Africa : THE GOOD THE BAD THE UGLY OF AFRICAN CULTURE...

Let me preface this by saying that these are not necessarily facts, but my opinions that were formed through conversations I've had, books I've read, things I've seen and years I've lived.

I don't believe that a house that's divided can stand straight or firm. When a couple or group want to reach the same goals but are divided in terms of their effort, it weakens their attempts and sometimes destroys their ability to achieve what they want. Now I realize that many of you will strongly disagree with me and will use either scripture or history to prove me wrong, but I don't believe in proscribed roles for men and women. I lean more toward couples or men and women figuring out for themselves and exercising whatever works best to achieve a common goal.

The way that men and women assumed roles during the Civil Rights Movement will not work today in my opinion. Men in the forefront and women left behind or staying low-key should not be the approach we take unless, politically, it is the best and most effective strategy to achieve what we want. As long as Black men and Black women don't subscribe to the belief that men should always lead and women follow, we can do whatever is necessary to win the battle. To me, that means we're smart.

I agree with you Bro. Isaiah, I don't believe that complete unity is necessary to move a socio-economic-political agenda. I do believe, though, that leadership is quite important to the successful advancement of any agenda. I believe that history speaks to that and supports it time and time again, whether it be a despot or a savior, leadership is important.

I want to ask folk if they believe that the old Divine Kingship beliefs in our African past has anything to do with the high-handed tyranny practiced by a lot of our leadership in the 'Religious and Political arenas???? Maybe I am in error to say that, because I am not fully versed in the powers of the Kings or the Village Chiefs, and so forth... Perhaps, those more well versed than I can set me straight??? Please do, I'd appreciate it...

Good question that I am unable to answer but it has me thinking. I'm looking forward to learning about whether there is a connection or the roots of this issue.

Queenie :spinstar:
 
Conceptual Incarceration

...old Divine Kingship beliefs in our African past has anything to do with the high-handed tyranny practiced by a lot of our leadership...the powers of the Kings or the Village Chiefs, and so forth...
The reason we don't know or have fuzzy ideas about this and other subjects Afrikan is, I believe, due to 'conceptual incarceration'. 99% of what we know about Afrika is from who?

Conceptual incarceration results from our unwitting adoption of erroneous concepts, ideas, views, opinions and theories about ourselves as African people, about Europeans, and about the world...For more, click here
 
oldsoul said:
...old Divine Kingship beliefs in our African past has anything to do with the high-handed tyranny practiced by a lot of our leadership...the powers of the Kings or the Village Chiefs, and so forth...
The reason we don't know or have fuzzy ideas about this and other subjects Afrikan is, I believe, due to 'conceptual incarceration'. 99% of what we know about Afrika is from who?

Conceptual incarceration results from our unwitting adoption of erroneous concepts, ideas, views, opinions and theories about ourselves as African people, about Europeans, and about the world...For more, click here


OldSoul, that was a very powerful piece, brother, and I thank you for it...(smile!) When I posed that question, I was wondering whether Diivne Kingship as an African retention in our culture may be plays a negative role in how we sometimes relate to leadership... It oft seems that we will allow for ONE person whom we respect to run roughshod over the aspirations of the group... We have seen this played out all over the place, particularly in the old south, where it was always some pie-in-the-sky preachin' Chrisitan minister whom White folks would choose as the controlling leader in our communities...

Later, a William Dawson in Chicago, or an Adam Clayton Powell in Harlem, assumed the mantle of unquestioned leadership oftwo of america's largest African American populations... As we saw, sometimes it worked wonderfully if you had a renegade brother like Powell or a fanatic for freedom like Fred Shuttlesworth... But we've seen far too often, the other kind of chicken-eating preachers, who were concerned with themselves, and their private fiefdoms...

No, I cannot say I am totally familiar with Divine Kingship, or the Village Chieftancies, but I am reading up on them... The village chieftancies I remember Dr. John Henrik Clarke would tell us, were some of the most democratic socialist institutions in Africa... Divine Kingship is something I must continue to study...

Peace!
Isaiah
 
NNQueen said:
Let me preface this by saying that these are not necessarily facts, but my opinions that were formed through conversations I've had, books I've read, things I've seen and years I've lived.

I don't believe that a house that's divided can stand straight or firm. When a couple or group want to reach the same goals but are divided in terms of their effort, it weakens their attempts and sometimes destroys their ability to achieve what they want. Now I realize that many of you will strongly disagree with me and will use either scripture or history to prove me wrong, but I don't believe in proscribed roles for men and women. I lean more toward couples or men and women figuring out for themselves and exercising whatever works best to achieve a common goal.

The way that men and women assumed roles during the Civil Rights Movement will not work today in my opinion. Men in the forefront and women left behind or staying low-key should not be the approach we take unless, politically, it is the best and most effective strategy to achieve what we want. As long as Black men and Black women don't subscribe to the belief that men should always lead and women follow, we can do whatever is necessary to win the battle. To me, that means we're smart.

I agree with you Bro. Isaiah, I don't believe that complete unity is necessary to move a socio-economic-political agenda. I do believe, though, that leadership is quite important to the successful advancement of any agenda. I believe that history speaks to that and supports it time and time again, whether it be a despot or a savior, leadership is important.



Good question that I am unable to answer but it has me thinking. I'm looking forward to learning about whether there is a connection or the roots of this issue.

Queenie :spinstar:

In light of some of our recent conversations as Africans at this board, I would say that we are less patient with one another than we are with others... We wont yeild to one another, or take instruction with the same manner of humility from our own, and this is borne out daily...

That is not to hammer African people, or to single us out as being the ONLY offenders(though who cares about OTHER offenders!?), but to bring to our consciousness how we tend to treat one another... Would that we would exercise the kind of love and patience for our own that we give to others less deserving...

Peace!
Isaiah
Happy New Year!
 
Pardon my ignorance, But when you say Divine kinship, what does that mean?
I sort of figured it out by reading the post but I would like to have a clearer definition of what it means.

I agree that we are very hard on each other when trying to work out our grieviences. We seem not to understand that the bottom line is, we are rocking the same boat. It may be cleverly disguised but our issues are one. All around the world Black people are concidered the lowest of people. There is genecide in africa and there is genecide in america. In america it's just disguised.

Unity is the most effective way that we can accomplish our dreams and hopes. No, everyone dont have to take allegiance to the cause but the more people united, the longer and stronger our lines will hold.

we must first take our eyes off of who is right and who is wrong and focused our attention on the one who has their hands around our throats. If what we all seek is justice, freedom, and repariation for the many years of abuse and stolen rights, tribalism should not affect our cause. I personally can live in peace with anyone who beliefs is not mine. Just don't try to force me to adopt your beliefs! I can respect your choices as you respect mines. But if we stand on common grounds as far as obtaining global respect, lets do the dam thing!

We always seem to look in our Brothers house and point out their faults, which leaves us arguing and then the mission becomes abandoned. Unity is the only way and keeping the focus on the true enemy is the plan.

Its a simple task but the problem lies with most wanting the power to control others more, by wanting the right of way at every turn. We must learn to bend when the wind says to go in the other direction. We must learn humility amongst our own when an issue is presented. There is good, bad, and ugly in everyone I've met, but when you extend your hand in faith and love, it don't always get eatened off. Atleast I know it hasn't for me. They Ancestors must truly have my back. LOL What I have learned is, that in the case that my hand may get eatened, pull it back and extend it to the next person. Sooner or later you'll get the right hand to shake. Unity is the way! What other way can there be?
 

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