Creating Africa in America. Jacqueline Copeland-Carson

Americans,” people of European ancestry could be “African” if they held African citizenship or were born in an African country.

      CWC “Africans born in America” tended to justify a common “African” identity across the diaspora in part because of a shared history of racism and discrimination. For example, Sandra, an “African born in America” school social worker, described this commonality in spiritual terms:

      I feel more of a connection with Africans around the world than I do with Europeans…. It’s just a natural, kind of spiritual connection. So, it’s like if you’re talking to a family member, you’re more likely to share. But then other people from other cultures can also be very interested and make a good connection and you can be more intimate too. It just kind of depends. But, there is something special about and is spiritual with African people … It is a shared heritage. A shared sense of suffering. I think that wherever we are on the planet, we have had some degree of suffering that is historic and that continues based on the color of our skin.²⁸