The Struggle with Afrocentricity

Afrocentricity is a world view that emphasizes the importance of African people, culture, history and philosophy throughout the diaspora. The roots of Afrocentricity lie in a reaction to repression of Black people and Black culture throughout the Western world view. It is a direct opposition to the theory that attributes advancement of civilization to European immigration into different countries (i.e.- the thought that the African's weren't civilized until the Europeans came, kidnapped, and colonized them).

The above paragraph contains some paraphrasing from Wikipedia

I find Afrocentricity to be a consciousness of the influence African culture has on the world at large, and a consciousness of the non-stereotypical nature of Black people. A person of any race, color, or creed can have an Afrocentric perspective.

There is also the area of Afrocentricity that encourages Black people, or Black Americans to embrace their African roots and culture - and not conform to, or believe that Western or Euro-centric world views are superior or the standard of beauty, education, ideals, etc.

The title of this post is The Struggle with Afrocentricity. The struggle with identifying with an Afrocentric perspective for Black Americans comes from many things:

The feeling of clinging to a culture that was ripped away from them. African people from various countries were stolen away from their homeland and spread throughout the globe. At this point, even so many years later, that hurts. For some Black Americans they feel slighted to not be able to know what country they are from, and all the culture, customs, and language that goes with that. It can be painful to try to have any type of connection to a home you don't really know and that was stolen from you.

The feeling of trying to over-identify with something they don't know. Because so many Blacks are unable to really pinpoint their specific African roots it can feel like they are attempting to over-identifying with a culture they don't really know about. General symbols and African type print clothing makes them feel like a fraud. Because Africa is so large, with so many different cultures on one continent, a generic Afrocentricity seems frivolous to them.

There is as much of a African American (Black) Culture, as there is African Culture. At this point, Blacks have been in America for many years, and there is a distinct African American culture. Although a lot of African American culture is based from African cultural roots, there is a Black culture that has developed over time from being in the United States. It makes more sense to many African Americans to just be Black. Meaning, rather than attempting to embrace an Afrocentric world view, to have more of a Black world view. A focus on the achievement, philosophy, culture, and traditions that have developed during our time in the United States, and not be bothered with African specific identification.

Continental Africans look down upon African Americans. It has been the experience of many African Americans to find that Continental Africans (meaning, African people who are here in the states but still have direct ties and family on the continent) don't embrace them, and their want to learn about Africa. Because Continental Africans are fortunate enough to still have heavy ties to specific African Countries, customs, and culture, they don't see Blacks or African Americans as the same as them.
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I might go as far as to say that Africans aren't Afrocentric, they are just African. Afrocentricity is a world view adopted by individuals outside of Africa. For African people who still have ties to the continent they simply are African, and it is their native world view.

Where do I fall in all of this? Well, although as far back as my living family members can remember, we have been in the United States, I know I am African. I may never know what specific country, but I know. I embrace the natural curl of my hair, and the darkness of my skin-tone because I know that being me is something to be proud of. I feel a connection to my ancestors through music, dance, and art.

Afrocentricity doesn't define who I am, it is just a part of what makes me, me. I don't believe it mandatory for anyone, but it works for me :-)