Culture...Shock
Wow. So last night I felt extremely uncomfortable. Literally like a black sheep.
So the advantage that I have with this move is that my parents are Swiss. My entire family is Swiss. My parents very much so raised us in a "Swiss" way. We celebrated Swiss holidays growing up and celebrated Christmas a bit differently. My parents talked to us about Switzerland almost on the daily. To the point where Switzerland always somehow felt like home to me. It felt more comfortable.
This definitely helped with my move. It wasn't as scary because I was already prepared for some of the Swiss customs. Swiss are big on recycling and don't liter. Got it. My mom always made this big deal about recycling and we were raised never to liter. The Swiss always take their shoes off and have separate house slippers. Got it. We weren't allowed to wear our shoes in the house. The food. Got it, mom mainly cooked Swiss food and often had relative send up Swiss goodies year round. Swiss clubs play African Music... wait what?!?!!
Yeah.... parent's couldn't prepare me for everything!
And there came that Culture Shock.
I stood on the dance floor surrounded by tons of tipsy Swiss people belching out African song lyrics while attempting to move to the beat. Aw---kward.😐 I mean now thinking back a day later it wasn't such a big deal but in the moment I was sooo uncomfortable. This was my first time in a Swiss club and I was pumped! I had spoken to my friend and she was like "Oh yeah they play R&B and Hip-Hop" I literally was jumping for joy inside!
I was excited to just feel a little part of home again. Even if its sh**ty 2017 trap music.
So in we went.
Yup. African Music. There I was frozen on the dance floor. The only brown skinned person in the building and the only person who had never heard the music before. I could tell my friend was questioning why I wasn't dancing or letting loose. I'm sure she brought me here thinking I would enjoy the music, you know, since I'm black and all. I saw in the back about 3 African men walk in. Literally hitting every beat and dancing as smoothly as ever. I looked to them to try to get some type of connection but I felt nothing.
But I tried. I felt grateful that my friend thought of me to take me out. She asked me what type of music I liked and I told her R&B and Hip-Hop. How arrogant of me to think that American R&B is the only type of R&B in the entire world. This was their R&B. I looked on the wall and saw posters advertising this night. It showed the DJ's name and underneath "R&B and Hip-Hop Night"
I tried to copy the men's African dance moves and also those of the Swiss. Every song that came on the crowd went, "Ooooooo yaaaaa!" and my friend looked up to me with gleaming eyes and asked "Do you know this song?" And every time she asked I shamefully said No.
I felt ashamed.
Why am I so disconnected with my African roots? It's not her fault that she assumed I would be connected. The only brown skinned people she and many other Swiss have been around are Africans. African's aren't rare in Switzerland but African-American's are. We shouldn't be, but we are extremely different. I kept telling her, "Our music is way different, I've never heard this before", She nodded and said "Ohhh okay" But I knew she didn't understand.
I cannot speak as a whole for African-Americans, I'm sure there are plenty who listen to music and feel a connection. But I don't think enough of us do. And I mean... Slavery. That's the only response I have to that. But that is so sad. We are African. I feel like the word African was just thrown infront of American to separate us from the White Americans. Because we are just American. I don't feel any part African. I should. But I don't. But how could we when we were stripped of our culture, our music, our traditions and still are today?
So yeah, I could definitely go on and on about that but that's what happened last night.
It'll get better. But boy. This sure is hard!😖
So the advantage that I have with this move is that my parents are Swiss. My entire family is Swiss. My parents very much so raised us in a "Swiss" way. We celebrated Swiss holidays growing up and celebrated Christmas a bit differently. My parents talked to us about Switzerland almost on the daily. To the point where Switzerland always somehow felt like home to me. It felt more comfortable.
This definitely helped with my move. It wasn't as scary because I was already prepared for some of the Swiss customs. Swiss are big on recycling and don't liter. Got it. My mom always made this big deal about recycling and we were raised never to liter. The Swiss always take their shoes off and have separate house slippers. Got it. We weren't allowed to wear our shoes in the house. The food. Got it, mom mainly cooked Swiss food and often had relative send up Swiss goodies year round. Swiss clubs play African Music... wait what?!?!!
Yeah.... parent's couldn't prepare me for everything!
And there came that Culture Shock.
I stood on the dance floor surrounded by tons of tipsy Swiss people belching out African song lyrics while attempting to move to the beat. Aw---kward.😐 I mean now thinking back a day later it wasn't such a big deal but in the moment I was sooo uncomfortable. This was my first time in a Swiss club and I was pumped! I had spoken to my friend and she was like "Oh yeah they play R&B and Hip-Hop" I literally was jumping for joy inside!
Release the trap music!
I was excited to just feel a little part of home again. Even if its sh**ty 2017 trap music.
So in we went.
Yup. African Music. There I was frozen on the dance floor. The only brown skinned person in the building and the only person who had never heard the music before. I could tell my friend was questioning why I wasn't dancing or letting loose. I'm sure she brought me here thinking I would enjoy the music, you know, since I'm black and all. I saw in the back about 3 African men walk in. Literally hitting every beat and dancing as smoothly as ever. I looked to them to try to get some type of connection but I felt nothing.
