It is natural for individuals to take pride in their homeland, and to identify themselves as being from that homeland. However, nationality is one thing and race/ethnicity is another.

There's no doubt that there are differences between the cultures of African Americans, Antiguans, Jamaicans, Kenyans, Nigerians, etc etc etc. However, when any of these people reside in the USA or visit the USA, the physical clues that Americans use to categorize people by race will result in most of the people from these nations being categorized as Black. {I say "most" since in every nation where there are Black people, some of those people will be be light enough, have physical features, and hair textures which enable them to "pass for White". "Passing for White" does not have to be purposeful. When people look a certain way, others make assumptions that may or may not be accurate. {Needless to say, I am using the American social definition of "Black" , the infamous "one drop of Black blood" rule, meaning anyone who has any African ancestry, no matter how many generations ago that was}.

Since Americans {that is to say people from the United States} have a habit of simplifying things, any person who is African American in appearance {and that covers a wide range of skin colors, facial features, and hair textures} is considered to be a Black American. And to most Americans, "Black American" means "African American" and vice versa. While this is not culturally accurate, it's the way things are.

If a person from Antigua, Jamaica, Kenya, Nigeria etc etc etc met up with some skin head racists down South or up North, I don't think those racists would be satisfied if those individuals who are technically not "African American" said "Sorry, but you have mistaken me for an African American. I'm an Antiguan" or "I'm a Jamaican" or "I'm a Kenyan". or "I'm a Nigerian".

For some reason, I just can't imagine those racists saying "Oh, sorry. Wrong person".

No matter which country they came from and when, anyone in the USA who is Black in appearance better be aware and prepared for the fact that they're likely to have personal experiences with people who are prejudiced against them just because of their appearance.

To disregard this fact by focusing on nationality could result in that person being blindsided by racism. And to ignore the realities of American racism could also result in a person putting himself or herself and others in a dangerous situation that could result in injury and/or loss of life.

In this sense, though it makes no sense, being dark does matter.