What Happened to Afrocentricity?
It used to be the default viewpoint of African-Americans. Asleep for decades, it restarted in the hip-hop community as a tremor in the late 1980′s and by the early 1990′s. A systematic quake of Afrocentricism ran like a current through the hearts and minds of Black folk in the United States.
Why was it so powerful? Because it was on the radio, in the streets, in the church pulpit and on TV. Back then word of mouth was still king. The World Wide Web was in its infancy, and households had yet to grab hold to personal computers.
Championed on college campuses, an organic movement began to sprout. Loud colors akin to the patterns of African fashions started to pop up everywhere. People began to wearing the triune of black consciousness: red, black and green. Black men started to grow their afros again. Black women started to twist their hair like they did in the Motherland. Historically ashamed about their appearance, Black people started to relish their chocolate skin tones, celebrating them with a prideful appreciation.
Even so-called gangsta hip-hop groups, freed from Westernized ideology and motivated to tell idealistic stories about unity rather than gun shed joined the party.
Merchandising popped up (remember the T-shirts, “It’s a black thang, you wouldn’t understand?”), medallions were sold. A whole cottage industry was built around buying Black products, African-themed furniture and cosmetics (shea butter, anyone?)
It wasn’t the first time the prideful vibe of Africanism hit the United States. It happened in the 1920s with Marcus Garvey’s teachings. It happened in the 1960s with the civil rights movement, albeit it was more bourgeois-flavored. But the tide came back in in the early 1990s. Terms such as “nubian princess” and “Black queen” were defacto on HBCU campuses nationwide. TV shows like “The Cosby Show,” “In Living Color,” “Living Single” and “A Different World” captured that world’s fashions and mannerisms.
But could it arise again?
The early 1990s in the United States, with a bullish economy that seemed unstoppable at the time, will forever be remembered as the golden age of Black Americana. For the first time, The American Dream had soul. Looking back at it all now, was it just a fad, a flash in the pan? The chants, the million marchers, the hopes — was it a mirage?
Or could Afrocentricity return?
In 2010, we are all witnesses to a watershed event in U.S. history. This is a time — the only time, when the most visible and powerful man in the world is a Black man. Could “Brand Obama,” as former White House socialite-in-residence Desiree Rogers once remarked, rock a Kente cloth?
Could the cycle of Afrocentricity — that elusive breeze of consciousness that brushes past us every now and then come back now?
And could the President of the United States, Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama bring it back? Would they? Or even, should they?
Imagine Obama, instead of getting a tight fade from his favorite Chicago barber, letting his hair grow full into tight curls. Visualize him with one of his father’s indigenous shirts from one of the Kenyan marketplaces frequented by his father.
Picture Michelle emerging from the White House’s Rose Garden with corn rolls atop her head, her black hair glistening in the sun.
Instead of a fist-bump, the two would hold hands and with the other, raise it in the sky making a fist. Of course, this consciousness would be more than just an adornment of clothes, but would be accompanied by an earnest effort to promote knowledge about the African continent. On the White House staff would be the Secretary of the Department of African Consciousness. They would work to foster a sense of unity with the people of the United States and the Motherland.
Could it happen? I don’t know. But we’ve tried the American Dream. Why not try an African one?
I think the unfortunate thing is that something like Afrocentricity becomes a fad. Should their be a resurgence if it just becomes a fashion statement or helps you fit in with a group of people? I was too young in the 90s to decide to dress in African cloths and wear medallions. My parents didn’t live that way either but they blared Arrested Development along with their Pink Floyd and it never felt like Afrocentricity had to overtake our lives. That something like that happened organically and you didn’t have to put a title on it.
I think with life in the 2000s, it’s still going strong but it’s different because Black people are realizing that their are so many different facets of what Black is. A friend and I have been immersing ourselves in Brazilian culture, learning Portuguese. It’s an African culture down there but it’s a different African culture. We’re understanding that it can’t be boiled down to one thing and African culture changed and is different in countries all over the world. So if Afrocentricity is still here, we just don’t realize it. It’s not as easy to point out. And I think that’s a good thing. It doesn’t have to be this exclusive club nor a fad. It’s got to be real. Let’s not worry about it coming back, just live it.
Though I can’t really identify with the continent of Africa I am still an American, but I want to learn more about it. I want to learn about my ancestors here in America. I’d like to trace my roots through DNA like they did in the documentary “African American Lives” so see what part of Africa my ancestors came from. Though I’m not straight from Africa, it is a part of me. I would look the way I do if it weren’t for my African ancestry.
In reference to Joe Clyde, dating outside your race is Euro-Centric? I date outside my race, because I don’t exclusively like black guys. I like Blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanic etc… Black is beautiful, but there is beauty in other ethnicities as well. I do feel that there is a Euro-centric beauty standard that permeates everything.
The main point is to know yourself and be yourself. Also know other then yourself. My people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge. Or ignorance. Black people were from other countries beside Africa, during the last 6,000 years. In fact what is now called Israel, Iraq and Lebanon among other countries in the middle east, were before called the land of Canaan, which consisted of Black people. Many of whom fled into Africa. So there were a lot of migration of Black people even as there still is today. Now the uncall for comment, that you date outside the race seem to be more of a confession. People are all tried one way or another. Black people lived without seeing a white person for millions of years. But now it seem that they have lost their compass and sense of being. see http://www.pyramidoftruth.com meditation on self will help.
