Black Here Does Not Mean the Same Everywhere

Skin color has another meaning in Jordanian society.  Jordanians identify others by their ethnicity rather than the color of their skin.  When people look at me in Jordan, they think, “She’s American” because of my cultural mannerisms.  But when Jordanians see another dark-skinned person in a servant-like role like hospitality, they assume that the person could either be Sudanese or Ethiopian, whom are both known for their hospitality skills in the Hashemite kingdom.  Even though there are Arabs working in roles like construction, an Egyptian is not the same as a Jordanian.  Actually, Jordanians frown down upon Egyptians because of certain prejudices that Egyptians do not work as hard and are devious.  Yet, Egyptians and Jordanians are both Arabs.  The tension is between ethnicities, not so much skin color.

If an American sees a person of color serving those with lighter skin, one may think in this age, “Oh, that’s so prejudiced!”  However, that person may not understand culture and inter-cultural relations in the Middle East.  Within Jordan itself, there are many immigrant workers to the country that are working in what you would call second-tier jobs or jobs that Jordanians usually would not do.  These types of second-tier jobs include cleaning services, janitorial work, housework and being a maid, driving a taxi and hospitality services.  There are Jordanians that perform these jobs, but more immigrants perform these types of second-class jobs than Jordanians do.

Sometimes, Jordanians only perceive an ethnicity through the view of those immigrants that work here in their country rather than forming a circumspect view of the nature of all members of that ethnicity.  The same applies how to Jordanian see Americans, understanding their nature by the types of Americans they encounter in their country as well as the Americans they see in films and television shows.  Yet, although there are stereotypes of other ethnicities in Jordan, the term “black” (people of color) here does not mean the same everywhere.  A person of darker complexion is not judged or apprehended or stereotyped because of his skin color but rather his ethnicity or background: whether he is Bedouin, Berber, Sudanese, African, or African-American.  I’m beginning to understand this view from my own experience here in Jordan; most people see me as a foreigner and American rather than as simply a black person.  When I’m in the U.S., I feel that more people interpret my presence as black rather than simply an American.  The hyphen in the word African-American includes two different meanings (one, being American, and the other simply as black) in the U.S., but that double connotation was dissipated once I came to Jordan when I became just “American” or a foreigner.  Even though I did not look most of the Americans that Jordanians envision because of American films and television, my behavior and culture still ties me to American culture.

It’s different here when you are stared at or judged by your cultural tendencies.  Yet, many of the Jordanians, if you get to know them and vice versa, will understand and respect you for who you are and your culture.  Islamic tradition includes compassion to all people, Muslims and non-Muslims.  Jordanian hospitality is one of the nicest forms of hospitality in the world, and soon enough, you become like a dear friend or family to Jordanians.  That is the benefit of living in Jordan for a long time, but the secret is getting there.  Insha’Allah (God-willing), I will get there one day.