There is a people on the earth who are cursed with having their history effaced and erased. Two things are known, these people are the source of the folks that inhabit the planet and the need to deny that fact. As I was growing up, the thought of they were savages when we came repeatedly replayed in the history I was taught. You have to thank God for computers and videos. I just saw a PBS DVD series called Wonders of the African World w/Henry Louis Gates jr.
A couple of things startled me, first that African kings took part in the slave trade. It was a spoils of war thing and they were not too clear what happened to the folks that were sold away. They didn't have "Twitter". I heard some sorrow and regret when some Africans thought about that part of our history. The other thing that struck me was about Timbuktu, which was the legendary college in the center of Africa. There are in the hards of private citizens, shelves of books that are deteriorating away on all the learning of that time. I even bet you they could explain how the pyramids were built. I can understand the thrill of dinosaur bones, but can't understand not digging into Black History to dis-spell the myths, rumors and lies.
In 1970-1972 I was in college, the black movement was pushing us to change our dress, amend our culture, spice our diets and speak a few African words. We had a Afro-Am celebration where we performed and read poetry. The Last Poets were hot, they make today's rap seem ridiculous, why? Because they were not just for entertainment and the money. I was in a drum and dance troupe, played conga and saxophone.
We did a lot of play acting like a right of passage. The only problem was that we could internalize the form but not the essence. If a better script came along we were into that. Most of the dashiki folks now wear basketball jerseys. If you go to Africa they'd probably wear soccer jerseys. It's the shirt everybody wants. Of course there are those special occasions.
I am into home decor or art for the home. I always wondered if there was an African Modern style like there were Scandinavian or Italian Modern, since so many Euro artist "borrowed" from Africa anyway. So instead of a scholarly study of artifacts, I am just looking at pictures. I especially am interested in materials, textures, colors and composition. I am not looking to mimic or copy but to let cords be struck of the African essence in me not smothered by a culture that has worked so hard to reject it.
I am starting to watch online and DVD media more because the content of most commercial media is draining.
Posted By: Arnold Johnson
Tuesday, December 1st 2009 at 12:35PM
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