...But You Don't Look African...?

I can remember my elementary school classmates asking me
"Are you really African?" Why do you sound white?" You're not African, only your name is..."

Well, those are thoughts and comments you would expect  from children...I didn't grow up thinking that now, in my late twenties, that I would still be hearing the same series of questions from Americans and other Nigerians alike."Are you African?!" "...but you don't look African!" ...statements I've heard all too often. As people say this, I can't help but wonder "I don't look African? Should I feel relieved …or should I be upset?” moreover, what exactly does an African look like?  I have posed this question on many platforms, and I still have yet to receive an answer. The irony in all of this is I don't need an answer. When someone tells me I don't "look" African, I know exactly what they are trying to say. I also know that this "compliment" if often viewed as one-sided and malicious.

Similar to the U.S., the continent of Africa is a blossoming melting pot of different races, ethnicities, cultures and religious denominations, proving that there is no standard African in terms of appearance; furthermore, trying to prove that there is a standard African in terms of appearance is relatively impossible.

There was once a time when whatever was put out in the media was what we considered to be a fact. We all know how misleading and biased media can be, especially when it pertains to other countries and cultures. Many of us have never been to, or have been in close contact with anyone from an African country, so most often than not, we believe what we are shown. Once upon a time, I would argue that cultural incompetency and ignorance is no fault of any one's, because of the bias and the misinformation that is fed via media. In the world we live in today, that isn't necessarily the case. With the immersion of the World Wide Web, eBooks, and other technological educational tools, accurate information is only one Google Scholar search away. At some point in our lives, we have to take responsibility for what we are fed and what we learn.


Until next time, peace and blessings.

Gracefully yours,

Chinyere