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Sugashorti · (#33 (**permalink**))

I just want to say this is not the case of the female having the last word

but your posts raise ideas I have not thought about for a while.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognito

sugashorti - admirable reply.

Identity based on how far you can trace your family tree? Interesting but some would argue that's more an accurate description of what was behind the thinking of the white man.

I agree, that's why I see myself as a human being first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognito

I do not buy into this philosophy because it falls bang into line of divide and rule and if I'm honest I find not being able to trace ones ancestry all the way back to Africa is more a convenient excuse for too many as opposed to a fundamental defining criteria on identity.

I see your point, however for me one's identity is an ongoing process. What do I mean? Well the world is getting smaller. Unlike my parent's generation, with travel I can enjoy many aspects of African culture. I was reading a book called 'Zenzele' by Nozipo Maraire a few weeks ago, which echoes strongly with me. If the only regret I have, is not having a African language, clearly when my African girlfriends explain things, the essence is loss in translation to English.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognito

Without going through all the dynamics of how I reached this point (dynamics such as is it right to try and unite based on being oppressed and poverty/class driven unity) I can only re-emphasise by bias towards unity.

I agree with the concept, yet I question the method, if you say one must reject all aspects of Caribbean identity because of the white man's involvement. I see this as rejecting our ancestors' sacrifice. By acknowledging my Caribbean heritage instead of British; the place of my birth, I am taking on board my roots, just like when I graft a young plant to an older tree to prolong the growth of the older tree instead of letting it die. We in this generation, through our contact with, or awareness of Africa, are reconnecting to the older tree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognito

Identity by race is how unity is achieved, even more so for a people as diverse as Africans i.e. Africa cannot be united based on a tribe, a village or a country much less as a Caribbean so for me African it is, the dynamics of descendancy can be mulled over during idle gossip because the root is firmly defined.

Do you think you are any less an African than I? When I was traveling in Morocco, I followed the customs, many thought I was a local Moroccan woman because I was covered head to foot, walking 3 steps behind the males in our tour group. Wherever I go, my African ancestory will be recognised.

What worries me is a 'schizophrenia' of some Caribbean people, who reject who they are, in the pursuit of the promised land Africa, or of the white man's idea of success and then they are left feeling unfulfilled.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognito

The condition of our relationships, our inconsistent definitions of marrigae and our fragmented families is a direct result of everybody being able to choose what they want to be - you would only want to do that if you are thinking about yourself or at best your tribe or village.....

You may have a point but I think it's more to do with a lack of nourishment, the white man has uprooted us from the tree, transferring us to new soil by imposing on us their ideas of 'black culture'. When I was a child my parents would only allow me an hour of TV and they decided what programmes I could watch. As black parents we allow our children to be brainwashed by the media and we wonder why so many fall through the cracks, even killing each other. It is valid to blame white society, but where are the black men?. If we really want unity, then these black men need to get their act together and stop blaming the black women for failing to raise these kids correctly by themselves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognito

One thing I'm not into is blaming white people, it's about looking at self and expanding that to the collective - indeed if anything give the white men (who the cap fit) credit for taking advantage of our tribal mentality that has us drawing 'conveninet' lines of identity which if I never knew any better would say for the most part these are just fashion statements, just like the names so many seem to be giving their children.

...and this less African more african thing is also very divisive, if this was a criteria there would be room to argue you are probably more African than many on the continent itself.

I agree, my wearing locks was never a fashion statement, and like many I wore bantu knots in the 80's before it become cool or hip. As far as I am concerned, if we want to really unite we need to teach our children the skills they need to survive in this very hostitle environment. I firmly believe it a war of the mind and unfortunately, regarding this generation of blacks whether they are in Africa, the Caribbean, or USA, we are losing badly. If we do not get our act together, we are ensuring the next generations will be slaves of the mind, so tell me will future generations judge us any better for allowing this to happen.