Hey MJ, I’m from the Caribbean and I consider myself black. Just like Black Americans, we also have a history of slavery (the Transatlantic Slave Trade), so just like you guys, most of us don’t know which country of Africa we came from exactly..and then there are also people that are born and raised in the Caribbean that are Asian, White, etc. so there are mixed race people here as well. So, Trinidadian, Jamaican, Bajan, Kittitian etc. would be considered one’s nationality.

I am Black American and been living in America all my life. I am very proud love my culture and heritage we are always going through hate crimes from police because of slavery which was a crime also we was treated horrible but still never stopped we fought for rights for all NON Whites to come to America and have right through the Civil rights movement. The strongest people on the planet is the most hated people. I am Blackety, BLACK, Black and proud! No self hate here wasn't raised to hate myself I was educated by my family that made me love myself even more.

@Maryjanebyarm

5 ай бұрын

oh gosh... lol this has nothing to do with the question I asked. You need to lift your head up this is not about doom and gloom this is a simple question about what the word black refers to.

It's often how others see, group and identify you. Whether you accept the characterization or not is up to you.

@Maryjanebyarm

5 ай бұрын

Agreed. It's more of a self identification at this point.

Black is a color not a race or nationality. Do they call Japanese, yellow people or beige people? Why can’t we be African Americans, African Italian Americans, African Irish American, indigenous African Americans.

@Maryjanebyarm

5 ай бұрын

I agree black is a color, but it became a title for the American slave dependents...no?

My understanding is that the concept of black people was created during slavery.

This is so easy. Not a problem to explain. The question is what does my skin mean to other people when they encounter me? As for Africans, they want to live in the past as Woda Maya said. "I did not realize I was Black until I began to travel". So most Africans are in their world not realizing the world agenda when they do, they need a team. Because racism is a team endeavor. If that is true and your skin identifies you, who is your team protection. That's what Black means. Because some other kind of people are against, we have to be for us, we have to unify to protect us. If you know you know. Black is a culture that's true, but it really is the umbrella we gather under and wall we connect to protect us from the evil of others that don't seem to like our pretty meaning gifts.

We do NOT come from slave decedents. We are original on all land of earth. Our ancestors unfortunately went through slavery and slavery is still present by mentality of the “ black “ community

They changed our ethic group to many times an its insulting to be called BLACK. BLACK IS A COLOR. We come in all shades. Lol..they also called us colored at one point as well. My daughter is 12 an i introduce herto you in 2017. She wants to travel the world as well

@Maryjanebyarm

5 ай бұрын

Hi to your daughter 👋 ! I encourage her to dream big and brave and come see the world! It's the best life.

I’m a melting pot as well I’m half Puerto Rican and I’m half bajan

I am a Black woman living in England from Jamaica parents who are from African descendants

@Maryjanebyarm

5 ай бұрын

Okay, interesting so you consider yourself black. I was mentioning in the video that "black" refers to American culture...not a color or ethnic group. But you see yourself as black so who is to say you are wrong? Thanks for your comment :) Just asking a open ended question to you guys to hear your thoughts ♥️

@LookThisUpGreedWikiNotGoogle

5 ай бұрын

No black refers to of African descent and yes I'm from the USA so I know. It's not about culture, black culture in America is African American culture. To be honest it's an agenda going on to stop people of African descendant from uniting. @@Maryjanebyarm

Like fingerprints, we are all different. No one person can speak for another. No one person can speak for a group. No one person will experience the exact same experiences of another, no matter the similarities. Too many variables. . . So I would consider the question after asking them what it meant to be them, so as to understand what they are asking me. . . However, this is a solid fact: "God is not partial, but in Every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." Acts 10:34, 35. . . "“No one who rests his faith on him will be disappointed.” "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. There is the same Lord over all, who is rich toward All those calling on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” . . . In this time period, this we Need to know: Black, white, red, or yellow.