But I tried. I felt grateful that my friend thought of me to take me out. She asked me what type of music I liked and I told her R&B and Hip-Hop. How arrogant of me to think that American R&B is the only type of R&B in the entire world. This was their R&B. I looked on the wall and saw posters advertising this night. It showed the DJ's name and underneath "R&B and Hip-Hop Night"
I tried to copy the men's African dance moves and also those of the Swiss. Every song that came on the crowd went, "Ooooooo yaaaaa!" and my friend looked up to me with gleaming eyes and asked "Do you know this song?" And every time she asked I shamefully said No.
I felt ashamed.
Why am I so disconnected with my African roots? It's not her fault that she assumed I would be connected. The only brown skinned people she and many other Swiss have been around are Africans. African's aren't rare in Switzerland but African-American's are. We shouldn't be, but we are extremely different. I kept telling her, "Our music is way different, I've never heard this before", She nodded and said "Ohhh okay" But I knew she didn't understand.
I cannot speak as a whole for African-Americans, I'm sure there are plenty who listen to music and feel a connection. But I don't think enough of us do. And I mean... Slavery. That's the only response I have to that. But that is so sad. We are African. I feel like the word African was just thrown infront of American to separate us from the White Americans. Because we are just American. I don't feel any part African. I should. But I don't. But how could we when we were stripped of our culture, our music, our traditions and still are today?
So yeah, I could definitely go on and on about that but that's what happened last night.
It'll get better. But boy. This sure is hard!😖
My two cents as an African who has lived over a decade in each - Africa and the U.S. (and a short time in Europe) - I understand the feelings of awkwardness that came naturally in that social situation. But it's not really on you. It's more on other people making assumptions (albeit innocent) regarding black folk. Africans and African-Americans are different culturally, and that's not a bad thing. We are such a diverse race of people (shout out to the Caribbeans and Afropeans too!). So while I encourage curiosity about African culture, I also don't like the idea of someone feeling embarrassed because they just don't feel that connection. I mean, what with a few hundred years of separation. And African-Americans have managed to evolve an interesting culture of their own, especially around those complicated southern roots.
ReplyDeleteThat said, if you ever find yourself curious, music is indeed a nice in! Just listen by yourself, without the social pressure. I'd recommend a friendly hit like this for your "initiation" ;) - "Aye" by Davido: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ-_HIoEBE8
Thanks for sharing, by the way. As someone who thinks about living a couple of years in Europe, I'm curious and learning about things there.
Rev Jesse Jackson (Is he really even a Rev??) is the one who started the "African" - American thing. It's ridiculous! I wonder why I am not called "Swiss" - American, since my ancestors all immigrated from Switzerland in late 1880s. ;:-))
ReplyDeleteRev Jesse Jackson was ordained was ordained as a minister in 1968 and holds a Master of Divinity from the Chicago Theological Institute. Rev Jackson did not invent the term the African American, the term was first used in 233 years ago in 1782. Rev Jackson did revive its use, and most people associate the term with him and the Civil Right movement.
DeleteThe New York Times extensively researched this matter. Please refer to the report by Jennifer Schuessler "Use of 'African American" Dates to Nation's Early Days.'
The following video link will shed light on the need for the use of a term other than all the many demeaning words used to describe the enslaved African (and its descendants) brought to this continent against their will by some unprincipled European.
http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/the-origin-of-the-term--frican-american--431844419894
You felt ashamed and feel disconnected .
ReplyDeleteBut before all that :
''I'm sure she brought me here thinking I would enjoy the music, you know, since I'm black and all''
''She asked me what type of music I liked and I told her R&B and Hip-Hop''
No need to feel ashamed about anything .
Your friend wanted to have good time going out . You ''are into'' hiphop , so why not visit a place which offers it . Ask yourself how many times you went to a place , expecting a certain something but ended up not quite ''feeling'' the moment .
Ask lovers of Jazz . Theres a war amongst them about what is , and what is NOT accpeted within Jazz . By reading I can tell , at least your friend enjoyed it , and I believe she could care less if you were purple or green , she just wanted to take her friend to a place she might enjoy...nothing more...nothing less .
Tell her you suddenly fell in love with rock , and no doubt , when the moment arises , she will take you to a place where they play rock . Cause she wants you two , to be friends . If you are lucky that time , maybe it's in English too and not in German or Swedish :)
In my opinion , you have no African roots . And I am not talking about adoption , but more of what you write yourself . You are an American . Born and raised . Grew up with other Americans , without never ever having to know what it would feel like to be an African .
To me , the only connection you see for yourself , is the colour of your skin . The part where you utter the word slavery adds to the idea of another world that you or your ancestors might have been part of .
You are a western , modern , individual being . Africa is a huge place , with various cultures and believes , and unless you have ever been connected to places or people within that continent , you can never get disconnected . Nothing African about you .
No hate , no stress .
Hi,ur beautiful. Will u marry me 😀
ReplyDeleteIm looking for a serious relationship with suisse girl
ReplyDelete