Daryl Edwards

Differences in African-American and African Immigrant Assimilation

     My first research post focused on what I believed to be extraordinary differences existing between minority and immigrant narratives (Edwards, Daryl, 2010). These voices which share some similarities are mostly distinct, sharing more contrasts than comparisons. I suggested that the reason for such stark contrast lay in their unique history, a result of how America dealt with each in terms of Assimilation. Further study has led me to rethink my earlier conclusions. I formulated the theory that African-Americans failure to be fully assimilated, as other immigrant groups have been, was the result of racial discrimination and rejection by the Dominant Group. However, having examined the recent trends in African immigration, and that groups relative success at assimilation, I believe the problem to be more nuanced and complex than I originally formulated. In this post I will attempt to examine and contrast the success of African immigrants against the failed assimilation of American-born blacks.

     As I proposed in my first post, the historical exploitation of African-Americans must be considered during any examination of their assimilation attempts.  The distinguishing feature of American-born blacks, in terms of differing from other immigrants, is that they did not voluntarily make the journey to America. During this nation’s infancy, millions of captive Africans were delivered to America’s shores (Eiassa, Salih). Overcoming adversity, this group and its successive generations laid the groundwork of opportunity for a new wave of immigration.

     The minority story for American-born blacks is one of dehumanization during the slave-era and exploitation and discrimination in the decades following emancipation. From his arrival the African-American’s relationship with the Dominant Culture was one based on his perceived inferiority. Compare this with the markedly different immigrant narrative of the African immigrant. From the outset the African immigrant shares in the vision of the American Dream. In pursuit of this dream he seeks to voluntarily leave his country and come to this one. This is, I suggest, an important distinction from the African-American’s minority story. Arriving on these shores unfettered by shackles, passaging in planes rather than the storage holds of cargo ships the African immigrant begins his experience in the nation free of the historical luggage which burdens the American-born black.

     “Since 1990, more African immigrants have arrived voluntarily than the total who disembarked in chains before the United States outlawed international slave trafficking in 1807” (Roberts, Sam). Lured by the prospect of a better future and the freedom to pursue success, the African immigrant shares in a vision of the American Dream more similar to that of other immigrants. This is also an important distinction from the African-American, whose experience has been termed an American Nightmare because of the history of brutalization he was subjected to.

     “Historically, every immigrant group has jumped over…” American-born blacks (Roberts, Sam). I contend that such appears to be the case with the African immigrant also. African immigrants are participating in many areas of American culture with great success. Unlike the minority Africans who arrived here centuries earlier, these African immigrants usually speak English. Being able to acquire and perfect the language of the Dominant Culture is an important key to successful assimilation. Many African immigrants were raised in large cities and capitalist economies, they live in families headed by married couples and are generally more educated and have higher paying jobs than African-Americans (Diouf, Sylviane).  I submit that all these characteristics serve to reinforce the notion of divergent narratives African immigrants and African-Americans.

     The socio-economic differences which exist between American-born blacks and African immigrants are one which demands further study. I can no longer vigorously argue my original post’s proposition that it is the identifiability, the genetic distinctions, of African-Americans which marked them for opposition and ultimately rejection for assimilation by the Dominant Culture. Such an assertion now seems refuted by the contrasting success of African immigrants, who share their same genetic characteristics. Were I to conduct a study, I would examine the “how” and “why” of the social and status differences between these two groups. Such an examination would allow us to better understand the cultural differences of their narratives and perhaps comprehend the persistent problem of lack of African-American assimilation.

Works Cited

Diouf, Sylviane. The New African Diaspora. In Motion: The African American

     Migration Experience. February 2005.

Edwards, Daryl. An Examination Of Resistance To Assimilation of African-

     Americans By Dominant Culture. Research Post. LITR 5731. June 2010.

Eissa, Salih. Diversity and Transformation: African Americans and African

     Immigration to the United States. Immigration Policy Center. Washington

     D.C. 2005.

Roberts