Pronounced "Oh-bro-knee" this is what many of the Class 3 girl students would chant any time they saw me. Opening mouths wide, smiling from ear to ear, and chanting broken by laughter amongst one another coupled with my own smile and waving "Good morning" pretty much made up our daily interactions.
First internal conversations consisted of some of the following: "just wave and laugh (the favorite) " "is that English?...no, can't be" "chase 'em (which I did do once)" "say something back "en Espanol"?...no, that wouldn't be nice (unless as a rebuttle to my 6th and 7th graders using their local language ;) ). After some time, I figured it was time for me to learn just what this word meant. So I went upstairs to get Ransford, a 7th grader, and we went "Class 3 girl" hunting and found one. And lo and behold the first thing she says upon seeing me is "Obroni, Obroni" followed by laughter. That's it I said to Ransford, that word, not yet knowing how to pronounce it. What does that word mean? He chuckles and tells me..."White man."
Now this wasn't the first time I had been called a "white man" but coming from such young ones, I figured this just wasn't some random person's perception of Americans, but could be a part of Ghanaian culture. The first time happened as a teacher remarked, "oh he (me) lives like a white man in America, he needs to see how black men live." Since then I've learned that being a white man means that I'm rich and that... I'm rich. Of course there are other stereotypes, like white people love to eat candy. Some people just look at me and will ask "obroni?" to someone I'm with and I just chuckle.
This made me think again of what it means to be an "outsider" and this time not because of the color of my skin as in S. America, but due to the place of my birth. Personally I don't mind being on the outside of things. Becuase in the words of author Chinua Achebe (Things Fall Apart), as printed in today's paper, "there are things which an observer can only see if he resists the temptation to jump into the fray and become an actor." Yet there are questions that fill my conscious, not searching to be answered, but simply to exist. Hear them...
What does it mean to be seen as an outsider among a people you may share common ancestral history with? Who decides who's out and who's in? And what if I did want "in", how could I enter? How many people, places, and things do I label as "outsiders" and why?
Yet if I never get the answer to any of these questions at least there's one I'll surely get a laugh out of hearing: "I wonder what life would be like as a white man?"
This blog is dedicated to ALL of my friends that never make me feel like an outsider, no matter what. They are my brothers and sisters in many ways truer than blood could ever have made us. So when I call them "brother" or "sister", or favs as some prefer ;), I don't take it lightly. Love you all for letting your love be known and felt across deep waters and time zones :)!!!
It is ironic how you have spent your entire life growing up in the United States of America with the stigma of race and discrimination due to the color of your skin, to go to Africa and experience ridicule based upon the perception of how you live in the United States of America and be associated by Ghanians with a group of people who have at times inflicted racism upon African Americans in the course of history. Your post is a reflection of the ignorance and stereotypes that exists between different cultures; even between two races who share a common skin complexion and acestral origin can still hold invalid stereotypes about each other. Overcoming this problem can only be achieved by interaction between our cultures and people on a interpersonal level. You are definitely achieving an level of interpersonal that will go a long way to dispelling the stereotypes that people have in Ghanna, and I'm sure stereotypes or preconceived notions that you may have held are being changed too. Change occurs one mind at a time. As men and as children of God, we must constantly affect positive change within the minds of our peers, elders, and the youth whenever possible. Change doesn't have to come by the sword or gun either, your lifestyle and witness can be a potent weapon of change and a testimony to its necessity.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed some of your quotes in this post too. I'll have to add them my commonplace book for sure.
I've never heard of Chinua Achebe, he will be getting the Google treatment shortly, and I'll see if I can find any of his works on Amazon.com. You know I'm always looking for something good to read. If you have any recommendations as to good books to read, please pass them along to me.
From one author to another, you should really consider collecting your blogs into a book, it would make a very interesting read. Keep writing my brother. I'll be on the look out at bookstores for "Coming To America" by Donte McGuire. Your blog is incredibly informative and inspirational too. Everyone has story to tell, some share their story through art, music, photography, or the written word. Everyone has a story, the trick it to discover your way of sharing that story with others.
Don't let the ink rest within your pen because it is destined and purposed to be poured out upon the paper that shall tell your story.
I checked out Chinua Achebe on Amazon.com, I'll be picking up "Things Fall Apart." My father is from Nigeria, so it would be good to check out Achebe's work even more because of my ancestral connection to Nigerians.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as a white man, I can tell you that "life as a white man" isn't all it's cracked up to be...though I do love eating candy.
ReplyDeleteWow. I'm glad you posted this.. I feel my brain 'ticking'. So if they view you as living like a 'white man', is that how they view all the black leaders in America (i.e. Obama?) Just a thought. And my next thought-- when that teacher said you need to learn how black men live... what exactly does that entail? Sounds sketchy... I'd stick with the candy if I were you ;-) Lol.
ReplyDeletePS: LOVE YOU, Little Big Brother!!!!!!!!!!