I believe that Black is anyone who has had their cultural identity stolen from them. During slavery many of the slaves were separated and shipped to different countries. The United States was not the only country in which slaves were relocated by force. For this reason, there are those who would be considered Black in South America, Europe and America based on how their ancestors arrived to their respective continents. Those who have had their ancestral identity stripped away by force and do not know their cultural land of origin would be considered black.

As an American, I have come to terms with Black being my race as well as my culture, which can most times cause some confusion with others that say they are Black too, but over all, Black is just a Westernized identification marker for those of African descent who have swarthy skin

Google says it means darkness opposite daylight. I put that part in I think people misinterpreted and considerated themselves a color

honestly i’ll admit this is a good topic

Can’t wait to hear this 😂

@Maryjanebyarm

5 ай бұрын

im just asking a question ahah

Black People are descendants of Africa that were taken to other countries. African Americans started it and other descendants around the world use the term sometimes as well because African Americans are the face of the culture and usually who others mimic. Africans sometimes don’t consider themselves Black because they never left the motherland. Tho Africans had the privilege of living in the motherland, Blacks especially African Americans have the most influence over the culture. Hope this helps

Thee Strongest Most Beautiful & Resilient very populated people in the world that’s what it means to be Black and that’s what u tell them

Hiii Mary Jane ❤️ this is a great topic I’ve also pondered in my life. I’m mixed my dad is Black and Native American & my mom is white. I consider myself black because of my blood ties to the culture and also there’s no way I could ever be classified as white simply because of my physical appearance or phenotype. I guess I would be better classified as a mixed black person. I love the conversation your having because it is confusing ,all the different names that could be associated with Black people . But over all I feel like being a black person means exactly what you said it’s a name for a culture of melanated people in America. The origins of these melanated people in America is debatable, a lot of information and knowledge of our origins has been lost or hidden from us after slavery. Not everyone agrees that we’ve come from Africa . I think you’ve definitely sparked more interest in me to keep reaching my own bloodline so I find some answers for myself. Thank you Mary Janeeee keep going ! 😘

@Maryjanebyarm

5 ай бұрын

Hey gorgeous! Thank you so much for your comment! I totally agree with you I think the black means "melanated" because we all have different ethnic makeups but I guess you can see in the way we look we are not just white. It is a bit hard to try to connect with some specific group of people. Im so happy you might look to find some more answers I think that's amazing I hope to do so too one day! Love you thanks for watching ♥️

You should have asked her WHAT DOES MEAN TO BE WHITE?? THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD ASK.

Black is a bi word that was given to melinated people. Black is a color, not a nationality. Look at ur hair, ur clothing, and shoes that we say are black. Our skin isn't that color. Same for so-called white people. In biblical times , we were known by the different tribes which are our forefathers. We come in many shades of brown because of the inter mixing of people with slaves. We all can probably trace our family tree to someone who is so called white. Here's something to think about. When someone says they're Japanese, you say Japan, Chinese, you say they're from China. Germans ... Germany.... British...England, and so on. All these lands can be found on a map. But!, can we find the country called BLACK ? I was taught that if two different races have children together, the children are considered the nationality ( or race) of their father.

It is a racial/ethnical identifier. In America from enslavement on we were identified as colored, negroes, black, then African American. It is a term used to identify the “race” of those of African decent also. (Which is probably why some ppl from other countries use it also) certainly what it means to be “black” differs tremendously throughout the world from individual to individual but at its core it is used to identify a race of ppl, just like the term white, asian, etc. now where it takes a turn is that “black” Americans (descendants of slaves born on American soil) are the predominant group that use it almost as a nationality separate from American given the horrible history of America, they don’t tend to identify with being American like other folks in other nations who identify with being of whatever nation they are from. (unless they are in another country where then would probably use the term American)

What does it mean to be Black.. That term came from Black. Americans. Most Black foreigners Don't call themselves Black. But by they're nationality. Thats my take.

Only God knows! Totally subjective,what if we just go with we are human!😮

That always troubled me, I can’t stand it … (BLACK), I want to know the truth as well and I know I’m not “BLACK”… But What am I? I would love to know my true race and cultural legacy! When you get the answer let me know, PLEASE?

