The problematics arise when culture informs identity more than race or ethnicity.
Wouldn't it be better if that were the case?
dcs, it should be. But, empirical evidence suggests that we are not entirely comfortable with it ...
When blacks push 'we are latinos' ... they get fought on it (i ent have no prob wid dis) ... why? often and partially because there's a typical suspicion that it's wrapped up in self-hatred ... the hair scenario can serve as exhibit A pointing in that direction ...
Lemme ask this ... can you hate yuhself without knowing it? I suggest 'yes'Ever reason with a black saudi or kuwaiti? when he pushing his i am an arab head to the exclusion of i am a black man head he too getting a fight ... now in Kuwait or Saudi Arabia that may be a more pragmatic and defensible position but for those of us witness to the western experience, it may be an affront in the context of 'bredda yuh living here, yuh blind?"...
Granted, if we had more 'Black Arabs' in the West this example would be more obvious, but say wha ... at the same time, just because he's pushing that head may not signify self-hatred ... it may signify lack of relevance in his world or it may signify ignorance ... one culture may choose to emphasize race, another may choose to de-emphasize it ... both are usually done in the interest of social cohesion ...
Hatem Trabelsi (Tunisia) or Mohammed Al-Deayea (Saudi Arabia), both phenotypically black players may come out differently on this issue ... one has extensive playing experience in Europe, the other not ... I used to play with a black Kuwaiti who 'got it' ... maybe he 'got it' when he played in Bulgarian Second Div or maybe he 'got it' here later ... personally, I was happier that he 'got it' period!
To answer more directly: problematic because our expectations influence the outcomes ... perhaps culture and race/ethnicity should inform on a more equal footing
