₦airaland Forum

I notice the recent trend on TikTok, and I mean the trend about BAs hating on Africans, claiming they are Foundational Black Americans, indigenous to the US, and have nothing to do with Africa.

These people look down on Africans and are placing themselves on the same footing with the Native Americans. I don't know if history is still being taught in the US or not, but I am getting seriously annoyed by this trend.

My opinion is that BAs are a set of people who never try to hold themselves accountable, always looking to blame other people for their problems. Slavery ended over 150 years ago, and these sets of people still blame slavery to this very day despite being surrounded by opportunities.


The idea of Foundational Black Americans (FBA) is something that started trending in recent years, especially on platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. It was popularized by an American social media personality named Tariq Nasheed. According to him, Foundational Black Americans are Black people in the United States who are direct descendants of Africans enslaved in America. In other words, their ancestors were brought to the U.S. during the transatlantic slave trade, and they were born and raised in America for generations.

Tariq and his followers argue that FBA have a unique history and experience, especially when it comes to slavery, segregation, and the civil rights movement. Because of this, they believe that only they—not Black immigrants from Africa or the Caribbean, should be the ones to speak for or benefit from certain struggles like reparations or affirmative action in the U.S.

However, this ideology has caused a lot of controversy, even among Black Americans. Many people, including scholars and everyday activists, have criticized it for dividing the global Black community and promoting unnecessary hostility toward African and Caribbean immigrants. Some of the FBA rhetoric online has been openly disrespectful to Africans, portraying us as “outsiders” or even “opportunists.”

It’s important to understand that this FBA concept isn’t based on any serious historical research. It’s more of a social media identity movement, built around feelings of resentment and exclusion. While the historical struggles of Black Americans are real and deserve respect, the way the FBA idea is being pushed—especially the anti-African tone by some of its followers—has made it difficult to take seriously, especially outside the U.S.

For Africans, especially Nigerians, it's worth watching the trend, but also seeing it for what it is: an internal debate among African Americans, now spilling over into global Black spaces online.

You know the discrimination between African Americans and other blacks who migrated is very funny. I see it as a two-way street. In the Nigerian circle for example, we are quick to condemn them and even blame them for trying to blame others for their predicaments. We say things like they were born free men so why do they feel America owes them. We do not think about the various abuse they have been through. Some through the stories passed down over generations and some, witnessed by themselves. Until a few decades ago, their opportunities were very limited, and they lacked parental love/role models. For most of the black kids I knew in school, their fathers and many other male role models they could have had were absent, and their mothers did not do any better. Hopefully, as we evolve more, we will find reasons to be more united and take away every form of division from amidst us.

@GboyegaD,

I totally agree with you, but to an average Nigerian moving abroad, we always get overwhelmed with the abundance of opportunities to improve ourselves presented by the host country like the US, opportunities we never experienced in Nigeria, and we are surprised why the average BAs are complaining or not taking advantage of such opportunities.

In Canada, for example, most of us who came in bought our first houses within the first two years, went to school on top of the education we already had, and we try our very best to succeed instead of complaining about the past. This is the POV from which the average AA tends to look at the BAs as being lazy and entitled.

Some AAs claimed the worst discrimination they experienced was not from whites, but from the BAs.

The reason why the foundational black Americans are like that based on my close observation, is because majority of them have "blindly refuse" to build on the solid legacies that their heroes fought and left for them to build upon and become extremely successful just like the whites.

If you live in America, you will notice that the system favors the Whites majorly and the Blacks come second but the Blacks behave like "pampered kids" because in truth, what make the Blacks "important" is because the "series of struggle" by their heroes led to a "major/significant victory" for the inclusion/acceptance of Blacks but the generations after refused to build on the solid legacies and because they know the "victory" favors them more than all other race besides the Whites, they now "look down" on almost everybody including immigrant Blacks.

I hope you get the gist!

TheNobleProphet:
The reason why the foundational black Americans are like that based on my close observation, is because majority of them have "blindly refuse" to build on the solid legacies that their heroes fought and left for them to build upon and become extremely successful just like the whites.

If you live in America, you will notice that the system favors the Whites majorly and the Blacks come second but the Blacks behave like "pampered kids" because in truth, what make the Blacks "important" is because the "series of struggle" by their heroes led to a major victory for the inclusion/acceptance of Blacks but the generations after refused to build on that solid legacies and because they know the "victory" favors them more than all other race besides the Whites, they now "look down" on almost everybody including immigrant Blacks.

I hope you get the gist!

Thanks for your contribution. Now, they are out attacking Africans in America and claiming to be Indigenous melanated Americans.

Another reason is that, the foundational Blacks do NOT have "healthy solidarity" amongst themselves; so they wouldn't even look at you the "immigrant Blacks" as anything because it is a case of "you can't give what you don't have".

However, the "battle for inclusion/recognition" of the foundational Blacks has already been won through the struggles by their heroes that is why after the whites, only the foundational Blacks can be presidents in America!

