COMMENTARY: New Debate Over Black Identity

The moderate-conservative columnist discusses how the increasing presence of African immigrants in America - more have now arrived on America's shores than during the slavery era - may dramatically change the discussion on affirmative action: "...during the intellectually fuzzy 1960s, black nationalism took such a strong position that there was an aggressive argument for black people to deny their American experience and reach out for Third World identification. Black Americans were supposedly displaced Africans whose identity had been hidden from them. The impact of this thinking is directly behind the problems that black Americans, especially those in what is called the underclass, face with growing emigration from Africa. Now the threat is coming from their African cousins - not from their brothers and sisters. Actual Africans, hot with immigrant ambition, could now become another 'model minority' and displace black American low achievers. As actual 'African-Americans,' they could take advantage of affirmative action, which would make even more obvious the limitations suffered by those in the black underclass who are not motivated."

He continues: "It will be revealing to see just how soon black Americans begin to realize that their American experience is unique and has little to do with the limited subject of color alone. When black Americans actually throw away sentimentality about Africa and begin to assert their historical identity as Americans and elevate their aspirations along the lines of drive we find common among immigrants, we will see our country improve remarkably."