Building Africa Is Our Only Hope
After over 400 years of oppression and exploitation, it is clearer than ever that the energy and resources of Black people globally is far better spent developing a strong and independent nation of ours, instead of fighting to be respected in one that isn’t, and that nation can be nowhere else but Africa.
The respect of Black people globally is tied to the respect of Black people on the continent of Africa, even so the greater majority of African Americans seem to identify more with the American side of their identity, which is understandable given the context surrounding socialization and upbringing in America, among other insidious factors that continue to sow seeds of division between Black Africans and African Americans, and blind us to the fact that we are one.
There’s also hurt on the side of many African Americans upon discovering that some enslaved ancestors were actually sold into slavery by their own community leaders in precolonial Africa. Some African Americans also shun their African identity completely due to incognizance and the constant narrative of poverty, disease, and instability spewed out by western media when discussing Africa.
“The American component of African American identity is no older than 400 years, whereas the African component is as old as humanity itself”
The greater majority of African states truly are underdeveloped, and the high levels of corruption endemic to current African leaders serves as further deterrent for African Americans and Blacks globally, but it’s worth noting that the poverty, disease, instability, and underdevelopment that continue to plague Blacks in Africa are primarily the legacy of the slave trade and subsequent colonialism, which themselves are the legacy of the same White supremacists we expect to treat Black people with respect in America and across the globe today.
Steps towards rectifying this divide between African Americans and Black Africans include more exposure to Africa and the extended history and beauty of Black people, among other coordinated attempts to bridge the gap in purpose and narrative between Black Africans and African Americans.
Events such as 2019’s Year of Return in Ghana prove that African Americans and Black people globally can be convinced to further embrace their African identity if it’s presented right, and backed up by African leaders taking bold and deliberate steps to make it easier and more enticing for Blacks globally to return to Africa and setup fulfilling livelihoods.
“Blacks in America have been fighting for freedom for over 400 years to little avail”
This has become increasingly vital due to the fact that African Americans and the African diaspora at large have over time acquired capital and skills that are desperately needed in Africa, and can accelerate the development of the continent and its people.
The American component of African American identity is no older than 400 years, whereas the African component is as old as humanity itself. Africa is the home of humanity, but more so the home of all Black people, as that’s the only place on earth where have the most history and representation, and the only place we can develop a strong coalition towards self-reliance and liberation.
Yet Black Africans themselves have been fragmented by former colonial powers, and in addition to the artificial borders established in the Berlin conference of 1884 that stand to this day, our history, systems of governance, language, and spirituality were all destroyed to allow for the toxic religions and practices of our oppressors to be forced on us, in a deliberate attempt to overwrite our sense of self.
“There’s a vast wealth of opportunity in Africa that most African Americans are seemingly unaware of, yet those very opportunities are instead being capitalized on by non-black foreigners”
This is why the push for Black people globally to devote resources to African development and liberation must be coupled with Black Africans themselves uniting by abandoning the many regressive ideologies forced on us, while restoring our true sense of self, and seeing each other as one people with a unified vision towards freedom and socioeconomic independence.
A united Africa with the knowledge, skills, and resources of African Americans and the African diaspora at large will make for a powerful force in this world, one that can command us the respect and dignity we so desperately desire, and then that respect will follow Black people wherever we may find ourselves in the world.
Furthermore, there’s a vast wealth of opportunity in Africa that most African Americans with capital and resources are seemingly unaware of, again due to lack of knowledge and exposure, yet those very opportunities are instead being capitalized on by non-black foreigners in Africa who continue to gobble up our resources to enrich their home nations, and further subjugate Black Africans via neocolonialism.
“To not do anything in Africa at all is a very limited approach to Black liberation”
For the most part though, African American’s certainly can’t blamed for fighting for freedom in America, especially since the entire nation was quite literally built on the backs of their immediate ancestors (the enslaved blacks), so to a very large extent African Americans are owed dignity and significant reparations at the absolute least.
It’s certainly not lost on me how easy it is for an African such as myself to call for African Americans to devote more time and energy to Africa when I don’t have any significant ties, attachment, or longterm history in America. My thoughts simply stem from a sad realization that Blacks in America have been fighting for freedom for over 400 years to little avail.
For well-established African Americans with significant wealth and resources in America, it might not be practical or necessary to abandon everything they have worked so hard for and move to Africa, it may even be counterproductive, but perhaps if even a fraction of those resources was channeled into Africa we might be in a different place, because to not do anything in Africa at all is a very limited approach to Black liberation.
