Just Something That I Read...

I was just reading an article about a 17 year old Ugandan king. The article was interesting and for some reason it made me think of Prince Akeem and King Jaffe Jopher in Zamunda (Coming to America). J That movie is so funny…

In the article Professor Ndebesa Mwambutsya, a History professor at Makerere University in Kampala said something that was really interesting. He was responding to the idea that that monarchs are a possible set back for national integration. This is what he said…

"Ugandans identify themselves first with their tribes and kingdoms, then as citizens." "This works in most African cultures because people have lost faith in the government, and tribes and kingdoms provide a nucleus around which an identity can be forged."

This made me think of people of color in America. We are more likely to rep our "set" or our skin color before we would ever think of announcing our American nationality. Yet those of "less color" are more likely to rep their nationality rather than their skin color or their "set"; that is, if they even have anything that could remotely be considered a "set".

For instance, if you are in Delaware and you ask me where I am from, my first instinct would be to reply, "Northside." Now, granted, if I am in a different state or a different country I would most likely respond differently but you get my drift.

In addition, if someone were to ask "What are you?" my response would probably be something like this… (with a quizzical facial expression since it is quite bizarre for someone to just randomly ask such a question)  

"I am black….and female."

And I could see a Dominican-American man (born and raised in America) responding something like this…

"I am Dominican."

Yet, I could see a Caucasian responding like this…

"I am American."

Now I could be wrong but this is just how I see things. I just think its interesting how people of color are usually the ones talking about what street they are from or what set they rep but Caucasians don't. Maybe it's in our DNA to associate with a sub-society within a larger society. Just like Professor Mwambutsya says, in Africa people usually identify with their tribe (sub-society) before their country (larger society). I guess in America, there is really only a larger society (America) and no real sub-societies. So we had to create our own…

Professor Mwambutsya also said,

Finding a balance between national unity and tradition can be a challenge...

"It's a paradox in itself. It is important that African culture is preserved because a people without culture is like groping in the darkness," he says.

This is even more interesting because often, people of color could care less about being American, not unless they are outside of America and need to assert their land of origin. I can't even remember the last time I stated "I am American." I really can't…but you better believe that I can remember the last time I said "I'm from 2-4" or "I'm from Northside" or "I'm black." Maybe this also has something to do with America being the strong-armed bully that she is where everything is judged based upon her standards so everyone already knows that I'm American…or maybe it has something to do with the fact that I am in America so there is no need to say that I am American…I don't know.  

The last part of Professor Mwambutsya statement is worth thinking about as well. "a people without culture is like groping in the darkness." Hmmmm, makes me wonder…am I in the darkness or in the light?

If you want to read the article about the 17- year old king, as "he bobs his head to rapper Jay-Z," check it here.