Why do so many so called Afrocentrics ignor their roots?

[truthteacher2007]

This is a question that has been on my mind a long time. I came to the issue of the Egyptian race debate by accident. I'm a former history teacher. I stumbled across a video on youtube aboul the Africanity of the Egyptians. It had a lot of valid points, but based on what I know and having traveled to Egypt on a regular basis for many years I though it was already common knowledge that they were an African people. I saw the word wars in the comments and to me it seemed that the problem was a lack of understanding about basic history and culture of the people in question, so I decided to make a short and very simple video ponting out that the claims of an African Egypt were based on valid facts. I was unprepaired for what followed.

It seemed that this topic was the gateway drug of racial bigotry. I wasn't surprised at the neo nazis, but when I saw it coming from people of color, that threw me. What threw me even more were all the so called Afrocentrics for whom proving Egypt was an African civilization was not enough. they had to prove that THEY were the descendants of Egypt themselves, not the people who actually live there. In my discussions with such people, I've found that there is a total disregard for West African history and civilization. It's as if they don't care to know anything about it. The only time they pay any attention to the parts of Africa where our ancestors actually came from is when they make flimsy attempts to show proof that Western Africans originated in Egypt, or for some points further east, like palestine. Why is that?
Why is the rich histories and cultures of our own ancestors not enough? I don't understand.

To me, proving that Egypt was African is not about trying to claim it for my own or to link myself historically as a descendant. It is just merely one of many necessary tools to dismantle the thories of white supremacy that was used to subjugate us. No matter how long we have lived in the West, no matter how much European ancestry we had, we were told that we were inferior because Africans were just one step above animals. Africans were turned into one big group without any regard for cultural or geographic identity or individuality. "AFRICAN" was just one big black ignorant mass. We were all the same in the eyes of the European. Therefore, to show that a group of Africans, any Africans, were capable of achieving greatness pulls the rug from under the argument of intelectual inferiority. Egypt is the most recognized African civilization in the world. Therefore, what is true for them as African peoples, (capable of high intelectual achievement) is true for al of us. If 1 + 1=2 in America. it must equal 2 in China.
It's the same as when women were forbidden to participate in sports because everyone knew women were physically inferior. Then one day, not only does a woman not only participate in a sport, she actually out performs many men, it sets all women free. This is the same dynamic with Egypt.

To me it was enough for Egypt to Africans. They don't have to be my direct genetic ancestors. It's not the genes or something in their blood that made Egyptians great, it was the human brain. The same brain that everyone, including other Africans has. This need to be genetically linked to Egypt, to me is the internalization of Eurocentric Eugenisist logic that tried to equate intelectual ability with genetic, or racial affiliation. All these people have done, is adopted the philosophy but changed the characters. So instead of the white man being on top, the black man is. Instead of the mystery Aryans spreading civilization, we have the mystery blackman who was everywhere, doing everything, being every person of historical note before magically and mysteriously vanishing into thin air. My question, is why is this necessary? Why feel the need to invent history when we already have so much real history? Why ignore our ancestors and kick them to the curb in an attempt to adopt someone elses? Is there not enough beauty in our legacy? Why do they not pay the same amount of energy uncovering our own past as they do to Egypt? Why are WE not enough? Your thoughts?

[rivertemz]

I've noticed that too on youtube and other social media sites. I really can't explain my issue with It anymore because the overwhelming stupidity frustrates me that I tend to ignore it now.
The black Israelite movement; the black hotep movement; the religious blackamoors. I can't really give my opinion on it like I used to but all I could say is the type of people that religiously claim these theories on their African origins, tend not to be very educated or thorough with actual studies on the African diaspora. Afrocentrism has taken an unstable turn for the masses that follow it , too many theories and teachings that causes conflict between us.
Would you share the video you made on youtube with us?

