Are Recent Black Immigrants "African-Americans?"
A new documentary, The Neo-African-Americans, explores Black immigrant identities and the changing social dynamics in the United States. Reports by the U.S. Census Bureau captures these changes by revealing that there are more than three million foreign-born Blacks in America. With growing Black immigrant populations; from Somalis in Minnesota, to Dominicans in New York, to Haitians in Miami, to Nigerians in Texas; the very term "African-American" has become contentious.
"We need to recognize and embrace the reality that though there are many ties that bind us, there is no universal Black experience or expression,” says the film’s maker, Kobina Aidoo. Through interviews with social scientists, activists, and members of immigrant groups, The Neo-African-Americans captures the major issues emerging from Black immigration: ethnic labeling, education, culture, Black-on-Black tensions, and affirmative action, among others.
Aidoo sees these issues play out in a variety of ways. "Take education: We hear a lot about the racial achievement gap, but when you isolate African immigrants, for instance, you see some surprising numbers.
Aidoo, a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School of Government, considers himself a public policy analyst with a camera. He was struck by the depth of emotions, rawness of passions and complexity of answers he uncovered: One interviewee responded, "I'm more Haitian-American than African-American but more American than Haitian."
Click here tor trailer and purchase information.
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Build/Renovate
Your Own Castle IV
Port Of Harlem magazine hosts Build/Renovate Your Own Castle IV, Saturday, June 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the exquisite Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Road, SE. During the free seminar homeowners and future homeowners will mingle and learn from
experts on how to make their home their castle. Leading the series of five short discussions is architect Genell Anderson of the AMAR Group. Anderson, who TV’s This Old House (Program #2519) recently featured, speaks on “What You Must Know about Building in the City.”
 Interactive discussions will continue with mortgage consultant Noel Shepherd on “Where Can I Get the Money?,” contractor Jabah Nash on “Save Energy. Save Earth. Save Money.”), art collector and dealer Barry Lester of Attitude Exact Gallery on “Collecting Art to Beautify Your Walls and Benefit Your Pocket,” and design principals Sherry Ways and Susan Featherstone-Schemm of Design Scheme Interiors on “How to Design a Beautiful Space.”
Chief Greg of The Secret Ingredient will provide refreshments and a taste of Grilled Moroccan Chicken on Skewers that Port Of Harlem features in the May – October 2010 print issue. Participants can also make arrangements before the event to visit homes for sale in Anacostia after the event with Ivan Brown Realty or Anacostia River Realty.
Click here to set-aside one of the 40 available seats. And additional 20 standing-room spaces are also available. Reach Port Of Harlem at 202-583-3438 for further information.
The Line-Up of Presenters and Topics
- Architect Genell Anderson – “What You Must Know about Building
in the City”
- Mortgage consultant Noel Shepherd – “Where Can I Get the
Money?”
- Contractor Jabah Nash – “Save Energy. Save Earth. Save Money”
- Art collector and dealer Barry Lester of Attitude Exact Gallery – “Collecting Art to Beautify Your Walls and Benefit Your Pocket”
- Design principals Sherry Ways and Susan Featherstone-Schemm of
Design Scheme Interiors – “How to Design a Beautiful Space”
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