Mary Jane, Black is a term to define, categorize or profile a person with "seemingly" an African appearance. You are an individual "Human Being" and a "Child of God", not a color or a group member. 💜🌹🙏

We are the children of Israel, black is just a colour. We are GOD’s first born and we should be walking in and fulfilling he’s will. We shouldn’t conform to the foreign lands and nations ways, we have to come back to the original ordinances our Heavenly Father created us to walk in. The Old Testament is about our forefathers and us in the latter times. All nations can receive the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ, but we was called first, and lost our way due to living in lands and around people who aren’t our own.

@Shadow2pointO

5 ай бұрын

Please I understand that you choose your identity but you can’t choose for the rest of us who embrace the African in us.

@Maryjanebyarm

5 ай бұрын

How are we the children of Israel if we are all different? For example I have no true blood line, I am mixed up. I explained in the video my grandma comes from Germany, my other grandma is half Chinese, we have Native American roots....so I am nothing at all its a heavy mixture thats why the term "Black" covers me. And a lot of people. When I looked up my African roots it told me that's its been too far removed to be found out.

@Kingkoffi

5 ай бұрын

@@Maryjanebyarm The darker pigmentation in your skin is your first indication of the seed you’re of. The MFSD12 gene will always dominate in DNA. As you know due to grandparents and so forth, you’re mixed. Regardless of your DNA being partially mixed, your root gene will always be most dominant, and that’s proof in your skin tone. All of the Caribbean and most western, southern and some of Eastern Africa have direct DNA links to the seed of Israel (Israel is a people and not a country). Us in the diaspora in countries as Uk, America and Canada etc are also of Israel. Our forefathers were carried away into foreign lands because of their disobedience to GOD, but that doesn’t change where we are originally from. I’m half Jamaican and half Nigerian, that’s simply the same bloodline but two different tribes. Maybe visit a few African and Caribbean countries next and ask The Lord to lead you to a greater understanding of where you’re truly from, as you certainly aren’t American, you were just born there.

It’s really unfair that people look for one answer to this question. We are a culturally and socioeconomically diverse people just like other races.

People always look at people skin color but even know we have the same skin color we have different cultures.But you are a very beautiful sista sexy ah and strong brothers in America need a nubian princess like you my strong sista.Stay blessed🤎🖤🌿🌿

It would be interesting if you would work with the geneavlogger, he works with people to help figure out their ancestry results as well as help build family trees.

It means having at least one black parent of Saharan African descent. Race is a socially constructed concept created by Europeans to justify colonization; but, it still affects our day-to-day lives - especially if you're Black American. Our appearance makes us more likely to be denied housing, jobs, and educational opportunities. Money is a socially constructed ideology, yet it affects our daily lives and quality of life. Someone living on a dollar daily will have a much different lifestyle than a millionaire. A lot of Africans in America do not identify as Black because 1.) Everyone in their country looks like them. Ethiopians and Nigerians in their respective countries are individuals - not a racial category. 2.) A lot of Africans and Afro-Latinos who live in America see Blackness as something negative; they see Blackness as ghetto, poverty, and ignorance and they don't want to be associated with that. Traveling the world does not take away from someone's Blackness. Traveling allows us to be ambassadors for Black people. I lived in Xi'an and went to school in Zhengzhou, China, and many people have never met a Black person before. It's an excellent opportunity to show people we're not ignorant, ghetto, or criminals.

As an "African American" in the US, I've always understood the term to mean a person of African ancestry typically not born to the African continent. But than again, the term "Black" is a juxtaposition to "White" or white-ness. A class, a standard of superiority versus inferiority. So, in that sense, I guess it really means whatever you think it means or it has no meaning at all... since term was created anyway. My thing is: every other ethnicity is identified by where they're from. Where IS "Black" from? Is it so dirty and so nothing that the distinction is irrelevant??

Try 23 and Me. Very accurate

What about Marian Anderson and Denice Graves? What about the origin of Liberia?

✊🏿👼🏿I am what my ancestors were and still till this day and that's truly a proud Black. That's 💯%🍫 Family!