[djehuti]

May 3, 2014 9:10:23 GMT -5 truthteacher2007 said:

This is a question that has been on my mind a long time. I came to the issue of the Egyptian race debate by accident. I'm a former history teacher. I stumbled across a video on youtube aboul the Africanity of the Egyptians. It had a lot of valid points, but based on what I know and having traveled to Egypt on a regular basis for many years I though it was already common knowledge that they were an African people. I saw the word wars in the comments and to me it seemed that the problem was a lack of understanding about basic history and culture of the people in question, so I decided to make a short and very simple video ponting out that the claims of an African Egypt were based on valid facts. I was unprepaired for what followed.

It seemed that this topic was the gateway drug of racial bigotry. I wasn't surprised at the neo nazis, but when I saw it coming from people of color, that threw me. What threw me even more were all the so called Afrocentrics for whom proving Egypt was an African civilization was not enough. they had to prove that THEY were the descendants of Egypt themselves, not the people who actually live there. In my discussions with such people, I've found that there is a total disregard for West African history and civilization. It's as if they don't care to know anything about it. The only time they pay any attention to the parts of Africa where our ancestors actually came from is when they make flimsy attempts to show proof that Western Africans originated in Egypt, or for some points further east, like palestine. Why is that?
Why is the rich histories and cultures of our own ancestors not enough? I don't understand.

To me, proving that Egypt was African is not about trying to claim it for my own or to link myself historically as a descendant. It is just merely one of many necessary tools to dismantle the thories of white supremacy that was used to subjugate us. No matter how long we have lived in the West, no matter how much European ancestry we had, we were told that we were inferior because Africans were just one step above animals. Africans were turned into one big group without any regard for cultural or geographic identity or individuality. "AFRICAN" was just one big black ignorant mass. We were all the same in the eyes of the European. Therefore, to show that a group of Africans, any Africans, were capable of achieving greatness pulls the rug from under the argument of intelectual inferiority. Egypt is the most recognized African civilization in the world. Therefore, what is true for them as African peoples, (capable of high intelectual achievement) is true for al of us. If 1 + 1=2 in America. it must equal 2 in China.
It's the same as when women were forbidden to participate in sports because everyone knew women were physically inferior. Then one day, not only does a woman not only participate in a sport, she actually out performs many men, it sets all women free. This is the same dynamic with Egypt.

To me it was enough for Egypt to Africans. They don't have to be my direct genetic ancestors. It's not the genes or something in their blood that made Egyptians great, it was the human brain. The same brain that everyone, including other Africans has. This need to be genetically linked to Egypt, to me is the internalization of Eurocentric Eugenisist logic that tried to equate intelectual ability with genetic, or racial affiliation. All these people have done, is adopted the philosophy but changed the characters. So instead of the white man being on top, the black man is. Instead of the mystery Aryans spreading civilization, we have the mystery blackman who was everywhere, doing everything, being every person of historical note before magically and mysteriously vanishing into thin air. My question, is why is this necessary? Why feel the need to invent history when we already have so much real history? Why ignore our ancestors and kick them to the curb in an attempt to adopt someone elses? Is there not enough beauty in our legacy? Why do they not pay the same amount of energy uncovering our own past as they do to Egypt? Why are WE not enough? Your thoughts?

The answers to your questions are simple. It is a combination of BOTH low self-esteem and ignorance about African ancestral heritages!!

I myself am Asian American and I first came across the Egyptian 'race debate' back in jr. high school when I began doing research on ancient Egypt, from then on the flood gates of information came open for me and the more research I did, the more Egypt's African identity became affirmed. When I joined the original egyptsearch web forum years ago I met other scholars whose research kept adding on the mountains of evidence of Egypt's black African identity and it just shocks me how white scholars have gotten away with white-washing Egypt for centuries! But as for African Americans, most whom I know personally acknowledge the black African identity of Egyptians but NEVER claim them as direct ancestors. They know their ancestors came from either Western or Central Africa and know that there were civilizations in those regions of the continent as well.

