The Cookout
Random musings, lighthearted communication, and good vibes.
Share
Stats
Brotha From South Africa Speaking Out
First time I went to Brixon in London, I may as well been uptown Harlem or Watts or North Philly or Bronzeville, Chicago.
The brothers showed love because it was rare to see an American brotha. You know it was hood but once they knew you were a foreign brotha, you were 'off limits'. Hard to describe.
The brothers showed love because it was rare to see an American brotha. You know it was hood but once they knew you were a foreign brotha, you were 'off limits'. Hard to describe.
It’s because they know that you were not aware of their politics. It’s the same thing here if a brotha from Britain walked in a Crip neighborhood with a red hat. They’d stop but when they hear him say
“Bruv, I’m not from ‘round heer”
They will stop and let him pass through but let him know not to wear that hat.
It's the same anywhere you go on the planet they don't prepare poor Black Children to run their own economic systems that's why we as parents or mentors must prepare the youth.
It's about empowering the next generation, gotta teach 'em young so they don't have to struggle for too long. We gotta build up our own systems, invest in our own communities, and create our own opportunities.
D
Deleted member 1946
Guest
D
Deleted member 1946
Guest
We definitely gotta teach them while they are young. We tend to want to spoil these children. However, somebody has to teach these children that if they want something, they will have to work for it, be strategic and save/invest while protecting what was built.
D
Deleted member 1946
Guest
D
Deleted member 1946
Guest
Of course. They teach them to wait on somebody else to do it. Somebody else will provide. SMH. We need to get up and teach what needs to be taught. Of course, the white supremacists and white supremacist sympathizers will send folks in to break up this strategy of self independence and running our own economic systems.
"Brainwashed" by Tom Burrell would be recommended reading with regards fully breaking down this question.
I got a pass in LA as well. I have an east coast accent (or it was stronger back then) and even when I knew LA politics I'd play dumb like a just arrived when I heard "Where you from?" and say the city I was from back east. I learned NEVER say I'm from the East Coast....lol....LA area cats know what I am talking about. But the fact I got love though in Brixton anyway, is cool. I don't get love like that in Lagos....and sometimes in Accra (Ghana) or Nairobi (Kenya)...hate to see it but if they acknowledge you, they looking for a come up.
Generally speaking brothers in London got love for us from my personal experience, at the very least curious in a good way.
I think you look like you could be from Nigeria so they treat you like they treat each other…like trash. Kinda like if we in the Dominican Republic they will love us as Americans but the second we say we from the island or from Haiti the love instantly turns to hate. Same skin, same swag, same everything.
Actually to be fair, Nigerians are mad tight with each other. It's tribal. The term 'Nigerian' is for outsiders. You are Ibo, Hausa, Yoruba. I got very good Yoruba friends in LA I met through a part time job. I got Ibo homies overseas I met because they had the hook up for anything. I knew a Hausa in Saudi Arabia, the only Hausa I know but we hit it off right away (via soccer). They don't eff with each others tribe but within the tribe they are tight AF, ride for each other. As far as other tribes, they are cool outside Nigeria. They'll politic if the circumstances dictate they need to stick together. Just like in Cali prisons if it jumps off Bloods and Crips will posse up together if the Latinos and Whites go to war in certain prisons. Depends on the circumstances. Nigerians are like that. Depends on what's going on around them and their numbers.
I will say this though, once they accept you, they show mad love. I got invited to "Naija' parties in LA (Mostly Yoruba). Again, I'm a friendly guy, I knew a lot of about their culture and country (I love history, etc. and a nerd so I'd just read up on black ish). And I'm respectful. I don't do stuff like 'Why y'all n*ggas...such and such' HAHA...I come at any and all black folks with respect till shown otherwise. And either keep it moving or cuss them out, depending on the circumstances and level of disrespect.
We can say a certain amount, undetermined but too many of some groups of Blacks are off code, etc, but as we all know its never 100 percent and you have some real ten toes down ride or die in ALL black groups. Somalis have a rep for not effing with us. I met a guy in Asia, same frat, Somali and it was like chopping it up with the homies from around the way. Zero difference. Cool AF. Hung with the brohters, Americanized, could switch speak where if you heard him and didn't see him, he was black American but on the phone with a Somali spit that language. We thought it was interesting and of course we asked him for all the cuss words first...lol.
We are a special people, we really are. Despite all the issues, the bad blood at times, etc, when we click we motha phucken click. Its that melanin. I got many stories from various Blacks around the world where I've found at least one down AF person, who showed love for another black person. That gives me hope.
Its why I look at all this as on code vs off code.
Going back to the UK. Tariq's biggest support outside America by far is the UK, by Tariq's own admission so to get shown love there shouldn't be strange. They are on code there. Yes, they got off code folks just like America does, but by and large, they are down ass cool brothers and sisters there. (although the London sistas can be a little stuck up....lol...but I'll put that down to my lack of game.. : ) )
Their accent is this mix of cockney, west indian patois and black American slang. You'll here the cockney accent mixed in with 'fam' (from black America and other black American words) and Caribbean 'bumboclaat' or
'bredrin', its unique even the ones of African descent use it. And its distinctly black. I hear it without seeing the person I can tell they are black. And completely unique words like 'nyash'
Their accent is this mix of cockney, west indian patois and black American slang. You'll here the cockney accent mixed in with 'fam' (from black America and other black American words) and Caribbean 'bumboclaat' or
'bredrin', its unique even the ones of African descent use it. And its distinctly black. I hear it without seeing the person I can tell they are black. And completely unique words like 'nyash'