Were there foundational/indigenous blacks in the US aside from the slaves taken from Africa?

Nnamdipapa:
@GboyegaD,

I totally agree with you, but to an average Nigerian moving abroad, we always get overwhelmed with the abundance of opportunities to improve ourselves presented by the host country like the US, opportunities we never experienced in Nigeria, and we are surprised why the average BAs are complaining or not taking advantage of such opportunities.

In Canada, for example, most of us who came in bought our first houses within the first two years, went to school on top of the education we already had, and we try our very best to succeed instead of complaining about the past. This is the POV from which the average AA tends to look at the BAs as being lazy and entitled.

Some AAs claimed the worst discrimination they experienced was not from whites, but from the BAs.

I think the divide is not as bad as it was a decade ago. We all are in the learning process and both sides have their excesses. You need to see how condescending we can be of them many times and vice versa.

Nnamdipapa:
Thanks for your contribution. Now, they are out attacking Africans in America and claiming to be Indigenous melanated Americans.

The reason why they do that (intellectual attack) is because some of the "immigrant Blacks" that they come across give them the opportunity to behave badly towards them like that especially when you are NOT an "educated immigrant Black" and so they feel you are ignorant and use that as an opportunity to launch their "prejudice/stereotype" towards you!

TheNobleProphet:
The reason why they do that (intellectual attack) is because some of the "immigrant Blacks" that they come across give them the opportunity to behave badly towards them like that especially when you are NOT an "educated immigrant Black" because they feel you are ignorant and use that as an opportunity to launch their "prejudice/stereotype" towards you!

One of their biggest argument is if African immigrants are so successful, how come Africa is in the state it is and they have failed to build their countries. I honestly never have an answer for this.

Nnamdipapa:
One of their biggest argument is if African immigrants are so successful, how come Africa is in the state it is and they have failed to build their countries. I honestly never have an answer for this.

It is a thing of "two different worlds" entirely!

Here, the system is "highly/well structured" although there may be some lapses BUT in Africa, "No structure" to build on and even if you struggle, you may not achieve anything meaningful because the system is "not well structured" like the western world; so in Africa, you could end up with nothing!

TheNobleProphet:
It is a thing of "two different worlds" entirely!

Here, the system is "highly/well structured" although there may be some lapses BUT in Africa, "No structure" to build on and even if you struggle, you may not achieve anything meaningful because the system is "not well structured" like the western world; so in Africa, you could end up with nothing!

Well you are apparently saying that Africans can not build structures or foundations of success like in America.

Well black Americans have been enslaved, prevented from buying properties or business, disenfranchised, prevented from going to schools or universities but they have built structures that Africans back in Africa who haven't gone through any of those will never have.

So I think your excuse is not valid.

So the Chinese getting rich in Nigeria, what structures do they have?

Nnamdipapa:
One of their biggest argument is if African immigrants are so successful, how come Africa is in the state it is and they have failed to build their countries. I honestly never have an answer for this.

Personally I don't think African immigrants are more successful than black Americans.

The black Americans are literally 13 percent of the population,so it is impossible for Africans to be more successful than them.

There are more black American business men, doctors, engineers than the number of African doctors, engineers in the United States.

motymop:
Personally I don't think African immigrants are more successful than black Americans.

The black Americans are literally 13 percent of the population,so it is impossible for Africans to be more successful than them.

There are more black American business men, doctors, engineers than the number of African doctors, engineers in the United States.

I agree with you. They literally created new cultures after being oppressed for too long.

I know, my grouse is them trying to attack or talk down to the Africans in diaspora or trying to twist history to fit into their warped narratives.

motymop:
Well you are apparently saying that Africans can not build structures or foundations of success like in America.

Well black Americans have been enslaved, prevented from buying properties or business, disenfranchised, prevented from going to schools or universities but they have built structures that Africans back in Africa who haven't gone through any of those will never have.

So I think your excuse is not valid.

So the Chinese getting rich in Nigeria, what structures do they have?

Sorry, your point is empty and holds no weight.

motymop:
Personally I don't think African immigrants are more successful than black Americans.

The black Americans are literally 13 percent of the population,so it is impossible for Africans to be more successful than them.

There are more black American business men, doctors, engineers than the number of African doctors, engineers in the United States.

Sorry, your point is empty and holds no weight.

TheNobleProphet:
Sorry, your point is empty and holds no weight.

Are you the one to determine if my point hold no weight.. 😂

Nnamdipapa:
I agree with you. They literally created new cultures after being oppressed for too long.

I know, my grouse is them trying to attack or talk down to the Africans in diaspora or trying to twist history to fit into their warped narratives.

Too many oppressions, sometimes I wonder why people tear them down

Most people do not realize that after how many generations of fighting oppressions, they were only given right to vote in 1965

Africa is in the state that it is because the West is still in charge and exploiting our resources for their own benefit... And our leaders are unfortunately their puppets.

