How do we address the divisions within the Diaspora? There have been some recent writings speaking on the tensions between Africans and African-Americans. Note the recent article from The African Sun Times: Africans and African-Americans Clash in the Bronx
In my studies on the decolonization of Africa, I have come across some interesting writings. I found one to be so interesting that I want to share it with you.
In looking through some of the available archival information on the end of colonialism in Africa, I have become familiar with a publication called The West African Pilot. It was a newspaper based in Lagos, Nigeria, and in it there is an opinion column that embraces the history of African Americans. It is titled: “In spite of handicaps”
One line in particular jumped out at me from the column:
“The fact that slavery did not kill the spirit of the American Negro, but rather that persecution and injustice made him determined to survive the struggles of life, and he achieved greatness thereby, is the secret of success of the American Negro.”
Source: The West African Pilot, October 20th, 1942
Anti-quated terminology aside, the point is made about how Black Americans persevered in the face of great odds. Here we have acknowledgement of the history of Black America and in the rest of the piece a spirit of solidarity expressed across the Atlantic. It stands in sharp contrast to some of the ideas expressed that are made as indictments of American born Blacks in the present day.
Unfortunately, these divisions are reminiscent of that old regional division within Black America, between Northerners and Southerners.
What has transpired that is responsible for undermining these sentiments?
More importantly, can these new divisions be overcome? How do we as a community, work towards addressing the very real disconnect between native and foreign people of African descent? Solutions never come about by not addressing a problem, so we have to get past the idea that “dirty laundry” is being aired.
I welcome your commentary.
The first thing we need to do is stop writting bad articles that make accusations without providing proof they ever happenedLOL! That African Sun-Times artilce was rife with incendiary accusations that almost came off as a Continental African diatribe against African Americans. It was as if Continentals were saying in full throat, the Americans are irredeemable!
Articles like that makes differences irreconcilable. If one feels they can find not a single legitimate reason to seek understanding, and leave no room for rapproachment, what is the sense? What was the article actually seeking to achieve, to have African Americans hang our heads in shame over a bunch of accusations which were never verified?
GREAT POST MARC! THIS IS DEFINITELY FODDER FOR TUESDAY’S DISCUSSION! IT’S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE SOME LIGHT SHINING IN DARKNESS! I AM SO TIRED OF THE IGNORANCE THAT IS SO DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN THE PSYCHES OF PEOPLES ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND IN THE DIASPORA. AFTER THE FACT, IT ALL BECOMES AN EXCUSE , AND A RATIONALIZATION FOR IRRATIONAL ACTS, THOUGHTS, AND BEHAVIOR.
I’m in complete agreement with Isaiah. Very poor journalism – essentially here say. May very well be true, however the manner in which these alleged offenses are presented is incredibly problematic. (This is essentially tabloid journalism)
The American media has worked considerably to portray us before the world as animals. (We of course don’t help, as we dance to genocidal music, refuse to pull our pants up and call each other n-words perpetually.)
The ruling class and other groups of course benefit from our disharmony.
I have found however, the better educated one is, the more likely black people from other lands demonstrate respect to the individual. Many of my friends are black people from other countries. They never disrespect African Americans in my presence and I don’t know that they necessarily do in my absence. They may however.
Half my family is Jamaican. They speak very ill of African Americans but never in my presence. They feel we are lazy, ignorant etc…
When I hear blacks from other countries speak this way I explain the history of the African American. I explain the reasons why we behave as dysfunctionally as we do.
Because black foreigners do not share our history, they regard my explanations as mere excuses.
Sadly, blacks from other countries harbor enormous resentment toward African Americans and it will almost certainly remain.
African Americans don’t help the circumstance as we often mistreat these populations as well.