Kenyan Journalist Larry Madowo Narrates Racism Experience in the US

Hey man; you just want the limelight again. First of all I take your story with a grain of salt. Get used to it. Racism is just another color of tribalism. You got used to tribalism while you lived in Kenya; so, adjust a bit and you will be okay. But Change in America is due and coming.

Mr. Madowo, you are RIGHT but you are yet to suffer REAL RACISM! Yours is for starters

They must have thought you were African American. They don’t trust each other.

At times the way you carry yourself influences how people perceive you. How were you dressed? How were you talking? Don't jump to conclusions.

It is a shame to use a one-off event to make general statements about race and "being a target".One must distinguish between "cultural differences/experiences" and racism especially when in a new environment.I am sure my brother would expect that since he is at Columbia university that "people should notice and give way". That is a juvenile Kenyan small brain thinking.Nobody cares about your school except your mother/father/girlfriend maybe!The value system is different and for most Kenyans they equate it to "discrimination/racism".In Kenya students stand up when a teacher walks into a class- in the US teachers/professors stand and holds the door for students- they hold a chair for students to sit black/brown/white and that is the culture.I read someone say they "washed dishes" and yet had "degrees" nonsense- all students/black/white/brown work their rear ends off to finance their studies (my friend on scholarship) may not realize the generosity of the American society that gives a scholarship to a "Kenyan bright fool" and forces an American child to work at night to pay his/her fees- Madowo guy thinks he is special because he has scholarship instead of being grateful.Is there racism based on color- maybe but it is rare- in most cases it is just the same way i will feel "lost" the first time i land in Mombasa- I was Kiswahili bullied with everyone asking me to repeat myself every time i spoke with my "Beringo" accent.Let us be honest- A black child in America starts at mile 40th in a 46mi marathon compared to the African black child- A Kenyan black child in America starts at the "finish line" compared to her Beringo friend.Lets be fair and be grateful for the bigger good even as we seek purity.Do not use such words as "target on my back" especially if you lived in NY CITY the most diverse/liberal city in America. You are not a "witness" to racism but an ingrate.Anyone who arrives in America on scholarship soon realizes how blessed they are because even if you were a star in your little village you are nowhere superior to other students especially Americans who must pay their way to support your "free ride"- you almost feel guilty and always reminded to give thanks rather than rant and call people racists.

this guy is an idiot! he been in america for a few months and now he is an expert on racism in America.. i remember seeing a story about him on Covid-19 and how he narrowly missed it and all that, i say nonsense

Oh No you are wrong and this lengthy post by whoever holds no waters... Look at your own backyard kenya and we do the same so as much as we want to blame white people... we too need to fix somethings and let have a healthy conversation... Who paid for his school? Common people and if you were to ask lots of African some do not know what racism is but do but majority from the village can't because even here we do not een get along we still hang out in our tribal sect... But you blame a whitemen... I am defending them but let not fuel a fire we can't relate with and we who came to this country for further studies and have succeed can say we are blessed and God Bless America. You see the Luo Man had to bring up penthouse on the wealthy Upper West Side. I know here l go called him Lou man ... i am not tribal but Larry Stop your non-sense and go back to kenya.

Of course, join the bandwagon, apparently those of us who have been here over 15 years or more didn't jump to be victims, who perhaps have not been privileged like Larry to get scholarships to prestigious institutions and had to work and sweat blood to be considered part of the elite and even now we work in institutions , organization and companies that considering us under par even with our elite education Right Larry please write op -eds and insta on how you are bleeding right now. I'm not trivializing yoru experience but boy, please shut up and sit down!

Whats wrong being a delivery guy? I don't think the doorman as being racist. How long has this guy lived in America

That's not new having lived in America for 25 years I see it every day.

Oooooh no, here comes the "mouther" again. This guy is suffering from something I know not. Is it the excitement of being in America? Is it his lurching low-esteem? Is he seeking for attention? Is it idleness? Is it victoriosis mdomokayarisis diarrhiasis taking its toll? Like Sonko, he want to keep being relevant. Doesn't he have somebody who can tell him that even right now, I am facing a supremacist red-neck who for almost two decades, doesn't believe how this dark skinned perfect boy, unlike him, perfects the use of work place technology with utter precision. And six other rednecks resembling Trump can't figure out how I have managed to rise through the ranks in a white-owned dominated facility. Yet all these acts of racism make us stronger everyday. Jamaa yuko shule where students dont have time to exhibit traits of racism. They are busy chasing grades. Fure kabitha.

I am standing by for the fireworks...

Kwani he is the only journalist that ever came to US ama?its a bit annoying he is irrelevant right now . Useless and doesn’t mean anything

Stick to the books Midowo!! You don’t even know what racism is all about! You got a freaking big mouth and a small brain.

Why is this guy telling lies!? And talking about something he has never lived through?? Stop it Larry!!!

What is the color of your damn skin Midowo?? You are not representing any African in your confused illogical views! What is eating you inside because you are not talking with bitterness and a lot of insecurities! Please stop lying over situations you do not understand! We are doomed if Midowo is the boy to represent our views and experiences!

Kimdomo at it again...

Huyu yuko na dimonic mouth bila fikira. Sasa Nani a likuuliza wewe Midowo? Who would be prejudiced against you as a poor foreign student in America? Your F1 visa won’t even allow you to work a dish-washing job in a ghetto Restaurant near DC area or in Dallas where you are currently residing! Wow Midowo, what’s wrong with you boy!!!

George Town University is one of the most open minded institutions of higher learning in America! I went to school there and I loved the diversity and the open mindedness all the across the institution and its locales!

This man is suffering from some incurable sort fear within himself which has become his worst enemy to himself! Are these the type of journalists you guys have in Kenya? I’m a very ashamed of him!

I always wonder why people have to reply na “mchongowano.” Is it possible to reply to a post politely instead of always belittling or condescending? The man simply expressed his experience...

5 minutes of fame granted! Seems you itch to gain cheap publicity. Learn to deal with it like most of us and we've lived here longer than you!

5 minutes of fame granted! Seems you itch to gain cheap publicity. Learn to deal with it like most of us and we've lived here longer than you!

Give Mamamadododowowo a break!!
It's the same like when Jeff Koinange met Michael Joseph and the late Bob Collymore for the first time. Jeff said, "give this man (Collymore) a cup of coffee. Is he your driver?" Just because Collymore was black, Jeff wrote him off as a driver. That's black to black racism. Happens a lot because lots of black people do blue collar jobs. I blame low levels of education in black communities.

Midowo is a good Journalist by any standards. His narrated an incident (but did not claim to be an expert on the subject). His doing what any other Journalist out there does. What exactly is the issue here?

Some of you who have aired their views have been to American and some have not.Somebody in a previous comment just mentioned Micro-aggression which is really major in America whether done intentionally or not, whether interpretted normal or not.Anybody talking about racism in America should cleary understand its history before making any comments or criticising another person's experience.Generally in America you don't expect anyone to recognise your education or whatever else you have.It is a land where you mind your own bussiness and put up with some traditions that have existed for years.This is not to say that you should allow others to run over you but you co-exist in mutual respect for one another.I wish people who comment here could keep their comments respectful because you could be the next person to go to America and narrate your own experience.

Some of you who have aired their views have been to American and some have not.Somebody in a previous comment just mentioned Micro-aggression which is really major in America whether done intentionally or not, whether interpretted normal or not.Anybody talking about racism in America should cleary understand its history before making any comments or criticising another person's experience.Generally in America you don't expect anyone to recognise your education or whatever else you have.It is a land where you mind your own bussiness and put up with some traditions that have existed for years.This is not to say that you should allow others to run over you but you co-exist in mutual respect for one another.I wish people who comment here could keep their comments respectful because you could be the next person to go to America and narrate your own experience.

Some of you who have aired their views have been to American and some have not.Somebody in a previous comment just mentioned Micro-aggression which is really major in America whether done intentionally or not, whether interpretted normal or not.Anybody talking about racism in America should cleary understand its history before making any comments or criticising another person's experience.Generally in America you don't expect anyone to recognise your education or whatever else you have.It is a land where you mind your own bussiness and put up with some traditions that have existed for years.This is not to say that you should allow others to run over you but you co-exist in mutual respect for one another.I wish people who comment here could keep their comments respectful because you could be the next person to go to America and narrate your own experience.

Watu mna machungu kweli. Poleni. Larry won't even read your comments. Kenyamericans rudini nyumbani tafadhali.

So why bring up the words penthouse and wealthy and upper West side? Are we supposed to be impressed? Something tells me Madowo is thoroughly impressed by conspicuous consumption and from now on will lead off every conversation with "back when I was in the states". I'm thinking that a year's room and board and tuition at Columbia will run 70k to 80k. How about just saying thank you.
Humans tend to accentuate the differences rather than the similarities so in Kenya we focus on ethnicity and once you get past that, the focus turns to money.
I know for a fact that rich and poor Kenyans don't socialize. As he moves up the socio-economic ladder, I hope he learned something from being treated like the help and treats those not as well off with respect.

total bullshit. useless dude and story.

Kenyan Americans wako nyumbani already. Ama you are talking about which nyumbani? Is it that other country where you have a hobby of changing constitution to suit individual whims? Kenyan Americans, stay in America with all its weaknesses. The other country is not an option.

@10x @@@@@everyone hamjambo

...sasa tunaongea mambo ya racism in america ...na huyu mjamaaaaa madowa dowa madowa..

have you tasted gossip and harrasement from our own kenyan in diaspora ..

racist kenyans ndio hawa,

the ones who stay on the phone entire night gossiping you

in the morning they meet you and you feel uncomfortable

they invite each other and they dont call you but innocently you think they are on friends list

can you see my name

(outcast) but now am happy

btwn plse lets keep truck of our kids ....ask them everyday how the day was

when u do madoubles its understandable but who is keeping your kids company.

please shower your kids
do there hair
apply lotion
pre teen ----start deodrant for girls waaaaaa buy wipes ata za dollar store ...when on period at school use wipes to take that bllod out ...it smells

when home have a routine stick by it ......if its a lazy day ...get them to shower change to clean pj

brush teeth ...use mouth wash

body hygiene for all

these things i have witnessed as major rejection esp to teens at school

...the mpple start saying yalll yall yall dont shower ...yall yall stink yall yall yall come from shitholes holy where.

lets have honest converstations

remember how we cleaned the msheoes back home ....atleast huku zina survive but polish and wash

lets be us but lets remember some pple na maji hehehehehehe hahahahah

pre teen hygiene both boys and girls....if huna kids and your friends do....have hizi conversation

healing starts within

haki msinikujie........ni ile ukweli na witnes kwa mashule na youth centres ....my nose inajua msudanese na mkenya wako kwa meeting ...

btw hawa watu wetu weupe huoga once a wk ...i know wananuka kaaaa choooo lakini word racism itaelekezwa kwa mwafrika

@nyambura kuja usome hii

Your story is great. I am a nurse and my coworker went to the police, instigated by a nurse. The police did not arrest me, but my job suspended me immediately for the alleged assault. When I saw the Amy Cooper story, I was sad because it was a reminder of what happened to me. Whites call the police on blacks because they can. The black man is found guilty before any investigations. It does not matter what your if there is evidence you did not assault anyone and have no reason to, as a professional. The traumatic experience of racism is real. We must stay positive and keep praying for change.

Mwakilishi, is this a platform for angry,bitterand frustrated humans beings pouncing on each other like wild cats? Do you regulate the kind of language that is used here?No wonder black man will always be an underdog on earth planet. If one cant regulate their feelings/selves what else can they manage?

A LUO always wants attention, this fool has never and will never equate to the plain of black Americans, mujaluo ni kumbafu!

Is it me or I am going crazy? Does it look like everything bad happens to this guy? Was he in an ambulance and going to the emergency room the other day? Does he know there are Kenyans in America that are very accomplished and you don't see them in the media every five minutes.

Who carries a juala while going to a so called penthouse? How you present yourself matters! By the way, thank God that you were allowed to use a service delivery elevator but in order not to feel as if you are subjected to racism, you probably should get a chopper to land you on the rooftop of penthouse. The fact that you can’t appreciate that you are in a full scholarship in one of the Ivy League schools where not even most white Americans can’t afford is quite appalling.
Thank God the building the doorman allowed you to use a service elevator, otherwise ungekula hizo ndizi ukipanda ngazi!

Larry, sometimes it's best to say nothing.