Yes Remembering Chinua Achebe.

Africans have been victimized by Westerners, either through the savage immorality of slavery or through the oppressive system of colonization. Black history is essentially one of overcoming bigotry, both in terms of breaking off the literal manacles of slavery, as well as overthrowing systems like colonialism. Given this history, it’s impossible to believe that the maladies that black people face today, both on the African continent and in inner cities across the Western world, are too hard to overcome.

In the American context, many cultural observers point out that if blacks in inner cities had the same group behaviors as other minority groups, such as Asian Americans, then their socio-economic standing would be significantly better. However, observations like these are rarely ever made by people serious about improving the livelihoods of black, inner-city residents. Rather, such comments are simply counterproductive, and they are intended to reinforce the construct of an inferior Negro race. In reality, what black people in inner cities need is an understanding of African history, the relationship it has with African American history, and how holding words in high esteem is a deeply African tradition. This will inspire a greater focus on education and scholarly learning—and less focus on socially damaging behaviors.

The expert use of words to express ideas is a deeply West African tradition. The Igbo culture, which Achebe wrote about, holds communication through proverbs in very high regard. Similarly, the soaring oratory commonly associated with the black church in America is evidence of the importance of words, and the delivery of those words, to black American tradition. Grand literary and oratorical expression is an unmistakable feature of African culture. The notion that having the ability to express oneself articulately and being a skilled wordsmith constitutes “acting white” is a preposterous stereotype that exists because of widespread ignorance of West African culture. Sadly, many inner-city youth run around believing the nonsensical conclusion that effective use of words is “acting white”—when nothing could be more authentically black.

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