By: Kevin Alberto Sabio

Many get confused when they hear the following terms being used as far as political ideology is concerned; Black Power/Nationalism,Pan Africanism, Afrocentrism, African Internationalism. Those that are uninitiated may feel that these ideologies are threatening and racist in some way, while others who follow those particular ideologies may feel that they are limiting, or are opposed to each other. In reality, it’s all just semantics. They’re all interchangeable with each other, and basically call for the same solution;unity, power, and respect for the people of African descent. Here on Blacktino.net, I will try to clear up some of the misconceptions about these ideologies, and hope to motivate my fellow Afro Latinos to join the cause. Because of recent conflicts that I’ve gotten into with online trolls, both on other websites, and here on Blacktinos.net, Ifelt it nessary to delve into this subject, and let it be known how these ideologies impact ALL African descended people.

Some may see Black Power/Nationalism as a strickly African American political manifestation, only concerning itself with African American issues. That is simply untrue. As thoroughly outlined in the Stokely Carmicheal/Charles Hamilton book,”Black Power”, this stance calls for power to All Black People; not just African Americans. Seeing as how Stokely Carmicheal/Kwame Toure was of Afro Caribbean descent, I would HIGHLY doubt that he would call for a political ideology that wouldn’t encompass or benefit people of his own national/regional background. That work was followed up by the ancestor Dr. Amos Wilson in his seminal work,”Blusprint for the Black Power”. In theis heavily detailed dossier(almost 900 pages), He goes in -deph with his analysis of Black Power as a viable political concept, and the steps needed to be taken to make Black Power a reality and living entity. Wilson breaks down what power is, how it can be used(and misused), and how people can obtain power politically, economically, culturally, educationally, physically, and even spiritually to a certain extent. Demographically speaking, the African population in the United States(in total)has the size and capacity to become it’s own self-sustanining nation-state, and would only be able to survive in the long run unless it begins to see itself as a nation within a nation. The African descended population in America can be seen as a catalyst for a strong nation state and provide empowerment, not only for themselves, but for a unified African Diaspora in both the political arena and economically.

This leads me to Pan Africanism. The greatest example of Pan Africanism was the work of the honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, and his Universal NeGRO Improvement Association. Having traveled across the globe at a young age, Garvey saw how Aficans/ Africans Descendents were treated throughtout the world. We were continuously on the bottom of the social ladder, and were suffering socially, economically, and politically. Garvey created the very first chapter of the UNIA in 1914 in his home country of Jamaica.The organization was to be a fully functioning government made to represent for all African people across the world.Chapters and divisions were set up ALL OVER the globe throughout the caribbean, and the United States, on the continent of Africa herself, and even in LATIN AMERICA. Even after his (illegal)explusion and deportation form the United States, Garvey still had an impact, influencing many of the continental African leaders who were to one day govern their countries into independance, such as Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, Jomo Kenyatta, and Julius Nyerre. His work and ideology is thoroughly outlined in the books “Race First”, written by Tony Martin, and also ” The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey, Vol I-III”, edited by Amy Jacques Garvey. Dr. Wilson even covers Garvey and his work in his own book, citing the economic and political success of the UNIA, and the blueprint that was left for a means of international trade and commerce throughtout the African Diaspora.

Afrocentrism has been considered the most controversial of these ideologies, considering that it takes on the system that we live in head on. It has caused many debates and mudslinging in academic circles, with the mainstream institutions denouncing it, not only in academia , but also on their campuses. In his seminal work “Afrocentricity”, Dr. Molefe K. Asante outlines what Afrocentrim is, and why it’s necessary. The only thing that causes afrocentrim to be considered controversial (at least to the Powers that Be and their neo-colonialist supporters) is the primacy of Africa in it’s ideology. All things African are considered primary in thought, culture, education and mode of living. We are not not taught about our history and/or culture in mainstream society, or in mainstream educational system. To go against the status quo is almost considered blasphemy, and makes one into an outcast unless you confirm in the end. Why not be free embrace this part of our history and culture? Why should we be denied a part of ourselves just to fit into the so called mainstream? as it is, we exist in an oppressive,white supremacist system. We are still suffering the effects of colonialism and slavery. Think I’m wrong? ask yourselves these questions, as posed to Dr. Wilson about the effects of slavery and colonialism on society today:

What language do you speakin?
What clothes do you wear?
What religion/spiritual belief do you practice?
what foods do you eat?

Is this what your ancestors were doing in the past,or were any of these imposed upon them?
Makes you think for second, doesn’t it? There are a few other authors that i could recommend concerning the ideology of Afrocentrism, but my library is inaccessible to me at the time of this writing, so I am unable to give you the titles. I would suggest researching certain authors and scholars such as Dr. Na’im Akbar, Haki Matubhuti, Dr. Maulauna Karenga, Dr. Jawanzaa Kunjufu, Dr. Marcia Sutherland, Wilson Jerimah Moses, Ivan Yan Sertima, Punoko Rashidi, Thomas Parham, Cyrus H. Gordan, and Robin Walker.

Afro Latinos

Now after having gone through all of that… what does any of this have to do with Afro Latinos? Everything. They are Africans, whether they admit it or not. This is not to in=mpose any political belief on them, it’s just fact. Don’t believe me? Do some historical research. One of my favorites is researching the work Of Dr. Eric Williams in his titles, “The Negro in the Caribbean”, and “Documents of West Indian History”. You can also try Richard Price’s “Maroon Societies”, as he discusses those Africans who were forcefully brought to these shores, and were able to escape from their enslavement, and create their own societies. The story of Yanga from Mexico comes to mind, as well as the Maroons from Jamaica lead by Queen Nanny. You also have the work of Dr. Arlene Torres in her book titled, Blackness in Latin America and the Caribbean”, There’s also other research available such as, patrick J. Carroll’s, Blacks in Colonial Vera Cruz”, Benga-In Nunez’s “Dictionary of Afro-Latin American Civilization”, Minority Rights Group’s “No Longer Invisible: Afro- Latin Americans Today”, Pedro Perez Sarduy’s, ” Afro-Cuba Voices: On Race and Identity
in Contemporary Cuba”. I would als encourge the readings of articles written by such writers as Carlos Cooks, Karen Juanita Carrilloo, and the works of Prof. Victor Vega, and Dr. Marta Moreno-Vega. there are also other websites to peruse to get more information about Afro Latinos and our connection to the Afrikan Diaspora, such as AfroCuba Web.com, Afropresencia.com and AfroLatinoproject.org.With the jacking of ancestral Afro Latino lands by the respective Latin American governments, our unity within the African Diaspora is not only necessary, but essential. We cannot survive soley on our own. We are a part of the unified Black?African World.

Of coure,according to my troll on Blacktino.netI have my head up my ass, so what do i know? I guess the works by the authors mentioned above negates Everything that’s supposedly known about the subject, the world according to him. But supposedly he’s an expert, and I’m just a peon with a big mouth.Of course, there are so so many other scholars and activists,and other works works that I could mention to refute this Internet Tough Guy, but I think that this article would suffice.. Besides, that would take too long,and I have better things to do.. Idon’t call myself an activist for nothing.

Uhuru Sase, Y paz.

Via Assata Speaks

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