This is off topic,
but the model in the photo looks like “The Other Tyra” on Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
dude, that’s Naomi Campbell!!
1) I’m not a dude. 2) I was just pointing out the resemblance.
REALLY, SOME OF YOU PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO ACT!!!! BUT I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO TO EXPECT NO DIFFERENT!!!! SO HAS THE REST OF THE WORLD , WHICH IS WHY AFROCENTRISM AND PAN- AFRICANISM WILL NEVER WORK, BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH YOU!!!!
SHOOT ME FOR RUSHING BACK UP TO CHECK OUT THE PIC AND CHUCKLING AT THE FACT THAT IT IS NAOMI AND SHE WAS COMPARED TO A DRAG VERSION OF TYRA, BUT WHATEVER!!!! SAVAGE!!!
How are you getting all bent out of shape because I think the model in the picture and “The Other Tyra” share an uncanny similarity in appearance. Get a grip. All of this extra antagonism on this site is uncalled for.
Only foolish oafs resort to name calling and hostile confrontation. I can’t blame you though since you are clearly functioning with a double digit IQ. It is clear who the real savage is; you can’t even restrain your pugnacious nature. I bet you sling your feces at the walls when you don’t get your way. I wasn’t even talking to you in the first place.
Go read a book, a book without pictures.
then who were you talking to when i am the person who pointed out that it was Naomi, me pointing out the models identity was not me getting “bent out of shape”, it was me simply realizing it was Naomi!!! would know anything about a drag show, i don’t watch television!!
“Only foolish oafs resort to name calling and hostile confrontation. I can’t blame you though since you are clearly functioning with a double digit IQ. It is clear who the real savage is; you can’t even restrain your pugnacious nature. I bet you sling your feces at the walls when you don’t get your way. I wasn’t even talking to you in the first place.”
PLEASE READ THIS AGAIN AND TELL ME WHATS WRONG WITH THIS PARAGRAPH!!! YOU KNOW, BESIDES THE GLARING HYPOCRISY!!!!
I made a general statement. I was not talking to you directly now was I. Your disgusting display antagonism is better suited for the projects. I wasn’t impudent or insolent with my statement but yet you decided to attack me, unprovoked I might add.
I don’t care who is in the picture. I don’t follow model’s portfolios. I made a simple harmless statement and you decided to attack me. There is nothing hypocritical about my statement. Do you even understand the definition of that word? You attacked me and I responded. Did you think I was not going to address your unnecessary attack. The real hypocrisy is you claiming people do not know how to act and then calling me a savage. Not only is that hypocrisy it is a blatant contradiction in your statement that you should have thought about before you typed it. No sane person calls someone a savage because they disagree with a simple assessment of appearance; especially if that assessment is benign in nature. It’s not like I said the model in the picture looks like Fred Flinstone.
If you are incapable of refraining from aggressive interaction do not bother responding to any of my posts.
Angela wrote: “For the most part, all of the waves of Afrocentricity were hollow and shallow … Most people who run around screaming “black power/pride/solidarity” are usually the type of people who use this as a reason to hate white people (and believe in revised histories of Africa, art, et al).”
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Careful Angela.
Though lies never solved one damn problem, there are people around that will have a hissy fit with ketchup, label you “racist,” and throw a whole slew of other ridiculous accusations in your direction for stating the above.
Never ever ever think your own thoughts; let others bully you into silence then bow down to group think, cow-tow to PC crap and never tell the truth as you know it.
I think the intention of Afrocentricity (pride) may have been noble but the whole thing was misguided and disjointed. Had fools running around claiming ancient Egyptians or that they looked like dark sub-Sahara Dinkas when that is erroneous as hell and most AA ancestors came from west Africa, not NE/E where Egypt is located.
@Daphne: One good thing that could be said about the Black Israelites (speaking only of the AA transplants that have lived in Dimona in Israel for decades) is that mandatory exercise and a strict vegan diet has translated into virtually no obesity, heart disease, diabetes etc. I would have thought Afrocentrists worth their salt would have tapped into what those people have done right (outside of their polygamy) and incorporated those things in America.
@Akai
If you admire that particular aspect of the Black Israelites than you would love the worldview Jainism. They practice nonviolence (ahimsa) against all life forms. So, they do not kill animals for sustenance. They are strict vegetarians. They take this vow of ahimsa so seriously that when outside they wear a mask in order to prevent the inhalation of even tiny microbes. Seriously! If they have to absolutely use natural resources like trees and grass, they pray and ask permission of these organisms first. I find this very interesting. This religion promotes a healthy lifestyle in many facets. 1) Healthy eating. 2) Environmental consciousness. 3) Also it appears to encourage different solutions for problems that do not require violence. This religion emerged around the same time as Buddhism in the 6th Century.
Girl, please. I can’t practice no Jainism!
I despice violence and love nature, the outdoors, environment and animals yet would shoot a dog, bear, iguana, rat etc. that came at me stupid in a heartbeat.
I believe in moderation and regular exercise but I’m a til-I-die-Catholic and a brat that wears fur and totally destroys a good steak every now and then (flexitarian and only eat meat about twice a month).
LOL. Yea, I figured it would be rather difficult for us in this hemisphere to practice this world view but it is very interesting. Imagine if this was one of the major religions over here.