ABSTRACT
Africans and African Americans share many proximities—proximity in terms of ancestral roots, migration history and patterns, historical struggles and challenges, and similar life experiences. And since the end of the eighteenth century at least, both groups have been promoting the idea and ideals of Pan-Africanism: the unity and togetherness of Blacks wherever they may live. Despite these proximities, there is a history of condescending attitude, hostility, suspicion and mistrust and mental distance between these groups. This is especially so within the academy. This chapter, therefore, examines the relationship between both groups where, for the last couple of decades, the number of African scholars, intellectuals, and administrators has greatly increased. Their noticeable presence on North American campuses has had many impacts especially in terms of access to jobs and other opportunities and in the process intensified competition and fueled the negative perception each group has of each other. But first, the chapter takes a critical look at the overall relationship between both groups.