Unfortunately, you do have blacks who perhaps due to self-esteem issues are desperate to try to connect themselves with Egypt in THE SAME WAY many white Americans and white western Euros want to connect themselves to the Greeks who were southeastern Europeans! It's funny because even though Greco-Roman civilization was a major foundation for modern so-called 'Western' Civilization, many western whites emphasize Greeks and Romans to the point that they eclipse their own ancestors who were Celtic and Germanic peoples. I too believe this to be due to self-esteem issues on their part since their own Celto-Germanic ancestors were viewed as 'barbarians' by the Greco-Romans. So really you have some blacks who are merely reflecting and emulating the attitudes of the white people they claim to be so against. How ironic is that.



^ The above map shows most though not all of the civilizations of pre-colonial Africa. Note that many of the nations and empires of West Africa outsize those of Europe and were large enough to cover entire swaths of the European subcontinent. Yet not enough is heard of these civilizations. It's sad because as an Asian American I feel confident enough to say I know more about African history and culture than many African Americans, yet fixation seems to be on Egypt alone because Egypt is the most popular one of all!

[anastasiaescrava]

It's because of mainstream white supremacy idealogy and lack of info on other African groups/culture.
Egypt in it's hey-day was a powerhouse and affected Europe greatly and was well known.
Then comes the romanticism and lies.
European transplants sipping juice with their suntans and wigs posing as the "indigenous" people in a continent where their not native to.
Europeans do this all the time with cultures that they are obsessed with.
Whitewash.

Because they hype up Egypt (an African country), and info is just know starting to show up(mainstream) that they were an African people, some Afrocentrists go to battle over it.
A lot of these Afrocentrists deep down carry the WS notion of the "Sub-Saharans were inferior and didn't do anything".
So they obsess with Egypt a well known African country that isn't sub-Saharan.
Not all Afrocentrists are like that, tho.

It gets old and tired, when they act like the only African country in history that matters is Egypt, when it's just a part.
Another problem is when black "scholars" perpetuate that "Egypt is everything" lie.

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

Define Afrocentrics.

List 3 Afrocentrics.
Do the listed Afrocentrics self-identify as such?

List 2 works of each listed Afrocentric.

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

May 3, 2014 15:28:04 GMT -5 djehuti said:

It is a combination of BOTH low self-esteem and ignorance about African ancestral heritages!!

Molefi Asante is a self-identified Afrocentric.
You mean to tell me this PhD holder who has
himself taught innumerous Africalogy undergrads
and mentored Africalogy MAs and refereed PhD
candidates has "low self-esteem" and is ignorant
"about African ancestral heritages"?

Do you really believe those assessments are
likewise true of the contributors to the
Afrocentric organ Journal of Black Studies?
jbs.sagepub.com/content/43/1.toc

What about Ama Mazama (link)
or Victor Oguejiofor Okafor (link) ?


No I don't think actual Afrocentrics "ignor (sic) their roots."

[anansi]

I think I would go with the term Afro-eccentric, the Brothers who hangout on the corner of 42nd and Times Sq yelling at white folks are often confused with Afrocentric that could not be further from the truth they are in fact Hebrew-centric with an alarming disdain for things African, others are from a more hyper diffusionist mindset usually on the same frame of mind of white hyper diffusinist but flip the script.

I go back and reclaim the original ethos of Afrocentric which is to study the people of and the diaspora Africans from the inside out,example if the subject is math I would want to mention Al Fulani or African fractals as well as the Rhine Papyrus, finding out that such and such a European monarch had an African ancestor is a btw looky here kinda thing,but not very meaty for me unless they had an impact on Africa in a meaningful way.

I love Kmt and the Nile Valley civilization in general but there are other river valleys in need of looking into that is just as interesting.

[djehuti]

^ LOL Afro-eccentric is right. As I said, you have some blacks who do nothing but emulate the white supremacists they claim to despise whether it be the Grecocentrics in the form of the Egyptocentrics, or British Hebrew Israelites in the form of the Black Hebrew Israelites.

May 3, 2014 20:29:52 GMT -5 Tukuler al~Takruri said:

May 3, 2014 15:28:04 GMT -5 djehuti said:

It is a combination of BOTH low self-esteem and ignorance about African ancestral heritages!!

