Calling me ‘poor’ because I’m African is the same as calling a black person ‘nigga’. See words can invoke strong feelings, just like a cold stare, an indifferent glance, or giving a cold shoulder to someone. Its all very subtle sometimes but we communicate a lot even when we think we are not.
How we communicate can make or break a relationship. (“I should know!”) And the worst part is, most of us do not know how to communicate with people from different ethnic, social or cultural backgrounds as us. (I’m guilty of this too)
Some of us try hard to hide our ignorance whilst others are very genuine in their efforts to integrate with new people.
The problem arises when there is a communication breakdown. When one party is dissatisfied with how they are being perceived or treated it becomes easier to stop trying.
This is why I appreciate so much these new lenses God has given me, ‘my American experience.’ I was semi-comfortable wearing my old lenses when I was in Kenya but I realize now I can not keep wearing the same old lenses if I am to continue with my search for the ‘truth.’
Firstly, there are personal struggles I am more cognizant of now than ever before.
Secondly, I sense I have accomplished something great by having graduated from a prestigious seminary like ‘Fuller Theological Seminary.’ The reason I say that is because ten years ago my parents and my teachers never thought I would amount to anything.
The sky is not the limit for me, Love is.
Thirdly, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had the courage to refuse to turn a blind eye to the “confusion in the land,” and now I am learning to do the same too.
“He spoke up for those in America whose voices were otherwise not heard in the halls of power.” (a quote from a friend’s article-Justin West)
But why are his words still being quoted today?
Justice should be synonymous with the Truth.
I’m no saint but I know God desires more from me.
Diversity was celebrated more where I came from than it is here but I’m not saying that to dismiss the complexity of it all. I’m only saying that to help you understand my struggle.
My high school friends were all from a different tribe and I was the minority in my own school but we didn’t just get along. (And this was in a non-christian school)
There is a longer history of institutionalized oppression to deal with here so I am not going to try and ignore your past, I just hope you don’t ignore mine too.
Also, I have to apologize on behalf of the African collaborators who sold their own people to the slave traders because they contributed to a system of injustice for the seductive mistress we call ‘power.’
The fruits of our labor have borne pain and strife and even up until today we continue to let outsiders trivialize our achievements for the sake of a bigger empire, whilst mothers are being raped and children orphaned.
Your charity will not save me and neither will your internalized indignation. I have a mind and a will of my own. Amalgamate that with my love for God and you have a nation powerful enough to stand on its own two feet.
But you keep imposing your insecurities on me and fail to communicate your courage so I can take no pride in myself and idolize thy wealth.
Let God be the only one worthy of my fear.
Because His love for me helps me to accept my own depravity.
Will you let His love for you let you accept me as your equal?
Most minorities in America don’t have the priviledge of learning their own history, so how can they understand me?
I grew up learning about European and American history and read western authors but how many Americans have read Kenyan authors?
Its no wonder minorities are still segregated. We are slowly losing our identity by buying into this passive aggressive technology age which is still being monopolized by the ‘establishment.’
Man did not need weapons to fight off the enemy, all he needed was Love.
Once we bought into this ‘superior weapons propaganda’ we jeopardised our own existence, so how long will we keep eating from the forbidden tree?
I’m not from the ‘third world’ and I’m not ‘poor.’
I’m from ‘out of this world’ and I’m rich in ‘love.’
Yours sincerely,
K. E. (Kenyan Epiphany)
I think this is a great topic for a thesis. its controversial enough to turn heads. Your defense for it will be more of a learning experience for the panel than the traditional question and answer of lets trap him and see if he really knows his stuff. In addition its like a bible study in itself without the generalization of racism but rather on an isolated group. Good job man, with you luck on this.
thanks so much for the feedback John. i appreciate your support and insight! i do want to do this because i get to be the authority on this but on the other hand i can’t just base it on empirical data-as one of my friends pointed out.
Dear Eph,
I think you rock. Thanks for your impactful words. But my opinion- don’t write a thesis about your own experience. You’ll spend 6 years researching yourself and that’s no fun!
)
Miss you.
Diana
you rock too Di! i love your feedback and think you’re right-but how can i be more specific with my topic. the purpose for this is really to understand the experience african immigrants have while in America and how that is impacting development in Africa-but i have to narrow this down somehow. miss you too especially with this california rain thing
Hi Kinga,
For starters i am no believer in the supernaturals though i picked up the Kenya Monitor in a church where i was taken by my hosts and read your article. You know racism stings you and you have tried to bring it out with a touch of love and godly candour. But people have taken that path all so often in the past and it has only worked to some extent. I hate racism and i fight it openly, audibly and without love – for a racist has no love for the targets of his/her racist attacks and what he/she requires is punishment. You might not live to fight against it another day if you use that approach and you should perhaps clothe it with some love unless of course you are American since racist treatment against you may be excused through your not being an American national. I probably have a prophecy to make that nationalism as we know it today will be something that future generations will always frown at since it is the new form of official racism.