Can first generation Americans claim American history, or does it come off awkward?

[Cuban Pete]

I was thinking about this after watching The Harder They Fall (great movie) and the BTS interviews of Idris Elba mentioning how the most difficult part of most of his roles is getting his accent right, and how now that people actually know how he sounds he kind of sweats that aspect of his performances. That segued into a thought I had. Can a naturalized American, or a child of immigrants claim history that had nothing to do with his ancestry? Is there a process to that? And I don't just mean specifically ADOS history cause I don't want the thread to turn into a diaspora war, I mean in general. He sounded like a damn good cowboy to me

 

[UncleTomFord15]

Growing up in Brooklyn as a child of immigrants, me and most other black children of immigrants I knew resonated with African American history. Obviously can't "claim it" but I still feel an emotional attachment to it.

Edit: I'm not sure if I answered your question

 

[010101]

i don't claim it because my family is from foreign

i defend it because aa ancestors paved the way

i stand in the gap

*

 

[Yinny]

They shouldn’t be claiming shyt other than their country/heritage. They are NOT AA.


I wish I were a billionaire but Forbes ain’t gonna be knocking at my door anytime soon.

 

[generic-username]

Nah. It doesn't even make sense because you have no cultural or ancestral connection to that history.

 

[get these nets]

I was thinking about this after watching The Harder They Fall (great movie) and the BTS interviews of Idris Elba mentioning how the most difficult part of most of his roles is getting his accent right, and how now that people actually know how he sounds he kind of sweats that aspect of his performances. That segued into a thought I had. Can a naturalized American, or a child of immigrants claim history that had nothing to do with his ancestry? Is there a process to that? And I don't just mean specifically ADOS history cause I don't want the thread to turn into a diaspora war, I mean in general. He sounded like a damn good cowboy to me

Bait thread.

But the last president of the United States defended Confederate monuments as "our" history.
And nobody in his family stepped foot in America until decades after the Civil War.

The framers of the Constitutions are referred to as "our founding fathers".

 

[Joe Budden]

What’s cringe is when people who weren’t born in a country and have no connection to it but claim it anyway. “Italians” and “Irish” are notorious for this.

 

[get these nets]

Unwittingly, walking into a trap with this stance.

Can't reasonably get upset when newcomers claim American history, and also get upset with the "my family didn't own slaves, we weren't here" stance taken by newcomers.

 

[concise]

Donald Trump's mother was an immigrant and his father was born from immigrants. He somehow has no problem claiming American history.

 

[alpo]

i don't claim it because my family is from foreign

i defend it because aa ancestors paved the way

i stand in the gap

*

 

[ISO]

Cacs claim it

And the founding fathers used to claim Greek and Roman history as part of their history and cradle of civilization even tho they was British

 

[get these nets]

Donald Trump's mother was an immigrant and his father was born from immigrants. He somehow has no problem claiming American history.

Different rules in TLR for white immigrants.

 

[Ake1725]

H

 

[WaveMolecules]

I’m first generation. I wear it with honor but fully realizing and appreciating my parents country.

dont feel fully accepted by either place tbh

 

[Robbie3000]

I was thinking about this after watching The Harder They Fall (great movie) and the BTS interviews of Idris Elba mentioning how the most difficult part of most of his roles is getting his accent right, and how now that people actually know how he sounds he kind of sweats that aspect of his performances. That segued into a thought I had. Can a naturalized American, or a child of immigrants claim history that had nothing to do with his ancestry? Is there a process to that? And I don't just mean specifically ADOS history cause I don't want the thread to turn into a diaspora war, I mean in general. He sounded like a damn good cowboy to me

Yes.

America is a nation wheee 99% of people migrated or were forcefully brought here. Plus America does a great job of marketing itself so we already knew a ton about culture and history before moving here.