“A united Africa with the knowledge, skills, and resources of African Americans and the African diaspora at large will make for a powerful force in this world”
Of course there’s been some progress, but the many incidents of injustice against Blacks that have occurred over the past decade alone continue to highlight how much farther there is to go in the fight against systemic oppression, and the pursuit of true freedom for blacks in America and across the globe.
Prejudice based on appearance will likely never go away, but historically the only way populations that were considered low on the totem pole of respect changed that narrative, was by developing their home nations to be strong, independent, resilient, and to an extent feared, none of which apply to Africa, our only true candidate for a nation of Blacks.
Examples of peoples that have made this transition include the Chinese, Japanese, and Jews, although admittedly the level of prejudice they have faced may not quite compare to what black people have been and continue to go through.
It’s hard to believe it now, but there was a point in time where the Chinese were considered ‘dirty’ and ‘inferior’, among other derogatory labels, yet over the past half-century they have completely dismantled that narrative, not by protesting or demanding the world give them the respect due them as human beings, but by coming together, investing in themselves, and developing their home nations to become powerful forces in the world, thus forcing the rest of the world to give them their due respect.
I have no doubt Chinese people of today still face of some kind of prejudice, as mentioned earlier prejudice based on appearance will likely never go away, but their dignity is unquestionable due to the strength of their homeland and it’s influence on global affairs, and as a result, White supremacists and other oppressors dare not attempt any outlandish acts of disrespect such as the extrajudicial killing of Chinese people on a mass scale, for fear of retribution, a fear that simply doesn’t apply to Black people due to the meekness of our homeland Africa.
“People gain respect over time not by protesting or demanding the world give them respect, but by uniting, investing in themselves, and developing their home nations to become powerful forces in the world”
I certainly do not believe there’s anything inherently wrong with Black people fighting for dignity and fair treatment in America, it’s a reasonable thing to do, and as someone who wants to see Black people respected everywhere I understand the uproar and want to see something come out of it.
If not now, then when? Admittedly this time feels different, yet the power structures of America and the West today still don’t seem conducive enough for any meaningful change that would improve the lives of Black people in the ways needed. Furthermore, the recurring protests across the globe might get Blacks the fair treatment and equal opportunity we needed 400 years ago, but what good is that equal opportunity when all the wealth, power, and influence is already in the hands of White people?
Anything short of large-scale, systematic, financial, and infrastructural reparations as repayment for building America, and as compensation of the pain and suffering inflicted on African Americans over the past four centuries will be a woefully inadequate response from America. Yet for all the virtue signaling White people may show in solidarity to Blacks, I have doubts as to whether they will be willing to part ways with significant amounts of their wealth and power towards the cause of true Black liberation, meaning what Black people globally need to be focusing more on is developing wealth, power, and influence for ourselves and our people on a global scale, and on a long-term basis.
In light of this, I can’t help but think that the energy and resources Black people have spent and continue to spend demanding to be treated with dignity in America and across the globe will be much more effective and useful if channeled into a coordinated effort to develop a strong nation of Blacks, where we can be truly independent in all the relevant ways, and from where we can go out into the world with respect.
That nation of Blacks can only be Africa.
“What good is equal opportunity when all the wealth is already in the hands of White people?”
And while we protest and fight for freedom outside Africa, non-black foreigners are increasing their power and influence in Africa, because they see clearly what many African Americans and Blacks globally do not, that Africa is full of untapped wealth, and is the last frontier for significant growth, development, and wealth creation on this planet.
As such the window of opportunity to develop a strong nation of Blacks in Africa continues to close by the day, as we unwittingly continue to cede ownership of its vast resources and opportunities to neocolonialists under the guise of benevolent globalization.
“while we protest and fight for freedom outside Africa, non-black foreigners are increasing their power and influence in Africa”
How long till all the wealth, power, and influence in Africa is completely ceded to non-blacks?
Then what?
Black people globally will never be truly respected till Blacks in Africa are strong, independent, resilient and feared, and this cause will be given a massive boost if African Americans and Blacks globally decide to channel a significant chunk of their energies and resources towards assisting this profound mission of building wealth, power, and influence for Blacks, in our homeland of Africa.
William is the founder and CEO of Very Temporary and a General Manager at The FON Group.
To get in touch, send him an email.