Molefi Asante is a self-identified Afrocentric.
You mean to tell me this PhD holder who has
himself taught innumerous Africalogy undergrads
and mentored Africalogy MAs and refereed PhD
candidates has "low self-esteem" and is ignorant
"about African ancestral heritages"?

Do you really believe those assessments are
likewise true of the contributors to the
Afrocentric organ Journal of Black Studies?
jbs.sagepub.com/content/43/1.toc

What about Ama Mazama (link)
or Victor Oguejiofor Okafor (link) ?


No I don't think actual Afrocentrics "ignor (sic) their roots."

I'm referring to the 'Afrocentrics' Truthteacher is talking about NOT all Afrocentrics and definitely not the educated scholars like Asante. Although I disagree with some things Asante says, he obviously knows about African history and culture outside of Egypt so I don't see the point of your post.

[zarahan]

@truthteacher- good points. I would say the following:

1) the people you have run into may be a vocal but still relatively small minority. Most AAs I know
acknowledge Egypt but don't see it as the be all and end-all of African civ. They
are to the contrary very interested in other West African culture-like the Ashanti or
Mali and Mansa Musa etc. or the hard-fighting Zulu. Egypt is part of the mix but
I don't see a vast wave of Egyptcentrism among AAs, though there is a fair amount
of lip service.


2) As far as the self-esteem thing, correct again- SOME, particularly the vocal minority
are like that, but from what I see, most AA self-esteem may be focused on popular culture
formats- rappers, sports figures etc. Popular baby names can also be looked at- many are
compound types- like Tashonda, etc not Egyptian names like Seth, Osiris, or Tut, and
there are plenty of West African and non Egyptian names popular among AAs like Shaka.
The popular Kwanza holiday likewise is 'based more on non-Egyptian motifs and themes,
What you say is partially right, but I don't see most AAs worked up about ancient Egypt
to the extent people imagine. Based on being a former teacher, and cultural project supervisor,
as far as I see, ancient Egypt is a minor league player at best when it comes to
any self-esteem tie-in among AAs. The vocal minority makes it see more widespread
that it really is.


3) White people are just as obsessed about Egypt as any black person-more so on several
measures. Hence we have the phenomenon of "Egyptomania" and even Egyptian symbols appearing on US currency.
In fact white people were so obsessed that they ate the dead flesh of Egyptian mummies
at one time. And Europeans have been the biggest, most greedy appropriators of Egyptian
heritage- from art/cultural rip-offs, to "Aryan Egypt" claims, to the looting, theft and
hoarding of Egyptian artifacts and treasures. In short, white people who lecture blacks
bout being "too obsessed" with ancient Egypt are the biggest hypocrites around.
egyptsearchreloaded.proboards.com/post/5955

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) With certain caveats and qualifications- and by staying within reasonable evidence,
blacks have as much claim to Egypt as their own as anybody else- in fact more so on
several counts - from DNA skeletal/limb proportions, cultural data and artifacts, African
languages, religion, and so on. The ancients are fellow Africans sharing numerous things
and united with elements of a common heritage. This is OVER AND ABOVE merely counter-reacting
to the historical enmity and distortions of racists. Some see the case as merely a
"reverse Eurocentrism" but when the full picture is considered, this not the whole case at
all. The African character of ancient Kemet is INDEPENDENT of any reaction to European
racism. It stands by itself, without needing it to be a counter-reaction to say JP Rushton
or assorted racists.

I think all would agree that it is the extreme types that may
be distorting the field.

[truthteacher2007]

May 3, 2014 20:29:52 GMT -5 Tukuler al~Takruri said:

May 3, 2014 15:28:04 GMT -5 djehuti said:

It is a combination of BOTH low self-esteem and ignorance about African ancestral heritages!!

Molefi Asante is a self-identified Afrocentric.
You mean to tell me this PhD holder who has
himself taught innumerous Africalogy undergrads
and mentored Africalogy MAs and refereed PhD
candidates has "low self-esteem" and is ignorant
"about African ancestral heritages"?

Do you really believe those assessments are
likewise true of the contributors to the
Afrocentric organ Journal of Black Studies?
jbs.sagepub.com/content/43/1.toc

What about Ama Mazama (link)
or Victor Oguejiofor Okafor (link) ?


