Why do black African immigrants do better than American-born blacks?

[Michie]

Millions of sub-Saharan blacks seek to immigrate to America. They apparently haven’t gotten the memo that this is a wretched land of systemic anti-black racism.


Continued below.
Why do black African immigrants do better than American-born blacks?

 

[SongOnTheWind]

Millions of sub-Saharan blacks seek to immigrate to America. They apparently haven’t gotten the memo that this is a wretched land of systemic anti-black racism.

When they get here, they’re strangers in a strange land. English is usually not their first language. Their skin color tends to be very black, not the lighter color of American blacks who have an average of about 25% white blood in them.

Despite those handicaps, they do better than American-born blacks. Compared to American-born blacks, their income is about a third higher, their poverty rates are significantly lower, their educational achievement is higher, and their marriage rate is double.

Here’s the most intriguing statistic. Although black immigrants are more successful than American-born blacks, their relative success does not get passed on to their children. Compared to the immigrant parents, their grown children work less, are impoverished more, obtain less education and are less-often married.

Why is this? Does the notorious systemic racism of America somehow target the children of black immigrants while leaving the immigrant parents unscathed?

Maybe. But It’s hard to imagine the mechanism for such selective racism targeting.

It’s more likely that the children of black immigrants assimilate into American black culture — a culture where the murder rate is seven times the white murder rate and the illegitimacy rate is 78%. The data suggest that’s a bad thing.

Why do black African immigrants do better than American-born blacks?

Just out of genuine interest, why are you asking?

 

[Michie]

Just out of genuine interest, why are you asking?

Mr. Beaton is asking.


Glenn K. Beaton is a writer and columnist living near Aspen. He has been a contributor to The Wall Street Journal, RealClearPolitics, Powerline, Instapundit, American Thinker and numerous other print, radio and television outlets.

 

[SongOnTheWind]

And he studies black people...

 

[SongOnTheWind]

I'm not trying to be accusatory; I am really genuinely just wondering where this is coming from, is all

 

[Michie]

And he studies black people...

Lol

 

[Michie]

I'm not trying to be accusatory; I am really genuinely just wondering where this is coming from, is all

He wonders about the difference obviously when it comes to success. I think he’s a bit suspicious of systematic racism.

 

[SongOnTheWind]

Ok. Be blessed

 

[SongOnTheWind]

He wonders about the difference obviously when it comes to success. I think he’s a bit suspicious of systematic racism.

Suspicious of its effects or suspicious that it exists?

 

[Michie]

How would I know? Seems from the article he is suspicious that it exists in this day and age that hinders as the narrative says. Just read it. That’s my impression.

Suspicious of its effects or suspicious that it exists?

 

[SongOnTheWind]

How would I know? Seems from the article he is suspicious that it exists in this day and age that hinders as the narrative says. Just read it. That’s my impression.

How would I know what you know? That is why I asked the question, lol.
Seriously, I'm not trying to argue, here. I just wanted to understand, that's it. Really.

 

[Michie]

How would I know what you know? That is why I asked the question, lol.
Seriously, I'm not trying to argue, here. I just wanted to understand, that's it. Really.

I can’t read the author’s mind. I can only give my impression of what he wrote.

 

[SongOnTheWind]

I can’t read the author’s mind. I can only give my impression of what he wrote.

But sometimes the answers to questions that arise are clear from what is written. I get it, you didn't write it, he did.

I'll just read the links you posted for myself. No more pestering with pesky questions.

Again, be blessed

 

[brinny]

But sometimes the answers to questions that arise are clear from what is written. I get it, you didn't write it, he did.

I'll just read the links you posted for myself. No more pestering with pesky questions.

Again, be blessed

Thank you. A very blessed day to you.

 

[brinny]

Thank you Michie. Very thought-provoking thread.

God bless you.

 

[Michie]

Sorry to be short. In the space of 3 weeks my mother in law and mother broke their arms. The dominate one. I’m juggling.

 

[RDKirk]

Millions of sub-Saharan blacks seek to immigrate to America. They apparently haven’t gotten the memo that this is a wretched land of systemic anti-black racism.

When they get here, they’re strangers in a strange land. English is usually not their first language. Their skin color tends to be very black, not the lighter color of American blacks who have an average of about 25% white blood in them.

Despite those handicaps, they do better than American-born blacks. Compared to American-born blacks, their income is about a third higher, their poverty rates are significantly lower, their educational achievement is higher, and their marriage rate is double.

Here’s the most intriguing statistic. Although black immigrants are more successful than American-born blacks, their relative success does not get passed on to their children. Compared to the immigrant parents, their grown children work less, are impoverished more, obtain less education and are less-often married.

Why is this? Does the notorious systemic racism of America somehow target the children of black immigrants while leaving the immigrant parents unscathed?

