identifying as brown? No. Then why should you identify as black? what about the brown, yellow, and light skin Somalis? Are they black or should they identify by their skin colours?

 

[SultanSharif]

While I don’t identify as black It is disingenuous in the west to claim you aren’t black. I can understand your POV and why you wouldn’t want to be considered black for various reasons but they’re not gonna have a special box for you to fit in. Out of all categories (black white asian) the one we fit in the most is black whilst we’re kinda alienated from it. If others identify you or label you a certain way which juxtaposes your own identity then just firm it cause trying to justify why your not black in the west to people who have no clue about where Somalia is located it’s history the genetics of its inhabitants or anything about it’s alienation from the “black community” you’ll just come across as a self hater and irrational. Some opinions are better kept to oneself and there’s nothing to gain by saying we’re not black. It’s actually better for us and we can meet minority quotas in certain industries. Moreover were discriminated the same way as black people in the west and tbh growing up I’ve always considered myself black, it’s only recently after indulging in Somali studies (genealogy, history) I’ve changed the way I self identify so my overall point is DONT try and convince other people your not black whilst some BLM halimo will probably make you look stupid since we can’t even come to a consensus on what we are together.

 

[EyiPunter]

Because Black American culture is the mainstream culture and it is broadcasting worldwide and pushed down on everyone’s throat. And it is not just Somalis that fall for the Black identity/culture but other people as well, although Somalis tend to take it up more easily given the skin colour.

Culture can be exchanged on certain point of if you lack a aspect in your culture and it's improve your community, but I person don't see anything missing from ours. Yes we must drop the qabil thing and have a single Somali culture and use qabil for lineage. Other then that I don't see anything missing from our culture. Do you think identity is linked to a land mass?

 

[wonyluvr]

We are black on the census.I personally identify with being Somali first because there’s a stronger sense of identity.

 

[haye haye]

It's not that serious. The US federal government classifies me as black cause I'm not any of the other things obviously. I introduce myself as Somali though when asked what I am. Other black groups in America do the same, a Nigerian introduces themselves as a Nigerian, a Haitian as a Haitian, etc.

I don't think there's any point really arguing or fighting against the black label. Black is what you are out here. It's on your medical forms, your legal forms, your university applications, the census etc. It is what it is. You are free to say you are Somali to people that ask, which is what I do. But if I'm called black, I don't fight it. In Africa, I am free to go by nationality and ethnicity, but the states are racialized, so I understand that.

 

[Kisame]

I've seen a lot of Somali people on social media saying it proudly that they are black. When they are pressed about what is black they are referring to ? they state the whole AA identity. The crazy aspect of all of this is these Somali's with this lost identity are in the largest Somali community in the States. Why have these Somali's in the largest Somali community lost there identity?

Growing up I pretty much just assimilated amongst the Madows. It's pretty much necessary for niggas like us that live in areas with a small somali community.

I think in most western societies young somalis are willing to accept the black label. Majority of non somalis already view us as black people. I've rarely ever meet non somali people that can automatically tell I'm Somali. Some people might assume I'm Ethiopian but that's mainly because I live around Ethiopians.

The only somalis I've ever met that rejected the black label were Somali supremacists online. These were the first guys I ever met that were against the black label. They were from the UK and genuinely had beef with Madows. Before I ran into these guys I never met a Somali person in North America that hated madow people.

Honestly it seems like identifying as black is part of the western assimilation process. All the Somali niggas I know that were against assimilating in the west never identified as madow.

 

[EyiPunter]

While I don’t identify as black It is disingenuous in the west to claim you aren’t black. I can understand your POV and why you wouldn’t want to be considered black for various reasons but they’re not gonna have a special box for you to fit in. Out of all categories (black white asian) the one we fit in the most is black whilst we’re kinda alienated from it. If others identify you or label you a certain way which juxtaposes your own identity then just firm it cause trying to justify why your not black in the west to people who have no clue about where Somalia is located it’s history the genetics of its inhabitants or anything about it’s alienation from the “black community” you’ll just come across as a self hater and irrational. Some opinions are better kept to oneself and there’s nothing to gain by saying we’re not black. It’s actually better for us and we can meet minority quotas in certain industries. Moreover were discriminated the same way as black people in the west and tbh growing up I’ve always considered myself black, it’s only recently after indulging in Somali studies (genealogy, history) I’ve changed the way I self identify so my overall point is DONT try and convince other people your not black whilst some BLM halimo will probably make you look stupid since we can’t even come to a consensus on what we are together.

I'm not referring to some applications for job or another application that can improve your livelyhood. What I'm referring to self identity and what you pass down to your children. Yes in West a large majority of African will be classified as black due to nation or origin in there classific scaling. There has to be one identity and a lot of use are lost with it.

 

[Kisame]

Because Black American culture is the mainstream culture and it is broadcasting worldwide and pushed down on everyone’s throat. And it is not just Somalis that fall for the Black identity/culture but other people as well, although Somalis tend to take it up more easily given the skin colour.

"although Somalis tend to take it up more easily given the skin colour."

We live in the same communities as Madows as well and have an easier time assimilating amongst them compared to non black Muslim ethnic groups.

Since most of us are refugees a lot of us pretty much got settled in the hood.