The Weight of Misunderstanding: Defending Africa and Celebrating Black Culture
As an African American woman with deep ancestral roots in West Africa, Blackfoot Indian, and Creole Indian heritage, it pains me when people demean or misrepresent Africa, my heritage, and Black culture. Africa is often misunderstood, mislabeled, and disrespected—sometimes even by those who should be better informed.
Africa Is Not a Country
Let’s clear this up first: Africa is not a "Third World country," as my brother once told me. Africa is a continent—a vast, diverse landmass composed of 54 different countries, each with its own rich history, culture, and languages. The term "Third World" itself is outdated, a relic of the Cold War era. Today, it’s more appropriate to speak in terms of developing countries or regions, each with unique struggles and successes.
Yet, Africa as a whole is often stereotyped, misrepresented, or seen through a lens of ignorance. These attitudes perpetuate harmful misconceptions that have lingered for centuries, and they diminish the beauty, complexity, and resilience of African cultures.
A Legacy of Pain and Resilience
As a Black woman in the Pacific Northwest, I often feel the weight of ignorance around African culture and the history of Black people. It’s difficult to live in a place where my identity is often questioned or reduced to stereotypes. My DNA ties me to West African countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Mali. My ancestors endured unspeakable hardships, yet they survived—and that survival is a testament to their strength.
Malcolm X once said, "The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman." Those words ring true to me even today. Despite centuries of racism, exploitation, and systemic oppression, Black women continue to be strong, resilient, and influential in every aspect of society. Yet, we are still disrespected, undervalued, and misunderstood.
Misunderstanding the Past: A Misguided View on Slavery
A common misconception that frustrates me is the notion that Black people are somehow to blame for their own enslavement, because, as some say, "Black people sold their own kind." While it’s true that some African groups were involved in the transatlantic slave trade, focusing on this fact ignores the broader historical context. Slavery was an institution in nearly every ancient civilization, but the chattel slavery imposed on African people by European colonizers was uniquely brutal and dehumanizing.
Europeans exploited Africa through colonization, drawing false borders, and creating long-term damage. Blaming African nations for the transatlantic slave trade distracts from the larger systems of exploitation and the complicity of many European powers. It’s essential to understand that this painful chapter in history was shaped by a global web of greed and power, not by the actions of a single group of people.
Struggling with Identity in a Predominantly White Society
Living in the Pacific Northwest, where Black culture is often overlooked or misunderstood, adds another layer of difficulty. I am constantly faced with situations where my cultural identity is questioned, minimized, or outright dismissed. As a single Black mother in a predominantly white space, the weight of systemic racism and cultural ignorance is heavy.
I don’t like when different cultures come together only for one culture to dominate the other. What I would love to see is a true celebration of different cultures and ancestries. Relationships between different races and ethnicities should be about mutual respect, about honoring each other’s histories, rather than one identity overshadowing the other.
Systemic Racism Today
Systemic racism and bias are not relics of the past—they are woven into the fabric of our world today. From microaggressions to discriminatory policies, Black people face a reality shaped by centuries of marginalization. This often leaves us feeling undervalued, unprotected, and neglected—just as Malcolm X pointed out so many years ago.
It’s exhausting to be constantly judged by the color of your skin, to see people reduce Africa—my ancestral homeland—to a set of stereotypes. I carry with me the legacy of resilience from my African ancestors, but I also carry the weight of prejudice, both overt and subtle, that I encounter daily.
Ending with a Call for Understanding and Unity
It’s hard being Black, but it’s also powerful. There is a strength in our culture that cannot be erased or diminished, no matter how many times we are disrespected or overlooked. I want to use my platform to share these truths because I know I am not alone in feeling this way. I hope that by telling my story, others will recognize their own experiences in mine.
We need to stop perpetuating ignorance about Africa and Black culture. It’s time to celebrate the richness of our heritage, to honor the contributions of our ancestors, and to stand strong in the face of systemic racism.
So, let’s ask the hard questions and have the difficult conversations. Why is Africa still disrespected? Why are Black women still undervalued? And why, after centuries of struggle, are we still fighting for recognition and equality?
The journey isn’t over—but neither is our strength.
Question:Why are Black people blamed for slavery when every country had slaves?
Answer:This misconception arises from a selective reading of history. While it is true that some African leaders and groups participated in the slave trade, focusing solely on this overlooks the broader, global system that perpetuated slavery. Nearly every ancient civilization had slaves, but the transatlantic slave trade was driven by European powers who exploited Africa for profit. Africans did not invent slavery, nor were they uniquely responsible for it. The blame should rest on the global system of exploitation that saw African people as commodities, particularly the European colonizers who institutionalized and profited from it on a massive scale.
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