The Hate Between Us

Salam to you. Having grown up in a Soninke family in America, I could see a big distinction between us and how I witnessed many other African-American’s in my community live. I was born and raised in the Bronx, New York in a two parent household with six other brother’s and sister’s. My mother only spoke to us in Soninke while my father spoke to us in both Soninke and English. My mother was a homemaker and my father worked long hours every single day. Our family was very close, with my parents always keeping in contact with the rest of my family who were also living in the states and abroad. 

When I went to school I was often picked on and I knew it was because of my race. They thought I was retarded and they just treated me like I didn’t have any feelings. The school was 99% African-American and Hispanic. But I still stood out to them. I remember once when I went to the school restroom and I walked past this Hispanic girl and she was already mad because of whatever and she said “She stinks!” to her friend and said to her friend “you’re African but you don’t stink.” This friend of hers who was darker than me responded with “I’m not African, I’m Carribean”. And when they were leaving the Hispanic girl asked me “what’s your name?” I said “Ramata”. And then she said “That’s a nice name. But you stink!” 

I mention this one story but there were a lot of other incidences where I came across people who were of the African diaspora having such great hate for me. It made me feel like we are not the same and I thought this way up until I got married. Even though genetically we are all black, the vibe never felt the same. I even said to myself that I would never marry a “black guy.” 

Coincidently I did years later and had children. He taught me so much about why the other African-American’s are the way that they are and why they can be so hateful towards us. Our hope is that we stop all of this nonsense hate and division and become a strong united people all across the African diaspora.