Fascinating thoughts😊

"Black" was never a race. Negroid is the actual word that was used to define peoples who share phenotypes typical of the various phenotypes from parts of Africa and some east islanders. Those of us in America started off as "Negro" which means black color in Spanish, then we were "Colored", then "Black" and for now, "African American". South Africa uses the description "Coloured" for peoples of indigenous African heritage mixed with non-indigenous heritage. We also now have the all-encompassing "people of color" for everyone who isn't considered Caucasian. I'm not sure if that originated in America or elsewhere. I think in America as descendants of slavery, all of the descriptors up through "African American" has given us some form of cultural cohesion not otherwise there for a people with no country.

That is true if your Nigerian you are African not black so the what does black mean is a good question

Honestly I think a black person is someone with a substantial amount of dna/ancestry from predominantly darker skinned regions (other than just dark skin, things like curly Afro hair etc) these regions tend to be west, south and central Africa.. phenotype(how someone looks) also adds to what race someone is since that’s how they’re perceived but it’s not the be all and end all since you can be very fair skinned or racially ambiguous and still be black🤷🏾‍♂️

But Africa is the birth of all of us

It’s only one race all other humans dilute the original essence to get what we have today. Easy we have plenty of “ black” community leaders who have been dedicated for years about genetics

I consider myself Black American only because if you travel to another country they go by nationality they will consider you Black American

BLACK for me doesnt mean anything! It is just a social category, and not a skin color or whatever. Because arabics people have the same color as "white" therefore society calls them ARABICS and not WHITE. Serbians people also call themselves SLAVES,SLAVICS people and not WHITE. What do you think?

An original inhabitant of America

@LookThisUpGreedWikiNotGoogle

5 ай бұрын

Wrong

@LookThisUpGreedWikiNotGoogle

5 ай бұрын

What you are speaking of is the term African American

There is sooo much more to our heritage that the world has been complicit in hiding from us. The Silk Road to East Asia, the transatlantic to the Americas and Europe and Sub Saharan to the Middle East and Europe were all slave trades that trafficked so called black people all over the world to build their civilizations. So imitated yet so despised. It doesn’t add up unless you go to the book that was left by Judges for us to figure out who we are. John 15:18 if the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world , the world would love you as its own.but because ye are not of the world , but I chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hate to you.

I'm black, but my dad's side of the family lineage is Native american Indian, mother's side mostly black but of course there was a black/white Great grandmother. Somehow I think I have Spanish lineage as well

I'm the black unicorn in Japan. I have had Japanese women and men both approach me all the time, saying how very cool and handsome I look.

@Maryjanebyarm

5 ай бұрын

Im so happy to hear that. I agree with you, I also get a lot of positive compliments. The Japanese are very kind and welcoming.

In a actuality... We are not black we are hue. We consist of many different colors in at which that gives us our beautiful different shade of hue! To be black is not what was given by where we came from... Region, land, or country because we are from everywhere! Including China! If you look in history it was a colored (hue) man "human" man that created Karate, Ninja, and Samurais. That woman wanted you to question yourself and lower your energy vibration, because you were vibrating high. Just because we are hue mean we are from Africa. Most of my ancestors were Indigenous! We are Indigenous! (Make sure you tap this message, because there's more!)

Black is a race originated in West, Central and South Africa. So If you have more than 60% of these DNA from these regions then you can consider yourself black. Those Nigerians you were referring to, just identify with their ethnicities because race isn’t really a big deal in their Area since almost everyone is black. I personally consider mixed people mixed unless it’s in America since we have the one drop rule. The one drop rule is a racist segregated mindset to isolate “full whites” from mixed people. It’s a whole thing! The reason why I didn’t include East Africans as black is because only a few of them actually consider themselves as black.

The original Japanese were dark skin. Nobody is actually 'Black'.

It's simple. To be black is to be of African descent ( the original Africans ) and melanated.

@Maryjanebyarm

5 ай бұрын

So, why do (a lot) of African people not consider themselves black? Moroccans, South Africans, Ethiopians, Somalians...etc etc etc they claim they are not black... but they are African.