'Connecting the Disconnect'
Students discusses differences between Black American, African American, African identities
Students gather in an auditorium in Anspach Hall at Central Michigan University on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2025, for the university's final Black History Month event of the year, "Connecting the Disconnect." Students discussed the differences between between Black American, African American, African identities" (CM Life | Blace Carpenter)
For the final event of Central Michigan University’s commemoration of Black History Month, students gathered in Anspach Hall to discuss the history and complexity of African Diaspora and the different identities within the Black community.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word diaspora means “the movement, migration, or scattering of a people away from an established or ancestral homeland.”
Senior Michelle Amoo was one of the hosts for Wednesday’s event. She said the goal for this discussion was to inform and converse with students about the differences between African American, Black American and African identity.
“A lot of people in general have seen this disconnection between people that identify as African, who identify as African American and people that just identify as Black,” Amoo said. “As a community and as a whole, we see that separation every day.”
According to Amoo and the hosts of this event, these identities are related but different:
- Someone who identifies as African American tends to have more of a connection to their African roots and was born in the America.
- Someone who identifies as Black American was born in the United States but tends to not know or feel like they have a connection to an African heritage
- Someone who identifies as African was born in Africa and is connected to their African heritage.
Students were presented with a series of statements, such as “Black Americans can claim they are African," and the hosts asked if students agreed or disagreed with these statements and to explain their reasoning.
“There were a lot of uncomfortable topics, which are good,” Senior Elijah Lewis said. “It got people talking about things that we don’t usually talk about on campus.”
The event also presented statements such as “I have heard negative things about my identity” and “Self-hate has changed my perception and created disconnection” to students. These prompted discussions on how discrimination can affect the way an individual views themselves.
Senior Imani Ellsworth said these kinds are productive and informative when it comes to understanding other cultures.
“I think it was a great event,” she said. “It goes to show that a lot more of these conversations need to be had and then we can come to neutral ground of where we are as a race and everyone together."
Ellsworth said that while Black History Month is coming to an end, these kinds of discussions should continue to be held year-round.
“There’s been so many events, and I think it shouldn’t just be subjected to just one month,” She said. “If we could have more of these offered throughout the year, I think it’d be beneficial not just for students of color, but for everyone.”
