the Oreo type of man and women: Black-faces and white mind-sets

Blackface, white mind-set:

Black outside and white inside

Recently at a dinner party in central London, we had a discussion on the mind-set of many modern Africans living in Europe; an author whom I read back at school said that “Africans are a people on the run, since slavery they have not stopped running”.

Ronald, a businessman who was in the meeting made an example that if you look at the African diaspora, where ever it may be found, many have adopted the cultures and ways of the countries which host them. Their children’s have never known their cultures. He used his daughter Windy, whom feels that she is French. He explained painfully how Windy refuses to accept her Ghanaian heritage. This discussion was held within a context where “black male” in Europe are generally doing menial work which they wouldn’t do in their own countries. But they feel as much part of this society as anybody.

As Europe struggles with the rise of racism and other isms which threaten the harmony of any society, Africans are at a cross road, which is to redefine themselves within the European societal evolution or to lose their right to be in these country.

We should see ourselves as we are, and not as we ought to be.

What does it mean to be African within a globalized context?

By looking at the world around us, it is very evident Africa is lagging behind and that Africans are not influencing the world around them.

Black faces and white mind set, you would think that someone who goes to Europe or lives in a euro centric society would see the need to promote his culture and participle in the ever increasing homogenous society, but the opposite is true.

Truly black have little or no self-esteem of their own that explains the loss of their cultures where ever they are found to be in mixed communities.

What interests me about African culture is not the shallow analysis of the blackface white mind set, but more than that is the need to be what who you are. Africans find it heart to get along.

Our borders have served its purpose, which is to separate us, how many South Africans don’t want to be Zimbabweans, Nigerians hate Ghanaians, Zambians can’t stand Congolese. But the struggle is the same and in most of the cases the languages have similarities.

The black outside and white inside issue is pertinent, because when you go in a City such as Kinshasa in the Congo, you will find the evidence of some kind of slavery where the people of the country are mistreated by those with lighter skins because people want to be white but not black.

The growth of the skin lightning business also plays a part in diminishing the pride to be what we want to be.

In Europe and America, there are lots of Africans who have given up on their home countries. Africa is a long lost memory.

Let us bring back the children of the continent by returning to what makes us who we are