"Check that box that says: Black or African-American," my friend advised as we continued excitedly, filling in our forms at the Human Services office. My friend, checked the "White/Non Hispanic" box. We are both African immigrants. One is a black man from East/Central Africa and the other is a white man from former East Transvaal (named Mpumulanga after 1994 first popular universal elections in South Africa that saw Nelson Mandela become a president). Race and color of the skin are two miscible issues.
Africa is a large and diverse continent. A person from Egypt may immigrate to USA, and when she or he gets here identifies under the Arab community if he or she is of Arab extract. And the nature of classification in the USA further categorizes 'Arabs' under 'white' or' caucasian.' There are Chinese and Malaysians who have lived in Africa since mid 1900's. I am sure, if some came to stay in USA they may identify as Africans or Asians or Chinese and Malaysians for that matter.
Africa is a large and diverse continent. A person from Egypt may immigrate to USA, and when she or he gets here identifies under the Arab community if he or she is of Arab extract. And the nature of classification in the USA further categorizes 'Arabs' under 'white' or' caucasian.' There are Chinese and Malaysians who have lived in Africa since mid 1900's. I am sure, if some came to stay in USA they may identify as Africans or Asians or Chinese and Malaysians for that matter.
A white person from Zimbabwe or Kenya or Malawi or Zambia or Lesotho who decides to seek citizenship in USA is automatically categorized under 'white' or 'caucasian' in USA.
I have two white friends. One is David Smith Jones whose family has lived in Sunningdale and Handsworth Park, Lusaka Zambia since the early 1900's with property in many of the South African countries. David is now an American. He lives in Richmond CA and he always marks that 'white' box. David speaks fluent Nyanja, English and Afrikaans.
I have two white friends. One is David Smith Jones whose family has lived in Sunningdale and Handsworth Park, Lusaka Zambia since the early 1900's with property in many of the South African countries. David is now an American. He lives in Richmond CA and he always marks that 'white' box. David speaks fluent Nyanja, English and Afrikaans.
The other friend is Jack Mitchell and he is fluent in Xhosa, Zulu, English and Afrikaans. His parents own properties in Cape Town CBD. Jack has a home in Walnut Creek CA. He identifies as 'white' too.
I have had the opportunity of meeting with different people who come from Africa and are now staying permanently in USA. Some do identify as immigrants from Africa. Others do not and they give one a sense that they are working so hard to excoriate themselves of anything to do with the African continent. Some even make it sound that their country of origin is somewhere else and not on the African continent.
The examples above play a significant role on how one will in turn access health services in USA. This blog site is a resource we hope to help improve on the health of black, African, Atlantic, Indian Ocean Islander Immigrants in USA. The goal is to encourage you to engage in activities that promote a quality long happy life for you. Our message to a health or social services provider is: just have an open mind. Some people prefer different boxes to check.
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| Cape Town CBD. Source: Eric Nathan/Alamy |
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| Sunningdale Suburb, Lusaka Zambia. Source: Wikimedia Commons |
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