WHAT THE F***! Yes, I said it, because I need to know what I just watched!
Recently, I came across an Instagram video with Amara La Negra on a web series show called “The Fallen State“. This show is hosted by Jesse Lee Peterson and this episode had me just shaking my head. I know I wasn’t the only one confused, scratching my head, and dropping my mouth at some of the questions being asked and some of the things being said.
This is my first time ever hearing of this show and hearing of Jesse Lee Peterson, but he’s been around for quite some time. He’s a talk show host, author, activist, and a pastor. I was a little taken back by this interview because I really didn’t know what to expect, but I didn’t expect this. He asked Amara questions and said things like
- “Do your parents identify as Afro-Latino, or just Dominican?”
- “Now that I see you in person, you don’t look like a black person.”
- “Why would you want to call yourself Afro-Latina cuz black people are so negative, there’s nothing really good about being an Afro.”
- “Black people are not successful, they’re only where they are because of affirmative action.”
The list of ignorance goes on, but I really can’t tell if he’s doing this just for show, or if he’s doing this because this is truly how he feels. This interview stirred up a lot of emotions. Not only did it show me how ignorant some parts of the African-American culture still is, but that we don’t see ourselves as one people.
Despite where you come from, the African diaspora is all over the world. From the Americas all the way to Australia. There is not a set look for African Americans. Amara is from Florida and so am I. We have an understanding that black comes in all shades and from all backgrounds because the southern half of Florida is a melting pot of different cultures. Amara held her ground very well through this interview. Other people would have stormed off stage, but she brought out her sassy and sarcastic personality and killed this interview.
This interview really opened up a lot of questions for future discussions. Follow me to discuss more topics like this.