No I don't think actual Afrocentrics "ignor (sic) their roots."

Afrocentricity is not some kind of radical black supremacist philosophy. It's simply the idea that people of African descent should orient their lives around their history, culture and community the same way that other ethnic groups do. However, in order to do that, they have had to defend and recover said history etc because it has been surpressed, slandered and denied. This is exactly what people like Dr Ben, Dr Henry Clark, Ivan Vansertima, Frans Fanon, Gil Nobel and so many others have done. I don't think all of them ever cared to put a label to themselves. They wete just doing the necessary work of reclaiming and defending our histories and cultures and asserting that we have the right and must assert the right of taking our place in the world and cultivating a healthy self respect for ourselves. These are not the people I'm talking about, which is why I said "so called" Afrocentrics. The type of people I'm refering to are those described by Rivrtemz and exemplified by a certain few people visiting this forum whom I'll remain nameless. So, having clarified my definition somewhat, what is your opinion regarding the dynamic of the issues I raised?

[truthteacher2007]

May 3, 2014 23:17:52 GMT -5 zarahan said:

@truthteacher- good points. I would say the following:

1) the people you have run into may be a vocal but still relatively small minority. Most AAs I know
acknowledge Egypt but don't see it as the be all and end-all of African civ. They
are to the contrary very interested in other West African culture-like the Ashanti or
Mali and Mansa Musa etc. or the hard-fighting Zulu. Egypt is part of the mix but
I don't see a vast wave of Egyptcentrism among AAs, though there is a fair amount
of lip service.


2) As far as the self-esteem thing, correct again- SOME, particularly the vocal minority
are like that, but from what I see, most AA self-esteem may be focused on popular culture
formats- rappers, sports figures etc. Popular baby names can also be looked at- many are
compound types- like Tashonda, etc not Egyptian names like Seth, Osiris, or Tut, and
there are plenty of West African and non Egyptian names popular among AAs like Shaka.
The popular Kwanza holiday likewise is 'based more on non-Egyptian motifs and themes,
What you say is partially right, but I don't see most AAs worked up about ancient Egypt
to the extent people imagine. Based on being a former teacher, and cultural project supervisor,
as far as I see, ancient Egypt is a minor league player at best when it comes to
any self-esteem tie-in among AAs. The vocal minority makes it see more widespread
that it really is.


3) White people are just as obsessed about Egypt as any black person-more so on several
measures. Hence we have the phenomenon of "Egyptomania" and even Egyptian symbols appearing on US currency.
In fact white people were so obsessed that they ate the dead flesh of Egyptian mummies
at one time. And Europeans have been the biggest, most greedy appropriators of Egyptian
heritage- from art/cultural rip-offs, to "Aryan Egypt" claims, to the looting, theft and
hoarding of Egyptian artifacts and treasures. In short, white people who lecture blacks
bout being "too obsessed" with ancient Egypt are the biggest hypocrites around.
egyptsearchreloaded.proboards.com/post/5955

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) With certain caveats and qualifications- and by staying within reasonable evidence,
blacks have as much claim to Egypt as their own as anybody else- in fact more so on
several counts - from DNA skeletal/limb proportions, cultural data and artifacts, African
languages, religion, and so on. The ancients are fellow Africans sharing numerous things
and united with elements of a common heritage. This is OVER AND ABOVE merely counter-reacting
to the historical enmity and distortions of racists. Some see the case as merely a
"reverse Eurocentrism" but when the full picture is considered, this not the whole case at
all. The African character of ancient Kemet is INDEPENDENT of any reaction to European
racism. It stands by itself, without needing it to be a counter-reaction to say JP Rushton
or assorted racists.

I think all would agree that it is the extreme types that may
be distorting the field.

