by I. Michael Akbar

Created on: November 20, 2007

The biggest difference between Latinos and African-Americans is having an identifiable national heritage. Being African-American, I have always delighted in Latinos' ability to identify with a country that their parents or fore parents originated from while still being a full participant in American society. While we both have rich cultures and traditions, African-Americans can at best identify with broad unifying traits from a variety of African ethnicities, but rarely have one country or cultural group that they can claim that their ancestry is from.

Latinos come from a broad spectrum of different countries throughout the Americas, each with a unique history and culture. Latinos can look to and learn from the countries or regions that their parents or fore parents came from. They have at least one specific country of origin they can visit and be welcomed as a national, if they choose to do so.

Being conscious of my African heritage, I have taken great pride in learning as much as I can about African ethnic groups. I have studied traditions from various historic cultures: Yoruba, Mandinka, Ibo, Wolof, Fulani, and many others, mostly in the Northwest of the continent. I have participated in the celebration of Kwanzaa, a week-long recognition of African-American culture based on African principles. In was started by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga in 1966 to cultivate a connection to African cultural identity, provide for the coming together of African descendants, and to reflect upon the Nguzo Saba (the Seven Principles), that are a common thread in African culture. While based on African principles, Kwanzaa is singularly a practice born in America. The positive side of African-American history in this country is that we have had a unique opportunity to define and structure our culture based on the best of broad array of cultures.

Latinos have the blessing of being able to relate and pass on jubilant stories of arriving in this country, full of gratitude for the opportunities found here or the relief of escaping political or economic hardship. They bring their language, culture, food and traditions with them to add to the richness that is American society.

Very few stories about the arrival of Africans in this country are to be found and almost certainly, they would not be happy tales. What we did bring of our native cultures were clung to in secret or masked from recognition as African, such as the tradition or "jumping the broom" into marriage or the "call and response" rhythm of African folk songs.

As I see it, the biggest difference between Latinos and African-Americans in this country is how and why they arrived here and what they could bring with them to help defined their culture here.

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