Afro-American Colonialism

Words: 1113
Pages: 5

, Alice Walker, a twentieth century Afro-American writer, being at once both, black and a female, experienced a racist, sexist and classical discrimination and oppression. She witnessed a history of Africans that was destroyed by institutions like slavery and the Apartheid, so it is imperative to discuss the Afro-American socio-political and cultural history. The European ‘vultures’ descended upon Africa’s landscape and sliced her accordingly for the satisfaction of their colonial appetite. South Africa could not survive the onslaught and became the victim of colonial exploitation and resulted in the European mass destruction of the African people’s way of life. African culture were targeted and labelled as primitive, pagan and unacceptable to the so called civilized Christian world.
In 1619, Africans were first introduced in the United States for the slave trade. These healthy free, independent humans were dehumanized into chattel. Arriving in America in chains, the black man was systematically and legally robbed of his family, culture and all social bonds and tribal distinctions were seriously disrupted. The enslaved male was stripped off all masculine rights and parental authority and was demanded into a breeding animal. As Robert Staples remarks:
…show more content…
It was a call for black people to unite to recognize their heritage, to build a sense of humanity and define their goals. As an evidence of this black power, there were many revolts across the nation and it saw the enactment of several laws: it prohibited discrimination in public accommodation, jobs and schools; Black Arts groups sprung up in cities. Black musicians and actors played major roles in films and on television. Numerous periodicals and journals were introduced and a new slogan, “Black is Beautiful” was heard across the country. Amiri Baraka, Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Larry Neal and others were exponents of this