The West would normally look for a third world country that has resources and the African continent is obviously rich in natural resources... They'd then get a loan from the World Bank under the guise of developing the country's economy, only for the money to go into their own corporations within that country, benefitting only the rich and leaving the entire country not only in poverty, but also in a huge debt, resulting in Africa being forever indebted to the West.

In short, the poorer we get, the richer the West gets... They're benefitting from our poverty and are doing everything in their power to ensure that Africa stays poor and indebted to them... America is also a beneficiary.

Nnamdipapa:
One of their biggest argument is if African immigrants are so successful, how come Africa is in the state it is and they have failed to build their countries. I honestly never have an answer for this.

You are absolutely right

I don't understand what you're complaining about here exactly.

Black Americans can never be equated to the black Africans that came to America when everything was fine . Why would you want to be included in the debates about slavery, civil rights movement, and reparations ....what is your business with any of those as a non-native black person there ?

Please make me understand, what your complaint is exactly because I'm confused. Being black doesn't make you one of them. You're another group of black with a whole different history,lived experiences, societal challenges, outlook and you don't share the same scars. You have your own realities and scars that aren't exactly like theirs 💁‍♂️

Lioness5280:
I don't understand what you're complaining about here exactly.

Black Americans can never be equated to the black Africans that came to America when everything was fine . Why would you want to be included in the debates about slavery, civil rights movement, and reparations ....what is your business with any of those as a non-native black person there ?

Please make me understand, what your complaint is exactly because I'm confused. Being black doesn't make you one of them. You're another group of black with a whole different history,lived experiences, societal challenges, outlook and you don't share the same scars. You have your own realities and scars that aren't exactly like theirs 💁‍♂️

My concern is black Americans trying to twist and rewrite history by claiming their forefathers were never from Africa. They are now claiming to be Foundational Black Americans with the status of Native Americans.
It affects me because I am an of African kn diaspora.

Nnamdipapa:
One of their biggest argument is if African immigrants are so successful, how come Africa is in the state it is and they have failed to build their countries. I honestly never have an answer for this.

It is a good question though. I ask this everytime I hear African migrants claim to be more hardworking than black SA . Hardworking in what, when they have never built any country to match SA,do they know what we went through during the building of this country? Nope!. They must show us their hardwork . And of course,currently, if you listed the most productive countries in Africa, you'll find the lazy people country up there and theirs down there.

So it's a very good question. You're successful in environments built on the sweat of others only ?. Because the ground work for black immigrants in USA was laid down by the Black Americans. And that's a fact. So you can never get credit for it. 💁‍♂️

Lionessza6:
It is a good question though. I ask this everytime I hear African migrants claim to be more hardworking than black SA . Hardworking in what, when they have never built any country to match SA,do they know what we went through during the building of this country? Nope!. They must show us their hardwork . And of course,currently, if you listed the most productive countries in Africa, you'll find the lazy people country up there and theirs down there.

So it's a very good question. You're successful in environments built on the sweat of others only ?. Because the ground work for black immigrants in USA was laid down by the Black Americans. And that's a fact. So you can never get credit for it. 💁‍♂️

I cannot argue your points because they are very valid. I am returning back to Nigeria for the exact same reason, to build or die in the process.

Nnamdipapa:
I agree with you. They literally created new cultures after being oppressed for too long.

I know, my grouse is them trying to attack or talk down to the Africans in diaspora or trying to twist history to fit into their warped narratives.

You mean the same Africans who leave their underdeveloped countries to go to USA to pick faults at black Americans who are living their lived in their own country the best way they know how ? Those Africans?

The ones who call black Americans lazy,stupid ,baby mamas &daddies and look down on them for not having " culture or original names " ?

Please tell me you're joking.

GboyegaD:
I think the divide is not as bad as it was a decade ago. We all are in the learning process and both sides have their excesses. You need to see how condescending we can be of them many times and vice versa.

I like this . Objectivity not playing victim and turning a blind eye on the part you played. Kudos Sir.

Lionessza6:
You mean the same Africans who leave their underdeveloped countries to go to USA to pick faults at black Americans who are living their lived in their own country the best way they know how ? Those Africans?

The ones who call black Americans lazy,stupid ,baby mamas &daddies and look down on them for not having " culture or original names " ?

Please tell me you're joking.

I think you have some irrational hatred for other Africans and I find it difficult to understand why?

Africans in diaspora worked their butts off to become successful abroad and nothing was handed over to them free of charge. Also, most Africans live in their own countries so I don't get your point.
IWestern countries were also built by whites not just the black Americans so, I owe the black Americans nothing.

motymop:
Too many oppressions, sometimes I wonder why people tear them down

Most people do not realize that after how many generations of fighting oppressions, they were only given right to vote in 1965

They are covetous of their current position. They want to be the new black Americans without having gone through what it means to be a black American. Short cut tendencies.