With the recent pilgrimage to Ghana, I shared with friends a new title given to me by the King of Akwamu, there have been some interesting negative responses from the black community.
Though the positives far outweigh the negatives, I choose today to focus on those negative ones because I believe there is great power in studying this mindset to provide teachable moments.
We American born blacks were bred to hate our own people and ourselves. Self-deprivation is buried deep within our subconscious.
We’ve found comfort in calling ourselves derogatory names and sabotage our own progress because we’ve been convinced we are unworthy of the same things whites or other nations enjoy.
When Jews visit the Holocaust Museum or Israel, or Irish and Italian Americans travel to their homelands, there’s ZERO backlash from their communities and communities outside. Ask yourselves:
This is not only from other blacks; it brings commentary from other communities who mysteriously seem entitled to chime in as well!
“Negative comments like; “Who do these Ni**ers think they are? They’re celebrating slavery! Africans were complicit in slavery as well! This is just a publicity stunt! They just want attention! etc.” Why all the hate? Why do folks care so much? It’s like we threatened them…AND WE HAVE! We have threatened them and other black folks to think better of us, therefore- better of themselves!
We American blacks are SUPPOSED to think negatively about being connected to our homeland because that’s how we were conditioned to think! We’re SUPPOSED to think; all Africa was, was slavery when only an extremely small portion of the continent was even involved in the slave trade.
We’re SUPPOSED to see Africa as mainly “starving people and jungles.”
We may call ourselves African Americans but we are truly disconnected from Africa. I say WE because I’m not excluded! I thought “my people” came from South Carolina which I now see, is as stupid as a Chinese man saying his people came from Ohio!
I tracked my heritage South Carolina was only a small part of my people’s journey that began in Ghana, a place that had kings well before Europe had theirs. For me to be enstooled by the King Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III of Akwamu is far more relevant than if I were knighted by Queen Elizabeth who’s royal bloodline doesn’t go back as far.
Ghana has been the 8th African country I’ve visited. They’ve all been astoundingly beautiful, with classy and very educated people who speak more languages than we do.
Those of us that felt “some kind of way” maybe you can begin to direct that anger toward those orchestrators that made you hate who you are- those who’d find comfort in you hating your own people, and those who’d find it threatening for you to unite with your people in solidarity.
I believe the original culprits are long dead but their policies are alive and well. Please ask yourself; if Mark Wahlberg or Ben Affleck went back to their place of heritage would you care? They have a country that loves and embraces them. WE HAVE A WHOLE CONTINENT THAT LOVES AND EMBRACES US!
In Africa, a voice commands him to look around. The Voice: “Do you see any niggers?” He answers meekly “No.” The voice: “Do you know why? Because there aren’t any.” – Richard Pryor.
A group of A-list Hollywood and Diaspora celebrities led by Actor Boris Kodjoe, visited Akwamuhene Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III at the Bogyawe Palace, Akwamufie on Wednesday 2nd January 2019, and expectations were high.
And the King, who lived up to his appellation “OGYAM A OKUM OGYAM” did not disappoint. The day was an emotionally charged feast of symbolism and bridge building that culminated in the investiture of Michael Jai White as “ODUPON – The Tree With Strong Roots That Does Not Fear The Storm” and Bozoma Saint John as ‘ODUPOMAA-The Tree with the sacred fruit that nurtures Knowledge, Wisdom and Courage’.
The main man behind the trip, Boris Kodjoe, was conferred a special citation by Odeneho who wanted the world to know that “Our Brother Boris Ofuatey Kodjoe has led our kinsmen home.
In his speech, The Akwamuhene rendered an unqualified apology for the part Africans played in the slave trade, asking the crowd to observe a minute’s silence in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
He invited his guests to consider Ghana their home and help to make it a place they would be proud of. The investiture ceremony was followed by a play performance from the Akwamuman SHS Drama Troupe, depicting the story of Nana Asamani, the Akwamu royal who in the 17th century outwitted the Danes to take over the Christianborg Castle and become the first black Governor.
What transpired in Akwamufie was certainly a celebration of culture’s role in breaking down barriers and fostering tolerance, respect and mutual understanding.
Ghana’s tourism industry will no doubt benefit from this historic event; and perhaps this is a glimpse into the emerging role of effective, dynamic traditional leadership.
