We aren’t BLACK , We are SOMALI ! : 5 Reasons Why Somalis Reject the ‘Black’ Label.
#somali #somalia
There is an exhausting recurring debate taking place online. The question is: are Somali people black? As simple as it sounds, it’s a question that generates differing opinions and passionate disagreement from Somalis and non-Somalis alike. It feels at times that the blackness of Somalis is being uniquely scrutinised, and it’s not only happening online.
The purpose of this video is not to impose our viewpoint on the matter, but to highlight the views of Somalis who reject the notion that they are black. This, in my opinion, is crucial if we are to objectively empathize with both sides of the argument. Here are five justifications given by Somalis and many other African tribes who reject being labelled as black.
1. Race is a Eurocentric Construct that Doesn’t Exist in Africa.
In Africa, generally, people do not specify and identify with being black. This is understandable as they are living in a society where people differentiate themselves by ethnicity and tribes and not by the colour of their skin, as it would be pointless. Those who live in Africa are not burdened with these Eurocentric ideas about race. A racial identity does not exist for them. That is why some Somalis, especially older ones, do not identify as black. Somalis may not identify as "black" because it would then overlook their own specific identity. They have their own religion, beliefs, language, and traditions, but in America, these are ignored and they are considered black? Race is a social construct and one that does not truly exist in Somalia as there is no cultural context for it. Somalis are simply Somalis, a people native to the Horn.
2. Africa is too Diverse to Group all Africans as Black.
Also, because of the fact that people still subconsciously see Africa as one gigantic country, with one huge group of people, we don’t tend to look into the people who live on this second-largest giant continent. There are 54 countries in the Africa, and usually even within thes
