NOTE: The following text are messages of my (Floyd Ingram's) views and opinions or those (supported by me) of others posted in a discussion group, message board, etc. Most are replies to original messages.
From HAYES@POLSCI.PURDUE.EDUThu Nov 16 19:41:07 1995
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 14:49:11 EST
From: Floyd Hayes
To: Multiple recipients of list AFROAM-L
Subject: Self-Definition and Autonomy
Sisters and Brothers,
This comes as a note to Anika Collins, with respect. Self-
definition, as opposed to externally imposed representation of the
self, reflects some amount of autonomy. To define someone else is to
dominate them. This is the case with Black people. During the
Atlantic Slave Trade, Europeans transformed the adjective "negro" to
the noun "Negro." By so doing, the term shifted from describing a
people to (re)naming them in the interests of slave traders and slave
owners. To (re)name in this process meant to control.
Africans, dislocated from Africa and then relocated in the Americas,
came under European cultural domination and dehumanization. The task
of imposing "Negro" was to detach Africans and their American
descendants from any further connection with Africa. There was/is no
"negroland." In the process of enslavement, then, one of the first
strategies of oppression was to (re)define Africans; whites
(re)presented them as a class of subhumanity, "Negroes."
For a good discussion of this issue, please see John Henrik Clark's
"Introduction" to John G. Jackson's book, INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN
CIVILIZATIONS. See also Sterling Stuckey's book, SLAVE CULTURE,
especially chap. 4, "Identity and Ideology: The Names Controversy."
In struggle,
Floyd
From rdcunnin@MAILBOX.SYR.EDUThu Nov 16 19:43:00 1995
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 15:06:35 -0500
From: "Rodney D. Cunningham"
To: Multiple recipients of list AFROAM-L
Subject: Re: Negro vs. Black vs. African-American vs. Afro-American...
Anika,
IMO, titles/names do matter. It's all about definition and who's doing
the defining.
For instance, let's say that I've lived without ever having any contact
with another human being. Suddenly, I encounter you. Are you
"Not-Rodney" or are you "Anika"? Clearly, the two are not the same.
In the same way, the value of "Negro," "colored," "Black,"
"Afro-American," or "African-American" (I hope I got the order right!)
is shaped by the person who gets to decide when a particular term is to
be used. Just as you would not like an identity to be imposed on
you--Not-Rodney--the same mindset is at work for people within the Black
community. (BTW, doesn't the word "Negro" have roots in the Spanish
language? And is Spanish indigenous to Africa?)
As far as I'm concerned, I prefer to think of myself as an
African-American. This reflects the fact that I am a Black person in
America who is a product of the slave trade *and* it reflects my attempt
to establish a link to my ancestral past. I need a connection to my past
in order to give me a sense of grounding. EVERY CULTURE NEEDS AND USES
THIS. And while, for obvious reasons, I can't trace my heritage to a
specific city, town, village or family on the vast continent of Africa,
the term "African-American" allows some connection. Also, the fact that
I've lived in Nigeria reinforces my connection.
In addition to considering myself "African-American" I also think of
myself as "Black". For me, this gives me a connection to the other
members of the African community that are not American.
Now, if these identities had been decided for me by people outside of my
Community then I'd be pretty upset since the definitions would not be my
interpretation of who I am. Instead, I would be using other people's
interpretations of who I am. Think about the following example that
always gets my blood pressure up--Have you noticed that when some
statistical figures are reported the two categories are "White" and
"Non-White"? Well, I am not "White" but does that mean that I am
"Non-White"? And what are the implications for me and for society as a
whole if we accept these categorizations?
Well, that's it on this end. I have to take a short break. I'm not
accustomed to writing epic-length posts. That's Bianca's job!!! :)
Rodney
On Thu, 16 Nov 1995, Anika Collins wrote:
> Now, flame me if ya wanna, but...
>
> It's all just PC to me...
>
> Titles do not say anything about who I am inside, what I DO says a
> lot about me though.
>
> Please educate me on what you think are the problems with any or all of these
> terms.
> I've often felt that one purpose has been to keep us confused about who we are
> and what we're supposed to be doing by allowing ourselves to get caught up in
> terminology.
>
© 1995, Floyd Ingram.