Modern America is home now to millions of immigrants who were born in Africa. Their cultures and identities are split between Africa and the United States. They have last names like Onwughalu and Senkofa. They speak languages like Wolof, Twi, Yoruba and Hausa, and speak English with an accent. They were raised on African cuisine, music, dance and dress styles, customs and family dynamics. Their children often speak or at least understand their parents’ native language.

Living descendants of slaves in America neither knew their African ancestors nor even have elder relatives who knew them. Most of us worship in Christian churches. Our cuisine is more southern U.S. than Senegalese. Starting with ragtime and jazz, we gave America intoxicating musical beats based on African conceptions of rhythm, but with melody and harmony based on Western traditions.

Also, we speak English. Black Americans’ home speech is largely based on local dialects of England and Ireland. Africa echoes in the dialect only as a whisper, in certain aspects of sound and melody. A working-class black man in Cincinnati has more in common with a working-class white man in Providence than with a Ghanaian.

We are not African to any meaningful extent, but we are not white either - and that is much of why Jesse Jackson’s presentation of the term “African American” caught on so fast. It sets us apart from the mainstream. It carries an air of standing protest, a reminder that our ancestors were brought here against their will, that their descendants were treated like animals for centuries, and that we have come a long way since then.

All I can say is WOW. But we should not be shocked. During slavery, there were house slaves and field hands. Its not hard to guess which one this guy was. I cant see how he felt comfortable looking out into that crowd knowing he didnt see anyone that looks like him. Now I am african american and I have no problem with the Tea Party Movement and those who have different views. But when I see posters of Barack dressed as a voodo witch doctor with a bone in his nose, thats where the problem starts.
This Lloyd character makes one point though and that is the fact that we should have the right to choose. Lloyd chose to allow himself to be used by the Tea Party. They catch criticism for not having black people at their rally’s. Well, here is their one and there’s a bonus. He sings and dances.
Being african american shouldnt automatically make you a democrat because I dont consider myself one. (I’m independent). But it is certain that Lloyd has some identity issues. He say’s he’s not african-american. I’m sure there will come a time sooner than later, where he will be reminded of who he really is.

Lloyd’s got more groove in one hand that the entire Tea
Party has in it’s entire bodies put together! Not only
that, he’s living proof that Tea Parties are all
straight and white!
    I hope he takes a key role in their party, going
ahead, as it’s doubtful the worst elements among them
will have any truck with him…

“We don’t want health care…”
Speak for yourself, man! Personally I’m not a Christian Scientist, so I want as much health care as I can get (if/when I need it)!!!

I can’t imagine what issue would unite me with misogynistic religious fundamentalists who riot over cartoons. The naïveté that their is one issue that will unite everyone kind of flies in the face of Federalist number 10 and the timeless reasoning of James Madison don’t you think?

A better idea is to let everyone decide what is in their best interests and pursue it. If one identical twins wants to identify as an African American and the other as an Americaaaaaaan neither one is wrong.