If your family emigrated from a European country, you likely know something about that culture and your connection to it.  If your family came from Scotland, you might have a family crest or tartan plaid.  You might invite a bagpiper to play at funerals and weddings in your family.  If you're from one of the other 55 or so countries in Europe, you might think the Scots are a bit odd running around in those skirts.

You have likely gained an understanding of the different major cities, popular cuisines, languages, and lifestyles of many of the countries in Europe and maybe even visited a few. But your interest and pride in your own country of origin is central.

Now compare that knowledge to your grasp of the 55 or so countries on the African continent.  In how many of the 2000+ languages spoken there can you say hello? How many of the top 10 cities can you name? Do you know which countries the slaves came from?

Imagine how your life would be if you had no connection to the specific country of your ancestors, but instead only knew you were from Western Europe somewhere. That is how many descendents of slaves feel until they can trace the location of their ancestor's capture.  It is likely that all connection to the rich culture of their ancestors was lost as they became someone's property.  They did not celebrate the holidays, eat the food, sing the songs, or carry the flags of their homeland.

Africa is a very culturally diverse continent.  Just like Europe, from bagpipers to yodelers to flamenco dancers, Africa developed hundreds of distinct cultural groups with their own cultural traditions, many of them older than the European culture your family came from. Recent African immigrants have brought their food, music, and dress to the United States, which we embrace and encourage them to enjoy.  Many have opened restaurants introducing us to food we may never have experienced if they hadn't relocated to the U.S.

Your practice today is to remember and notice all the connections you have to your heritage.  What makes you comfortable? What brings back memories? What holidays or traditions do you try to keep going? Then think of all the Black people you know. How many of them have mentioned their country of origin to you? How many of them celebrate holidays from that country? Has it ever bothered you that they don't seem to have a connection? Or does it bother you when they try to celebrate their African heritage, because it detracts from America as a melting pot?