I totally agree with everything you've said, but let me clarify. I'm in no way implying that the attitudes I described are reflective of the opinions of the majority of AAs. As you said, and as Anansi put it, Afro- etcentrics are a small minority. The problem is they're a minority with awefully big mouths. They are very confrontational, agressive, hatefilled and in your face. Therefore, for the general public, who has no knowledge of real Afrcan scholarship, history or culture, this is what an Afrocentric is. I really hate and resent being put in the same basket with these people just because I choose to build my life around my history, culture and spirituality. It's the knee jerk assuption that I hate white people, feel myself superior to non Africans that resent.

But having said that, I have to acknowledge the fact that there are people out there who are exactly the opposite of what I and true Afrocentric are about and like I said, they give the impression of speaking for all of us. But what can you expect of the dominant culture that has never been able to wrap their heads arounfd the fact that we are not all the same. Whatever one black person says, or does, is seen as representative of the entire group. The radical bullshit brigade just provides one more thing we have to explain away before people calm down to actually listen to what we have to say.

It just bathels me that these people who claim to be pro black pride in fact have such low levels of knowledge, understanding or affection for their own actual ancestors. What I resent is the bullshit history they make up which by extention makes the rest of us look ignorant and uneducated. When I'm in a discussion with someone, I can't say I'm Afrocentric, becase if I do, a wall immidiately goes up and they will not hare anything I have to say. I have to deny being Afrocentric in order to communicate the truth of Afrocentricity and that pisses me off. It's the same way that many Mulims must feel because of Al Qaida. The danger is that they distort our history and us as a people to the world and lead away some people who are legitimately seeking to discover their true history.

I agree that as Africans, we have every right to feel a connection to Egypt because they are fellow Africans and shared many cultural aspects with the rest of us. I would even say a certain spiritual world view. It's no different than the way Europeans look to Greece and Rome. I don't need them to be of my genetic ancestral blood line to be inspired by and admire them. Just like a girl in Pakistan doesn't need to be genetically related to a woman who is a great leader, scientist or scholar to feel uplifted and inspired by her.

[zarahan]

truthteacher
As you said, and as Anansi put it, Afro- etcentrics are a small minority. The problem is they're a minority with awefully big mouths. They are very confrontational, agressive, hatefilled and in your face. Therefore, for the general public, who has no knowledge of real Afrcan scholarship, history or culture, this is what an Afrocentric is. I really hate and resent being put in the same basket with these people just because I choose to build my life around my history, culture and spirituality. It's the knee jerk assuption that I hate white people, feel myself superior to non Africans that resent.

Fair enough. Yes- the phrase Afro-eccentric bout sums it up ell.
But let me ask, what do you see as some strategies in countering
assorted blowhards?


Anansi says:
I think I would go with the term Afro-eccentric, the Brothers who hangout on the corner of 42nd and Times Sq yelling at white folks are often confused with Afrocentric that could not be further from the truth they are in fact Hebrew-centric with an alarming disdain for things African, others are from a more hyper diffusionist mindset usually on the same frame of mind of white hyper diffusinist but flip the script.

I go back and reclaim the original ethos of Afrocentric which is to study the people of and the diaspora Africans from the inside out,example if the subject is math I would want to mention Al Fulani or African fractals as well as the Rhine Papyrus, finding out that such and such a European monarch had an African ancestor is a btw looky here kinda thing,but not very meaty for me unless they had an impact on Africa in a meaningful way.

I love Kmt and the Nile Valley civilization in general but there are other river valleys in need of looking into that is just as interesting.

Indeed. What things can we do to keep and maintain that original ethos?

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

May 4, 2014 9:17:25 GMT -5 truthteacher2007 said:

May 3, 2014 20:29:52 GMT -5 Tukuler al~Takruri said:

Molefi Asante is a self-identified Afrocentric.
You mean to tell me this PhD holder who has
himself taught innumerous Africalogy undergrads
and mentored Africalogy MAs and refereed PhD
candidates has "low self-esteem" and is ignorant
"about African ancestral heritages"?

Do you really believe those assessments are
likewise true of the contributors to the
Afrocentric organ Journal of Black Studies?
jbs.sagepub.com/content/43/1.toc

What about Ama Mazama (link)
or Victor Oguejiofor Okafor (link) ?


