African American Culture Is Not Sacred

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Snapchat: @jouelzy

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PO Box 18096
Charlotte, NC 28218

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TECH INFO

Production:
Camera: Canon 80D
Lens: Sigma Art 30mm
Lighting: Natural
Audio: H1 Mic
Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro

[jouelzy]

So happy this video is going over generally well. Here's other videos I've done on Black history:

[librascales]

I don't feel the need to justify my culture and history to ANY immigrant group. Respect mine and I respect yours.

[SandraZ]

Ma'am, I need you to get that PhD cause you stay teaching me in the ways you frame discussions. I get so tired of trying to explain to my parents, that our African asses would not be in this country if it wasn't for the work of Black Americans. Just the ability to be on this soil and "work hard for a better life" would not be possible but for the work of Black Americans.

[garlandowls]

Sometimes non-American Black people will accuse Black Americans of 'policing Blackness' or 'xenophobia' when Black Americans try to have cultural boundaries.

[yolandagrant]

This was a very interesting video. I have always said African Americans are the diaspora's greatest success story. The media tends to focus on the negative. But there are so many examples of excellence. AA's have been to space, conquered all sports, doctors, lawyers, scientists, academics, musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, countless millionaires and some billionaires. The list goes on. Because of the many contributions to society, has paved the way for my Caribbean family to immigrate here. Give credit where credit is due!

[VanityLuxe]

"you can't think your culture is better than my culture when you are benefiting a participanting from my culture" yesss

[garlandowls]

I feel like a lot of Non-American Black people are in denial and don't want to acknowledge Black Americans as a ethnicity and culture. How can you say that Black Americans have "no culture" yet you're heavily influenced by Black American culture and partake in it everyday.

[Lauriette]

Our culture as African Americans feels cheap. But, any other black person from any other culture can come and pick from its tree, get paid, and then dip back into their so called culture. They dip back into their culture and close the door behind them not allowing us to learn or share in their culture. It's all so infuriating. The audacity of them to tell us how nonexistent our culture is while using our culture for financial gain at the same time. Like, sis, that thing you are standing on...that's my culture. Get off of it!!! So many of them come here, throw their own culture under the bus, and try ours on for sport. We are forced to respect everybody else's culture but no one has to respect ours.

[Jisthebest]

this is such a good video! I hope this conversation continues. It’s funny you bring up the Alpha thing because I had a conversation with a Nigerian Alpha who thought that Black Americans wearing dashikis was a form of cultural appropriation. I told him he should give back his letters if that’s the case, because his frat was created by and for Black Americans. Then it got quiet 😂🤷🏾‍♀️

[jnyerere]

I was born in Tanzania and moved to this country when I was 9. Afro-Americans are the most influential people and culture in the world. And they have been so since the 1940s. Everybody wants to be black, even the Nigerians (some, not all) that talk shit. I sometimes find myself a casualty of war in this war of Black Americans vs. Africans which I honestly feel is a war of Black Americans vs Nigerians 90% of the time. Now this ain't to say that other African communities aren't problematic but often times I hear words like "akata" thrown around as exhibit A for why "Africans don't like us." I was a History major at an HBCU and it was the best 4 yrs of my life. Go BOWIE STATE!!! Some of us Africans understand what black people have gone through in this country and the generational trauma you all have endured. If it wasn't for the Black Americans that fought and died, I wouldn't be here. I say all this to say that yes, some Africans are ignorant and xenophobic af as it relates to Black Americans, but please understand that some of us have studied and appreciate your history, look up to your heroes, and understand that huge mark you've made on this planet. You have a rich and diverse culture. We love you!

[agentsmithofthematrix]

The problem I have is All the Savage entertainment was started by *Africans* or Immigrants they are highlighting the worst of us and laughing
SHADE ROOM -Anjelica Newandu
WORLDSTAR -Lee O'denant
MEDIATAKEOUT- Fred MWANGAGUHUNGA
DJ AKADEMICKS-

[writerwilliams]

Collectively, African Americans have low self esteem because we always have to defend our culture on every side. But we definitely have one and it is dynamic.

[brieoliver]

I hope this convo continues. Jouelzy, you have this way of articulating issues in a way folks just don't have the words to express. I think you touched on what's been a key part of the anger African Americans have: there are no spaces that are just for us and protected and we're being pushed out of our own spaces. Which is why we get into these fights on twitter lol. I love black unity across the diaspora, but I also believe our culture is just as important as anyone else's and should be respected as such. Don't fall into the hype of thinking only one type of black can prosper in a space.

[ToriUptown]

my moms side is PR and my dads is AA and they have two very different cultures. it’s been easy for me to recognize AA culture bc i’ve had something to measure it against, and it exists. it’s also a strong culture. i identify as AA and not really as Latino bc the AA culture has been so strong in my life

[SNOWbythebundles]

I remember when you started this smartbrown movement and I remember not understanding a word your saying but I have educated myself and now I can follow you conversation. The evolution of a smartbrown girl!

[shanti]

It really wasn't until I started taking an African-American Literature class that I began to really see that we do have a culture and how powerful it is!

[porscheamartin]

What you said about the girl saying they are more African than you reminds me of all these white people who like hip hop trying to tell me they are more black than me. 🙄 okay bruh, okay. 🙄.

[lexiwinder]

Wow, Jouelzy. Just wow. This was something on my mind when here in Boston there was the Juneteenth celebration at the MFA. Those who were chosen to honor Juneteenth through poetry and music.... None of them were American American. And they took the opportunity to talk about the superiority of Caribbean culture or specific African culture. I was confused. I ended up leaving. I thought that was so strange. If I went to an event that honored the end of slavery in Haiti or Jamaica and everyone speaking was African American, using the opportunity to talk about how wonderful Soul Food and African American music and our accomplishments... That would RIGHTFULLY be problematic. 🤷🏾‍♀️

I swear you black women (Black American) are cut from a totally different cloth. So eloquent and humble. Extremely nurturing and understanding of one's experience. On top of that y'all have the physical beauty to match. I just don't know why the rest of the world doesn't see this.

[VanishaRD]

It makes me cringe anytime I hear an African-American person not be proud of their cultural background, and in the same breath they will hold others to a higher standard just because they know their African heritage. Like do you not know how rich the AA culture is?! We are easily the most imitated culture across in the world.

Also, on black folks that do not identify as being AFRICAN American, that definitely ties into the anti-blackness that is so far ingrained within our societies. But a lot of them would never admit that, that's why they won't identify with being African---even though they literally came from a whole lineage of African people.