Hotep sister,

I agree genetic research has shown us that we might be related, but how can we used terms like "African" to include people who reject being part of the African Diaspora? I already stated the descendents of African in Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent detest to describe themselves as black-Africans. You know very well Afro-Caribbean have more in common with Afro-Latinos and black-Africans. Our commonalities with dark skinned group of peoples in Asia are faint. It's not complex they are more related to their countrymen in Asia than black-Africans from the sub-Saharan Africa! If you don’t believe me, go venture to mention possible "African roots" to Southern Asians -Indians, Australian Aboriginals in particular,- you would usually be met with a torrent of obscenities and attacks - including the infamous "n" word and references to certain people eating monkey body parts.. Sorry, but the "African" term is wrongly used here.

And, why should I embrace these people as "brothers and sisters" when they have no hesitation in omitting their African or Africoid ancestors? I am of Kongolese descent and "both" my race and my culture refer to my African ancestry. African is a part of my genetic and consciousness. A color to me is not a function of what I call "race". I only support their struggle based on their history of oppression. That’s it.

B.K