DISQUS

Anonymous · 1 year ago

I wish the blacks of the Diaspora who are in France all the best in their fight, the racism there is worse than it is here, which is amazing. But, since like in most of Europe its more subtle, many are afraid to address it, although the young are fed up with having no future based on skin color.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

Thanks for picking up on this story. I am American but live in Europe (Denmark) and have noticed I learn more about the diaspora in Europe through American news which says loads about the situation here in Europe.


I can attest to the fact that blackness/brownness is invisible here in the political discourse UNLESS it's about regulating black/brown bodies - for example if they even have a right to be in the country, what sorts of jobs they should have, where they should live, who they can marry (and when) and even what they should wear (Denmark recently had a wave of headscarf banning) Stuff goes on here - almost unquestioned - that I think only the civil rights generation could relate to. I'm mixed and didn't know racism could get worse until I came here.



People of color in Denmark have either given up or are knocking themselves out to assimilate - I hope this gives them the audacity to hope! I know Obama's done that for me

Anonymous · 1 year ago

We are no longer invisible - either by us selectively retreating or by us being pushed to the backburner...And this is why the good senator must be protected at all costs...There are those who may be very afraid that this will empower us, not only in the US, but also worldwide...Yeah, we have HOPE!


I was talking to a random lady on he public transportation system last night...She is a 65-year old African America...She is an educator...She says the little/young kids are even more ecited than she is about Obama...



Amazing!



T.

blksista · 1 year ago

Before I left New York, during the Harlem Book Fair, I attended a discussion in which a brother was talking about what was happening in France regarding its educated black and Arab population that cannot get anywhere and can go no place up the ladders of economic and political empowerment.


This is stuff that our media fails to cover on a continuous basis. In some way, it tends to isolate other black people from each other. I mean, really, pardon us from getting ideas from what's happening in other countries...



That's why it pays to watch the BBC at times, but even its American version sometimes scrubs nearly all 'bad' news, unless it is too big not to cover.



Anyway, I certainly do remember this cat at the book fair saying that we don't see half of the disturbances that have occurred in France that involve not only job discrimination, but surveillance and police harassment and shootings that mirror those here in the U.S.



The breaking point is about to occur, I believe. Europeans, like Brazilians, like Germans and like British are going to have to come up with the goods as well, not just BS about equality.



I read an article recently by a German columnist (rendered into English) that said that as Obama reaches the Oval Office, so must the peoples of color who are just as German, French or Scandinavian as the next white version. They must be ministers, representatives, even prime ministers and presidents of their respective nations. The European identity must be inclusive. The author wondered aloud how European whites would accept these challenges:



Suddenly we would have to ask ourselves questions we have never asked before. Indeed - what would it mean to us if the child or grandchild of an African became a candidate for the chancellorship? The answer is a recognition that unless we want a society in which skin color predetermines the awarding of offices and influence, much of Europe will have to change its mindset.



When they say the whole world is waiting on President Obama, I'm convinced that it IS indeed all the world.

kid · 1 year ago

Sen.Obama did say that Fanon did influence him in college.At least we have a black man that read him as opposed to one like Clarence Thomas that don't know who he is.

rikyrah · 1 year ago

glad you wrote about this. I really enjoyed this article.

sdg1844 · 1 year ago

Not surprising. I've been following the uprisings in the French Ghettos and Sarkozy's tactics and attitudes for some time.


It was a big deal when a black man was given a job on a mainstream news channel. Ethnicity is not "recognized" in France and benefits and such are tied to recognition.



That's why so many are fighting to be recognized as ethnic groups. it is a fascinating dynamic and the struggle continues.

heartsandflowers · 1 year ago

Yeah I lived in the UK where the Asian population rivals the African population as far as 'integration' goes. In Europe discrimination is legal and very obvious. I got treated better in France being Black American - speaking the language with an accent -than native populations living there. In Ireland because the populations of Africans emigrating there are more self-sufficient they are more welcomed than say some of the Eastern Europeans who beg for money on the streets. I'm curious what it's like in Asia.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

Africans are not welcomed in Asia at all, and, in China are routinely rounded up and beat up a incident occurred this past year where the son of a Caribbean diplomat was one of the detainees and it made news. In France the problem is large, and, with the Arab's for the most part looking down their noses at the blacks, the so called color blind country will continue to have problems with the rage of the youth, who no matter how hard they try, can never get the good jobs, even when they are more qualified. Same thing goes for the UK, which is a hot bed of subtle intolerance as well.


Obama is going to show the young men and women of African descent that if it can happen in this country, their pride and staying strong may pay off as well.

Black American Princess · 1 year ago

Offtopic slightly, peep the button they were selling at the Texas GOP convention.


http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/Obama%20Button0001.JPG

Bronze Trinity · 1 year ago

I'm so happy Obama is inspiring people around the world. I know that just the act of having him win will change the way Black people view themselves and the way non-Black people view us. Maybe our young people will strive to go into community service and politics instead of the rap music industry, basketball, or football. Could you imagine that? Its amazing that this role model comes from a single parent home like so many Black people, yet he used education to get to where he is today. People will see that entertainment and sports are not the only possibilities for us and that you can use education to help your community.

rikyrah · 1 year ago

blackamericanprincess,


I saw that, but didn't want to give it any pub as a post.