Maybe. But It’s hard to imagine the mechanism for such selective racism targeting.

It’s more likely that the children of black immigrants assimilate into American black culture — a culture where the murder rate is seven times the white murder rate and the illegitimacy rate is 78%. The data suggest that’s a bad thing.

Why do black African immigrants do better than American-born blacks?

There are two primary reasons:

The first primary reason is that the African who immigrate to the US are self-selected "cream of the crop." That's pretty much the general rule of pioneers and immigrants. They are not a general selection from their groups, but the ones who already had more money, better education, and greater motivation.

The second reason is that they are working from a supportive structure and social culture. Their various tribal and national cultures are psychologically supportive of "who they are" and that success for them is part of the culture they bring with them.

American blacks have, all this time, been limited to what I call "chit'lin' culture," the entrails of of a white American culture that we have never been permitted to fully utilize...but have had no other viable option. Africans come to America with their own option.

 

[A_Thinker]

Millions of sub-Saharan blacks seek to immigrate to America. They apparently haven’t gotten the memo that this is a wretched land of systemic anti-black racism.

When they get here, they’re strangers in a strange land. English is usually not their first language. Their skin color tends to be very black, not the lighter color of American blacks who have an average of about 25% white blood in them.

Despite those handicaps, they do better than American-born blacks. Compared to American-born blacks, their income is about a third higher, their poverty rates are significantly lower, their educational achievement is higher, and their marriage rate is double.

Here’s the most intriguing statistic. Although black immigrants are more successful than American-born blacks, their relative success does not get passed on to their children. Compared to the immigrant parents, their grown children work less, are impoverished more, obtain less education and are less-often married.

Why is this? Does the notorious systemic racism of America somehow target the children of black immigrants while leaving the immigrant parents unscathed?

Maybe. But It’s hard to imagine the mechanism for such selective racism targeting.

It’s more likely that the children of black immigrants assimilate into American black culture — a culture where the murder rate is seven times the white murder rate and the illegitimacy rate is 78%. The data suggest that’s a bad thing.

Why do black African immigrants do better than American-born blacks?

Africans who emigrate to the US ... are, typically, at the highest economic levels of their respective societies.

Poor Africans cannot afford to emigrate.

When more well-to-do Africans come into American society, they enjoy the benefits of their heritage, ... and don't have all of the baggage that comes with being African-American ... and they are more well-to-do than most African-Americans.

As to their children, ... the reality is that they immigrated to the United States, ... not to any particular black community in the United States. The decreased accomplishments of immigrant children ... is due to the culture and society of the United States, ... not any particular segment.

It is the American culture which is the most violent in the world, aside from where actual armed conflicts are going on. Africans do not really integrate with native born African Americans. Any change in their level of accomplishment in the US, ... has to do with the context of US society ...

 

[A_Thinker]

American blacks have, all this time, been limited to what I call "chit'lin' culture," the entrails of of a white American culture that we have never been permitted to fully utilize...but have had no other viable option.

And for those of you who don't know what Chit'lins are, ... they are the LEFTOVER parts of the pig, ... after the ham, bacon, porks loins and chops (i.e. the more preferred parts of the pig) have been taken.

That's what American-born African-Americans have had to deal with ... the leftovers of American society.

After being freed from slavery 150 years ago, American blacks essentially owned NOTHING, except perhaps, the clothes on their backs, ... particularly since the promise of "40 acres and a mule" never materialized. That African Americans have come as far as they have ... starting with as little as they had ... is nothing short of a miracle.

 

[expos4ever]

Despite those handicaps, they do better than American-born blacks. Compared to American-born blacks, their income is about a third higher, their poverty rates are significantly lower, their educational achievement is higher, and their marriage rate is double.

Here’s the most intriguing statistic. Although black immigrants are more successful than American-born blacks, their relative success does not get passed on to their children. Compared to the immigrant parents, their grown children work less, are impoverished more, obtain less education and are less-often married.

Why is this? Does the notorious systemic racism of America somehow target the children of black immigrants while leaving the immigrant parents unscathed?

Maybe. But It’s hard to imagine the mechanism for such selective racism targeting.

I think you are arguing against yourself here. All you say here seems to support the argument that systemic racism is present in American society:

- Systemic racism explains why American-born blacks do worse: Unlike the black immigrant, the American-born black has been disadvantaged by such racism.

- Systemic racism also explains why the children of the black immigrant do worse: unlike their parents who grew up outside the USA, their children were born here, and hence will be disadvantaged via systemic racism.

I also agree with other posts about how it is the "creme de la creme" who emigrate - people who, for whatever reason, have been successful already.

But the bottom line appears to be that systemic racism is very plausible mechanism indeed for the facts expressed in the OP.