I ask these same questions. Thank you. I see this as being connected to the push for Afro futurism as well. This desire to not understand that the actual lived experience of the African diaspora is so amazing that it does not require applications of othering from within its own community. It is enough, has always been enough and yes so few if any of us are descendants of East Africa or Egypt and can the “ho-temps” of the world please read a book of actual facts. But even then they will misconstrue the information. I have a brother who does this all day long. I limit communication to avoid useless arguments.
O Ijeoma!! Be still my heart. You are so on point with this. I have always been frustrated when African Americans say "We came from Kings and Queens." In no culture is everyone a king or queen but..... if that helps you, then go right ahead. And honestly, I have no real issues with that as I understand it as possibly necessary for healing from the ravages of racism. However, I have wondered why some Black folk want to claim Egypt but will call West Africans barbarians. The truth is that many African Americans, swimming in the sea of white supremacy culture, see the world through those eyes as well. Not ok. Not at all. Thank you for this thoughtful piece.
I was brought to this article due to a convo I had with a Black American guy .. and how he will continue to use the word nigga Becasue it belongs to us and the word is a derived from Negus which means royalty .. I was def skeptical and totally disagreed.
Sooo For the first time in my 40 years of life .. I heard that the word nigger was derived from Negus and that white people wanted to make a mockery of the world Negus which means King annnnddd my first thoughts/reaction was.. “okay .. if that is true .. then why not use the word Negus, and give it its props? .. it sounds better and is official any way ???
—— this gentleman didn’t reply to my comment .. and thats what brought me to this lovely article … where I must say THANK YOU , AND I KNEW IT!!!!!! It didn’t make sense to have any roots to Negus .. and that Negus had nothing to do with Nigger which then turned into Nigga
Oh Lord Help our People be okay and accept what you have given us and where we are from and give us the mind to reject white supremacy.
Thank you so much for expressing truth so perfectly! My act of resistance to erased history is sewing a dress for my great granddaughter from Kente fabric. She will be a beautiful West African princess! And maybe I can bring my whole family kicking and screaming back to knowing thier heritage.
I’m Nigerian/Jamaican and have absolutely felt outside a “we” with black Americans. The xenophobia in older cousins’ generations was real. It’s like being stepped over to find some mystery, some belonging called from beyond. But we are here. We can tell them. Africa is genetically and culturally diverse. There are parallels there just like here and ways to see ourselves in another.
Glad you pointed out the connection to monarchy. That’s always rubbed me and I wasn’t always sure why. So much to unpack in this short piece. Thanks for sharing.
Sadly people repeat what makes the brain feel good and don’t take the time you took to sort out fact from desired reality - I know it is fiction but the truth of it is that these inaccuracies are desired realities so folk just make them “real”. You see this with are people who reconstruct a kernel of a fact and turn it into outlandish narratives of black historical positionality. It is sad. I give thanks for a strong mind.
I ask these same questions. Thank you. I see this as being connected to the push for Afro futurism as well. This desire to not understand that the actual lived experience of the African diaspora is so amazing that it does not require applications of othering from within its own community. It is enough, has always been enough and yes so few if any of us are descendants of East Africa or Egypt and can the “ho-temps” of the world please read a book of actual facts. But even then they will misconstrue the information. I have a brother who does this all day long. I limit communication to avoid useless arguments.
This is the realness. Agree wholeheartedly. Feel the heartbreak of knowing why those myths feel so needed.
O Ijeoma!! Be still my heart. You are so on point with this. I have always been frustrated when African Americans say "We came from Kings and Queens." In no culture is everyone a king or queen but..... if that helps you, then go right ahead. And honestly, I have no real issues with that as I understand it as possibly necessary for healing from the ravages of racism. However, I have wondered why some Black folk want to claim Egypt but will call West Africans barbarians. The truth is that many African Americans, swimming in the sea of white supremacy culture, see the world through those eyes as well. Not ok. Not at all. Thank you for this thoughtful piece.
I was brought to this article due to a convo I had with a Black American guy .. and how he will continue to use the word nigga Becasue it belongs to us and the word is a derived from Negus which means royalty .. I was def skeptical and totally disagreed.
Sooo For the first time in my 40 years of life .. I heard that the word nigger was derived from Negus and that white people wanted to make a mockery of the world Negus which means King annnnddd my first thoughts/reaction was.. “okay .. if that is true .. then why not use the word Negus, and give it its props? .. it sounds better and is official any way ???
—— this gentleman didn’t reply to my comment .. and thats what brought me to this lovely article … where I must say THANK YOU , AND I KNEW IT!!!!!! It didn’t make sense to have any roots to Negus .. and that Negus had nothing to do with Nigger which then turned into Nigga
Oh Lord Help our People be okay and accept what you have given us and where we are from and give us the mind to reject white supremacy.
Thank you so much for expressing truth so perfectly! My act of resistance to erased history is sewing a dress for my great granddaughter from Kente fabric. She will be a beautiful West African princess! And maybe I can bring my whole family kicking and screaming back to knowing thier heritage.
I’m Nigerian/Jamaican and have absolutely felt outside a “we” with black Americans. The xenophobia in older cousins’ generations was real. It’s like being stepped over to find some mystery, some belonging called from beyond. But we are here. We can tell them. Africa is genetically and culturally diverse. There are parallels there just like here and ways to see ourselves in another.
Glad you pointed out the connection to monarchy. That’s always rubbed me and I wasn’t always sure why. So much to unpack in this short piece. Thanks for sharing.
Sadly people repeat what makes the brain feel good and don’t take the time you took to sort out fact from desired reality - I know it is fiction but the truth of it is that these inaccuracies are desired realities so folk just make them “real”. You see this with are people who reconstruct a kernel of a fact and turn it into outlandish narratives of black historical positionality. It is sad. I give thanks for a strong mind.