No I don't think actual Afrocentrics "ignor (sic) their roots."

Afrocentricity is not some kind of radical black supremacist philosophy. It's simply the idea that people of African descent should orient their lives around their history, culture and community the same way that other ethnic groups do. However, in order to do that, they have had to defend and recover said history etc because it has been surpressed, slandered and denied. This is exactly what people like Dr Ben, Dr Henry Clark, Ivan Vansertima, Frans Fanon, Gil Nobel and so many others have done. I don't think all of them ever cared to put a label to themselves. They wete just doing the necessary work of reclaiming and defending our histories and cultures and asserting that we have the right and must assert the right of taking our place in the world and cultivating a healthy self respect for ourselves. These are not the people I'm talking about, which is why I said "so called" Afrocentrics. The type of people I'm refering to are those described by Rivrtemz and exemplified by a certain few people visiting this forum whom I'll remain nameless. So, having clarified my definition somewhat, what is your opinion regarding the dynamic of the issues I raised?

Now I see and get your point.
How did I miss your qualifier
"so-called"? The ones you refer
to, I call them Afro-eccentrics (link).

Yes, there's a characteristic
difference between bona fide
Afrocentrics and those of us who
approach African Studies, and the
disciplines used in its support,
seeing it through African eyes.
through African eyes.

I can see through African eyes
without being ethnocentric or
eccentric.

A lot of the sc-called Afrocentrics
are what Jari labelled Blackcentric
(2nd post of above linked thread)
as they ignore Africa except as a
prop to claim non-African black
peoples' cultures and civilizations
because they are ashamed of African
civilization and judge it by lack of
monumental stone masonry in comparison
to some sites in Asia, South America,
and South Europe.


BTW do you know if Gil Noble's
presentation of one of Doc Ben's
later Egypt tours is available
anywhere?

[truthteacher2007]

May 3, 2014 11:33:38 GMT -5 rivertemz said:

I've noticed that too on youtube and other social media sites. I really can't explain my issue with It anymore because the overwhelming stupidity frustrates me that I tend to ignore it now.
The black Israelite movement; the black hotep movement; the religious blackamoors. I can't really give my opinion on it like I used to but all I could say is the type of people that religiously claim these theories on their African origins, tend not to be very educated or thorough with actual studies on the African diaspora. Afrocentrism has taken an unstable turn for the masses that follow it , too many theories and teachings that causes conflict between us.
Would you share the video you made on youtube with us?

Sure. Here is the first one. It dew so many negative comments from blacks, whites and Egyptians that I disabled comments and didn't visit the topic agin for 2 yrs.


On my last trip to Egypt I made this video. It was a last second thing. It was the day before I left and neither of us had the time to prepare for it in depth. It was a casual conversation. This is a 6 part series, so you have to watch it in it's entierty. Like many Egyptians, she was unaware of the whole race controversy and so she wasn't quite sure what I was asking her at points. However, I think she did an excellent job of giving an overview of Egyptian history in the brief time we had, as well as explaining the attitudes that have shaeped the modern attitueds about identity in Egypt today.


This was the last video I put up taken from that last trip. I haven't been back and until there's some stability in the country, I really have no desire to go back. I was on that trip for business and until things get straightened out, I have no confidence in doing business there so........


This topic just seems to bring out the stupid in everybody, regardless of nationnality or race and that's why the majority of my chanel is dedicated to hair care and other things.

[anansi]

Zarahan

Indeed. What things can we do to keep and maintain that original ethos?

Well keep on doing what we are doing,which is try and maintain the truth as we know it,if the time ever arise when the data that
we have is out dated or found to be faulty even if it goes against what like we must adapt over come and move on,but so far the academic shift is in our favor..the cultures and contributions of African and it's diaspora is incredibly rich and may hold more than a few surprises.

I liked Diop's response to his critics he invited his detractors to critique is work and published it in his own book,African Origins Of Civilization Myth Or Reality,he goes further to state that everyone should be challenged and held to scrutiny including himself he even foresaw a time when his some of his own works maybe dated..in other words do our research but let the chips fall where they may publish what we find.