Lando

As it relates to Foundational Black Americans (FBA), my understanding is that the term identifies a distinct ethnic lineage rooted in the history and development of the United States. Simply put, if your ancestors were enslaved in this country or were part of the Black American population prior to the 1860s, you belong to the historical lineage commonly identified as American Negro, Black American, or Foundational Black American. The distinction lies in the word “Foundational.” Its inclusion serves an important purpose: distinguishing those whose American identity is rooted in generations of ancestral history from those whose American identity was established through more recent immigration and citizenship. This is not about questioning anyone's right to become American. It is about recognizing that citizenship and ethnic lineage are not interchangeable. In any reasonable society, a people whose ancestors played an instrumental role in building, shaping, and developing a nation should have the right to preserve and define their own distinct identity, history, and cultural legacy. Black Americans are no exception. Unfortunately, the concept of “flat-blackness,” often reinforced by the familiar “We are all Black” narrative, has contributed to the conflation of distinct ethnic histories and experiences. While people may possess and share some African ancestry and racial classifications, that does not mean their ethnic identities, ancestral experiences, or relationships to the United States are identical. When these distinctions are ignored, conversations about historical accountability, recognition, and who is entitled to remedies for specific historical injustices become unnecessarily distorted. Let me be clear: I have absolutely no issue with people immigrating to this country, establishing themselves, and building lives they can appreciate. However, I take serious issue with anyone who attempts to appropriate Black American history and culture, minimize or discredit the extraordinary contributions of Black Americans to this nation's development, or denigrate the very people whose ancestral sacrifices helped create many of the opportunities available in this country today. I take even greater issue with individuals who knowingly perpetuate anti-Black American narratives or align themselves with systems and ideologies that have historically worked against the interests of Black Americans. Recognizing and defending a distinct Black American ethnic identity is not an attack on anyone else's identity. It is an assertion of historical truth, cultural ownership, ancestral continuity, and the right to self-identification. Foundational Black Americans have been among the most vocal in challenging these narratives, rejecting the erasure of their history, and demanding that their contributions and interests be acknowledged without dilution or misrepresentation. And for that, I have respect. Shout out to FBAs and everyone else, regardless of background, who recognizes the importance of protecting the history, identity, culture, and legacy that Black Americans have created and developed in our ancestral homeland, the United States of America. Our history is distinct. Our lineage is identifiable. Our contributions are undeniable. And our identity is ours to define.