American Tribalism: What Foreigners Don't Understand
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

American Tribalism: What Foreigners Don't Understand

It is alive and well.

135
American Tribalism: What Foreigners Don't Understand

Whenever I went to the beach with my family or friends in Egypt, joking about the importance of sunscreen was inevitable. I would always say things like: "If I don't cover myself in sunscreen, I'll be black." And we would laugh about it, because to us, black is just a color, a normal skin color like any other.

It was not until I came to the states that I found that my joke could be offensive to some or make people feel uncomfortable. I understood this because I was introduced to a whole new term that had never hit my ears before: race.

The more I stayed in the states, the more I understood about the racial hierarchy in America. Americans assume that everyone will get their ladder of racial hierarchy. But it takes a while to figure it all out. It took me a while to understand that I'm a "person of color". But don't we all have different colors? How can a color be offensive more than the other?

Why is it OK to say "the white girl" but not the "black girl," you say African American not black. What? What if she's not African American? It didn't all make sense to me...at all.

To me a color was merely a color! However, it's different for Americans; a color represents a culture, and a code you should abide by. This is why it's very common to hear in America things like: "He is very white!" "My mom is Latina, of course she would slap me for a C." (As if other moms would cheer for a C grade). "Oh my God, he looks so Jewish." Wait, stop here. Jewish isn't a color, nor a race or an ethnicity. Judaism is a religion, what's happening here?

This is when I realized that most of the Americans find it hard to distinguish between a race and a religion. The first time someone said to me that Muslims do this or that, I didn't get it. Islam is a set of beliefs, what do you mean by linking a non-religious act to all Muslims?

Well, here is the thing. Americans refer to Muslim as a race, so something like "he looks so jewish" shouldn't have surprised me that much!

In the novel "Americanah," the author talks about the American tribalism saying:

"There's a ladder of racial hierarchy in America. White is always on top, specifically White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, otherwise known as WASP, and American Black is always on the bottom, and what's in the middle depends on time and place. Or as that marvelous rhyme goes: if you're white, you're all right; if you're brown, stick around; if you're black, get back! It's a complicated system that only Americans understand. The longer you are here, the more you start to get it."

As much as I's like to end by that excerpt from "Americanah," there's something I should add to it. Yes, it's a complicated system that only Americans understand, because it only exists in their minds, because I'm not as good as my American friends at telling who's Jewish, Hispanic, Latino, African American, African, Jamaican,...etc. I'm not good at it, because I don't see it. If you're black, brown or white, I'll say you're black, brown or white without thinking it may be offensive. Or maybe because I still don't get how your color can be offensive to you in any way.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

49352
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

31407
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

955072
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180318
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments