Outrage in US, Africa as presidential candidate refers to Elon Musk as “African-American”

By Ngala Hansel

US presidential candidate, Ron DeSantis who doubles as governor of Florida, has ruffled a few feathers after referring to South African-born Elon Musk as “African-American”.

DeSantis who is Republican was answering questions from journalists at a press conference when he was asked about Elon Musk supporting him. His response was:

“So what I would say um…I’m focused on 2022, but with Elon Musk, what I would say is ‘You know I welcome support from African-Americans what can I say?”

The Florida governor is known for making controversial remarks and even while running for office of Florida governor against Andrew Gillum, a Black man, DeSantis said that if Gillum won, he (Gillum) would “…monkey up Florida”.

DeSantis also referred to US representative, who is a Puerto Rican woman, “whatever she is.”

There has been a flurry of reactions to the governor’s comments in Elon Musk’s home country of South Africa. Some users on Twitter and Facebook made the following comments:

“He’s an Afrikaaner. Not an African American. He grew up white and wealthy in apartheid South Africa” a Twitter user named @JustMeZZZ_ commented.

“An accurate definition indeed. I like how it challenges society from both continents. In America there are no white African Americans…hence they are offended and in Africa he would not have identified as African…yet now he is an African American” wrote Felix Fezile Myoli.

“Isn’t he? An American, born in Africa …..” wrote Pieter Labuschagne.

In Cameroon like in South Africa, there have also been some reactions.

“I think he’s right, Elon is an African American even though he’s not black” wrote                Franklin Ejenma, a Cameroonian resident in the US.

For Nsaikila Melaine, there is some sarcasm in DeSantis’ comments and he should not be taken seriously because a lot of conservatives in the US have been referring to Elon Musk as an African-American in recent months.