Cultural Uniqueness | Centering Blackness

Bright blessings, Beautiful beings, Bienvenido!!

Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent
Sun Phase: early Spring
Pause: to notice your authentic self
Affirmation: I am unique and follow the cues of my body

Most of the posts, Centering Blackness, spring from my own journey with finding my cultural self. At the moment the expression, “you are acting white/European” keeps replaying in my mind. In the Afro community we use this expression when folks are embodying characteristics and habits usually through assimilation. Which takes us away from our cultural uniqueness. the expression “we are a melting pot” incentivizes leaving our Afro belief system. We are criminalized or otherwise punished when we embrace our African traditions. Although since slavery, other ethnicities are uplifted and rewarded for cosplaying as Afro and/or discriminating against proud Afros. Sentiments like “it is just hair” or “just clothing” ring loud through modern society as colonization strips us of our very existence.

In my own life, in preschool i was taught to speak different then my family, more Eurocentric. My mother also did some form of speech therapy after moving North for college. Growing up I was ALWAYS praised for adopting Eurocentric ideals, and usually received negative feedback when i was curious about our African roots.

I am realizing that Culture Cures and that cultures are unique and specific. The more you notice them the more you can pull them apart from each other to dazzle brilliantly. I am learning my Ghanaian cultural practices as well as Pan-African celebrations.

I encourage you to learn your roots. We are all aware of our continent of origin, even if displaced. Pray for messages, symbols, anything positive that will draw you back. In finding out who you are and what is yours, you can better navigate the world of cultural fusion. Being clear what is for you, offers the perspective to ask permission to use what is not yours. Mitigating cultural appropriation. Allowing for more cultural sensitivity and ethnicities returning to their unique lifeways.

As usual, this post is accompanied by videos that outline further these phenomenon. One is about our hair, two is about the Afro esthetic and the last a comedy depicting our plight.

Simpre Junto!

Previous Centering Blackness Posts:

Reparations Curious | Resolve To Do Better
Our Action Plan | Centering blackness
Celebrating Blackness | Wellness
Centering Blackness | Therapy Funds
Centering blackness | I pour love into myself
Mothers | Centering Blackness
Afro Love | Centering Blackness