My African Co-workers might upon meeting me ask if I’m from a certain specific African country because I resemble people from that area.
However it is extremely rude to ask someone who you barely or don’t know Where are you from.
I’ve worked at the museum for 9 years and I do my best to get to know people before asking that type of question. Maybe after months of getting to know someone I might ask them where their parents or grandparents were from but if you’re in this country you are an American.
I don’t like to hurt peoples feelings or put them. Since my colleagues hail from every country in the world we often share foods and traditions.
I have never felt offended when a Sister or brother from the Caribbean/West Indies asks me if I’m Jamaica same with Africans.
We are all Black so it’s not an insult implying that I don’t belong but rather a gesture of Love from Our African Family Diaspora. We are One as Black people. For all of use Africa is our true home. One day I will make my pilgrimage to the Motherland.
Espiritu en Fuego/A Fiery Spirit 
I hope you will visit Africa one day and you will love it as much as I do.
Thanks.
Either way, you are quite lovely 🙂
And yes, it is rather rude to inquire about a person’s race or ethnicity before you really know them.
I”ve been asked if I was Dominican, Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Haitian and so on.
Personally, I prefer to use the term “black” (as you have here) because it seems to best fit the children of the diaspora.
Frankly, I think that “African-American” is too broad a term as Africa is a continent….not a country.
That said, I’ve learned, via DNA ancestry that my family comes primarily from Cameroon, Ghana and Senegal.
It feels good to be able to pinpoint the land of my ancestors.
Great post 🙂
Thanks. Great! I Also took the DNA Test and my ancestors came from Mozambique and possibly Nigeria. Exciting.
Great post! Visit my homeland Ghana, you will love it there.
Thanks. Yes. Ghana is high on my list of African nations.